On Saturday, September 20, Princeton Day School hosted Community Design Day, a morning of collaboration and creativity with the consulting group Leadership + Design. More than 150 community members—including students, parents, faculty, trustees, and alumni—chose to spend their Saturday imagining the future of PDS together. The event marked a key step in PDS’s strategic planning process, following the announcement of the school’s mission, vision, and values of Humanity, Creativity, Intellect, Joy, and Stewardship earlier in the year.
The day began with an invitation for participants to share an artifact that embodied the PDS spirit. These artifacts ranged from photographs and mementos to classroom tools and personal notes. Head of School Dr. Kelley Nicholson-Flynn recalled the energy in the room as everyone started sharing: “You could hear this low hum—people connecting, laughing, and thinking deeply about what makes this place so special. It was humanity front and center.” Board chair Mr. Christopher Bobbitt reflected on the moment as well, noting the joy of seeing the community come together: “It was amazing. It really showed what I’ve felt over my 17 years as a parent here—that there are so many people, students, and faculty, all invested in this school. You could really feel the care and joy everyone brought to the process.”
Afterward, each table received one of four design briefs—Professional Vitality, Community and Identity, Learning Experience, and Co-Curricular Experiences—and was tasked with brainstorming creative ideas that captured their assigned theme. “It wasn’t about solving problems,” said Dr. Nicholson-Flynn. “It was about imagining what could be and how PDS can grow and thrive in a changing world.”
The morning culminated in each group presenting a single, bold idea—its “winning hand”—in a one-minute pitch to the full audience. These ideas were meant to represent innovations that could set PDS apart and strategically differentiate itself. “I loved the pitches at the end,” said Dr. Nicholson-Flynn. “The creativity and variety of ideas that came out were incredible.”
Mr. Bobbitt echoed this sentiment, noting how the consultants encouraged participants to think boldly: “They told us, ‘Don’t be a Blockbuster—be a Netflix.’ That challenge pushed everyone to think beyond the expected.” It was a reminder to embrace change and think creatively about the school’s future.
In the coming months, the Board of Trustees and strategic planning team will review all of the ideas from Community Design Day, alongside feedback gathered from a community-wide survey for those who could not attend. As Dr. Nicholson-Flynn highlighted, “This process is about listening—to every voice in our community—and shaping a plan that captures the best of who we are and who we want to become.”
