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How a community-wide strategic planning process is helping shape the future of teaching, learning and connection at NSCD

For more than a century, North Shore Country Day has asked a fundamental question: What does it mean to educate young people not simply for achievement, but for lives of purpose, curiosity and impact?

This year, through a monthslong strategic planning process involving students, families, faculty, staff, alumni and trustees, the school undertook that question again — examining both what defines the NSCD experience today and what opportunities lie ahead. The result is a new strategic plan centered on three priorities: impactful learning, lifelong community connection and investment in exceptional teaching.

The process began in earnest at the start of the 2025–26 school year and included parent and faculty think tanks, interviews, research and a January Community Design Day that brought together more than 75 members of the NSCD community for a full day of collaborative brainstorming and visioning.

A 12-member Strategic Plan Design Team, consisting of faculty, parents, trustees and alumni, and led by trustee and current parent Jessica Shinn, Director of External Relations & Strategic Initiatives Kristen Kaczynski and Head of School Tom Flemma, met six times over the course of the year, in addition to conducting interviews and additional research between meetings. The steering committee then utilized that work and research — including what came out of the Community Design Day — to craft the strategic direction.

“The fact that we had so many people willing to spend the better part of a Saturday at school is a real testament to our community and how much we care about this place,” said board chair Susanna Ver Eecke. “We believe in North Shore. We believe in its people. We believe in its values. And we believe in its students.”

Susanna emphasized that community participation is central to the board’s responsibility as stewards of the school’s mission and long-term direction. Jessica echoed that message, noting that the Community Design Day built on months of listening, interviews and research conducted by the Strategic Plan Design Team.

“Over the past year, this work has been thoughtful and steady,” Jessica said. “We’ve listened, gathered input and asked hard questions.”

Throughout the process, participants were encouraged not only to reflect on the school’s strengths, but also to think expansively about what school could become. During the Community Design Day, facilitator Ryan Burke, an education strategist from the nonprofit Leadership and Design, challenged attendees to generate “wild ideas” and question long-held assumptions in order to surface new possibilities.

The resulting strategic plan reflects both that spirit of imagination and a deep commitment to the values that have long defined North Shore Country Day.

At the heart of the strategic plan is a reaffirmation of the school’s founding philosophy: that education should expand opportunity rather than limit it. The document describes NSCD as a place where students are given “time in the sun” — opportunities not only to observe, but also to participate, contribute and lead.

The first strategic priority, “Impactful Learning & Learning for Impact,” focuses on deepening experiential learning opportunities across all divisions while helping students build real-world readiness, critical skills, confidence and a sense of belonging. 

The plan calls for a more intentional progression of experiences from JK through 12th grade and emphasizes intellectual curiosity, leadership and purpose-driven learning. Central to the priority is the idea that learning should extend beyond classroom walls and help students see meaningful connections between academic study, personal growth and engagement with the wider world.

The second priority, “Raiders Forever: Building a Community Across Borders,” aims to strengthen lifelong connections among students, alumni, families and friends of the school.

The plan builds on NSCD’s already strong culture of connection by expanding opportunities for mentorship, lifelong learning and community engagement well beyond graduation. Rather than viewing a North Shore education as something that ends with a diploma, the priority emphasizes the school’s enduring community — one that continues to create relationships, opportunities and support across generations.

The third priority, “NSCD as a Destination Workplace,” centers on supporting and sustaining exceptional teaching. 

Recognizing that teachers are one of the school’s defining strengths, the plan prioritizes professional growth, collaboration, innovation and long-term investment in faculty and staff. The goal is not only to attract and retain outstanding educators, but also to create the conditions that allow them to do their best work on behalf of students.

While the plan outlines broad priorities and initiatives, school leaders emphasize that many of the specific tactics and projects will continue to evolve over time. The plan is intended to provide “the compass direction,” while allowing flexibility as implementation unfolds.  

The strategic plan was approved by the board of trustees this spring, with implementation beginning during the 2026–27 school year. Over the coming months, school leaders and faculty will continue developing the specific programs, partnerships and structures that will bring the plan’s priorities to life.

“North Shore has a long and proud tradition of thoughtful strategic planning and generations of Raiders have benefitted from this work,” Tom explained. “This plan, coming at a time of tremendous change in the world, centers the values and relationships that have always defined North Shore Country Day, while ensuring that the school and our students are exceptionally well prepared for an uncertain future. In the end, the heart of the work remains the same: ensuring every student is known, challenged and prepared to make a positive impact on their world.”