PS1 Pluralistic School One

The Challenge

PS1 approached us following the retirement of their long-term and founding Head of School. His 53-year tenure left a deep imprint on the school, with no one else in the community fully embracing or sharing ownership of the school's identity in the way he had. The new Head of School faced the challenge of leading a school with a pluralistic identity—an asset, as PS1 was the only pluralistic school in the area, but also a challenge. Pluralism, by nature, is a multifaceted concept that can be defined in many ways, leading to numerous perspectives within the community about what defined PS1's institutional identity and set its program apart. The school needed a strategic plan that would unify the community around the educational benefits and programmatic priorities of a 21st-century pluralistic school. Additionally, while the Board had been strategic in acquiring adjacent parcels of land for expansion, there was no clear vision for how, or even if, these spaces could be used to further the PS1 program.

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The Insight

While the concept of pluralism was deeply valued within the PS1 community, there was a general reluctance to address the complexity of its definition. Many community members embraced the idea of pluralism but found it difficult to articulate what it truly meant in practical terms. When asked for clarification, responses often deferred to the former Head of School or directed people to the school’s website. Mission Minded encouraged the PS1 Board and leadership to develop a set of core values that could serve as a more accessible, actionable representation of pluralism. These values would be easier to understand and resonate with the community, offering a clearer path for decision-making and action. We also emphasized that these values should be embedded in the school’s strategic commitments to ensure their lasting impact.

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The Journey

What was once a vague and abstract definition of pluralism—embracing multiple perspectives and fostering diverse viewpoints—is now a concrete and actionable framework for the school. The newly defined pluralism means:

Learn with Joy

Discover Your Full Self

Honor Our Lived Experience

Be Part of Something Bigger

All of PS1’s programmatic initiatives, professional development, facilities planning, and community engagement priorities are now aligned with one of these four core values, creating a cohesive framework that drives an engaging and dynamic five-year plan.

The Impact

The Board, Head of School, and leadership team are enthusiastically implementing their five-year strategic plan, and the focus on values has helped align the entire community with the school’s philosophy. The clarity has fostered a stronger sense of shared purpose, and the community is energized by their collective vision for the future. Additionally, the new framework has been successfully integrated into PS1’s admissions language, helping prospective families better understand the school’s unique pluralistic identity and guiding principles.

This has been joyful work that genuinely and authentically invited in the perspectives of our entire community—so unlike strategic planning processes some of us have slogged through in the past.
Susannah Wolf, Head of School, PS1