MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

It is one thing to blaze a trail alone — you might go fast, but perhaps not so far. It is another matter to ignite an entire community with a bold vision, and then rally that community to give the vision life. Paul Stellato, in his 15 exceptional years as head of school at Princeton Day School, has done just that.

Paul has been, with his wife Maureen’s never-ending support, a transformational leader. This is my seventeenth year on the Board; I was here before the Stellatos arrived in 2008. When Paul began his headship, I thought PDS was a very good school, and I felt fortunate that my children were happy members of its warm community. What I know now is that a decade and a half later, we are an extraordinary school.

Paul reimagined the entirety of the campus. We now have STEAM centers in each division and our classrooms have been renovated and equipped with innovative technologies. Our libraries have been remade to support both the dynamic way information is available for students and the collaborative nature of project-based learning. We have a new athletic center that houses a dramatically-expanded squash program, provides significantly more court spaces and serves as a wonderful venue for all-school gatherings.

These projects add up to much more than bricks-and-mortar enhancements. Their collective significance and brilliance lie in the academic and extracurricular programs they house, made possible because of the remarkable faculty and staff members who run them. Here, too, Paul has been a transformational leader, recruiting a dedicated team of teachers, administrators and staff members at all levels of the institution to carry out the school’s mission. Through the Thrive! Campaign, over $58 million was raised for faculty support along with financial aid, academic programs and facilities projects. It is an astounding accomplishment for our entire community and, again, a testament to Paul’s visionary leadership.

During his tenure, there were also moments that needed immediate and decisive action. Only a few months after Paul began, the world experienced a shocking financial crisis. Working with the Board and the Leadership Team, Paul made sure there would be no layoffs at PDS. Families and students were supported. The crisis abated, and we carried on with renewed purpose.

In the summer of 2020, Paul organized a series of community listening sessions to hear and understand the many perspectives of our students, families, alumni and employees. Realizing the conversations would require ongoing education, application and commitment, he created the position of director of diversity, equity and inclusion to develop and oversee the integrated, collaborative implementation of a more equitable and welcoming experience for all. There is a deep commitment to continuing this important work.

And, of course, there was the global pandemic. Initially, the way forward was not clear. Mandates from governmental agencies were in flux. Through this uncertainty, Paul did not hesitate, quickly investing in classroom technology to support remote learning and assisting the faculty and staff through the transition. Because of his leadership and the fortitude of our community, we made it through.

In 2008, Paul’s starting point was the institutional strength he inherited from previous school leaders. Fifteen years later, he leaves us with an unparalleled legacy of success that will carry PDS far. It has been a privilege to serve alongside him, and volunteering in this capacity has been my way of expressing my deep appreciation for the holistic education my children received here.

As my time on the Board comes to a close and with the new leadership of Dr. Nicholson-Flynn, Board Chair-Elect Christopher Bobbitt P’22 ’26 and Vice Chair-Elect Ashley Aitken-Davies P’27 ’28 ’30, I know the future of our school is bright.