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THE COUNTRY DAY WAY FORWARD

The STRATEGIC PILLARS Miami Country Day School was founded in the Country Day tradition, a movement begun more than a century ago to educate the whole child through a balance of academics, arts, athletics, outdoor learning, and family connection. Today, as the second largest Country Day School in the nation, we honor that legacy while defining what the Country Day Way means for the future. This is the Country Day Way forward.

MISSION & VALUES

STRATEGIC PLANNING AGILE TEAM Claudia Brod

Trustee, President of the Board

Danny Harwin

Trustee, Governance & Nomination Committee

Emma Chomin

Middle School Assistant Director & Director of Institutional Research

Dr. Jason Asbury

Senior Director of Academics

We do this in a community where

Jill Robert

Chief Experience Officer

every student is known and included

Katy Bravo

Trustee

out of the classroom as they discover

Lauren Roth

Trustee

their full potential.

Mariandl Hufford

President and Head of School

Matthew Lazenby

Trustee, Chairman of the Board

Paula Montoya

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Richard Tester

Trustee, Chair of the Strategic Plan Agile Team

Shana Lindsey

Director of Lower School & Strategic Initiatives

Miami Country Day School empowers every student, every day, everywhere to learn with vigor, explore with purpose, strive for excellence, and serve with honor, respect, and compassion as global citizens.

by engaging the whole child, in and

PURPOSE HONOR RESPECT COMPASSION WISDOM

Dear MIAMI COUNTRY DAY COMMUNITY: It is with great pleasure and enormous Spartan Pride that I introduce to you our new strategic plan, The Country Day Way Forward, adopted by the Board of Trustees in January of 2026. This bold vision for the future of our school is the result of the hard work of many:

STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2031: Ready for What’s Next It was a privilege to work alongside our Head of School, fellow trustees, faculty, and families to shape Miami Country Day’s strategic plan for the next five years. Together, we reflected on the achievements of the prior plan, asked hard questions about the future of education, and allowed the school’s core mission and values to guide every decision. The result is an exciting and ambitious plan; one that gives our school clear direction not just for the next five years, but beyond. At its heart is a commitment to readiness: ensuring our students graduate prepared to adapt, to lead, and to make their mark on a changing world filled with new opportunities. The Board of Trustees stands fully behind this vision, and we are grateful for their steadfast support and wisdom. This is a defining moment for our school; I hope you share our excitement.

Richard Tester Trustee & Chair, Strategic Planning Committee Miami Country Day School

From August 2025 on, the Strategic Planning Agile team, a group of dedicated leaders, assembled and collated data collected from conversations with stakeholders, employee and community surveys, and an off-site leadership retreat, combining the voices of administrators and trustees. The result can be found in the following pages. It honors and elevates our foundational principles as a Country Day School, a deep tradition that values and celebrates the full complement of young people’s talents, aspirations, and character. The plan also pushes us to move the goalposts, to dream big, and to put in the hard, necessary work to make those dreams a reality. I am deeply grateful to the entire Board of Trustees for their steadfast belief in the School we all love, to the Agile Team, for dedicating time, energy, and creativity to developing a plan that will propel us forward, to Richard Tester, for leading our efforts so masterfully, and to Shana Lindsey, who, aside from serving as our Lower School Director, also serves as Director of Strategic Initiatives, stewards us with grace and strength. Please enjoy the glimpse into what the future holds for Miami Country Day School! With Spartan Pride,

Mariandl Hufford President & Head of School

PILLAR 1

The COUNTRY DAY WAY Miami Country Day School stands at a powerful intersection of tradition and transformation. As the modern manifestation of the Country Day philosophy, our approach to teaching and learning is grounded in the timeless commitments of rigor, curiosity, character, and community, while evolving boldly to meet the opportunities and challenges of a changing world. The Country Day Way brings together our deepest convictions about learning: that students thrive when they engage meaningfully with ideas, when they experience the world beyond the classroom, and when they develop the confidence, wisdom, and agency to chart their own paths.

01 Elevate DEEP LEARNING across PK3–12 We will strengthen academic rigor and relevance by refining learning opportunities, restructuring teacher and student time, deepening interdisciplinary connections, and supporting students as they take intellectual risks. We will invest in teacher leaders and curriculum design to ensure coherence, clarity, excellence, and

Pillar 1. The Country Day Way

balance throughout the

student journey.

02 Strengthen COLLEGE IDENTITY and FUTURE PATHWAYS We will illuminate the full story of our graduates, including their choices, achievements, character, and diverse measures of success. We will continue building an exceptional College and Academic Counseling program that prepares students for the academic and social realities of college and life beyond. Student agency will be Pillar 1. The Country Day Way

central as we support students in

imagining, planning, and pursuing their own purposeful paths with confidence and clarity.

03 Expand EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING as a DEFINING STRAND OF MCDS We will coordinate and elevate programs and emerging initiatives into a coherent, branded PK3–12 experiential strand. Learning will increasingly extend beyond the classroom through interdisciplinary intensives, civic engagement, internships, fieldwork, and

Pillar 1. The Country Day Way

partnerships throughout

Miami and across the world. Educators will receive support in designing and assessing experiential learning that nurtures adaptability, creativity, and global citizenship.

04 Advance ETHICAL and MISSION-ALIGNED USE of EMERGING and EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES We will continue to lead in the thoughtful, ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence, along with the accompanying physical and digital tools and platforms, to enhance creativity, analysis, and

Pillar 1. The Country Day Way

innovation.

Students and educators will learn to use technologies, including social media, in healthy ways, incorporating discernment, responsibility, compassion, and well-being in an ever-evolving landscape.

PILLAR 2

EXCEPTIONAL Educators

At Miami Country Day School, every adult is an educator, and every educator shapes the lived experience of our mission. The strength of our school rests on the people who model curiosity, integrity, compassion, and growth for our students every day. As Miami continues to evolve and the landscape of education shifts nationally and globally, MCDS must invest boldly in exceptional educators.

01 Attract, Recruit, and Hire EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATORS We will strengthen our ability to bring outstanding educators to MCDS by expanding recruitment pipelines, elevating our visibility in key markets, and ensuring our hiring processes identify individuals who are deeply aligned with our mission and values. We will position MCDS as a school of choice for top talent through clear expectations, compelling Pillar 2. Exceptional Educators

professional opportunities and

benefits, and a reputation for excellence.

02 Strengthen PROFESSIONAL GROWTH and LEADERSHIP PATHWAYS We will create clear, coherent pathways for professional advancement that reflect the realities of a PK3–12 institution and the aspirations of

Pillar 2. Exceptional Educators

our educators.

Through mentorship, coaching, educational leadership development programs, and collaborative structures, we will help every educator grow into the best version of themselves.

03 Advance a CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS and MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK We will refine evaluation and support systems to ensure specific, actionable, and mission-aligned feedback for faculty and staff. Our structures will uphold a high and well-defined standard of educator

Pillar 2. Exceptional Educators

excellence, ensuring

clarity of expectations, accountability, collaboration, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

04 Support EDUCATOR RETENTION and LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

We will explore and implement innovative approaches to compensation, benefits, housing, and workplace culture that support the long-term sustainability of our educators. Our focus will be on retaining exceptional talent by creating an environment where educators experience belonging, professional fulfillment, and the financial stability needed to remain and grow within the MCDS

Pillar 2. Exceptional Educators

community.

PILLAR 3

A CONNECTED And THRIVING COMMUNITY

Miami Country Day School is a community defined by connection, belonging, and shared purpose. Our relationships with one another, with families, with alumni, and with the city of Miami anchor the lived expression of our mission. As our campus evolves and our community continues to grow in diversity and dynamism, we must strengthen the structures, spaces, and partnerships that nurture a vibrant PK3–12 One-School experience.

01 Deepen COMMUNITY BELONGING and ENGAGEMENT We will enhance the purpose, impact, and communication of the programs, events, and traditions we already have by ensuring they foster meaningful connections, strengthen relationships across

Pillar 3. A Connected and Thriving Community

all ages and community

groups, and reflect the school’s values and goals. Our focus will be on increasing the quality, clarity, and effectiveness of community engagement.

02 Activate WORLD-CLASS CAMPUS FACILITIES for LEARNING, WELLNESS, AND INSPIRATION We will steward and activate the physical campus, including the new Upper School complex, arts Pillar 3. A Connected and Thriving Community

and athletic facilities, and outdoor

spaces, to support innovative teaching, student well-being, and vibrant community experiences. Our campus will reflect the values of the school and serve as a place where learning, creativity, and connection flourish.

03 Expand PARTNERSHIPS IN MIAMI and BEYOND We will expand strong, missionaligned partnerships with cultural, civic, academic, and service organizations to deepen student learning and broaden community engagement. We will strengthen alumni networks

Pillar 3. A Connected and Thriving Community

to connect students to real-

world opportunities, such as internships, and increase the school’s profile.