Self Study Coordinators’ Workshop
Hamlin Robinson School
October 10, 2013
Presented by:
Jenni Hurner (Seattle Jewish Community School)
Susan Bauska (Annie Wright Schools)
Chaya Keefe (NWAIS)
Introductions
Who are you?
Where are you in the process?
Have you done a Self Study before?
Have you been on a Visiting Team before?
What do you hope to learn today?
(Write on index card)
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What We’ll Cover Today
Why Accreditation?
Overview of NWAIS Accreditation
Benefits of NWAIS Accreditation
The new Self Study
Accreditation Standards
Self Study Purpose & Outcomes
How do we Prepare for the
Self Study and
the Accreditation Visit?
Role of the Self Study Coordinator
Getting Started
Forming Committees
Promoting self-reflection & ongoing
improvement
Keeping Track: Timelines & Surveys
Writing, revising & compiling the
Report
The Visit
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Accreditation Overview
**New Self Study Standards
and Indicators**
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NWAIS Accreditation Benefits
• Independent, non-governmental validation of quality education
to recognize credibility
• Ensures compliance with NWAIS Core Values & Key
Characteristics
• Promotes planning, rigor, reflection, inclusivity & collaboration
• Peer review ; sharing of ideas & best practices
• Commitment to ongoing school improvement
• Ensures schools have adequate resources, staffing, leadership
& structures in place for the future
• Promotes collegiality within and outside the school
• Ensures viable, sustainable school
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‘New’ Accreditation Standards
NWAIS Self Study Process
School Mission
School Program
School Culture
Commitment to Diversity
Institutional Leadership
Finance
Administration
Institutional Advancement
Enrollment Management
Human Resources
School Plant
Health and Safety
Residential Program
(if applicable)
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Understanding Standards and Indicators
School Culture
STANDARD : The school has an intentional culture, which supports
the school’s mission and NWAIS’ core value of free and open
inquiry.
Indicator 1: There is an intentional school culture.
Indicator 2: There is a strong correlation between the stated
mission of the school and the culture that exists in the school
Indicator 3: The school’s culture promotes free and open inquiry.
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Understanding Standards and Indicators
School Culture
STANDARD : The school has an intentional culture, which supports
the school’s mission and NWAIS’ core value of free and open
inquiry.
Indicator 1: There is an intentional school culture.
Indicator 2: There is a strong correlation between the stated
mission of the school and the culture that exists in the school
Indicator 3: The school’s culture promotes free and open inquiry.
Schools must meet all standards to receive accreditation
*Recommendations and Conditions*
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Past reasons for conditions
• Lack of Board planning documents
• Financial issues
• Lack of congruence between mission/program
• Lack of evidence of free and open inquiry
• Insufficient administrative structure
• Safety or risk management issues
• Inadequate school facilities
Ideal Outcome for Self Study Process
Development of a comprehensive, concise,
and constructive document that serves as a
tool for promoting self reflection and
ongoing school improvement
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Shape the Self Study to your School
• Celebrate your school’s culture & values; no two self-studies
are alike, just as no two schools are alike
• Reflect, reflect, reflect
• Highlight areas to focus on for the future
• Promote communication and transparency within your
school
• Create a “living document” that may be used as part of of
the school’s long-term planning and assessment process
• Enjoy the time as a school community to focus on a
collaborative process
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Who is responsible for all this work?
The Self Study Coordinator(s), with support and
participation from the …
Head of School
Board
Faculty & Staff
Parents
Students
Alumni
The Self Study Coordinator
(Jenni & Susan)
What makes a great self study coordinator?
• Enthusiasm for the process
• Organizational skills
• Credibility in the school community
• Writing and editing skills
• Time management skills
• Ability to see a project through to its
completion
• Ability to work well with head of school
and other stakeholders
Three Major Elements
• Lofty: Reflection, coming together, inclusivity,
politics of it all, dialogue conversation
• Document what you learn: Writing the self study
• Nuts ‘n’ Bolts: Keeping track, timetables, gather
documents logistics…
=>Like a braid…These elements weave throughout
the process…
Coordinator’s Responsibilities
The NWAIS Accreditation Manual outlines Self Study
Coordinator responsibilities
• Work with Head to…
– establish timetables & deadlines
– educate the community about the process
– establish the committee structure
• Oversee the survey process
• Collect, review, edit, design, compile the report
• Oversee the logistics for the Visiting Team
Start with the Mission
• Review with the entire school community
– Board members
– Parents
– Faculty
– Staff
– Students
– Administrators
– Alums
• Does the mission still reflect our school?
• How is it foundational to what we do?
• Do we need to modify?
• How well is the mission understood throughout the school
community?
Organize
• Familiarize yourself with the Self Study and
Accreditation Manual
• Workshop materials on NWAIS website
• Collaborate with peers at other NWAIS
schools
• Divide committees according to Standards
& track assignments
Committee Structure & Membership
• Inclusive
• Expertise
• Diversity of roles, perspectives, and work styles.
Consider including…
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Board members
Parents
Faculty
Staff
Students
Administrators
Alums
• Resident Outsiders
Promoting self reflection…
~Breakout time~
• Ideas for how to promote reflection at
your school…
• Share best practices…
• Ideas for generating enthusiasm for the
process…
Keeping Track
who’s in charge?
NWAIS Standard
(other details)
who else helps?
Surveys
• What are options? Examples include:
– Survey Monkey
– Zoomerang
• Survey sample questions for available on NWAIS website:
– Students
– Faculty
– Parents
– Community
– Faculty Staff
Start the surveys early…
– Select survey tool(s) and methods
– Administer
– Analyze
– Discuss findings with school community
– Format & incorporate into Self Study
Integrating Survey Data into
Committee Discussions
Surveys & Data integration include the entire
school community
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Board members
Parents
Faculty
Staff
Students
Administrators
Alums
The Writing of the Report
• Collaborate
• Format the Report
• Use technology – Some use Google Docs,
consider permissions
• Write so the Self Study is…
– helpful for your school
– clear for the visiting team
• Facilitate the writing, editing, & compilation
Revision, Editing and
Compilation…Takes Time
• Committee revision
– Peer Review
– Committee feedback
• Technology consideration
– Edit
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Formatting
Voice – is it consistent?
Spelling/ grammatical errors
Organizational clarity
– Compile the study
• Designing for school pride
• Publishing
– Gather & compile the required documents & appendices
(listed at the end of each Standard)
Finished with Self Study Coordinator Role
Questions?
After lunch…a brief overview of
Preparing for the Accreditation Visit
Role of the Visiting Team
Evaluate and establish congruence between the
self study and what the team observes during the
visit
The Preliminary Visit
• The Team Chair and Vice Chair will visit school
several months prior to the actual visit
• Consider logistics of the visit during this time
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Lodging, Food, Transportation, Directions
Team member reimbursement
Private, secure space for team to work
Technology requirements (Mac, PC, support)
Meeting times & places with constituencies
Preparing the faculty & staff for the Visit
Important to communicate expectations…
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The visiting team is looking for alignment with the
Self Study – not looking to critique individual
teaching styles
The team will move very quickly and will not have
much time to spend with each person
Everyone should be ready to attend the opening
reception on Day 1 of the Visit (See visit schedule
in Self Study manual)
During the Visit
Welcome packets
Nametags
Technology needs
Office supplies
Schedules
Required documents
Food
Questions?
Administrative Questions
• Manuals & handouts on NWAIS website
www.nwais.org/accreditation resources
• Self study coordinators listserv
• 5 continuing education credits (see Chaya)