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Accreditation: 'It’s All About the Who'
May 18, 2012 1:06 PM
By Tom Whitworth III - FF/S
When we kicked off 2011-12 in August, Darlington’s faculty, staff and administrators alike knew that one of our pressing school-wide goals was to be reaffirmed in our work with students during our five-year SACS/SAIS/Mid-States accreditation review. Today, we have received notification that we have achieved our goal and our accreditation is official!
A well-organized, thorough, comprehensive and very demanding process, accreditation is a healthy exercise for an institution like Darlington. It ensures that our policies and practices are safe and effective, carefully measured, and guide us well as we reach to empower students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect.
Academic Dean David Powell served as the coordinator and leader of our self-study team. His clear-minded attention to every detail, from the first visit in August to the farewell meeting in February, was superb. In preparation for the accreditation committee’s site visit, we looked at every aspect of our program; surveyed students, parents and faculty/staff; and prepared a self-study report. Led by Woodward Academy CFO and NAIS Board member Barbara Egan, the team’s goal was twofold – to ensure that we are modeling what was in our report and to evaluate our climate and culture in light of our mission.
Our exhaustive and complete self-study was presented online and was praised by our visiting team of educators as ingenious, effective and wonderfully transparent. At the conclusion of the visit, the accreditation team prepared an extensive concluding report that was submitted for final approval. Click here to read about the committee's commendations and recommendations.
I want to thank all of you for the role you played in this important process. Those of you who know me have probably heard me say, “It’s all about the who.” That is especially true in this situation. This year’s accreditation visit was only a success because of our people. Because of our teachers who work hard every day to provide the best possible learning environment for children and who welcomed these visitors into their classrooms with open arms. Because of our students who engaged with them in honest conversation about everything from academics, to athletics, to fine arts. Because of our Board members who are passionate about Darlington and worked hard to develop an attainable strategic plan that propelled us forward. Because of our hardworking staff members – from the Business Office to Student Life – who are always looking for unique and creative ways to support the school in achieving its mission. And because of our parents who are important partners in the education process and whose involvement and support are critical to our success. Thank you all!
A well-organized, thorough, comprehensive and very demanding process, accreditation is a healthy exercise for an institution like Darlington. It ensures that our policies and practices are safe and effective, carefully measured, and guide us well as we reach to empower students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect.
Academic Dean David Powell served as the coordinator and leader of our self-study team. His clear-minded attention to every detail, from the first visit in August to the farewell meeting in February, was superb. In preparation for the accreditation committee’s site visit, we looked at every aspect of our program; surveyed students, parents and faculty/staff; and prepared a self-study report. Led by Woodward Academy CFO and NAIS Board member Barbara Egan, the team’s goal was twofold – to ensure that we are modeling what was in our report and to evaluate our climate and culture in light of our mission.
Our exhaustive and complete self-study was presented online and was praised by our visiting team of educators as ingenious, effective and wonderfully transparent. At the conclusion of the visit, the accreditation team prepared an extensive concluding report that was submitted for final approval. Click here to read about the committee's commendations and recommendations.
I want to thank all of you for the role you played in this important process. Those of you who know me have probably heard me say, “It’s all about the who.” That is especially true in this situation. This year’s accreditation visit was only a success because of our people. Because of our teachers who work hard every day to provide the best possible learning environment for children and who welcomed these visitors into their classrooms with open arms. Because of our students who engaged with them in honest conversation about everything from academics, to athletics, to fine arts. Because of our Board members who are passionate about Darlington and worked hard to develop an attainable strategic plan that propelled us forward. Because of our hardworking staff members – from the Business Office to Student Life – who are always looking for unique and creative ways to support the school in achieving its mission. And because of our parents who are important partners in the education process and whose involvement and support are critical to our success. Thank you all!
