NewsUpper SchoolAcademic Administration
Powell to serve on N.C. accreditation team
Mar 19, 2012 11:02 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
David Powell, academic dean, has been asked to be a member of the SAIS-SACS accreditation team that will visit Christ School in Asheville, N.C. this month.
Powell has been a member of Darlington’s faculty since 1981. During his tenure, he has taught a variety of English courses and held the distinguished title of Thatcher Chair of English from 1992-2009. The longtime English department chairman was named academic dean in 2009. He continues to teach AP English Literature and holds a B.A. from Berry College; an M.Div. from Emory University and an M.A. from Middlebury College.
Powell has participated in four long-range planning processes for Darlington School, been a faculty representative on two Presidential Search Committees, and served as accreditation coordinator in 2001 and 2012. Additionally, he has volunteered his expertise as an AP English Literature grader since 2002.
According to the Southern Association of Independent Schools website, accreditation is based on a peer-review model that derives its greatest benefit from peer educators reviewing the school’s self-study and responses to standards/indicators evaluating them in light of the evidence gathered during the team visit.
The visit will last approximately 2.5 days, during which time Powell and the other members of the accreditation team will review the school’s compliance with SAIS-SACS standards/indicators and its self study; tour the school; and speak with a variety of stakeholders, including administrators, faculty/staff, parents, board members and students. At the conclusion of the visit, the team will create a visit report, which provides a recommendation to the SAIS Accreditation Committee regarding the school’s accreditation.
In order to serve as a team member for SAIS and SAIS-SACS visits, one must be from a school that is accredited by SAIS, SACS, or an agency approved by the NAIS Commission on Accreditation; attend the SAIS team training workshop; and agree not to accept team member assignments at schools where a conflict of interest exists. For additional information, please visit www.sais.org.
Powell has been a member of Darlington’s faculty since 1981. During his tenure, he has taught a variety of English courses and held the distinguished title of Thatcher Chair of English from 1992-2009. The longtime English department chairman was named academic dean in 2009. He continues to teach AP English Literature and holds a B.A. from Berry College; an M.Div. from Emory University and an M.A. from Middlebury College.
Powell has participated in four long-range planning processes for Darlington School, been a faculty representative on two Presidential Search Committees, and served as accreditation coordinator in 2001 and 2012. Additionally, he has volunteered his expertise as an AP English Literature grader since 2002.
According to the Southern Association of Independent Schools website, accreditation is based on a peer-review model that derives its greatest benefit from peer educators reviewing the school’s self-study and responses to standards/indicators evaluating them in light of the evidence gathered during the team visit.
The visit will last approximately 2.5 days, during which time Powell and the other members of the accreditation team will review the school’s compliance with SAIS-SACS standards/indicators and its self study; tour the school; and speak with a variety of stakeholders, including administrators, faculty/staff, parents, board members and students. At the conclusion of the visit, the team will create a visit report, which provides a recommendation to the SAIS Accreditation Committee regarding the school’s accreditation.
In order to serve as a team member for SAIS and SAIS-SACS visits, one must be from a school that is accredited by SAIS, SACS, or an agency approved by the NAIS Commission on Accreditation; attend the SAIS team training workshop; and agree not to accept team member assignments at schools where a conflict of interest exists. For additional information, please visit www.sais.org.
