Presented by:Jenni Hurner (Seattle Jewish Community

School)Susan Bauska (Annie Wright Schools)

Chaya Keefe (NWAIS)

Self Study Coordinators’ WorkshopHamlin Robinson SchoolOctober 10, 2013

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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

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

Why Accreditation?How do we Prepare for the

Self Study andthe Accreditation Visit?

Overview of NWAIS Accreditation

Benefits of NWAIS Accreditation

The new Self Study

Accreditation Standards

Self Study Purpose & Outcomes

Your logo here**New Self Study Standards and Indicators**

Accreditation Overview

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• 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

NWAIS Accreditation Benefits

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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)

‘New’ Accreditation Standards

NAIS

review

Feedback

Less redundancy

More reflection

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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.

Understanding Standards and Indicators

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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.

Understanding Standards and Indicators

Schools must meet all standards to receive accreditation

*Recommendations and Conditions*

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

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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

Who is responsible for all this work?

The Self Study Coordinator(s), with support and participation from the …

Head of SchoolBoard

Faculty & StaffParents

StudentsAlumni

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…– 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 TrackNWAIS Standard (other details)

who’s in charge?

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

– 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

• 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)

Questions?

Finished with Self Study Coordinator Role

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– 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…

• 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 packetsNametags

Technology needsOffice supplies

SchedulesRequired 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)