Volunteers / Visiting Teams
Volunteers / Visiting Teams
NEASC Accreditation relies on a peer review process which engages thousands of volunteer educators in school visits each year. NEASC volunteers are an outstanding asset to the process of accreditation. These well-trained peer reviewers (NEASC "Visitors") put their best efforts forth when they visit schools to observe teaching and learning, meet with members of the learning community, and validate the findings from the school's self-reflection.
Join a Visiting Team!
Participating on a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team is a unique, immersive experience frequently referred to by volunteers as the best professional development they've had as an educator.
Volunteer Benefits
Peer review is a unique opportunity for schools to receive a detailed, objective evaluation/validation from trusted, highly qualified, and thoroughly trained colleagues in the educational community. The experience garnered from school visits will be extremely helpful not only to the individual volunteers, but to their home school as well, as it enhances a school's preparation for their own pathway to NEASC Accreditation.
How to become a Visiting Team member for...
All those interested in serving as a Visitor for the NEASC Commission on International Education must first read the following document which includes the detailed steps and requirements for approval:
ELIGIBILITY
Those interested in serving as a Visitor for the NEASC Commission on International Education must meet the following requirements and preferred qualities:
- NEASC Accreditation Visitor Requirements
- Minimum of 5 years of educational experience
- Mid- to senior-level leadership experience
- Strong understanding of modern approaches to learning and teaching
- Deep understanding of whole school operations
- Understanding of NEASC philosophy and accreditation processes
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and technical written English
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The first step in serving on a Visiting Team for the NEASC Commission on Independent Schools is training.
NEASC is notified of prospective volunteers for public schools via the Annual Information Report (AIR). If you would like to participate on a Visiting Team for a public school, make sure to let your school head know that you would like to be added to the Visiting Team Volunteer List on the AIR.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to serve as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on a public school visit, teachers and administrators must:
- hold current certification as a teacher or administrator in one of the six New England states
- be currently employed as a teacher or administrator in a school accredited by NEASC
- have at least two years experience
- have some understanding of the Standards for Accreditation for public schools
- understand that collaboration and writing are involved
- have the recommendation and approval of the school head
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Many have said that NEASC visits are the best professional development experiences and this is not an exaggeration. The opportunity to reflect and the ideas team members enjoy sharing, as well as the invaluable discussions on education are incredible. You truly feel like you have become part of a global community dedicated to learning.
— Lynne Bibi, PYP Elementary Teacher / Grade Level Leader, Wellspring Learning Community
The best part of participating on a NEASC Visiting Team was the opportunity to be welcomed into a professional team of educators from across New England and offered the chance to get to know a learning community behind the scenes. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on my own practice and the ways I may use best practices within my own school community.
— Team survey response
Once a school becomes a Candidate for Accreditation or is a fully accredited NEASC Member School it is a very important aspect of the accreditation process — and a NEASC policy — that the school head encourage academic staff and leadership to qualify to serve as a NEASC volunteer and to allow them to participate on Visiting Teams/Committees when invited.