Who we are

Our Team

Our Team

NEASC is made up of three Commissions which work in close partnership to ensure quality education for all students in public, independent, and international schools, districts, and centers around the world. NEASC has a vibrant global network of thousands of volunteers, and a central staff which supports our members, accreditation activities, and collaborations that strengthen education.

NEASC Staff

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Cameron C. Staples
President/CEO

Cameron C. Staples, President/CEO of NEASC since 2011, develops and implements the organization's strategic direction, ensures the value and relevance of the NEASC accreditation process, and builds partnerships with education agencies, as well as domestic and foreign government leaders, to strengthen the role of accreditation as a mechanism for educational accountability and institutional improvement. [view profile]

Board of Trustees

NEASC is managed by a Board of Trustees, which oversees the affairs of the Association. The various NEASC Commissions are empowered to manage their own accreditation processes and procedures and apply their standards, once approved by the Association Board of Trustees. Additionally, the Board of Trustees is empowered, upon the recommendation of a Commission, to grant candidacy or initial accreditation and to serve as a mechanism through which institutions may appeal an adverse action regarding their affiliation.

2023 Board Meetings: February 10, May 4-5, September 7-8, December (TBD)

Board Officers

Chair

Celeste Bowler
Assistant Superintendent, East Providence Public Schools
East Providence, RI, USA

Chair-elect

Gregory B. Myers
Superintendent, Millbury Public Schools
Millbury, MA, USA

Treasurer

Laura G. Warner
Assistant Dean, Finance and Administration, University of New England
Biddeford, ME, USA

Secretary

Elizabeth Wagner de Huergo
General Director, American Institute of Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico 

Members-at-Large

Independent Schools

Thomas E. Hassan
President, School Year Abroad
North Andover, MA

International Education

Paul M. Fochtman
Head of School
Frankfurt International School
Oberursel/Wiesbaden, Germany 

Christine L. McGrath
Director of Operations
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
Gloucester, MA

Public Schools

Robert N. Baldwin
Executive Director
MSAA/MIAA
Franklin, MA

Sharon Cournoyer
Superintendent
Regional District 19
Storrs, CT

Public Members

Connecticut

James W. Abrams
Judge, Connecticut Superior Court
Meriden, CT

Maine

Theodore N. Scontras
Saco, ME

Massachusetts

Paul Daigle
North Falmouth, MA

New Hampshire

Open

Rhode Island

Open 

Vermont

Eileen M. Illuzzi
Newport, Vermont

NEASC Commissions

NEASC is made up of three commissions which work in close partnership to ensure quality education for all students in public, independent, and international schools, districts, and centers around the world.

Commission on Independent Schools - About

The NEASC Commission on Independent Schools is made up of school heads, senior administrators and public members. Members are selected for three-year terms (renewable once) at the December annual meeting of delegates. In drawing up a slate, the Commission reviews nominations submitted by heads of school, and takes into consideration such factors as the balance between elementary and secondary schools, representation of all six states, and a mix of types of school – single sex and coed, boarding and day, religious and secular, large and small, urban and rural, etc. – that reflects the membership. The Commission meets three times a year to review reports from schools and Visiting Teams.

Responsibilities
  • Oversee the accreditation process, policies and procedures.
     
  • Recommend changes in Standards to the Board of NEASC.
     
  • Receive reports from visiting teams and from schools throughout the decennial cycle.
     
  • Decide on accreditation status of schools.
     
  • Report to the Board of NEASC concerning candidacy, initial or continued accreditation, or removal from accreditation.
Meetings/Reviews:
  • The Commission typically holds two-day meetings in February, June, and November.
     
  • Schools are reviewed by one of two committees consisting of both elementary and secondary members.
     
  • One member reviews the Self-study, financial data and Visiting Team Report and makes a recommendation to the Commission.
     
  • All Commission members have access to the Visiting Team Report and participate in discussion.
Follow-up Actions:
  • Schools that fail one or more standards at the time of the visit must document their compliance within one year.
     
  • All schools must file a 2-year Interim Evaluation Report, addressing the major recommendations in the self-study and visiting committee report, and providing information on finances.
     
  • All schools must file a 5-year Interim Evaluation Report, updating the Commission on changes, reviewing compliance with the standards, presenting current long-range plans, and submitting financial information.
     
  • The Commission may request a Special Progress Report on any subject and timetable.
     
  • The Commission may schedule a Focused Visit to the school following a Special Progress Report. All schools must file an Annual Report with data on enrollment and tuition, and information on any substantive change.
Possible Actions Concerning Schools:
  • Initial or Continuing Accreditation
     
  • Tabling of Initial Accreditation
     
  • Continuing Accreditation on Warning (Special Report and Focused Visit within One Year)
     
  • Probation Recommendation to Drop from Membership (if terms of Probation are not met)

Commission on Independent Schools - Members

Chair of the Commission

Angela Pohlen
Executive Director, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT

Commission Members

Noor Ali
Principal, Al-Hamra Academy
Shrewsbury, MA

Cliona Beaulieu
Head of School, Enfield Montessori School
Enfield, CT

Linda Brodeur
President, Bishop Guertin High School
Nashua, NH

Matthew Glendinning
Head of School, Hopkins School
New Haven, CT

Traci Griffith
Director, Racial Justice Program
American Civil Liberties Union of MA

Bridget Irish
Head of School, Cotting School
Lexington, MA

John Lin
Retired Dean of Students, Holderness School
Plymouth, NH

Arthur Lisi
Principal, Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke Regional School
Wakefield, RI

Robin Lowe
Principal, North Shore Christian School
Lynn, MA

Doris Messina
Retired Principal, St. Michael School
Pawtucket CT

Nancy Naimey
Principal, Saint James School
Biddeford, ME 

Jeffrey Philbrick
Headmaster, Jesse Remington High School
Candia, NH

Ryan Plosker
Headmaster and Founder, New England Academy
Beverly, MA 

Daniel Richard
Principal, St. Raphael Academy
Pawtucket, RI

Jennifer Roy
Head of School, Trinity Catholic Academy
Brockton, MA 

Mark Tashjian
Headmaster, Burr and Burton Academy
Manchester, VT

Carrie Wilson
Head of School, All Saints Catholic Academy
Morrisville, VT

Commission on International Education - About

The NEASC Commission on International Education is a 16-member panel of professional educators and one public member selected to represent our diverse membership. Commission members serve for three-year terms (renewable once).

Responsibilities

Using the established Standards and Principles for international schools, Commission members meet three times a year to review Visiting Team Reports for continued and initial accreditation, along with other reports from school accreditation visits around the world. The Commission members also assist NEASC in discussing topics of relevance to current and future member schools.

Commission on International Education - Members

Chair of the Commission

Howard Thiery
Superintendent, Regional School District 10
Harwinton-Burlington, CT

Commission Members

Janecke Aarnaes
Head of School, International School of Bologna
Italy

Dr. Shalini Advani
Director, Pathways Noida
India

Nikolas Bishop
Director, International School of Stavanger
Norway

Pilar Cabeza de Vaca
Partner, Educators' Collaborative
Virginia, US

Tim Carr
Senior Advisor, Avenues: The World School
New York, NY USA

Jean Claude Chalouhi
Superintendent, English Modern School
Qatar

Jonathan Costa
Assistant Executive Director, EdAdvance
Litchfield, CT, USA

John D'Arcy
Head of School, St. John's Academy
Shawnigan Lake, Canada

Melania Horcajuelo Torres
Director, Madrid Active School
Spain

Mary Karmash Tadros
Development and Recognition Senior Manager
Jordan

Andreas Koini
Head of School, The Antwerp International School
Belgium

Nancy Meislahn
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Emerita, Wesleyan
Middletown, CT, USA

Kathleen Naglee
Head of School‎, International School of Helsinki
Finland

Alejandro Noguera Cepeda
Head of School, Gimnasio Campestre
Colombia

Richard Pacheco
International Educator (retired)
Madrid, Spain

Mark Schulz
Deputy Director, Zurich International School
Switzerland

Commission on Public Schools - About

The NEASC Commission on Public Schools is a panel of 40+ professionals selected to represent our diverse membership from across New England. Individuals on the Commission include school and central office administrators, teachers, and members from the public sector. Commission members are nominated by member school principals or may self-nominate. A nominating subcommittee brings nominations forward for vote by the entire Commission. Any openings on the Commission are made public and announced to the member schools. Commission members may serve two three-year terms. Public members may serve two two-year terms. Commission member perspectives are informed by their own experience and knowledge of education. They are bound by explicit ethical standards to prevent conflict of interest.

Responsibilities
Using the Standards for Accreditation for public schools, the Commission members meet regularly throughout the year to review accreditation reports submitted by and about member schools, and provide commendations and recommendations specific to each school. This feedback serves as a roadmap for individualized and ongoing school growth and improvement for student learning. In addition, Commission members determine the accreditation status of each member school.

Commission on Public Schools - Members

Chair of the Commission

Kevin McCaskill
Principal, Brockton High School
Brockton, MA

Assistant Chair of the Commission

Amy Cetner
Principal, Marshfield High School
Marshfield, MA

Commission Members

Christopher Ashley
Principal, Barrington High School
Barrington, RI

John Broadley
Principal, Green Mountain High School
Chester, VT

Danielle Byron
Math Department Chair, John F. Kennedy High School
Waterbury, CT

Robert Callahan
Director, Lewiston Regional Technical Center
Lewiston, ME

Christian Canfield
Science Department Chair, Newtown High School
Sandy Hook, CT

Michael Crowley
Teacher of Engineering and Robotics, Norwood High School
Norwood, MA

Carolyn Dickinson
Assistant Director, Center for Technology - Essex
Essex Junction, VT

Kelly Ann Fay
Coordinator of Curriculum and Staff Development
Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
Haverhill, MA

Patricia Feeney
Principal, Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School
Groton, CT

Jade Gopie
Assistant Superintendent
Waterbury Public Schools
Waterbury, CT

Justin Kratz
Principal, Charles H. McCann Technical High School
North Adams, MA

Christopher Lord
Assistant Superintendent, Peabody School District
Peabody, MA

William Lucci
Assistant Director for Adult Education, Stafford Technical Career Center
Rutland, VT

Anna Mahon
Principal, Amity Regional Senior High School
Woodbridge, CT

William McCaffrey
Director of Secondary Education, Warwick Public Schools
Warwick, RI

Kevin McNamara
Assistant Superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools
Lincoln, RI

Gretchen McNulty
Superintendent, Falmouth School Department
Falmouth, ME

LaTrelle Pinkney-Chase
Cooperative Education Coordinator, Boston Public Schools
Boston, MA

Bruce Pontbriand
Human Capital Coordinator, Accreditation, Boston Public Schools
Dorchester, MA

Maria Christina (Tina) Rivera
Principal, Academy of Information Technology and Engineering
Stamford, CT

Susan Schroeter
Principal, Unity Elementary School
Newport, NH

Richard Shellman
Principal, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School
Torrington, CT

Catherine Sosnowski
Retired Assistant Principal
Bristol, CT

Anthony Sperazzo
Principal, Gilford High School
Gilford, NH

Andrew Stephens
Superintendent/Principal
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional  High School
Sudbury, MA

Daniel P. Sullivan
Colchester Public Schools
Colchester, CT

Brett Thompson
English Teacher, Gilford High School
Gilford, NH

Glen Worthy
Chief of Educational Services 
Connecticut Department of Children's Services
New Haven, CT

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