NEASC ACCREDITATION VISIT TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS ON MAY 5-8, 2019
After a comprehensive, multi-year self-study process in which Torrington High School’s faculty, administration and professional staff reviewed a wide variety of the school’s practices and resources to measure our adherence to the accreditation standards, sixteen educators will conduct an on-site Accreditation visit of Torrington High School (THS) on May 5-8, 2019. The Accreditation visit will be conducted under the direction of the Committee on Public Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The visiting team will be chaired by Dr. Anthony Gasper, Superintendent of Wolcott Public Schools. Dr. Gasper has had extensive experience in the Association’s Accreditation process as a visiting team chair.
According to THS Principal Andrew Skarzynski, “The purpose of this Accreditation visit is to review and determine from an outside professional viewpoint the extent to which the school is aligning with the Standards for Accreditation. As part of the evaluation, the visiting team will meet with all school constituents, review the school’s self-study, visit a number of classes, and examine examples of student work submitted by the school. During the comprehensive self-study, the faculty attempted to identify the school’s strengths and determined those areas in which changes would be beneficial.”
Overall, the purpose of the visit is to assist the faculty in its pursuit of quality education for the students of Torrington. Principal Skarzynski notes, “The members of the visiting team are contributing their services to the school. This spirit of professional cooperation is one of the noted features of the New England Association. The goal of an Accreditation visit is to stimulate a continuing drive for improvement in the school.” The members of the visiting team are all working professionals in the field of education, who may be working in faculty or administrative positions in schools in Connecticut or other surrounding New England states.
As part of the on-site visit, THS is soliciting involvement from parents to participate in one of two parent Q & A sessions with visiting team members. The first session will be held on Sunday, May 5th, in the afternoon; the second session will take place during the school day on Monday, May 6th. If you are interested in participating in one of these panels and would like more detailed information as the finalized schedule becomes available, please contact the Steering Committee Chair, Jamie Rowland. Mrs. Rowland can be reached at THS by calling 860-489-2294, x3467, or by emailing her at [email protected].