NEASC VISITING COMMITTEE CHAIRS WORKSHOP From all of

NEASC VISITING COMMITTEE CHAIRS' WORKSHOP

From all of your visits to other schools or from your own school’s visit, what makes a good team and visit? From all of your visits or from a visit that your school had what makes for a good visit?

Materials for the Day And always remember that everything you need to do is in the Visiting Committee Chair's Checklist

The Goals of Accreditation are: School Improvement Quality Assurance

The Goal of Accreditation is Inspiration and Aspiration

LEADING A VISITING COMMITTEE: WHAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE?

WHAT LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT QUALITIES, SKILLS & ATTITUDES WILL BE MOST HELPFUL TO A VISITING COMMITTEE, A SCHOOL AND NEASC?

The Organizational or Pre-Visit

Goals of the Organizational Pre-Visit Help the school feel comfortable about the upcoming Visiting Committee Develop relationship with Head of School, Self-Study Coordinator[s] and other key folks Understand Head's goals for the school and hopes for the Visit … "How can this Visiting Team be most helpful to the school. . " Tour the building/campus, check on work space, understand the locations where meetings will occur; technology check Meet with person responsible for Visit Schedule; discuss schedule procedures Visit hotel including meeting/work room; understand meal schedules, internet service

Scenario # 1: The Head of School tells you he is very concerned about the attitude of his Board of Trustees. .

Communication is your primary responsibility between the Organizational Visit and the Team Visit

• Be sure you have the final list of all Committee Members • Send introductory emails • Send questionnaires to Committee Members • Make Working Committee Assignments • Make sure all Committee Members have hotel details & contact information, your contact information and are clear about dates and times. . and that the Visit will NOT be over until mid-afternoon Wednesday • Work our details of Master Schedule [Or Ask Assistant Chair to take this responsibility] • Check with school three weeks ahead to make sure details are set • Remind Committee to arrive FULLY PREPARED ON SUNDAY • Plan Sunday afternoon & evening meetings • Anticipate comments to Committee, Sunday gathering, all-school meeting on M onday

Be sure to allow yourself enough time to be THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR with the Self. Study - Your detailed understanding is crucial to the success of the visit. .

The Portal

SUNDAY Arrive early, be sure hotel is set & work room ready Greet folks as they arrive Gather on time Set the tone Be sure everybody knows everybody Set out the goals for the Visit Preliminary discussion of school, principal themes, observations – all contribute Tour Attend opening session – all are working the room Return to hotel Discussion of school & schedule for the visit and for Monday

Interviews, class visits, conversation, indepth information gathering. . the day is highly scheduled. . . Monday Day

So What could go wrong ? Scenario Two: In the straw vote on the standards, several committee members stress. . . Scenario Three: The Head of School stops by to brief the Committee on last minute developments. .

MONDAY Scenario Four: The Visiting Team arrives on campus to find that everyone. .

Scenario Five: In the morning, you had an appointment to meet with the Head of School who is new this fall. .

Scenario Six: It is becoming increasingly apparent that several one-person departments at the school are weak. . .

Monday Evening • • Roundtable discussion: what did we find? Are there any Standards that are headed toward completion? Are there any significant issues afoot Each contributes to the work of the others What remains to be done on Tuesday? Establish Tuesday's schedule - in contact with school scheduler Preliminary look at each Standard Goals for each Standard clearly established -- what remains to be done?

Tuesday Scenario seven: The Head of School pulls you over to comment that one of your committee members is coming off as nothing more than a heartless interrogator. .

Scenario nine: The Head of School comments that notes on the whiteboard workroom. . .

Scenario Eight: As you pass through the workroom after lunch with students, you overhear two Committee Members comment that they are essentially done. .

Tuesday Evening A vitally important moment in the Visit! After a good – but reasonably quick dinner at the hotel or local restaurant. . all return to the hotel meeting room Interviews may be at an end, information may be fully gathered. . The Committee has been writing throughout the day. . . Around the room. . . where does everybody stand? What remains to be done? Second and serious look at Standards. . is there ANYTHING pending? . . . DRAFTS BEGIN TO SHAPE UP. . . PORTAL IS HUMMING. . Folks share their drafts. . by Wed AM things will start to take final form. . TUESDAY EVENING IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL REPORT

WEDNESDAY 9: 30 or thereabouts. . all gather in the meeting room, drafts completed – or nearly so. . . If there any final details to be gathered, these should be done before the group gathers. . . Round the room discussion. . . questions, comments. . Then. . discussion & decision: MAJOR COMMENDATIONS – NO MORE THAN FIVE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS - NO MORE THAN FIVE FINAL DISCUSSION AND VOTE ON EACH STANDARD

Discussion of Rating System: • Met 1 • Met 2 • Unmet 1 • Unmet 2

• EXIT INTERVIEW • LAST MOMENTS ON CAMPUS – • All SCHOOL MEETING? • FAREWELL TO COMMITTEE

The Chair's Final Responsibilities 1. Edit the Report as needed 2. Send it to the Committee with a VERY limited window to respond; THANK them for their work 3. Send this draft to the Head of School for FACTUAL ACCURACY ONLY 4. With all of this information, do final edit 5. Push SUBMIT 6. Complete necessary documents [See Appendix P, Q, R]