Students filed into Dr. Jenny Howell’s English class one Monday morning, expecting the usual start to their day. But something was off. An unfamiliar face sat quietly in the room.
This visitor was not just a guest but also an evaluator.
Once every 10 years, The Kinkaid School goes through a re-accreditation process for the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest, or ISAS. The process ensures that the school maintains its high academic and institutional standards, consistent with the values upheld by the ISAS committee.
According to the ISAS website, visiting committees are chaired by heads of ISAS schools. The visiting committee members are drawn from ISAS administrators and faculty recommended by the heads of their schools.
When the visiting committees arrived on campus the previous night, Kinkaid administrators, faculty, staff, and students welcomed them during a reception.
“It was a pleasure to meet the Episcopal School of Dallas athletic director,” said junior Harris Kirmani, one of the select students chosen to represent Kinkaid.
The visitors continued by observing various aspects of the School, such as classrooms, meeting with faculty and administrators, and reviewing school policies and curriculum. After three days of evaluation, the committee began to compile its findings into a report.
“I describe Kinkaid as a school with wonderful, bright students and loving teachers,” said Elizabeth Payne, a member of the visiting committee, who was responsible for evaluating the Upper School.According to the ISAS website, the committee’s report will be reviewed by the ISAS Standards Committee. Following a thorough review, the committee will then use the report as the basis for their re-accreditation recommendation.
The visit was not the first step in the process. In fact, it wass one step in a much bigger process that began with Kinkaid undergoing an extensive self-study, which served as a period of reflection on the School’s mission, strengths, and areas for improvement.
“The accreditation visit provides a goal toward which self-study progresses,” the ISAS website stated.
Before leaving campus, two members of the ISAS committee presented their recommendations and commendations to faculty and staff, marking the culmination of Kinkaid’s extensive re-accreditation process.
