For Chairs
The Visiting Committee Chairperson plays a major role in the accreditation process. He or she represents the Commission in the field and is given the responsibility to lead the peer review process. Chairpersons are chosen from among evaluators who have served successfully in various roles on visiting committees and who have been recommended by other chairs for the position of assistant chair or chair. Each chair undergoes a training prior to a visit and participates in the Annual Summer Workshop for Chairs sponsored by the Commission.
Chairpersons are, first and foremost, the leaders of the visiting committees on which they serve. It is their primary task to know the Commission standards, understand the accreditation process and organize and enable a team of practitioners to gather evidence to write an effective report that accurately and confidently reflects the strengths and needs of the school seeking accreditation.
Chairpersons organize the visit in conjunction with the school principal and steering committee chairs providing a schedule for the three and one half days, collaborating on the visit arrangements and communications and ensuring that the self-study and appropriate supporting materials are in place and available for the committee members. In addition, chairpersons orient and train the visiting committee members on site and provide support and encouragement as the process moves forward.
Chairpersons finalize the report prior to its submission to the Commission by working with the Commission editor, asking the school to check for factual accuracy and reviewing it to ensure that it reflects the findings of the committee in relation to the school and its mission.
Chairs volunteer for this work with no reward but the intrinsic awareness that they are giving a part of themselves back to the profession and supporting their peers at the same time. If you are interested in serving as a chairperson on a visiting committee representing the Commission on Public Elementary and Middle Schools, please contact the Commission office.
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