Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Margaret's School Earns Reaccreditation
Tappahannock (January 21, 2002) - A committee of eight leaders in secondary education found "much to commend" in its recent review of St. Margaret's School, and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools agreed. In mid-January, VAIS awarded the school full accreditation for the next five years.
Photo left: - Assistant Head for School Life Cathy Sgroi and Math Department Chair Keith Krusz led the successful reaccreditation effort at St. Margaret's School. They are shown here reviewing the school's self-study report.
The multiple commendations in the visiting committee's report are especially meaningful, said Head of School Margaret R. Broad, because SMS did more than was required to receive accreditation. It not only demonstrated compliance with VAIS's 57 principles of good practice in areas ranging from curriculum to maintenance, but it also developed the action plans required by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' "School Improvement Model."
"As a result, we have both confirmation that we are doing things right and a roadmap for continuing to make St. Margaret's the best that it can be," Broad said.
The committee praised SMS for its focus on students, dedicated faculty and administration, student pride, clear identity as a church school, and use of the river in programs and promotion. Committee members based their recommendation to VAIS on a three-day campus visit and an extensive self-study report produced by SMS faculty and staff. Assistant Head for School Life Cathy Sgroi and Math Department Chair Keith Krusz coordinated the year-long work of subcommittees that drafted report sections, identified areas for further improvement and created action plans.
SMS faculty and administrators already have begun forming groups to act on the visiting committee's recommendations and to implement the school's action plans for residential life, faculty recruitment and retention, and student scheduling.
"The certificate on the wall is only a beginning," said Broad. "St. Margaret's is a school that keeps moving forward."
