48° and Overcast
Image
4-29-2025 12:21am
Westwood Parents and Caregivers Invited to Take Part in WPS Accreditation Process
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Thanks to Westwood Public Schools for sharing this news with Westwood Minute.
A team of educators from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) will visit Westwood Public Schools (WPS) next month, on Thursday, May 1st and Friday, May 2nd as part of the 10-year accreditation process conducted by NEASC.
The NEASC accreditation process is technically a voluntary one to undertake, but almost all school districts in Massachusetts seek NEASC accreditation. At the end of the process, if WPS meets NEASC's standards, WPS will be fully accredited. If needed, there's an opportunity to remediate. In a high performing school district like WPS, the expectation is that WPS will be fully accredited.
The NEASC visit on Thursday, May 1st includes an opportunity for parent/caregiver participation with a meeting where NEASC representatives will review evidence to gain a comprehensive understanding of WPS. The meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Professional Development Room at Westwood High School. Parents and caregivers who are interested in taking part should email Jackie Kinsman at jkinsman@westwood.k12.ma.us
The NEASC team will also be observing classrooms and speaking with teachers, support staff, and students to gain a comprehensive understanding of the values and core beliefs of WPS, as well as the district’s priorities for the future.
“A lot of work has already happened to get to this point,” said Westwood School Superintendent Tim Piwowar, who acknowledged the leadership of NEASC Steering Committee Chairs Kate Holmes and Angela Wilson and the efforts of other members of the team. "We look forward to continuing our work throughout this process," he said.
Other members of the NEASC Steering Committee are Lauren Bergiel, Hillary Carpinella, Katherine Clifford, Tanya Ferguson, Emma Foley, Maura Jereb, Aishleen Marcus, Mallory McKearin and Dan Sorrell.
After the site visit, the NEASC team will write a report that provides commendations as well as recommendations to improve the school system.
“We look forward to seeing our strengths and areas for growth through their lens, and to implementing their recommendations in our concurrent strategic visioning process for the district,” said Superintendent Piwowar.
