Accreditation

More than thirty years ago I completed my teaching credential and master’s degree in Education. I accepted my first “real” teaching position (not counting my student teaching at Gunn High School in Palo Alto). I was a resident faculty member teaching US History/Government, and living with junior girls in a residence hall, at Santa Catalina School in Monterey. I was not much older than the seniors I was teaching!

Last week I had the “mind-blowing” experience of returning to the school where I started my career, as part of an accrediting team evaluating it. Four people were still there who had been there many years ago: two retired nuns who had been administrators, the former chair of the social studies department to whom I reported, and one of my former students who is now working as a fund-raising officer for major gifts.

Seeing the Study Hall reminded me of all of the morning assemblies we had in that room. When I was hired at the school, I was told that I would be responsible for a group of students who had gotten into some trouble and had developed a “bad reputation.” I remember making the decision to start my time with them by talking with them openly. I told them that we had a chance to start over again, and that whatever had happened in the past was in the past. I was giving them a new opportunity. The following morning, we had an assembly with the entire school in attendance. Each class’s advisors were introduced. As each grade’s advisors were named, the students applauded. But when they announced my name, all of the juniors stood on their chairs and cheered at the top of their lungs. No one was more stunned than I! They really appreciated that I spoke openly with them and believed in them. I remember Sister Claire asking me in an incredulous tone “What did you say to them?!” Over the year, they became the most respected class on campus. Incidentally, during this visit I had a chance to chat a bit with Sister Claire, and she told me that her first teaching job was teaching second grade at the school where I was the Head at the time. Isn’t life strange?!

Besides just reminiscing about my early teaching days, I wanted to mention that it was incredibly meaningful being a part of a collaborative team that used our combined skills to support the needs of another school, helping them in their efforts to improve their program and the experience of their students. The school wrote a 440-page Self Study report for us to read telling us about their mission and values, teaching and learning, finances, operations, governance and administration, and the ways that they use data to sustain and improve their school. I worked with an incredible group of professionals from independent schools across the state to provide a comprehensive review of their school. We had seven amazing educators at the table and shared a variety of insightful and divergent ideas and views. Our findings were enriching for all. I believe that the outcome of our discussions, which went late into the night, resulted in a valuable outcome for the school.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro.