Commission on Independent Schools

The NEASC Commission on Independent Schools, one of the three commissions of NEASC, supports a wide range of private schools in New England including traditional boarding and day preparatory schools, private elementary schools, schools serving students with special needs, and religiously affiliated schools of many faiths.

For nearly a century, New England’s leading independent schools have trusted NEASC for their accreditation and school improvement needs. As a recognized leader in educational quality, NEASC understands and celebrates the unique missions, visions, and values of each school, offering a process that is deeply attuned to the strengths across New England's independent education community.

Independent School Accreditation

What sets NEASC apart is its flexibility. Schools benefit from options that include cooperation with regional, national, and international associations, as well as alignment with state approval processes. Accreditation is granted by a Commission of trusted educators, whose peer understanding ensures the process is rooted in shared values of excellence.

As a member of the NEASC community, your school will join a global network of over 1,500 independent, public, and international schools, gaining access to a wealth of professional learning resources. The recognition associated with NEASC Accreditation is respected globally, embraced by parents, prospective teachers, colleges, and educational departments around the world.

NEASC Commissions

We genuinely appreciate the opportunity to engage in NEASC's reflective and meaningful process of assessment, and again want to thank the Visiting Team for representing the culmination of that work with integrity.

--John Kaufman, Head of School - Middlebridge School, Narragansett, RI

Members of the Commission

The NEASC Commission on Independent Schools is composed of school leaders, senior administrators, and public members who bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the shared work of school improvement. In forming the Commission, NEASC is intentional about ensuring broad representation—balancing elementary and secondary schools; including voices from all six New England states; and engaging leaders from a diverse array of school types, including single‑sex and coeducational, boarding and day, faith-based and secular, and schools of varying sizes.

The Commission’s broad and diverse makeup is not simply a benefit; it is one of NEASC’s defining advantages as an accrediting organization. It enables the Commission to engage in rich, thoughtful dialogue about the educational issues facing our member schools, to learn from one another’s experiences, and to affirm the shared value that all schools—across many models and missions—should strive for excellence in serving students.

The Commission meets three times each year to review reports from schools and Visiting Teams. It is responsible for overseeing accreditation policies and procedures; recommending updates to Standards; determining accreditation status; and reporting to the NEASC Board on matters of candidacy, initial or continued accreditation, or removal from accreditation. Commissioners serve three‑year terms, renewable once.

Tyrone Black, Ed.D., Chair of the Commission
Associate Head of School
The Winchendon School
Winchendon, MA

Noor Ali
Former Principal
Al-Hamra Academy
Shrewsbury, MA

Cliona Beaulieu
Head of School
Enfield Montessori School
Enfield, CT

Randy Bertin
Head of School
Cushing Academy
Ashburnham, MA

Kate Brandley
Regional Head of School
Saint John Paul II Catholic Academies
Dorchester, MA

Carrie Brennan
Head of School
Thetford Academy
Thetford Center, VT

Linda Brodeur
President
Bishop Guertin High School
Nashua, NH

Jeffrey Burroughs
Head of School
Lincoln Academy
Newcastle, ME

Michael Clark
Head of School
Northwest Catholic High School
West Hartford, CT

Thomas Dillow
Head of School
Kingswood Oxford School
West Hartford, CT

Brian Easler
Head of School
Wilbraham & Monson Academy
Wilbraham, MA

Nina Freeman
Assistant Head of School
Brooks School
North Andover, MA

Sharon Howell
Headmaster
St. Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury, VT

Allison Hurt
Principal
Catholic Academy of Bridgeport -
St. Augustine Academy
Bridgeport, CT

Bridget Irish
Head of School
Cotting School
Lexington, MA

Ben Jackson
Head of School
North Yarmouth Academy
North Yarmouth, ME

Eric Kester
Assistant Head of School
Middlesex School
Concord, MA

James Melone
Head of School
Saint Patrick Academy
Portsmouth, NH

Katherine Meyer
Head of School
High Mowing School
Wilton, NH

Michael Miele
Principal
Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School
Cranston, RI

Andrew Nagy
Principal
Rice Memorial High School
South Burlington, VT

Jeffrey Philbrick
Headmaster
Jesse Remington High School
Candia, NH

Donis Tracy
Principal
Immaculate Conception School
Revere, MA

The NEASC Commission on Independent Schools aspires to assure the positive and equitable development of all students, inspire creativity, foster excellence and promote institutional well-being, NEASC Accreditation engages schools in aspirational, mission-driven self-study and peer review.