Volunteers

Get involved!

The heart of NEASC Accreditation is peer review and the process relies on the thousands of volunteer educators who serve on our Board of Trustees and Commissions, and participate as members of the Visiting Teams ("Visitors") that engage in hundreds of on-site school visits each year.

NEASC Visitors are well-trained peer reviewers who put their best efforts forth when they visit schools to observe teaching and learning, meet with members of the learning community, and validate the findings from a school's self-reflection. NEASC Visitors are excited about the future of education and interested in helping other schools gain traction for their improvements and transformations. Visitors are flexible thinkers, caring collaborators, fluent communicators, and generous with their time and talents.

Participating on a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team is a unique, immersive experience frequently referred to by our volunteers as the most impactful professional development they've had as an educator.

Volunteer Benefits

Peer review is a unique opportunity for schools to receive a detailed, objective assessment/validation from trusted, highly qualified, and thoroughly trained colleagues from the educational community. The experience garnered from school visits is extremely helpful not only to the individual volunteers, but to their home school as well, as it enhances a school's preparation for their own pathway to NEASC Accreditation.

Community Commitment

Once a school becomes a Candidate for Accreditation or a fully accredited NEASC member school it is a very important aspect of the accreditation process — and a NEASC policy — that the school head encourage academic staff and leadership to qualify to serve as a NEASC volunteer and to allow them to participate on Visiting Teams when invited.

View NEASC Volunteer Policy

Am I eligible? Check volunteer requirements for visits to:

International Schools

All those interested in serving as a Visitor for the NEASC Commission on International Education must first read the following document which includes the detailed steps and requirements for approval:

How to become visitor for international schools

ELIGIBILITY
Those interested in serving as a Visitor for the NEASC Commission on International Education must meet the following requirements and preferred qualities:

NEASC Accreditation Visitor Requirements
- Minimum of 5 years of educational experience
- Mid- to senior-level leadership experience
- Strong understanding of modern approaches to learning and teaching
- Deep understanding of whole school operations
- Understanding of NEASC philosophy and accreditation processes
- Strong interpersonal communication skills and technical written English

Send questions to cie@neasc.org

Thank you, NEASC, for the opportunity to go on an accreditation visit. The positive collaboration and meaningful conversations with colleagues on an international scale made it an amazing and deeply rewarding experience. I certainly hope to participate in more NEASC visits in the future.

--Matthew J. Papino, Teacher - Warwick Veterans Memorial Middle School, RI

Independent Schools

In order to serve as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on an independent school visit, teachers and administrators must:

be currently employed as a teacher or administrator in a school accredited by NEASC
have at least two years of relevant professional experience
understand that collaboration and writing are involved

NEASC is also informed about potential volunteers for visits to independent schools through school leadership. Please contact your head of school, principal, or director to express your interest.

Send questions to cis@neasc.org

Many have said that NEASC visits are the best professional development experiences, and this is not an exaggeration. The opportunity to reflect and the ideas team members enjoy sharing, as well as the invaluable discussions on education are incredible. You truly feel like you have become part of a global community dedicated to learning.

— Lynne Bibi, PYP Elementary Teacher / Grade Level Leader, Wellspring Learning Community

Public Schools

In order to serve as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on a public school visit, teachers and administrators must:

hold current certification as a teacher or administrator in one of the six New England states
be currently employed as a teacher or administrator in a school accredited by NEASC
have at least two years experience
have some understanding of the Standards for Accreditation for public schools
understand that collaboration and writing are involved
have the recommendation and approval of the school head

NEASC is notified of prospective volunteers for public school visits via school heads, so make sure to let your school head know that you are interested.

Send questions to cps@neasc.org

The best part of participating on a NEASC Visiting Team was the opportunity to be welcomed into a professional team of educators from across New England and the chance to get to know a learning community behind the scenes. It was a valuable opportunity to reflect on my own practice and the ways I may use best practices within my own school community.

— Team survey response