Volunteers

At the heart of NEASC Accreditation are the thousands of volunteers who generously donate their time and expertise to serve on our Board of Trustees and Commissions, and who participate as members of the Visiting Teams ("Visitors") that engage in hundreds of on-site school visits each year.

Community Commitment

Once a school becomes a Candidate for Accreditation or a fully accredited NEASC member school, it is expected that the school head will identify and encourage both academic staff and leadership to qualify to serve as a NEASC Visitors, and to allow them to participate on Visiting Teams when invited.

The experience garnered from involvement with NEASC is extremely helpful not only to the individual volunteers, but also to their home school, as it can help a school prepare for their own pathway to NEASC Accreditation.

View NEASC Volunteer Policy

A group of people with their hands placed together in a circle

I would like to record my enormous appreciation of the NEASC Visiting Team for their wonderful educational lens. It was remarkable to see the small things which they noticed, their capacity to engage thoughtfully with the entire school community, and the generous way in which they communicated so that it became an enabling exercise for everyone.

— Dr. Shalini Advani, Director, Pathways School Noida, India

NEASC Visiting Teams ("Visitors")

Get involved!

Joining a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team is more than professional development. It is a transformative learning experience that reshapes how educators think about their practice. It is consistently cited by participants as the most impactful professional growth opportunity of their careers.

NEASC Visiting Team members are an outstanding asset to the process of accreditation. They are highly qualified, thoroughly trained volunteer peer reviewers from the educational community who participate in on-site school accreditation visits. They observe teaching and learning, meet with members of the learning community, and validate the findings from a school's Self-Reflection.

Group of volunteers at a Visitor training workshop

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to step into the NEASC visiting role. These days are intense, eye-opening and incredibly inspiring. I’m learning so much and at the same time truly enjoying the experience.

After so many years working in education, finding a framework that aligns so deeply with how I understand learning and growth feels like a gift. There’s something about the NEASC approach — the lens, the depth of the conversations, the intentionality — that makes me feel like I’m finally in a space that breathes the same air I do. It’s a fantastic feeling.

— Eva Castizo, High School Coordinator, Myland International High School

Am I eligible to become a NEASC Visitor?

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. Their expertise and unique perspectives contribute to the positive and meaningful impact we aim to achieve in the schools we serve.

Select the type of school visit you are interested in to view the volunteer requirements:

International Schools

All those interested in serving as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on an international school visit must:

1. Read the following document:

How to become a visitor for international schools

2. Meet the eligibility 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

International school visits are coordinated through the NEASC Commission on International Education. For more information please contact cie@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

Independent Schools in the US

All those interested in serving as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on an independent school visit in the US 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

Independent school visits are coordinated through the NEASC Commission on Independent Schools. For more information please contact cis@neasc.org.

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

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

Public Schools in the US

All those interested in serving as a NEASC Accreditation Visiting Team Member on a public school visit in the US 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

Public school visits are coordinated through the NEASC Commission on Public Schools. For more information please contact cps@neasc.org.

NEASC is notified of prospective volunteers via school leadership, so make sure to let your principal know that you are interested!

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

Visiting Team Resources

Once selected to participate, NEASC staff will provide Visiting Team members (aka Visitors) with materials and training to prepare for their role. In addition to accreditation-related resources, Visitors will receive information about logistics such as transportation, lodging, meals, and reimbursement for visit-related expenses. The Team Chair will also connect with team members prior to a scheduled school visit to review specifics.