Newtown High School Gets Outside Evaluation From Educators

Newtown High School will be the subject of an on-site evaluation given by 18 outside educators from September 18 through September 21, announced Arlene Gottesman, new high school principal.

The evaluation visit will be conducted under the direction of the Commission on Public Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The visiting committee will be chaired by Edmund Higgins, principal of Branford High School. Mr Higgins has had extensive experience in the association’s evaluation process.

“The purpose of this evaluation visit is to review and determine from an outside professional viewpoint the extent to which the school is meeting the standards for accreditation,” Ms Gottesman said. “As part of the evaluation, the visiting committee will meet with all school constituents, review the school’s self study, visit a number of classes and examine examples of student work submitted by the school. During the comprehensive self study, the faculty attempted to identify the school’s strengths and determined those areas in which changes would be beneficial.”

The chair of the visiting committee, Mr Higgins said, “Our purpose in visiting Newtown High School is not to criticize but to assist the faculty in its pursuit of quality education for its students.”

Ms Gottesman pointed out, “The members of the visiting committee are contributing their services to the school. The spirit of professional cooperation is one of the noted features of the New England Association. The goal of an evaluation visit is to stimulate a continuing drive for improvement in the school.”

The members of the visiting committee are teachers and administrators from a variety of schools in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The New England Association of Schools and Colleges is a voluntary membership organization of approximately 1,850 public schools, colleges and universities, independent schools, vocational, technical, and career institutions. Of these, more than 645 secondary schools have been accredited through the Association’s Commission on Public Secondary Schools. The commission works with individual public schools to improve the quality of education through a continuous process of accreditation and evaluation.