AdvancED
The third domain of the AdvancED accreditation process is Academic Excellence. This domain focuses on articulating and documenting the rigorous curriculum the Diocese of Evansville Catholic schools are traditionally known for.
Basic and religious curriculua, Catholic values, 21st century skills, and skills necessary for students to be successful in the world beyond school are continuously being reviewed and implemented to ensure that learning and instructional practices reflect the expectations and goals of the diocese schools.
Leading the committee overseeing this domain are Theresa Berendes, principal of Resurrection Catholic School in Evansville, and Sally Sternberg, principal of the new Holy Trinity Catholic School in Dubois County.
Diocesean schools have been asked to complete benchmark assessments to determine where they stand with academic excellence as a way of establishing a starting point. Some pieces of the “big picture” include ISTEP scores, SAT scores, ACT scores, and ECA assessments. Data are compiled and reviewed to identify areas where schools excel and areas where schools are struggling. Schools that are excelling will be used as models for schools working toward similar results.
Each school is working with its own AdvancED core team to archive data and documents to support each benchmark. “We are just now starting to educate principals on how to dig into our available data, and use it for future school development.” Sternberg said. “The core group will continue to present the data at administration meetings throughout the year to help guide others through the process.”
“It is important for the readers of The Message to know that our Catholic schools continue to be rich in our faith, curriculua, and tradition,” explained Berendes, “and the AdvancED process will affirm our strengths and highlight areas where we can improve – which, in the end, will make our schools even stronger.”
