This week Mr. Horner shares highlights from last week’s visit with Mary Menacho, Executive Director of Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) as well as the benefits of becoming a full member of ISACS. In addition, Shawn Leight, Board of Trustees Chair, and Mary share their insights about the visit.
The school’s Strategic Plan, Embracing our Rich Heritage, Creating our Bold Future, envisions our school becoming a full member of ISACS. As a current provisional member, we are progressing toward full membership.
This past week, we were fortunate to host Mary Menacho for two days. She spent time touring our school, visiting classrooms and learning about our history and mission. In addition, Mary met with the Marketing and Enrollment Committee as well as the Board of Trustees during their retreat last Saturday.
Why join ISACS?
The combination of the ISACS Self-Study, improvement plan, and Visiting Team report will combine with the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals (SHCOG) process and provide each with an area of focus. SHCOG focuses on our Sacred Heart charism and our Catholic identity, while ISACS will focus on the academic program, administrative services, and daily operations.
ISACS also provides:
- A career center to recruit faculty and staff
- Groups for faculty and staff to join for professional development and dialogue specific to their work
- Conferences for professional development
- An nationally recognized accreditation process
- The ability for Academy faculty and staff to serve on a Visiting Team for another school. Having served on almost 10 Visiting Teams, I can attest that this experience is one of the most rewarding and most fulfilling professional development experiences.
A note from Mr. Shawn Leight, Board of Trustees Chair:
As the Chair of the Board of Trustees, I have found the progress toward full membership in the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) fulfilling. This membership places us in the company of some of the finest schools in the country. The accreditation and professional development services of ISACS are recognized as some of the best in the independent school community, serving over 240 schools and 90,000 students.
This past weekend, the Board of Trustees was blessed to have Mary Menacho, Executive Director of ISACS, as the facilitator at this year’s annual Board Retreat. Mary led us in a discussion about best practices of governance of independent schools. This was a part of a larger visit to our school and a step toward the Academy becoming fully accredited in ISACS.
ISACS accreditation compliments the Academy’s membership in the Network of Sacred Heart Schools. The Sacred Heart Network keeps the Academy true to mission through the Goals and Criteria and Sacred Hearth Commission on Goals (SHCOG). The Sacred Heart Network supports the Academy in so many ways including offering resources, hosting networking events, facilitating mentoring, and providing RSCJ representation on our Board. This foundational relationship with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools will be complimented through ISACS accreditation.
ISACS is already supporting the Academy as a resource for best practices in independent schools. ISACS provides professional development opportunities such as networking and webinars as well as resources that the Academy can use to benchmark against other independent schools. Several Sacred Heart Network Schools are a part of the ISACS network.
One of my takeaways from our Board Retreat is that the Academy measures well against peer independent schools. This visit also confirmed that our current work is focused in the right areas. It also helped to establish the Board’s relationship with ISACS. We look forward to our work with both the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and ISACS as we prepare for our next 200 years of educating and inspiring the hearts and minds of children to become courageous and confident leaders who know and love God and reveal that love by serving others.
A note from Mary Menacho, ISACS Executive Director
To the ASH Community,
Part of my role as Executive Director of ISACS, the accrediting association for Academy of the Sacred Heart, I have the honor and pleasure of visiting some of the 242 ISACS schools across 13 midwestern states. On December 6 and 7, I was welcomed by students, faculty, staff, and trustees at your school. Visiting classrooms where engaged and comfortable students shared what they were learning was, of course, a highlight. Every adult I observed or spoke with shared their dedication to the children they serve. Student learning was evident in every setting. A particular highlight was observing rehearsal for the upcoming Silver Teas. The entire K-8 classes gathered to prepare. I loved seeing the adoration of younger children for those in higher grades as well as the genuine care in the greetings and guidance older students freely shared with the younger ones. Couched in the history and tradition of the school’s buildings and grounds, your children are being well prepared in character and academics for the realities their times will bring. I am grateful for this visit!
