Shekou International School has been accredited by WASC since 1991 when we were only a few years old.   During that time many people have come and gone, our programs have evolved and matured, and our practices and processes have become more professional and progressive. There is a constant that I think has been fundamental to the continuous improvement, and that is our cycle of reflection, analysis, planning and implementation which underpins our commitment to the WASC accreditation. Far from being an addition to the life of our school, it is at the core of who we are and aspire to be. I feel that our internally conducted reviews with the external/collegial accountability and support is the right mix to keep our focus on continuing to meet our own expectations of quality.

International School Bangkok has been proudly accredited by WASC for more than three decades. We highly value our partnership with WASC for a number of very important reasons. First, the WASC process is focused on improving student learning – the core work of any school. Second, the level of professionalism in the WASC organisation is consistently high. Third, WASC employs great people who are always available, always understanding, and always helpful. Finally, the WASC school improvement process really works and ISB is a much better school because of our relationship of many years.

The WASC accreditation process has been the most significant factor in guiding the overall school planning and development. Through the support of our assigned consultant, we began the process of re-examining every aspect of our school starting with the vision, mission, and goals, then developing our School Wide Learning Outcomes with the participation of all stakeholders, followed by determining our directional goals based on this process.  We have created school-wide committees that work collaboratively to support the growth and this has impacted our school culture and climate.  We have been guided and trained throughout the process and the support has made the journey all that more rewarding. The process is challenging but I can already see the impact it has had and am excited to see our school develop over time as a result of the WASC accreditation process.

Having participated in the WASC accreditation process is one of the most meaningful professional development experiences I have ever had. As a school administrator, it’s easy to be lost in the day to day details of running the school. WASC, however, helped to pull me up afloat so that I am not just scurrying forth, but actually looking at where I am heading. WASC’s emphasis on setting school’s strategic goals oriented around improving student learning, and aligning school decisions with those strategic goals has helped me become more thoughtful in deciding and acting on behalf of my faculty and students.

Without WASC’s support, there would be no TGS Changemaker Curriculum. WASC’s ability not to only support tried and tested curriculum models but also new, exciting, progressive visions of teaching and learning paradigms is second-to-none. As a member of the TGS leadership, we can honestly say that working alongside WASC as partners is at the centre of our strategic planning their continued guidance is essential for TGS’s future growth and development.