During the week of October 6–10, we welcomed a team of international educators to Leipzig International School as part of our NEASC ACE accreditation visit, the next step in a journey that has been both reflective and inspiring for our entire learning community. At LIS, we see accreditation not as a checklist but as an opportunity to pause, look inward, and ask the most important question of all: What is the real impact of learning on our learners?
Why NEASC? A Pathway That Inspires Growth
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) is one of the world’s most respected accrediting bodies, known for its forward-thinking approach to learning. Through the ACE Learning Pathway, NEASC moves beyond compliance to focus on transformation, helping schools build clarity, coherence, and capacity around what truly matters: high-quality learning.
The ACE model is built on a simple but powerful belief:
Great schools never stand still. They are living, learning communities that continuously evolve to meet the needs of their learners.
At LIS, our decision to pursue NEASC accreditation is exactly that — a choice. A choice to open ourselves to reflection, to invite external perspectives, and to ensure that every part of our learning community is aligned around continuous growth. It is a choice rooted in courage and curiosity, and one that reflects our commitment to being Courageous, Inclusive, and Proud. The ACE framework invites us to explore what learning with purpose means in our unique context, to celebrate what we do well, and to identify the next steps that will move us even closer to our vision for learning at LIS.
Our Internal Reflection: Listening, Learning, and Looking Ahead
Over the past year, every voice in our community has played a part in shaping this journey: learners, teachers, parents, staff, and our Board. Parents contributed valuable perspectives through LIS Insights sessions and the NEASC community survey, offering honest reflections about their experiences and hopes for the future.
Our staff met monthly to explore and reflect on one of the ten ACE Learning Principles, connecting these ideas directly to the learning happening in classrooms every day. These conversations allowed us to look closely at our practice, celebrate growth, and identify areas where we can continue to strengthen our impact on learners.
This reflection led to the development of Major Learning Plans, long-term strategies that will guide how we continue to enhance learning across all sections of the school. They connect directly to our Shared Understanding of High-Quality Learning (SUHQL) and our Norms of Practice, ensuring that everything we do aligns with our vision for learning at LIS.
The Visit: A Celebration of Learning in Action
The NEASC Visiting Team spent the week immersed in the life of our school, visiting classrooms, meeting with learners, teachers, and parents, and exploring the many ways our values come to life each day. Their role was not to inspect but to collaborate — to engage in dialogue, challenge our thinking, and celebrate what makes LIS unique. The visit offered an opportunity to showcase the learning culture we have built together and to receive thoughtful feedback that will help us grow even stronger.
A Shared Journey of Growth
Accreditation reminds us that excellence is not a destination but a continuous journey. It is about learning together as a community that reflects, innovates, and aspires.
From this process, new initiatives have already taken root. Our Futures Committee was formed directly from the Internal Reflection, bringing together staff, parents, and learners to imagine what learning at LIS could look like in the years ahead. Likewise, our newly launched Guiding the Pride parent education series was born from this same spirit of collaboration. The first session will take place on Tuesday, October 14 at 16:00, where we will explore our Shared Understanding of High-Quality Learning and our Norms of Practice , the foundations that shape every learner’s experience at LIS.
As we conclude this important week, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the process — our learners for their curiosity and voice, our staff for their professionalism and heart, and our parents for their partnership and trust. We are proud of how far we have come and even more excited for where this path of learning will take us next. Together, we are shaping the future of learning at Leipzig International School, and that is something truly worth celebrating.