Blue Umbrella Official October 2018 issue | Page 4

AOA E a r n e d Ne w
Ac c r e d it a t io n
By: Emily S.
Alpha Omega Academy received a
new international accreditation over the
summer. AOA is now accredited by the
Association of Christian Schools
International (ACSI). ACSI is the most
extensive Protestant Christian
accrediting body in the world.
An accreditation such as one from
ACSI proves that a school is doing the
best of its abilities to provide a top-class
education to its students, according to
the AOA Principal Julia Ellis. She
explained that accreditations also help
students move on to colleges or
transfer to a different high school.
What does this accreditation
mean for AOA? ?We wanted to be
accredited by ACSI, because it is the
largest accrediting body of Christian
schools. It reflects our commitment at
AOA to be a Christian academy, and it
reflects that we are holding ourselves
accountable to Christian principles,?
Mrs. Ellis stated.
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For a school to
receive an accreditation, it
must collect data, reports
and documents showing
how the school runs, Mrs.
Ellis revealed. Additionally,
the school will receive a site
visit from the accreditation
source. The source will interview
teachers and observe how the school
runs.
For AOA to maintain the ACSI
accreditation, Mrs. Ellis continued,
several lengths must be taken. AOA?s
staff will need to customize the
curriculum to align with Biblical truths.
Staff will also need to go through formal
training on Christian Philosophies of
Education and Biblical Integration
curriculum training.
Mrs. Ellis said the success of the
accreditation process is due in part to
the work of former Principal Joe Bakker;
Robin Inlow, AOA?s Continuous
Improvement Director; Josh Rose, AOA?s
Executive Director; and all the other
teachers, staff, and students involved in
applying and receiving ACSI?s
accreditation.