Dear LREI Community, 
I hope this note finds you well as we barrel down towards the vernal equinox and, maybe more importantly, to spring break (reminder – Friday 3/17 is a full day of school.) The rhythm of our school year brings with it all sorts of LREI traditions and spring break means, among other things, Founders Day, the end of the second trimester, and the last trimester of regular classes for our seniors.
Also in the rhythm of our year, or our years, earlier this week LREI was visited by an accreditation team from the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS.) This week’s visit was the mid-term check-in five years into our ten year accreditation period. Every 10 years NYSAIS schools undergo an extensive review by a team of colleagues from other NY independent schools. The five year check-in brings in a smaller team (2-3 people) to see if the institution is following up on the visiting team’s recommendations and to examine the school’s leadership, governance, and financial structures.
I am sure that the final report from our visiting committee will have recommendations. After all, that is the purpose of these visits – to grow, to improve, to become a better LREI. These recommendations will come with the final version of the report which we will receive in May after the report is approved by two bodies – the NYSAIS Commission on Accreditation and the NYSAIS Board of Trustees. (I served on the commission for six years which was a terrific experience and am currently a member of the NYSAIS Board.) When we have the final report, I will share the committee’s recommendations.
At the end of Tuesday’s visit, the chair of the visiting committee met with LREI’s staff and offered commendations for:
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LREI’s understanding of the NYC independent school landscape, for taking the long view;
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Creating LREI’s strategic arrangement with Blue School;
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Raising a significant endowment in order to protect the school’s mission; and for
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The message they heard from trustees, parents, and students regarding the expertise of the faculty.
One thing is sure, the successes evidenced by the committee’s commendations are made possible by this incredible community – families, students, trustees, and every one of my colleagues. As I met with the visiting committee chair earlier this week he asked about our “pandemic experience.” I looked back to our experience three years ago next week, when in the space of about 10 days my colleagues created what was essentially a new school, all online, that we attended for a few months and then created another one that we went to for much of the next year and then another and another. We learned so much during this time that continues to reverberate today. I am so proud of our students for their work and resilience and for what they are currently bringing to school each day in the face of all of the challenges they face. I am so very grateful for the care, the work, the creativity, and the sheer endurance of each and every colleague who focused on the needs of the students and families and the institution, while grappling with all that the pandemic meant for them personally. And, as you may remember, they were amazing. They are still amazing.
I feel that I am beginning to have a glimpse of what we will learn about ourselves as we gain a greater perspective on that time. I do wonder what this generation of school kids will bring with them into the future, what they will create, and what they will do for each other in response to this formative moment. I hope that it makes them eager for better and impatient for change. I hope that it causes them to dream of places and times that will center the humanity of every individual and that will highlight our shared responsibilities and dreams.
Peace and health,
