As many of you know, team members from the Advisory Council on Dependents Education (ACDE) visited several of our DoDDS Pacific schools. Additionally, from April 13 to April 28, 2004 , the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) also visited our schools. On April 30, 2004 , the ACDE held a formal meeting in Tokyo , Japan , to report its findings and discuss matters related to dependents education in DoDEA, and specifically in the Pacific. During the meeting, the assistant executive director from NCA CASI also provided a summary report. It gives me great pleasure to share with you some of the findings reported as a result of the ACDE and NCA CASI visitations.
The ACDE members visited three schools in each district - Korea , Japan and Okinawa . The ACDE is comprised of appoin tee s from the Department of Defense and the Department of Education and includes the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Military Community and Family Policy). ACDE appoin tee s comprise individuals from education institutions and agencies, DoDDS teachers' unions, unified military commands, parents of DoDDS students, and one DoDDS student.
The overall impression resulting from the ACDE visitations was that "teachers and counselors are doing a wonderful job." During the Council's summary of findings, they indicated that school climates were supportive, leaders were advocates for learning, student learning was celebrated and displayed, and teachers had a variety of opportunities for professional development. They lauded schools for their nurturing environments, mutual caring and respect, effective commit tee s, high academic expectations, and shared leadership. ACDE stated that communication systems and collaboration between the military and the schools were "exemplary." They found standards to be in place throughout the schools, and noted the use of varied assessment tools to measure student progress as well as teamwork among grade levels and departments.
The NCA CASI teams visited 11 schools-six in Japan , and three each in Korea and Okinawa . Two team chairpersons from NCA CASI led the teams, which also included five to six DoDDS Pacific augmenters.
The NCA CASI summary report provided additional insights. They noted that schools evidenced an integration of all school improvement initiatives, and that there was better stakeholder involvement, improved implementation of interventions, and improved reliance on research. From an historical perspective, NCA reported that our schools have a better understanding of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan, greater levels of shared leadership in the school improvement process, increased articulation of our vision by the administration, and access to the military in support of areas related to education and school improvement. They also observed a significant impact of school administrators in the area of professional development.
Both ACDE and NCA commented on the tremendous work ethic in the DoDDS system, and I couldn't agree more. Because of your diligence, attention to detail, love of your profession, and relentless, tireless commitment to teaching and learning, our schools have received these extraordinary remarks. I am deeply proud of each and every one of you, and thank you for your service to the education and development of our young people in the Department of Defense.
Nancy
C. Bresell
Director, DoDDS Pacific
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