MSA-CESS accredits preK-12 public, private, parochial, charter, non-degree granting career and technical post-secondary institutions, systems of schools, and learning services providers. Historically, MSA-CESS accredited schools only in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia) however, over time membership has grown to include schools in 39 U.S. States and 112 countries around the world.
MSA-CESS is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA and works with volunteers across the country and around the world to support school improvement through accreditation.
Our Staff
Join Our Team
Interested in joining the MSA-CESS team? Click here for current job openings.
There are many other ways to get involved with accreditation including serving as an advisory committee member or Commissioner for MSA-CESS or a volunteer for Visiting Teams. For more information about how to get involved, contact us at accreditation@msa-cess.org.
The Commissions
The work of MSA-CESS is overseen by two governing bodies, the Commission on Elementary Schools and the Commission on Secondary Schools. The Commissions are made up of educational leaders from across our region, representative of our membership in terms of geography and type of educational institution. Commissioners serve three year terms and are elected by a ballot sent to the full MSA-CESS membership. Commissioners meet twice a year in Philadelphia, where MSA-CESS is headquartered, to review each accreditation report, and review the organization’s finances, policies, and strategic plan.
Both Commissions build on the rich history of the Middle States Association by working to improve the quality of education in the region and around the world.
Members of the Commission on Elementary Schools
Commission Chair
William (Bill) Crist
Superintendent
Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Oswego, NY
Carol Aversa
Accreditation Director
ACSI
Colorado Springs, CO
Jennifer Beckwith, Ph.D.
Founding Director
American United School of Kuwait
Kuwait
John J. D’Adamo
Head of Middle & Upper School
York Country Day School
York, PA
Bro. Tyrone A. Davis, C.F.C., J.D
Executive Director
The Cultural Diversity Apostolate
Archdiocese of New York
New York, NY
Carol A. DeFuria
President & CEO
VHS Learning
Maynard, MA
William Fleming, M.Ed
Principal
Interdistrict Public School Choice Program
Bergenfield Public Schools
Bergenfield, NJ
Brian Hayden
President/CEO
Pennsylvania Cyber Charter HS
Beaver, PA
Suzanna Jemsby
Head of School
Washington, International School
Washington, DC
Nabil Michel Kaldas
High School Principal
New Generation International Schools
Cairo, Egypt
Julia Musella
Head of School
BB International School
Florida
Peggy Pelonis, Ed.D., MBA, LFT, P.P.S.
President
American Community Schools
Athens, Greece
Clayton J. Petry
Executive Director
National Council for Private School Accreditation (NCPSA)
Seattle, WA
Timothy Purnell, Ed.D.
CEO
NEXT for Autism
New York, NY
Malika Savoy-Brooks, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Support Officer
School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Michael Smith
Head of School
American School of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
John Sturges
Managing Director
Siebrand-Wilton Associates
Morganville, NJ
Maria Sweeney
Head of Center
LeMan Manhattan Preparatory School
New York, NY
Alexis Torres
President
Forward Learning
San Juan, PR
Tara Weber
Principal
G. Harold Antrim Elementary School
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Members of the Commission on Secondary Schools
Commission Chair
James Kraft, Ed.D
Director
Kraft Educational Consulting, LLC
Philadelphia, PA
Ligia Alberto, Ed.D
Director of Assessment, Data Analysis and Alternative Program
Bergenfield Alternative School
Bergenfield, NJ
John Coble
Retired Educator
Reading, PA
Ron Davis, Ed.D.
Asst. Superintendent of Secondary Education
Mount Lebanon School District
Pittsburgh, PA
Stephanie Morgan Davis, CPA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Olney, MD
Jim Evans, Esq.
Attorney
Barclay Damon, LLP
Syracuse, NY
Jay Fund
President
Hunter Business School
Massapequa, NY
Sarah Gallagher
Head of School
Marymount International School
Rome, Italy
Betty Lucas-Gardner
Head of School
ProTrain, LLC.
Raleigh, NC
Philip Harris
School to Work Coordinator
Berks Career & Technology Center
Leesport, PA
Christopher Irving, Ed.D.
Executive Director & CEO
The Ceceilyn Miller Institute for
Leadership and Diversity in America
Clifton, NJ
Kevin McNulty
Department Chair & Staff Developer
Iona Preparatory School
New York, NY
Caryn G. Pass
Partner, Education Practice Chair
Venable, LLP
Washington, DC
Frank Preston
President and Director of Education
ACI Medical and Dental School
Eatontown, NJ
Walter D. Reap, Sr.
Principal
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Maryland
Baltimore, MD
Daniel Stabile, Ph.D.
College/Academic Counselor
Bishop O’Connell High School
Falls Church, VA
Amy Stella, Ed.D.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development
Northern Burlington County Regional School District
Columbus, NJ
Amy Wesley
Executive Director, Operations
SABIS
Eden Prairie, MN
Brian A. Zychowski, Ph.D.
Superintendent
North Brunswick Township Public Schools
North Brunswick, NJ
Domestic Schools Advisory
Mr. Chip Antonelli
Retired
NJ/FL
Rob Arena
Senior Director of Online Programs
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Baltimore, MD
Virginia M. Burnett
Teacher
Colegio Puertorriqueño de Niñas
San Juan, PR
Lisa Campisi
Director of Accreditation, Corporate Sponsor Liaison
New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
Budd Lake, NJ
Carissa Casey
Co-Founder/Consultant
EQuicentric Consulting
Haverford Township, Pennsylvania
David Cosme
Director of Student Achievement
Renaissance Academy Charter School
Phoenixville, PA
Belkise Dallam
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Regis High School
Ridgefield, NJ
Jillian Darefsky,Ed.D.
Executive Head of School
The Siena School
Silver Spring, MD
Stephen Dicicco
Principal
Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic School
Levittown, PA
Christine L. Garrido, MS
Special Education Teacher
Lenape Regional High School District
Medford, NJ
Joseph C. Goode
Retired Principal
Benton, PA
Mrs. Rita Hernandez
Head of School
Academia Maria Reina
Puerto Rico
Charles Keller, IV
Director of Teaching and Learning
Church Farm School in Exton, PA
Glenmoore, PA
Suzanne Kraai
Director of Enrollment
Eastern Christian School
North Haledon, NJ
Dr. Michael Murphy
Educator
Lebanon School District
Lebanon, PA
Dr. Janicka Newbill
Director of Special Projects/Office of Pathways to Graduation
School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
Emily Parsons
Director of Community Engagement and History Faculty Member
Mercersburg Academy
Mercersburg, PA
Victor J. Pellechia, Ed.D.
Upper Level Director
Notre Dame Preparatory School
Towson, MD
Tracey Pritchard
Head of School
The Christian Academy
Brookhaven, PA
Frank Radzievich
Retired-English Teacher/Adjunct Professor
Schuylkill Area High School/Nova Southeastern University
Drums, PA
Ms. Viviam Salib
Head of School
Saint Francis School
Puerto Rico
Adam Schnug
Principal
Catasauqua High School
Northampton, PA
Martha Serretta
Chief Operations Officer
Prestans Online Academy
Lyme, Connecticut
Niambi Stewart
Performance Specialist – Alternative and High Schools
Prince George’s County Public High Schools
Upper Marlboro, MD
John Student
ELA Teacher
Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School
Drexel Hill, PA
Danielle A. Suber
Head of Inclusivity and Belonging
Malvern Preparatory School
Coatesville, PA
Michelle Tuorto-Collins
Asst. Headmaster for Academics
St. Benedict’s Preparatory School
Newark, NJ
International Schools Advisory
Mr. Paul Buckley
Director
American International School of Zagreb
Croatia
Dr. Kapono Ciotti
Director
American International School in Egypt
Egypt
Ms. Lori Dickason
Special Projects Consultant
International Christian School of Budapest
Hungary
Ms. Debbie Downes
Director of Global School Initiatives
International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC)
Belarus
Dr. Roxanne Giampapa
President
Pinewood American International School
Greece
Dr. Jeremy Moore
Director
American International School of Johannesburg
South Africa
Mr. Nicolaas Mostert
Head of School
Istanbul International Community School
Istanbul, Turkey
Mr. Michael Murphy
Superintendent
American School of Kuwait
Kuwait
Ms. Michelle Phillip-Mitchell
Superintendent
Ross Preparatory School
St. Kitts & Nevis
Ms. Sarah Putman
Head of School Emerita
The American School of Tangier
Morocco
Dr. Michelle Remington
Director
The KAUST School
Saudi Arabia
Mr. Jeff Trudeau
Director
International School of Ouagadougou
Burkina Faso
Career and Technology Advisory Committee
Chuck Copt
Director of Education
Hunter Business School
Medford, NY
Jeffrey Gonzales
Owner
Elite School of Cosmetology
Panama City, FL
Jennifer Lamkin
Vice President of Licensing & Accreditation
Cyanna Education Services
Glendale, AZ
Katherine McCulloch
Educational Consultant
Coconut Creek, FL
Sherman Mcleod
President & CEO
Philadelphia Technician Training
Philadelphia, PA
Kimberly Rommen
Head of School
American Training Center
Pennsauken, NJ
Dominic Terlizzi
Head of School/Academic Director
P.I. Art Center Manhattan
New York, NY
Jennifer Whelan
Business Manager
ASI Career Institute LLC
Turnersville, NJ
Nicole Zernick
Career & Technical Education Coordinator
Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center
Altoona, PA
