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The Middle States Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools


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

Staff Directory

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

William (Bill) Crist
Superintendent
Catholic Diocese of Syracuse
Oswego, NY

 

Carol Aversa
Accreditation Director
Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI)
Pennsylvania, USA

Jennifer Beckwith, Ph.D.
Founding Director
American United School of Kuwait

John J. D’Adamo
Head of Middle & Upper School
York Country Day School
Pennsylvania, USA

Bro. Tyrone A. Davis, C.F.C., J.D
Executive Director of the Cultural Diversity Apostolate
Archdiocese of New York

Carol A. DeFuria
President & CEO
VHS Learning
Massachusetts, USA

William Fleming, M.Ed
Principal
Interdistrict Public School Choice Program
Bergenfield Public Schools
New Jersey, USA

Nabil Michel Kaldas
High School Principal
New Generation International Schools
Cairo, Egypt

Julia Musella
Head of School
BB International School
Florida, USA

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)
Washington, USA

Timothy Purnell, Ed.D.
CEO, NEXT for Autism
New York, USA

John Sturges
Managing Director
Siebrand-Wilton Associates
New Jersey, USA

Maria Sweeney
Head of Center
LeMan Manhattan Preparatory School
New York, USA

Alexis Torres
President
Forward Learning
Puerto Rico, USA

Tara Weber
Principal
Harold Antrim Elementary School
New Jersey, USA

Members of the Commission on Secondary Schools

Commission Chair: Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty
Dept Chair & Staff Developer
Iona Preparatory School
New York, USA

 

Ligia Alberto, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina Wilmington

Ron Davis, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education
Mt. Lebanon School District
Pennsylvania, USA

Stefanie Morgan Davis, CPA, MBA
Chief Financial Officer
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
Maryland, USA

Jim Evans, Esq.
Attorney
Barclay Damon, LLP
New York, USA

Betty Lucas-Gardner
Head of School
ProTrain, LLC.
North Carolina, USA

Philip Harris
School to Work Coordinator
Berks Career & Technology Center
Pennsylvania, USA

Christopher Irving, Ed.D.
Superintendent
East Orange School District
New Jersey, USA

Suzanna Jemsby
Head of School
Washington International School
Washington, DC, USA

James Kraft, Ed.D.
Director
Kraft Educational Consulting L.L.C.
Pennsylvania, USA

Caryn G. Pass
Partner, Education Practice Chair
Venable, LLP
Washington, DC

Walter D. Reap, Sr.
President
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Maryland, USA

Michael Smith
Head of School
American School of Valencia
Valencia, Spain

Amy Stella, Ed.D.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development
Northern Burlington County Regional School District
New Jersey, USA

Amy Wesley
Executive Director, Operations
SABIS
Minnesota, USA

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

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

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