The visit is part of a unique process to ensure the school’s continued growth in Spartan values

Spartans will likely notice several new faces on The Hill next week, as a group of 19 teachers and administrators visit St. Stephen’s as part of our school’s reaccreditation process. Here’s what you need to know about this important, once-in-a-decade event.

What is Reaccreditation?

St. Stephen’s has long been accredited by both the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools, which have existed since the 1950s. These two associations are members of the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation. This dual accreditation is somewhat rare, with only 13 of ISAS’s 89 current member schools also holding SAES accreditation.

Independent schools like St. Stephen’s are not governed by the Texas Education Agency, but they must be accredited by an organization that sets forth standards for member schools to meet. Accreditation validates an independent school’s academic quality, verifies operational stability and sound financial governance, and ensures campus safety standards. In order to maintain accreditation, schools must undergo peer review at regular intervals.

Our reaccreditation process happens every 10 years, beginning with surveys and a thorough self-study by every school department, which took place throughout the 2025-26 school year for the current cycle. These materials are compiled into a report that details progress since the last reaccreditation cycle and areas the school would like to strengthen. After receiving the report, a visiting committee of educational leaders across both associations conducts a multi-day campus visit.    

“The visiting committee is not measuring us against other ISAS or other SAES schools,” said St. Stephen’s Head of School Chris Gunnin. “They're really looking at our mission, culture and core values, and they appreciate differences among schools. The team’s goal is not to make St. Stephen’s more like other ISAS or SAES schools; rather, the team’s goal is to help make St. Stephen’s the best version of itself.”

The visiting committee is composed of peers from the region’s top independent and Episcopal schools, as well as ISAS and SAES executives. Each committee member is assigned focus areas related to their expertise, including specific Upper and Middle School academics, admissions, Episcopal identity, governance and more. The committee is tasked with evaluating the school’s adherence to ISAS and SAES standards, as well as the information reported in the self-study. 

The Campus Visit: October 4-7

After a welcome reception and campus tour with St. Stephen’s faculty and staff on Sunday, Oct. 4, visiting committee members will spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday observing all aspects of daily life on The Hill — sitting in on classes and faculty meetings, attending chapel, eating in the dining hall, touring residential facilities and dropping by arts lessons and athletic practices. They will also converse with students and parents, and attend meetings with school leadership and academic departments. 

“This is a time for us to welcome our visitors, and to put our best foot forward as, as anyone does when they have company,” said Gunnin.

During their time on campus, committee members are welcome to connect more casually with students and faculty, as well. Gunnin, who has chaired and been a part of several visiting committees for both organizations, said Spartans need not be intimidated or nervous.

“They're just trying to get to know us, and learn how we do things so that they can give us meaningful feedback,” he said.

After their observations on Wednesday, the committee concludes their work on campus by presenting summary commendations and recommendations to all St. Stephen’s faculty and staff that afternoon. A month after the visit, the team will share a full and detailed report with the school. 

Feedback and Future Plans

While summary commendations are meaningful acknowledgements of the school’s achievements, summary recommendations define important areas for growth, and St. Stephen’s will address them within five years. 

“The thing I love about this entire process is that it promotes continuous improvement,” said Gunnin. “We celebrate what we can be proud of, and we're already identifying ways that we want to continue to grow as a school and as a community.”

Learn more about St. Stephen's mission and values.