American School of Valencia is pleased to announce that our Director, Michael L. Smith, has been elected as a Commissioner of the Middle States Association (MSA) Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools. This position involves serving MSA member schools by reviewing and approving the accreditation of schools, as well as setting policy for the organization.
MSA was established in 1887 and is the oldest American accrediting association, as well as serving as one of six regional accrediting agencies in the United States. MSA accredits over 2,700 member schools in all 50 states and in 117 countries around the world. Since 1980, it has been the accreditation agency supporting the American School of Valencia in each accreditation cycle. In May 2020, ASV earned MSA re-accreditation for a new period of seven years until May 2027, and most recently, ASV has also applied for and hosted an accreditation visit for MSA’s Program of Distinction in Athletics.
The decision was officially made on May 5, 2022, and Mr. Smith’s term will start on July 1, 2022, for three years with an option to renew. As part of this role, he will attend the MSA Commissions meeting scheduled for November 2-3-4, 2022.
“It is a distinct honor to be elected to the MSA Commissions by my peer educational colleagues after serving in a variety of capacities with MSA and other accrediting associations since 2004,” stated Mr. Smith. Smith states further that, “The accreditation process is important not only as a legal requirement for most schools, it also serves as a key self-assessment process to promote continual growth and improvement, which is what has taken place at ASV since 1980. ” In October 2019, Mr. Smith was awarded MSA’s Susan K. Niklas Award for his service to MSA and support of member schools in the accreditation process.
When receiving this announcement, Dr. Javier Sánchez, on behalf of the ASV Board of Governors, wishes to congratulate Mr. Smith for this appointment. “It is an honor for our school to have Mr. Smith supporting MSA’s mission as a new member of the Commissions on Elementary and Secondary schools,” Dr. Sánchez says. “We are fully confident that he will bring to the commission a remarkable professional background of 19 years in education and the specific knowledge of needs and strengths of international schools ,” he adds. The Board of Governors will have the opportunity to learn more about this achievement in the regular monthly meeting to be held in May.
