March 16, 2026
Dear Friends of Mirowitz,
Earlier this week we concluded an important milestone in the life of our school: the accreditation visit from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. For three and a half days, a visiting team of experienced educators and administrators spent time here at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School observing classes, meeting with students, speaking with parents and faculty, and reviewing the many ways we strive to live our mission each day.
Accreditation visits are meaningful moments for a school community. They allow us to step back from the pace of daily life and see our work through the eyes of thoughtful outside educators who know schools well and who care deeply about excellent teaching and learning. Their role is not simply to evaluate, but to help schools grow stronger by affirming what is working well and by identifying the areas where continued attention will serve students best.
None of the recommendations surprised us. In fact, they closely reflect many of the conversations already taking place among our faculty, leadership team, and Board of Trustees as we think carefully about the future of Mirowitz. Indeed, we have already begun strategizing about ways to amplify the many strengths identified in the commendations while also creating thoughtful plans to address and mitigate the recommendations. In that sense, the visiting team’s feedback does not represent a new direction so much as a confirmation that we are already moving along the right path.
The visiting team’s report will now move through the formal ISACS review process. After an accuracy review here at the school, the report will be submitted to the ISACS Accreditation Review Committee and ultimately to the ISACS Board of Trustees. We expect the final accreditation decision to be announced when that board meets in mid-June.
I want to extend sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this process. Our faculty and staff devoted many hours to the self-study that prepared us for this visit. Our trustees engaged thoughtfully in their conversations with the visiting team. And I want to offer particular thanks to Shannon Rohlman, whose careful organization and leadership helped guide this effort across many months.
What the visiting team saw during their time here reflects the dedication of this entire community.
I look forward to sharing the final report with you once the accreditation process is complete. Until then, please know how grateful I am to be part of this remarkable community and how proud I am of the work happening here every day.
Warmly,
Brian W. Thomas
Interim Head of School
Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School