STA Earns School of Distinction Status

September 23, 2024

St. Teresa’s Academy announced today that it has earned Cognia^® Accreditation, with School of Distinction status. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools, school districts, and education service providers. Out of more than 1,950 completed accreditation reviews in the 2023-2024 academic year, only 60 schools worldwide earned this honor. STA was the only school in Kansas or Missouri to receive this.

“Accreditation as conferred by the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission provides St. Teresa’s Academy a nationally recognized mark of quality for our school,” shared Dr. Siabhan May-Washington, STA President. “It demonstrates to our community our commitment to excellence, our willingness to enact meaningful change based on evaluation and feedback, and our desire to be the best we can be on behalf of the students we serve.” She continued, “We are especially honored with the School of Distinction status, which places us among a select group of schools worldwide.”

Cognia recognizes schools across the globe that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation, and effective leadership. To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must submit to internal and external review. Earning accreditation from the Cognia Global Accreditation Commission means that the school meets Cognia Performance Standards and maintains a commitment to continuous improvement. Schools in good standing can maintain their accreditation for a six-year term.

Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, stated, “Cognia Accreditation is a rigorous process that focuses the entire school and its community on the primary goal of ensuring all students can flourish in engaging and equitable learning environments. We commend St. Teresa’s Academy for meeting high standards and making progress on key indicators that impact student learning.”

Additionally, Barbara McCormick, Ed.S., STA Principal for Academic Affairs, earned the 2024 Excellence in Education Award, which recognizes an individual who promotes excellence and equity in education. In addition to leading the premier academic programs and curriculum at STA, McCormick serves on the board of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals as treasurer.

Cognia is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Parents and interested community members can learn more about Cognia Accreditation at cognia.org.