Setting the standards for excellence in Texas education
TEXAS ALLIANCE OF ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS
On October 18, 1985, the Texas Association of Non-Public School (TANS) office informed the non-public schools in Texas, the directive from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that, “non-public” schools are to be dropped from accredited status and no longer be recognized as of July 31, 1986.”
Texas Association of Non-Public School (TANS), in behalf of all non-public schools, is working to establish a group known as the Texas Private School Accreditation Committee (TEPSAC). This would be an umbrella organization for all church/religious accrediting associations approved by TEA.
At the Texas Association of Non-Public School (TANS) meeting held in Houston, Tx., on February 13, 1986, schools were informed that “the Texas Education Agency would recognize one additional accrediting association.”
On February 19, 1986, TANS members were notified; “An organizational and planning meeting of the Texas Association of Accredited Private Schools (TAAPS) would be held on February 25, 1986 in Austin, Tx. This association is being formed to meet the accrediting needs of the Texas non-public schools seeking accreditation under the TEPSAC umbrella.”
TAAPS was incorporated as a non-profit association in May, 1986.
With the assistance of Mr. Ben Branch of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and two former retired TEA private school accrediting agents, the new TAAPS members were trained.
On July 11, 1988, TAAPS received a letter from the Chairman of the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC), written to Dr. William Kirby, Commissioner of Education, Texas Education Agency, requesting the acceptance of the Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools as a newly formed private school accrediting association.
On October 12, 1988, Dr. Kirby wrote,
“In accordance with that recommendation and under those provisions I hereby declare my official recognition of the
TEXAS ALLIANCE OF ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS.”
Accredited Charter Member Schools:
1987-88 School For Educational Enrichment El Paso
Village School Houston
1988-89 Bridges Academy El Paso
Laurel Academy Christian Day School Port Lavaca
Charter Member Board of Directors
President Ms. Frances Moses Port Lavaca
Exec. Director 1986-1996
Vice President Ms. Iris Burnham El Paso
Standards Committee 1986-1996
Treasurer-Secretary Ms. Betty Moore Houston
1986-1998
Director (Treas.’ 87-89’) Mr. Kurt Banff Houston
1988-1990
TAAPS Commissioners on the TEPSAC Board
Mr. Kurt Banff Banff Private School Houston
1990-1997
Ms. Betty Moore Village School Houston
1997-2006
Dr. C. Gay Brock Baytown Christian Academy Baytown
2006—20__
Current Board of Directors
President Sheila Valley-McBrinn Houston
Vice President Dr. C. Gay Brock Baytown
Secretary Frances Moses Port Lavaca
Treasurer Barbara Porter Austin
Director Cathy Abercrombie Spring
Director Iris Burnham El Paso
Director Betty Moore Houston
Past President Frances Moses Port Lavaca
Executive Director
Standards Committee
Chairman Dr. C. Gay Brock Baytown
Director Pam Dunbar Arlington
Director Debra Danhof Grand Prairie
Director Linda Smith El Paso
TEXAS ALLIANCE OF ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS
1987-1988 School For Educational Enrichment El Paso
Ms. Iris Burnham
Village School Houston
Ms. Betty Moore
1988-1989 Laurel Academy Port Lavaca
Ms. Frances Gordon Moses
El Paso Bridges Academy El Paso
Ms. Victoria Adamson
1990-1991 Highland Park Presbyterian Dallas
Ms. Glenda Sellers
Chinquapin School Highlands
Mr. William Heinzerling
1991-1992 United Day School Laredo
Ms. Candy Heinz
1992-1993 Baytown Christian Academy Baytown
Dr. C. Gay Brock
Liberty Eylau School Texarkana
Mr. Carl Teel
1993-1994 Abercrombie Academy Spring
Ms. Cathy Abercrombie
School For Young Children Houston
Dr. Ruth Strudler
Westhill Institute Mexico City,
Dr. Maurice D. Westmoreland Mexico
1994-1995 Hillier School Dallas
Mr. Larry Evans
Torah Day School Houston
Ms. C. Lazaroff
Yorkshire Academy Houston
Ms. Shirley Swinbank
1997-1998 Yavneh Academy Dallas
Rabbi Moshe Englander
Dr. Grant Mindle
1998-1999 Cornerstone Christian School San Angelo
Mr. Lionel DeSoto
The Montessori Academy Arlington
Ms. Pam Dunbar
Trinity United Methodist Elem. San Antonio
Ms. Judy McFeaters
1999-2000 Cambridge Square Academy DeSoto
Debbie and John Wilhite
1999-2000 Stepping Stone School Tyler
Ms. Camille Brown
Trafton Academy Houston
Ms. Inez Hutchinson
Ms. Sylvia Bryan
2000-2001 Spring Creek Academy Plano
Ms. Karen Morrell
Clariden School Southlake
Ms. Faye Williams
2001-2002 Calvary Lutheran School Dallas
Mr. Jim Henrickson
St. Andrews Episcopal School Grand Prairie
Ms. Debra Danhof
The Griffin School Austin
Mr. Adam Wilson
St. Mark’s School El Paso
Ms. Mary White
2002-2002 School Of The Woods Houston
Ms. Sherry Herron
2003-2004 The Galloway School Friendswood
Ms. Bonnie Cerace
The Joy School Houston
Ms. Shara Bumgarner
2004-2005 St. Anthony’s School Carrollton
Mr. Tony Cinquepalmi
Providence Christian School of Texas Dallas
Dr. Anthony Bryan
Paragon Preparatory Academy Austin
Mr. David McGrath
Faith Academy Bellville
Ms. Merlene Byler
2005-2006 St. Francis School Austin
Ms. Barbara Porter
2006-2007 The Fulton School Heath
Ms. Molly Seeligson
The Khabele School Austin
Mr. Khotso Khabele
St. Paul’s Preparatory Academy Arlington
Ms. Janice Wood
2007-2008 Austin Montessori Austin
Dr. Donald Goertz