Twining School Passes Accreditation Review Published April 6, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Ryan Sparks 319 Air Base Wing Public Affairs GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School here passed its accreditation review March 11, 2015. Dr. Mary L. Koopman, Twining principal, said that the school took part in an external review hosted by AdvancED from March 8 through March 11. According to their website, AdvancED is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that conducts on-site external reviews of school systems to ensure that all learners realize their full potential. Dr. Koopman said accreditation is an on-going improvement process that helps identify a school's good qualities and areas in need of improvement. The external review team evaluated the entire Grand Forks Public School District for accreditation. Koopman said the school compiled state assessment results of the students and administered surveys to parents, staff and students to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the school. The surveys were meant to determine the effectiveness of the school in various areas. Twining's main improvement goals are to provide more opportunities for gifted students and to provide more career development to staff in order to help improve the reading abilities of special needs students, said Koopman. "Our goal is not so much about the end and number," said Koopman. "It's really about growth." Twining is consistently among the top three schools in the district, said Koopman. "If we can show growth year after year from the beginning of school to the end of the year, that's what it's all about," said Koopman. After passing the accreditation review, GFPSD needed to identify its main goal for improvement, said Koopman. "The main goal for the district right now is improving reading at all levels and bringing up proficiency levels," said Koopman. Koopman has worked in the GFPSD for 31 years. She said Twining is considered one of the best schools to work for because of its military ties. "The children are so respectful," said Dr. Koopman. "I've never been 'yes, ma'am'-ed' so many times in my life." Dr. Koopman said the district is planning on being reviewed again in four or five years.