After receiving the announcement that The Pearl has been recommended for full accreditation by the Middle States Association, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what our preparation for the accreditation application and the validation visit meant to me, as an educator and a member of The Pearl’s leadership team. When I heard the words “recommended for full accreditation,” my immediate reaction was relief, real relief. The kind that makes you exhale before you even realize you were holding your breath. The second thought was gratitude. The third? “So… are we finally done with the endless checklists?” Jokes aside, it felt like a powerful affirmation of the work we have done and the community that made it possible. While the Middle States Commission will officially vote on accreditation decisions in April, receiving the recommendation itself is already a meaningful milestone.

At the heart of this journey is Dr. Harwick, whose vision brought The Pearl from zero to one. And honestly, zero to one is harder than one to ten. Creating a school from nothing is an extraordinary challenge. The Pearl began with a bold idea (and perhaps that story deserves its own post. Dr. Harwick, I think that one’s yours.) It took imagination, courage, and relentless belief in the value of democratic education. From that vision taking shape to its recognition through accreditation is a true milestone. It has been a genuine honor to work alongside such a visionary (and, yes, a rebel in the best possible way!).

Going into accreditation, I expected the process to be heavy on documentation. And it really was. But what surprised me most was how reflective it became. As we prepared policies, guidelines, plans, and reports, I found myself returning to The Pearl’s mission, vision, and guiding principles again and again. Each time, my belief in the school deepened. I realized I didn’t just want The Pearl to exist. I wanted others to truly understand what makes it special.

That clarity became especially tangible during the validation visit. Board members, teachers, students, and families each met with the visiting team and shared their experiences. Although I wasn’t present for those sessions, hearing how the conversations unfolded and seeing them reflected in the visiting team’s feedback was incredibly affirming. It spoke to a community that is connected, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in learning and collaboration.

The visiting team’s report captured this beautifully:

“The consistency with which The Pearl’s guiding principles are reinforced throughout every aspect of this online school is remarkable. The administrators and teachers effectively provide needed educational services to a population of students who have been let down by other public or private schools. Being online makes your services available to students regardless of their geographic location, thereby removing many of the boundaries of availability. Your teachers and administrators have shown that even online, it is possible to care for students with empathy for their lived trauma and understanding for their educational needs.”

Reading these words was both humbling and encouraging. They confirmed what we feel every day: that the foundation is strong and that our work is meaningful, intentional, and impactful.

As a school grounded in democratic education, The Pearl values participation, voice, and meaningful choice. The visiting team saw that these principles are not just ideas on our website. They are lived out every day in classrooms, community meetings, and school culture. What we say aligns with what we do. Our work is intentional, research-based, and rooted in purpose.

The entire experience was empowering. It reminded me that accreditation isn’t about perfection; it’s about reflection, alignment, and integrity. Most of all, it reaffirmed that The Pearl is a safe, inclusive, and purposeful learning environment, built by a community that truly believes in its work.

As we await the final decision in April, I feel immense gratitude for everyone who contributed to this journey. What accreditation truly represents is the collective effort, care, and integrity of our learning community. For now, we are ready to grow and to glow.