Board of Directors

Association of Christian Schools International / ACSI / About ACSI / Board of Directors
acsi board photo
Front Row – L-R: Collette House, Larry Taylor (ACSI President), Linda Harrelson and Milton Gonzalez
Back Row – L-R: Jay Ferguson (Chairman), Solano Portela, Elisa Carlson, Todd Marrah, Carl Martinez and Nate Johnson
Not Pictured: Tia Gaines, Kevin Kyser and Alan Miller
Todd Marrah, Chair

Elisa Carlson, Chair-Elect

Carl Martinez, Secretary

Jay Ferguson
Tia Gaines
Milton Gonzalez
Linda Harrelson
Collette House
Nate Johnson
Joseph Kim
Kevin Kyser
Alan L. Miller
Solano Portela

ACSI Announces its Strategic Alliance with Schools United, Expanding Peer-to-Peer Networks for Christian School Educators

Nov 20, 2023, 15:11 PM by Caitlyn Harding

Colorado Springs, CO– The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is pleased to announce that it has entered a strategic alliance with Schools United. The alliance will expand opportunities for Christian school leaders to meet with others who hold similar roles to share best practices in a peer-to-peer setting.

ACSI President and CEO Dr. Larry Taylor shared that this alliance is aligned with ACSI’s Vision 2030.

“As a part of ACSI’s Vision 2030, we continue to connect with like-minded organizations to leverage resources and create greater missional impact,” he said. “Our desire is to help develop and support strong Christian educators and leaders so that they can provide the highest level of excellence in Christian education. This strategic alliance with Schools United will amplify the opportunities for our school leaders to join local, state, and national peer-to-peer networks.”

Schools United, founded in 2015, started with a few heads of Christian schools in South Florida getting together to talk, build relationships, and learn from each other. These gatherings have since grown to incorporate multiple peer networks representing many different professions within Christian education, as well as an annual conference with more than 2,000 attendees.

Schools United leader Dr. Jason Rachels believes this alliance with ACSI will greatly benefit Christian school leaders, faculty, and staff as they seek to connect.

“By working together with ACSI, we will be able to help more school leaders, faculty, and staff to catch the vision for how coming together in profession-specific peer networks will allow them to become better equipped to serve their students, to bring greater unity to the body of Christ, and to have an opportunity to pour into others,” he said.

Taylor shared that ACSI will continue to grow and pursue strategic alliances with other organizations to meet the diverse needs of Christian schools.

“It’s exciting to see what the Lord is doing in and through ACSI. We are not only focused on equipping our educators,” he said. “But we are committed to partnering with other leading organizations and ministries who can come alongside our schools with the tools they need to navigate an ever-changing educational terrain.”

About ACSI: 

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools through multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education.

Follow ACSI on our social channels: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram

About Schools United:

Schools United began with just a few heads of Christian schools in South Florida getting together over a meal to talk, build relationships, learn from each other, and pray for one another. These gatherings then grew into peer network opportunities for every profession within the Christian school. These peer networks are free of charge and are run by those in the profession in their local area or online. Schools United exists as a catalyst and a support to help these networks get started and to develop into a resource of free professional development, unity, and support for those in each profession. In 2019, the organization programmed its first annual Professional Development Day Conference that now has more than 2,000 attendees each year. Schools United believes that developing disciples of Jesus Christ is a calling that educators don’t have to walk out alone. By working together, we can all take our schools farther for God’s glory.

Learn more about Schools United on the website: https://schoolsunited.city/about/