Senior Leadership
I am inspired by the faith, courage, and reverence for God by Christian educators around the world! It reminds me of the story recounted in I Samuel 17 about David defeating Goliath. In verse 29, David’s response to the inaction of his
elder brothers and the Israelites especially encourages me. He boldly and nobly answers the call to action by asking, "Is there not a cause?”
I can think of no greater cause than to partner with you as you advance Kingdom education. We fully believe that authentic devotion to the Christian faith and academic excellence are mutually reinforcing. There are not two or three forms of excellence, but rather an ethos that is cultivated throughout every facet of our schools. Faith is not separated from learning but rather integrated intentionally, resulting in a distinctive Christian worldview.
Scholarship and learning become an integral component to the maturation process known as discipleship. Thus, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, the ultimate objective of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20), is the prize for which we strive; it is the highest form of excellence! It is certainly conceivable that we could produce students with the spiritual depth needed to enter our pluralistic society and not fall prey to empty philosophies. Rather, they would be equipped to saturate the marketplace to which God has called them with confidence, purpose, and an eternal perspective.
ACSI’s ongoing mission is to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We want to serve you as you continue to cultivate and sustain a flourishing school. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you—thank you for your obedience to God’s call on your life—you are indeed making a difference.
Dr. Larry Taylor, President & CEO, ACSI
larry_taylor@acsi.org
719-867-0200
ACSI Senior Leadership
Dr. David Balik
Vice President of USA
Dr. Gavin Brettenny
Chief Strategy Officer
Kevin Buelke
Chief Finance Officer
Cindy Dodds
Chief of Flourishing Initiatives
Michael Epp
Senior Vice President of Global
Brett Henry, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Sevenstar
Vice President, Educational Resources
John Klingstedt
Chief Operating Officer
Christi Lynn
Vice President, Communications & Engagement
Chris Loncar
Vice President, Human Resources
Jerry Nelson
Chief Ministry Officer
Philip Scott, J.D.
Vice President for Legal Affairs
P. George Tryfiates
Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs
Susan Verheul
Vice President, Executive Initiatives
Dr. Cecil Swetland
Vice President for Development
News and Press Releases
ACSI Launches New Flourishing Schools Institute for Christian School Leaders
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 1, 2021 – ACSI is pleased to announce the launch of the first Flourishing Schools Institute (FSi), a new professional development opportunity for Christian school leaders who want to transform their school culture to flourish.
The FSi will take place in Dallas, Texas, from June 16-18, 2021.
The FSi is part of ACSI’s Flourishing Initiative—a multifaceted approach to assessing and improving school culture so that all members can collectively thrive.
The institute is organized around five research-based domains that contribute to the development of a Christ-centered flourishing school. The FSi correlates with the research validated Flourishing School Culture Instrument (FSCI) and the resulting Flourishing School Culture Model (FSCM). The FSCI provides a comprehensive analysis of a school's strengths and areas for growth, while the FSCM serves as a model comprised of five domains—Purpose, Relationships, Teaching & Learning, Expertise & Resources, and Well-Being, as stated on the ACSI website.
Experts including John Stonestreet, President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Rex Miller, author of “Humanizing the Education Machine,” Dr. Althea Penn, Executive Director of The Shepard’s Academy, Dr. Rob Loe, CEO of Group and Peter Greer, President & CEO of HOPE International, will assist leaders in developing a strategic school culture plan.
ACSI President, Dr. Larry Taylor, believes equipping leaders with a biblically based philosophy of education is essential to the health and well-being of the entire school community.
“Preparing students to navigate the raging waters of our external culture is directly dependent on building the foundation of the school’s internal culture,” he said. “Developing Christ-following, transformational leaders is key for the whole school body to prosper.”
According to ACSI Professional Development Director, Cindy Dodds, FSi sessions will be largely interactive, allowing leaders to assess their current school culture and experiment with and apply best practices to improve.
“The FSi will help schools move from research to practice,” Dodds said. “Our vision is to see Christian school leadership teams engage in an enduring, transformative school growth process in community with other Christian school leaders, together pursuing thriving school cultures.”
Taylor believes these offerings are best when used together, as they are intentionally aligned.
“The instrument enables schools to focus on specific areas that have been identified as areas for growth, which will inform their professional development plan,” he said. “Although schools do not have to participate in the instrument to attend the FSi, doing so will greatly benefit leaders.”
ACSI is offering bundle pricing for Institute & FSCI registration. Further details are listed on the FSi website.
“As a recent head of school, I can personally attest to the challenge of building and sustaining a Kingdom-focused, successful organizational culture,” Taylor said. “I believe all components of ACSI’s Flourishing Initiative work together to better Christian schools. The FSi will provide leaders the opportunity to create a unique roadmap to a truly flourishing community.”
To learn more about FSi, visit the website or connect with the ACSI Care Team by calling (800) 367-0798 or by emailing careteam@acsi.org.
About ACSI:Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., 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 social media: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram