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 Welcomes Matt Hannan as Director of Accreditation for the Western Division
Colorado Springs, CO– The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is pleased to welcome Matt Hannan as the new Director of Accreditation for the Western Division. In this role, Hannan will support member schools by providing professional counsel and ensuring all accreditation policies, standards, guidelines, and criteria are applied in order to drive school improvement.
ACSI Chief of Flourishing Initiatives Cindy Dodds looks forward to Hannan joining the Accreditation team.
“The high demand for our research-based, biblically rooted accreditation protocol is reaching new heights all over the world,” she shared. “Matt is the right person at the right time to meet the ever-changing needs of our USA Western Division schools as our Christian schools respond to the culture and adapt to new models of education delivery.”
Hannan brings more than 20 years of experience in education to his new position. Prior to joining ACSI, he served as the Upper School Principal at Santa Fe Christian Schools since 2008, where he played a key role in advancing the school’s academic strategic plan and mission. Under his leadership, Santa Fe Christian Schools maintained full dual accreditation status through ACSI and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
In addition to his role at Santa Fe Christian Schools, Hannan has served as an ACSI Accreditation Commissioner in Southern California since 2022. He has also been actively involved with WASC, serving as an Accreditation Visiting Team Member and Chair since 2014.
Stephen Deck, ACSI Senior Director of Accreditation and Credentialing, said, “Mr. Hannan’s Christian school leadership experience, as well as his experience directly with accreditation, will serve ACSI schools well. He is a great addition to our team that will help schools in our Western Division flourish.”
Hannan holds a Master's in Educational Administration from the California State University San Marcos School of Education. His comprehensive background in school administration, coupled with his passion for promoting Christian education, will be instrumental in advancing ACSI's mission to strengthen Christian schools and equip them for greater impact.
ACSI leadership and staff are grateful to Lee Duncan, the retiring former Director of Accreditation, for his seven years of faithful service.
Hannan is thankful to the Lord for providing him with this opportunity to serve Him.
“I am humbled, honored, and very excited to step into the role of Director of Accreditation for the ACSI Western Division,” he said. “Having served as a site administrator for nearly 20 years, I know and value the importance of the accreditation process for schools and I'm eager to come alongside all of our ACSI schools to help them be the best they can be.”
To learn more about ACSI Accreditation, please visit the website.
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.
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