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
770-985-5840
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Dr. Gavin Brettenny
Chief Strategy Officer
719-867-0259
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Kevin Buelke
Chief Finance Officer
719-867-0114
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Juan Cabrera
Chief Information Officer
719-867-0116
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Cindy Dodds
Chief of Flourishing Initiatives
719-867-6191
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Michael Epp
Senior Vice President of Global
719-867-0223
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Brett Henry, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer, Sevenstar
Vice President, Educational Resources
513-622-9608
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John Klingstedt
Chief Operating Officer
719-867-0255
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Christi Lynn
Vice President, Communications & Engagement
719-867-0202
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Chris Loncar
Vice President, Human Resources
719-867-0113
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Jerry Nelson
Chief Ministry Officer
719-867-5261
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Philip Scott, J.D.
Vice President for Legal Affairs
202-573-7776
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P. George Tryfiates
Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs
202-497-9521
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Susan Verheul
Vice President, Executive Initiatives
719-867-0250
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Dr. Cecil Swetland
Vice President for Development
719-867-5289
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News and Press Releases
Cardus Review Endorses Flourishing Faith Index as a Leading Tool for Student Spiritual Formation Assessment
Colorado Springs, CO – The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is thrilled to announce that the Flourishing Faith Index (FFI) has successfully undergone a comprehensive independent review facilitated by Cardus, a leading think tank specializing in education and culture. This marks a significant milestone for the FFI, which is an integral tool in assessing the spiritual development of students in Christian schools.
According to the review, the FFI stands out for its comprehensive approach, thorough data collection, and insightful analysis, making it an indispensable tool for school leaders striving to nurture and gauge spiritual development in students.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor shared his excitement surrounding this accomplishment.
"We are incredibly proud of this validation from the independent review facilitated by Cardus," Taylor said. "This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team and our commitment to providing our Christian schools with the tools they need to foster spiritual growth and a biblical worldview in their students."
In 2022, ACSI embarked on a mission to develop a new assessment tool to assist school leaders in gauging their effectiveness in helping advance spiritual and biblical worldview development in students. The FFI, in tandem with the Flourishing Faith Model (FFM), serves as a pioneering framework designed to help Christian schools flourish through a holistic understanding of various spiritual domains.
The independent review found the FFI has a solid theoretical foundation and methodological rigor to yield insights from over 10,000 Christian school participants.
Dr. Lisa Richmond, Vice President for Research at Cardus, stated, “Like the Flourishing School Culture Instrument that precedes it, the Flourishing Faith Index has passed a rigorous independent review that found it to be a methodologically sound and highly useful tool for Christian schools to measure their efforts and inform change initiatives.”
For more information about the Flourishing Faith Index, 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.
About Cardus:
Cardus is a leading Canadian think tank dedicated to promoting a flourishing society through research and dialogue in areas including education, social architecture, and faith in public life. Cardus conducts independent research and provides policy recommendations to advance the common good and human dignity.