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 Awarded Prestigious Gold Seal Designation by Florida Department of Children and Families
Colorado Springs, CO – The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is thrilled to announce that it has received the prestigious Gold Seal Quality Care designation from Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF). This honor is a testament to the excellence of ACSI’s Early Education Florida Approval Program (FAP), which achieved an impressive 97% compliance score, surpassing the required 85% for Gold Seal accreditation.
This designation enhances ACSI’s accreditation standards beyond the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Florida Association for the Education of Young Children (FLAEYC) levels, giving ACSI Early Education (EE) schools a significant competitive advantage over non-Gold Seal designated schools, both secular and religious, throughout Florida.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor shared the significance of this achievement for Christian education.
“At ACSI, we continuously strive for excellence in Christian education,” he said. “This Gold Seal recognition exemplifies our commitment to providing students with high-quality, Christ-centered learning environments that exceed required expectations. I am so proud of our team, including ACSI Director of Early Education Dr. Althea Penn, Early Education Administrative Assistant Raevin Mahaney, and Early Education Florida Program Coordinator Tammy Hicks, for making their hard work.”
ACSI accredited schools that are recognized by the Florida Approval Program and exceed licensing regulations will now benefit from a variety of enhancements. These include the ability to offer credentialed early educators in classrooms that adhere to national health and safety standards, such as lower student-to-teacher ratios. Moreover, Gold Seal-designated schools are eligible for higher school readiness subsidy/reimbursement payments, participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, sales tax exemptions on educational materials, and more.
The review process for the Gold Seal designation is extensive, with DCF forming evaluation teams composed of members from various Florida educational organizations, including the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Head Start Director’s Association, and the Florida Association of Child Care Management, among others.
The Gold Seal designation is valid for up to five years, and ACSI-accredited schools seeking this certification must demonstrate adherence to the rigorous standards set forth in the ACSI Florida Approval Program Gold Seal Manual.
For more information or to apply for Gold Seal designation, ACSI Early Education schools can contact Tammy Hicks, Florida Approval Program Coordinator, at tammy_hicks@acsi.org.