Higher Education

Colorado Springs, CO – ACSI is pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. David Balik to the position of Vice President of USA. Balik most recently served as ACSI’s Senior Director, Eastern Division and Southeast Regional Director for five years. Before that, he was a Head of School, serving most recently as Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs at Briarwood Christian Schools in Birmingham, AL. 

In his new position, Balik will be responsible for leading and overseeing all facets of the USA operation in close collaboration with the President, Senior Directors, Divisional Directors, Field Directors, the Directors of the Student Success Center, Early Education, and Professional Development. The primary function of his role will be to ensure that USA member schools are served effectively through he Student Success Center coordinated actions in all divisions and departments throughout the country.

ACSI is concluding a strategic planning process under President Dr. Larry Taylor. Part of the reimagining of organizational goals included transitioning from serving Christian schools through an eight-region model to a more streamlined and efficient divisional model that relies on the strategic deployment of field directors and trained volunteers across the country. According to Taylor, “The Western, Central, and Eastern Divisions will allow us to make staff who belonged to regional teams available to members outside those regions. It will help us address much of the redundancies and duplication of effort that characterized the old regional set-up, which will lead to better stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us.”

Balik added that, “God is doing great things at ACSI these days through our strategic planning process. It is a privilege to have an expanded role going forward, as adaptive, meaningful change is underway. I am also excited and honored to be able to serve more closely with our President, Dr. Larry Taylor.”

ASCI is also announcing that Chuck Gilliam, Ed.S., will replace Balik as Senior Director of the newly-formed Eastern Division. Gilliam has served for the past 21 years at Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, GA, including seven years as head of school. He led a staff of 150 and directed daily operations for 950 students while directing an ongoing School Improvement Plan and several capital renovations projects. Prior to that, he served as Eagle’s Landing’s Assistant Head of School, Middle/High School Principal, Middle School Principal and Middle School Dean of Students. 
“This is a great time to be a part of ACSI,” Gilliam explained.  “I’ve seen the personal impact of being educated in an ACSI school and working in one, also. I’m thankful to be a part of ACSI’s strategic vision and looking forward to seeing how God works through this new divisional model. It’s a transition for ACSI, but it creates a stronger model that will be able to serve member schools more effectively.”

“I’ve known Dr. Balik for several years,” said Taylor. “He possesses tremendous leadership skills, and the transition to a divisional model will be seamless under his guidance. Both he and Chuck are proven leaders with outstanding character, and I think our member schools will be thrilled to work with them.”

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 by offering 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.