September 2024 Newsletter

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chairperson Highlight–Lee Reno   

Education seems to course through Lee Reno’s veins. When he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education, he continued pursuing higher education throughout the next twenty years. After he entered a school as a teacher in 1971, he steadily rose from teaching and coaching to become an assistant high school principal in 1978, then high school principal in 1980, assistant superintendent in 1992, and eventually superintendent/director of educational services for Dayton Christian School System (DCSS) in 2005.

Since leaving DCSS in 2011, Lee served as interim head of schools in Ohio and Kentucky until 2022. At the same time, Lee’s resume shows he has been an advocate to Ohio’s General Assembly, governor’s office, and the Ohio Department of Education on behalf of ACSI and its member schools in Ohio regarding legislation, policies, rules, codes, guidelines, etc. In 2010, Mr. Reno repurposed his focus to serve schools, beyond DCSS, in being a catalyst toward excellence, and therefore created a consultation practice called Catalyst4Solutions. Leadership development, strategic planning, training, and the like are ways his practice partners with and serves schools seeking his expertise. And with a resume full of successes like Lee’s, you can’t blame them!

Lee is no stranger to ACSI accreditation. Mr. Reno has been a partner of ACSI’s since its founding in 1978 and has served on 47 visits as a team member or chairperson. In the nearly 50 years he has spent with ACSI, he has gained much wisdom from and for schools.  Lee states, “Take advantage of the multitude of resources from ACSI and realize you are a part of GOD’s school system.” Quite frankly, that’s why 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.”

Lee has dedicated his professional life to Christian ministry, most prominently to Christian education. And he is not done yet! Classrooms, boardrooms, legislative chambers, Mongolian gers, and everything in between have been the mission field God has given Lee and in which he has stewarded well. Lee, we sincerely thank you for your diligence and faithfulness to Kingdom Education and for reminding us for whose pleasure we serve.

New ACSI Schools since July 2023

Congratulations & Welcome! Newly accredited schools:

East Schools      

• Grace Christian Academy in Owensboro, KY
• Westside Christian Academy in Westlake, OH
  

South Schools

• Cornerstone Academy of the Ozarks in Warsaw, MO
• Courtney Christian School in Hammond, LA   
• For Heaven’s Sake Child Development Center in Yukon, OK - Foundational Accreditation.
• Legacy Christian School in Claremore, OK - Foundational Accreditation.
• New Covenant Academy in Springfield, MO         
• Rosehill Christian School in Tomball, TX
• SNU Lab School in Bethany, OK - Foundational Accreditation

West Schools

• Calumet Christian Schools Inc. in Griffith, IN
• Calvary Christian School in Naperville, IL
• Liberty Christian School in Independence, IA - Foundational Accreditation.
• Muscatine Christian Academy in Muscatine, IA - Foundational Accreditation.
  

Welcome! Schools pursuing ACSI accreditation for the first time:

East Schools

• Miami Valley Christian Academy in Cincinnati, OH
  
• Shekinah Christian School in Plain City, OH