Welcome to Stories
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Our Career Center stands out because it is exclusively for Christian educators, ensuring that all candidates align with the school's values and mission. This means the hiring process is more efficient, as they don’t have to sift through resumes from candidates who may not share their faith or educational philosophy. They can trust that every applicant has a strong commitment to Christian education, saving time and helping them find the right fit for their school’s unique community.
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The ACSI Early Education (EE) team is excited to welcome Beth Lantz as their newest team member. A seasoned Christian early education leader with nearly 18 years of experience, Beth brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to her role. She has served as an adjunct instructor at Iowa State University and possesses expertise in nonprofit administration and early childhood development.
Northlake Christian School has had an active student-led, faculty-sponsored pro-life club on our campus for more than a decade. This club's regular activities include: student volunteering at the local crisis pregnancy center; participating in annual prayer marches that are hosted in the local community; writing encouraging notes and providing blessing boxes to the nurses in the NICU department of our local hospitals; attending the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.;
For Dayspring Christian Academy (DCA), scheduling an annual staff retreat is nothing new. Weston Kurz, Executive Director of the school based in Greeley, Colorado, remembers hosting a retreat for the past 10 years at least. But in the last two years, the retreat has taken on a new flavor. As an early adopter of ACSI’s Flourishing School Culture Model (FSCM), Kurz helped restructure the retreat to integrate research from the FSCM. Using each of the model’s five domains (purpose, well-being, expertise and resources, relationships, and teaching and learning), the school’s strategic planning sessions now revolve around robust research and best practices.
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Running From January 26 to February 1, 2025
When National School Choice Week began in 2011, stories like Central Christian School’s (CCS) were the goal. School choice programs in Kansas, along with scholarships CCS itself provides, enable the school to welcome students who were previously unable to afford tuition, which has positively influenced the school’s culture. “It really binds us together in a special way because students and families from all walks of life have more access to a Truth-based education,” said Superintendent Dr. John Walker.
Featured Event
Flourish Deeper
- Rethinking Worldview & Student Leadership Development
02/6/25 | Columbus, OH - Healthy Governance & Sustainable Funding
03/6/25 | Pittsburgh, PA - Engaging Students Who Think & Learn Differently
03/20/25 | Sacramento, CA
Flourish Deeper is a one day focused, learning experience around a relevant construct from the Flourishing School Culture Research. It is a deep learning opportunity with a unique blend of expert-led sessions and interactive discussions designed to inform
a school’s planning, practice, and purpose.
Blog
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You’re sitting at your desk just before a major school event when a parent stops by and says,” Do you have a minute?” A minute turns into 45 as she reveals troubling information that is bothersome. Or imagine your school year is off to an amazing start when all of a sudden, you receive a phone call from a parent who informs you that one of your students has posted a threat on social media. How about when an accusation against a member of your staff is presented to you? Now what?
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A common question asked by those involved in Christian school education is, “Will anything I teach influence the adult years of my students?” As a former minister to children and a professor in Christian education, I ask this question myself as I seek to train and equip future ministers and teachers. Pondering the connection between childhood experiences and adult religiosity led me to study the experiences in childhood that influence Christian commitment in young adulthood. During the fall of 2018, I conducted in-depth interviews with a group of ethnically diverse, young adults living in Southern California. This blog post shares three major themes that emerged from these stories which have significant implications for Christian school educators.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929, and tragically killed in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968–Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is, arguably, the most famous non-presidential American in our nation’s nearly 250-year history. But how and why did his name become the name of so many American streets, the object of so many American statues, and the namesake of an annual American holiday?
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What difference does attending a Christian school make? The answer to this question is valuable not only to families deciding on schooling options, but also to Christian school educators who are seeking to understand the value proposition of the educational program they offer. In order to explore this question in a rigorous way, researchers would need to select a nationally representative sample as well as control for a range of respondents’ demographic background characteristics. The Cardus Education Survey (CES), conducted in the United States in 2011, 2014, 2018, and now in 2023, does both.
Podcast
Naomi Famonure, a Christian educator from Nigeria, shares her journey from Catholic upbringing to founding a school for missionary children and caring for orphans and widows.
Jerry Nelson welcomes Joe Wilson, Head of Lower Schools at Calvary Christian Academy in Florida, for a conversation about the integration of churches and Christian schools.
Enhance student engagement by shifting from a consumer-based approach to a connection-oriented approach, and connect with students beyond just imparting knowledge.
Dr. Edward Bunn sits down with Lainie Montgomery, ACSI Director of Spiritual Formation, to discuss strategies for partnering with parents and families.
President's Office
“I can think of no greater cause than to partner with you to advance Christ-centered education.” Dr. Larry Taylor, ACSI President & CEO
Dr. Taylor has been serving in education for over 30 years. He is passionate about training up this generation of disciples for Jesus Christ through Christian education.
Prior to accepting the President position at ACSI, Dr. Larry Taylor served twenty years as the Head of School at Prestonwood Christian Academy (PCA) in Plano, Texas. Prestonwood Christian Academy serves more than 1,600 students enrolled at four campuses as part of its school system.
Click the link below to read more.
ACSI's Mission
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's Foundational 3 Pillars
Advancing
Leading Christ-centered education toward excellence and flourishing
We want all schools to aspire to, achieve, and remain committed to a biblically-based philosophy of education, standards that are measurable, and flourishing-related criteria. ACSI strives to lead, support, and serve Christian schools, and educators, by placing them on a path of growth and flourishing using the research-based Flourishing Schools Initiative. This model should link leadership and faculty professional development accreditation, and every culture-driving component of a school. A common philosophy, and a flourishing-based metric, would unify our efforts of advancing Christian schools and educators.
Access
Making Christ-centered education available and obtainable
ACSI is committed to making Kingdom education available to as many children and families as desire it, believing that such an education offers students an opportunity to grow in a loving relationship with their Creator, come to know His saving work through Jesus, and flourish in His Ephesians 2:10 calling for their lives. This commitment requires removing barriers to access for those who traditionally have not benefited from Christian school, as well as seeking out new ways to create access points to Kingdom education and the ability to thrive and be successful in that education—for all those who desire it.
Advocacy
Promoting and protecting Christ-centered education for today and tomorrow
As the largest evangelical Christian school association in the world, ACSI is by default viewed as the spokesperson for Christian schooling in the public square. In order to discharge this responsibility with excellence and seasoned speech (Colossians 4:6), and to equip our member schools to do the same, ACSI must invest in developing public-facing resources and forming strategic relationships with those working in the area of advocacy for Christian Education and for religious liberty.
Stay Connected to ACSI
The ACSI Community online forum exists to provide connection, collaboration, and networking with Christ-centered education advocates, educators, and influencers in a protected online environment.
ACSI Community offers Christian educators opportunities to Connect, Collaborate, Compel, Captivate, and Comprehend. Join thousands of like-minded education professionals around to globe to grow in knowledge, sharpen skills, and deepen your faith, in a safe, authentic virtual environment.
ACSI provide helpful tools for you to find the next position God has for you through a resume review search and career planning portal. You can also discover ACSI positions.
Thinking about serving internationally? PFO2Go will provide the confidence to enter a new culture in which to both work and live outside the United States. Also, don’t miss the International Schools Job Fair.
ACSI and The Colson Center for Christian Worldview Convene Hundreds of Christian School Educators for First-Ever Rooted Educator World Summit
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is pleased to announce the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit, set for June 24-27, 2024, at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC is sold out. This inaugural event, featuring renowned speakers including John Stonestreet and Dr. Sean McDowell, will equip more than 500 Christian educators to develop a Christlike school culture, facilitate healthy faith formation, and provide tools to engage secular ideology.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor is looking forward to this event.
"We are thrilled to co-host the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit, an event that empowers Christian educators to integrate faith and learning deeply," he said. "This summit offers a unique opportunity for educators to grow spiritually and professionally, equipping them to impact students' lives and advance the Kingdom of God through education."
Participants will benefit from keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions for elementary, secondary, and school leaders. Speakers will cover a variety of topics including Biblical Authority & Application, The Lies of Expressive Individualism vs. Imago Dei, and more.
ACSI Chief of Flourishing Initiatives Cindy Dodds shared why she believes this summit is such a relevant offering for educators.
“In today’s culture, I can’t think of anything more important for educators than being equipped with the understanding and the tools needed to nurture students in their faith formation,” she said. “Our partnership with the Colson Center strengthens the content of the summit and allows us to tackle difficult cultural issues with strong biblical authority. Christian educators will gather by the hundreds to be challenged in their own faith as they navigate these cultural waters for the students they will influence.”
Visit the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit website to learn more.
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 The Colson Center for Christian Worldview:
To learn more about The Colson Center, visit the website.
Follow The Colson Center on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin | Instagram
Strategic Partners
ACSI proudly presents the Strategic Partnership Program, which includes companies, organizations, and ministries who have been carefully chosen to benefit you—our member schools—and to assist you in accomplishing your life-changing mission.
