Welcome to Stories
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Hanging in the atrium of Sherwood Baptist Church is a large banner which reads, “Whoever wants the next generation the most will get them.” This message has been the heart cry of our senior pastor, Michael Catt. When looking for a new school headmaster nine years ago, church leadership wanted to make sure they found someone who had the same deep conviction about young people. They looked no further than Dr. Glen Schultz. He brought a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and experience in Christian education that has helped Sherwood Christian Academy become a beacon of light in southwest Georgia.
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Kaelyn, a standout swimmer and student at Cottage Hill Christian Academy (CHCA) in Mobile, AL, is making waves, both in the pool and in the community. According to her mother, Laquise, Kaelyn “has been special since day one—intelligent beyond her years. I had her later in life when I didn’t think I could carry a child. But God blessed me with a miracle, and despite my own health struggles, I call Kaelyn my miracle child.”
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It was an incredible blessing and joy to host two Student Leadership Conferences (SLC) again this year, marking the 26th year of SLC. Three of these years have included back-to-back events, and it all began in 1999 with just 80 participants. This year, we welcomed 234 participants from 22 schools and 11 countries in the first week, and 154 participants from 13 schools and 9 countries in the second week. In total, 16 countries were represented, and over 90% of this year’s attendees were first-timers.
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Jamie Jodrey’s path to school leadership was catalyzed by a laptop. Two, in fact. As a first-grade teacher in Puerto Rico, Jodrey dabbled in leadership as a department chair and was encouraged by her administrators to pursue a master's degree in educational administration. She was not quick to leave teaching, however.
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When Dr. Jon Hill finished his master’s degree in teaching, he did not expect to lose his desire to teach after just one year, but that’s all he lasted—at least, in the U.S. One year of American public school made Hill “disillusioned” towards teaching, in his words, but the opportunity to impact people overseas and experience diverse cultures helped revitalize that passion.
Featured Event
Catalyst: Strengthening Your School's Operations and Finances
January 30–31, 2025 | First Presbyterian Academy, Greenville, SC
Ignite your school’s mission and broaden your vision at Catalyst, ACSI’s new Christian School Financial Conference, on January 30-31. Catalyst will feature industry expert key-note sessions and workshops, design to equip you with effective
and actionable solutions for your school’s operations. Register today!
Blog
The Tie That Binds: Relationships in Christian Schools
Matthew Lee | November 4, 2024
Relationships, especially with other believers, are some of the most precious things we enjoy in this life. They give us a foretaste of heaven as they are the one thing we get to take from this life into the one to come. As John Fawcett writes in his beloved hymn, “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” it is a blessing for believers’ hearts to be bound together in Christian love, for “perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.”
Podcast
Sharpening Kingdom Leaders Ep 11: Dr. Ben Carson on education, family, and courage
Dr. Larry Taylor | November 4, 2024
Former Neurosurgeon and U.S. Presidential Candidate Dr. Ben Carson shares his story of how education changed his life, and his passion for building up families.
Stay Informed on ACSI's Events and Resources
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 Begins Key Missional Partnerships with American Association of Christian Counselors and Focus on the Family
Colorado Springs, CO- The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is pleased to announce two key missional partnerships with the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) and Focus on the Family. The partnerships are designed to elevate student, faculty, and family well-being and spiritual development within Christian schools globally.
In collaboration with the American Association of Christian Counselors, the world’s premier and largest faith-based mental health organization, ACSI will provide added resources, conferences, and credentialing opportunities. These comprehensive mental health resources and training modules will be hosted on ACSI PD, ACSI’s Learning Management System (LMS). The enhanced credentialing initiatives will include a new credential for school counselors, integrating expertise from both organizations to elevate professional standards.
ACSI’s partnership with Focus on the Family initially centers around the launch of ACSI’s Flourishing Families Program. This program will help Christian schools, homeschool co-ops, and churches establish parent and guardian training initiatives in their God-given role to disciple their children. This strategic alliance will provide ACSI members with exclusive access to Focus on the Family’s comprehensive content through a newly developed landing page.
ACSI President & CEO Larry Taylor emphasized the significance of these collaborations as they align with ACSI Vision 2030 new growth initiatives.
“These partnerships elevate two of the most influential factors impacting the spiritual and cognitive development of children—the home and school environment. The strength of a school begins with the strength of its families. We believe that strong families are the foundation of thriving communities, and the well-being of the school’s teachers and staff is a vital link to the family, he said. “These partnerships will provide the support and resources needed to nurture those relationships.”
Focus on the Family is committed to helping families thrive in Christ and is providing time-tested marriage and parenting resources and research-based assessments along with practical tools to understand and disciple spiritual formation at any age.
These strategic alliances exemplify ACSI’s ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive community for students, educators, and families. By leveraging the expertise of AACC and Focus on the Family, ACSI will equip and support the healthy development of its member school communities.
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.
