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Ken Smitherman, president of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado will retire from the leadership position in August, 2009. He assumed the position of president of the organization in July, 1996 after serving twelve years on the ACSI Executive Board. Prior to coming to ACSI, Smitherman was superintendent of King’s Schools, Seattle, Washington. |
In addition to his role as president of ACSI, he serves as president of the ACSI Capital Corporation, an ancillary corporation serving Christian schools through the provision of tax exempt bond financing. He also serves as president of the ACSI Foundation, incorporated to generate support that strengthens and helps fund services and programs for Christian schools. On the broader education scene, he serves as president of the board for the Council of American Private Education, a coalition of private school associations that represent more than 80% of the nation’s private school sector.
At his retirement, Smitherman will have completed 46 years as an educator, with 39 years as a Christian school administrator including CEO of ACSI and its related entities.
Regarding Christian schooling, Smitherman emphasizes, “Christian schooling offers up a venue that will continue to have a significant impact on the world through the development and nurture of students who can impact the world through every vocation, with an emphasis upon high quality academic preparation, presented through a framework of diligent Christ-centered spiritual formation and worldview development.”
His hope is to see Christian schooling more significantly embraced by the Church worldwide as an opportunity to further the kingdom of God through a strategic and articulate emphasis on an education that thoroughly integrates faith and learning. He sees ACSI as a critical agent in serving and encouraging its current membership of more than 5,000 Christian schools and school systems in more than 100 countries.
Regarding his retirement, Chairman of the Board, Beth Elder notes:
“Dr. Smitherman has provided ACSI with forward-thinking leadership at a time when critical Christian education issues needed to be addressed. He has proven himself to be godly, gifted, and insightful. The announcement of his retirement is met with great appreciation for his contribution and the sincere desire that his voice will continue to be heard in the greater private and public education community.”
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