Senior Leadership

I am inspired by the faith, courage, and reverence for God by Christian educators around the world! It reminds me of the story recounted in I Samuel 17 about David defeating Goliath. In verse 29, David’s response to the inaction of his elder brothers and the Israelites especially encourages me. He boldly and nobly answers the call to action by asking, "Is there not a cause?”
I can think of no greater cause than to partner with you as you advance Kingdom education. We fully believe that authentic devotion to the Christian faith and academic excellence are mutually reinforcing. There are not two or three forms of excellence, but rather an ethos that is cultivated throughout every facet of our schools. Faith is not separated from learning but rather integrated intentionally, resulting in a distinctive Christian worldview.
Scholarship and learning become an integral component to the maturation process known as discipleship. Thus, becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, the ultimate objective of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20), is the prize for which we strive; it is the highest form of excellence! It is certainly conceivable that we could produce students with the spiritual depth needed to enter our pluralistic society and not fall prey to empty philosophies. Rather, they would be equipped to saturate the marketplace to which God has called them with confidence, purpose, and an eternal perspective.
ACSI’s ongoing mission is to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. We want to serve you as you continue to cultivate and sustain a flourishing school. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you—thank you for your obedience to God’s call on your life—you are indeed making a difference.
Dr. Larry Taylor, President & CEO, ACSI
larry_taylor@acsi.org
719-867-0200
ACSI Senior Leadership

Dr. David Balik
Vice President USA / Director for North America

Dr. Gavin Brettenny
Chief Strategy Officer

Kevin Buelke
Chief Finance Officer

Roger Cressey
Chief Information & Technology Officer

Stephen Deck
Vice President of Education Standards

Laci Demeter
Director of Europe

Cindy Dodds
Chief School Improvement Officer

Michael Epp
Senior Vice President of Global Development

Chuck Gilliam
Vice President of Membership and Strategic Alliances,
Senior Director, Eastern Division

Brett Henry, J.D.
Chief Operating Officer

John Klingstedt
Chief of Staff

Peter Lee
Director of East Asia

Chris Loncar
Vice President, Human Resources

Christi Lynn
Vice President, Communications & Engagement

Dr. Sosthene Maletoungou
Director of Africa

Jerry Nelson
Chief Ministry Officer

Emily Pigott
Vice President of Educational Resources & Student Programs

Stuart Salazar
Director of Latin America

Philip Scott, J.D.
Vice President for Legal Affairs

Rajeev Shaw
Vice President of Sales

Dr. Agus Susanto
Director of Asia Pacific

Dr. Cecil Swetland
Vice President for Development

Dr. Mark T
Director of South Asia

P. George Tryfiates
Vice President for Public Policy and Legal Affairs

Susan Verheul
Vice President, Executive Initiatives
News and Press Releases
ACSI Announces Partnership with RedefinED School Advancement to Strengthen Financial Sustainability for Christian Schools
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is pleased to announce a partnership with RedefinED School Advancement, a fundraising partner that supports schools by managing comprehensive development operations.
Through this partnership, RedefinED School Advancement will help resource ACSI member schools by expanding donor development opportunities to generate support through traditional charitable giving as well as state and federal tax credit programs where available.
The partnership will also provide significant benefits for participants in ACSI’s Children’s Tuition Fund. By equipping schools with stronger fundraising infrastructure and expanded access to tax credit programs, schools will be better positioned to increase scholarship opportunities and financial assistance for families seeking Christian education.
President of the ACSI Education Foundation Temple Weiss emphasized the importance of equipping Christian schools with sustainable funding solutions.
“Small Christian schools often carry a big mission with limited resources to build and sustain donor support,” he said. “With federal Education Freedom Tax Credit contributions, this moment holds a significant opportunity. A key differentiator of the ACSI Children’s Tuition Fund is our school-friendly approach. This partnership is another way we are helping Christian schools build sustainable funding strategies so that more families can access Christ-centered education, and more students can be prepared spiritually and academically to live a life of faith and purpose."
Alyse Maslonik, Founder and CEO of RedefinED School Advancement, highlighted the partnership's potential to expand educational opportunities.
"This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Christian schools across the country," she said. "Together with ACSI's Children's Tuition Fund, we are equipping schools with the strategies, tools, and support they need to sustainably grow and scale their scholarship programs. Our shared goal is simple: to help more families access a Christian education and ensure schools have the resources necessary to expand educational opportunity for generations to come. We are incredibly excited about the work ahead and the impact this collaboration will have on students, families, and school communities nationwide."
The collaboration will provide schools with increased access to development expertise, donor engagement strategies, and tax credit fundraising opportunities designed to help schools build long-term financial stability.
To learn more about the Education Freedom Tax Credit and the ACSI Children’s Tuition Fund, visit EveryStudentEveryState.com.
About Children’s Tuition Fund (CTF):
Children’s Tuition Fund (CTF), a ministry of ACSI, exists to advance and resource educational freedom for parents who desire a Christ-centered education for their children.
CTF works in partnership with schools, contributors, and parents to bless students by offering relationship-oriented financial assistance through these programs. CTF is also poised to facilitate the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship that will launch January 2027. As a Scholarship Granting Organization, CTF works directly with contributors (both individuals and businesses) to process and approve tax credits. We aid schools in raising support and identifying qualified families within their community, and ultimately award scholarships to those families.
About the Association of Christian Schools International (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 RedefinED School Advancement:
RedefinED School Advancement is a national firm dedicated to helping K–12 schools grow enrollment, strengthen financial sustainability, and expand educational opportunities for students and families. Through expertise in tax credit scholarships, community engagement, advancement strategy, and enrollment growth, RedefinED partners with Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and schools to create grassroots education initiatives that help scholarship programs thrive.
Since its founding, RedefinED has helped schools and students secure more than $100 million in scholarship funding. The organization works to ensure schools are prepared to maximize opportunities through programs such as the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Program, helping schools become more financially secure while making educational opportunities more attainable for students and families. Through community education, strategic planning, and program support, RedefinED helps bridge the gap between available scholarship resources and the families who need them most.
For more information, visit www.redefiningeducation.org.

