From Superintendent to ACSI: Mike Allen's Heart for Christian School Leaders

By David Harding

For Mike Allen, ACSI’s new Senior Director for the Central Division, writing a parody song has never been just about getting a laugh.

It’s about creating shared experiences and building relationships while reminding people that Christian education should be filled with joy.

Throughout his career in Christian education, Allen became known for creating humorous music videos that celebrate various aspects of school life. Their real purpose has always been much deeper than creative lyrics and clever editing.

“The response was always joy,” Allen said. “It’s hard to hate on someone’s creation that centers around a common experience.”

This idea has shaped much of Allen’s approach to leadership and now informs his role with ACSI, where he serves and supports Christian school leaders. After spending years leading a Christian school himself, Allen is able to apply his wealth of experience to assisting educators in the Kingdom work they do each day.

“I love school leaders,” he said. “I know what they’re going through.”

Through his experience, Allen understands both the visible and invisible burdens Christian educators carry. While school leaders must deal with day-to-day operations, they are also tasked with the spiritual responsibility of caring for their school family.

“School leadership is very hard,” he said. “Nobody’s in Christian leadership without feeling the burden of sin in children’s lives and in the world.”

Allen hopes to become a source of encouragement for leaders navigating those realities.

“I want to help people understand how to pace themselves in the work, how to stay engaged, how to stay healthy with it, and connect them with the right resources so they don’t feel like they have to be everything to everybody.”

That’s where he believes ACSI makes a significant difference.

“So many school leaders feel like they have to know it all,” he said. “There is a freedom in recognizing you have a network.”

Whether through professional development, leadership connections, or simply having a mentor who understands the unique challenges of Christian education, Allen believes no leader should have to serve in isolation.

“That’s what ACSI provides in so many ways.”

Finding a Creative Outlet

Music has been part of Allen’s life for years.

While attending Purdue University, he wrote a parody of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication” after Boilermaker quarterback Drew Brees was drafted by the San Diego Chargers. The song received regular airplay on a local radio station, and Allen realized first-hand the unique ability music has to connect with people.

“The response to it was always just joy,” he said. “People enjoyed sharing in something they all understood.”

Years later, after becoming a Christian school leader, Allen found a new audience.

One Christmas season, he decided to rewrite Pentatonix’s version of “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Instead of singing “Gloria in excelsis deo,” his version celebrated the anticipation teachers feel as Christmas break approaches by singing “Teacher Holidayo” instead.

The video debuted during a Christmas celebration attended by nearly 2,000 people.

“I just remember looking around and seeing people thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is awesome,’” Allen said.

The enthusiastic response encouraged him to keep creating.

More Than Entertainment

What started as a simple side project gradually grew into something much larger.

Initially, Allen filmed multiple versions of himself using green-screen technology to create the illusion of an entire vocal group. As the videos became more popular, students joined the productions. Parents quickly became some of their biggest fans.

“They just loved seeing their kids,” Allen said.

Students loved participating just as much.

“When I’d walk through the hallways, they weren’t asking me about anything else,” he said. “‘When’s the next video? Can I be in your next video?’”

For Allen, those interactions were never really about the videos themselves.

Instead, they were about creating memories.

“I loved seeing something that parents and kids and families could watch and laugh at and smile at together,” Allen said. “That was the most important thing for me.”

Building Community

Looking back, Allen sees a common thread running through his career.

The parody songs, Christmas videos, student performances, and leadership roles all point to the same purpose: helping people feel connected.

Creating songs and videos has been a way for Allen to celebrate school communities and remind people that joy is an essential part of Christian education.

Whether he's making videos, leading a school, or serving educators through ACSI, Allen’s desire to create moments that bring people together and ultimately point them to Christ remains the same.