ABI Conference 2025
We will be providing more information soon so be sure to check back here often!
ABI Conference 2025 will bring together leaders from Accredited, Bilingual, and International schools (ABI) from across the Latin America region for a time of professional challenge, spiritual encouragement, and networking. It will be held on 2-5 April 2025 on the beautiful island of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at the Crowne Plaza Santo Domingo Hotel. This conference will showcase engaging and inspiring keynote speakers, leader-to-leader breakouts, and time for connection through small group discussions. It will be an English-language conference.
Register for your spot today. Leaders and leadership team members are encouraged to attend.
Quote from Leaders Conference 2023:
"It was very beneficial to meet Christian school leaders from around the world and realize we all face similar challenges and opportunities even though our particular circumstances differ."
- Matt Sawatzky, Morrison Academy, Taiwan
Speakers
Dr. Randy Richards
New Testament Research Professor, Palm Beach Atlantic University
Dr. Randy Richards is the former Provost and Chief Academic Officer and now the Research Professor of New Testament at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He has been teaching since 1986, originally at a state university and then abroad at an Indonesian seminary. He loves training folks for ministry and missions, both domestically and internationally. His wife Stacia has joyfully accompanied him for over forty years from jungles of Indonesia to beaches in Florida. Today, they make their home in Wisconsin, not far from the grandchildren.
Dr. Richards has authored or co-authored nearly a dozen books and dozens of scholarly articles, ranging from technical New Testament works to popular books on Jesus and Paul. He also writes popular books on intercultural hermeneutics and ministry, such as Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage, Honor and Shame in the Biblical World, with Richard James. It follows a similar book, Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible, with Brandon O’Brien, which is now in its 26th printing and has been translated into six other languages.
He is under contract for an introduction to the New Testament and a 2-volume commentary on the Gospel of John in the Word Biblical Commentary series. He is a popular lecturer, speaker and teacher, and has presented in places as diverse as Istanbul, Turkey; Kijabe, Kenya; Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, United Kingdom; Portopiccolo, Slovenia; Beirut, Lebanon and Kathmandu, Nepal.
Philip Scott
Vice President for Legal Affairs, ACSI
Philip Scott has worked with ACSI since 2011 and currently serves as the Vice President for Legal Affairs in the Washington, DC office. While he has held multiple roles at ACSI, his current focus is on state advocacy and helping to organize state Christian school voices. Philip’s background is a blend of education, religion, and law. Philip is the editor of the Legal Legislative Update and does consultation with schools on legal, legislative and HR issues. He also oversees and administers the LDRP program. He has taught U.S. Government and Civics to middle and high school students in Christian schools. Most recently, he has been a lecturer in undergraduate and graduate programs teaching ethics, nonprofit law and education law. He is twice a graduate of Liberty University with an undergraduate degree in Education and a Juris Doctorate degree from Liberty University School of Law. He has studied theology and law at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is admitted to the bar of Colorado. Philip and his wife, Heather, are outnumbered as they have three children, a dog, and a cat. Heather and Philip met in fifth grade in the Christian school they attended.
3rd Keynote Speaker - TBD
Come back soon to see our third keynote speaker!
Registration:
Conference registration will include access to all keynote sessions, workshops, coffee breaks, and lunches during the conference. Hotel accommodation/package rates and evening dinners are not included.
Early Bird Member Rate:
- ACSI Member School Conference Registration | $450
Early Bird member pricing is only available until 10 January 2025!
Regular Member Rate:
- ACSI Member School Conference Registration | $500
Regular Non-Member Rate:
- Non-Member School Conference Registration | $625
Cancellation Fees:
ACSI REFUND POLICY: Except in cases of medical emergency, urgent family emergency, school crisis there will be no refunds for pre-registered events. If you or a pre-registered member/delegate from your school is unable to attend an event, you are encouraged to send a substitute, such as a board member, other staff member, or an interested parent. Refunds that are given are subject to a service charge of $50 per registrant, which will be deducted from the refund amount. Reach out to the Event Coordinator, chealsea_allen@acsi.org, for questions.
Hotel Accommodations:
Hotel room reservations will be made individually through the Crowne Plaza Santo Domingo booking link located below.
Breakfast is included with your hotel reservation.
We have secured a special ACSI room rate:
- $160.00 USD/night - 1 adult
- TBD USD/night - 2 adults
- Taxes included.
- The discounted rate changes based on room type and number of people per room.
- Discount only available on these nights: TBD
- Booking link expires: TBD
Nearest Airport:
Las Américas International Airport
Getting to the Hotel:
More details to come!
DRAFT SCHEDULE
*Subject to Change*
Wednesday 02 April | |
---|---|
16:00 – 18:00 | Conference Check-in |
18:00 | Dinner on your own |
19:00 – 20:30 | Welcome, Introductions and Announcements |
Thursday 03 April | |
09:00 – 10:30 | Announcements, Sharing, and School Highlight |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break |
11:00 – 12:30 | 4 Breakout Sessions |
12:30 | Lunch at Conference Centre |
14:00 – 15:00 | Meeting w/ Heads Group discussions by role: Principals, Board Members, Spouses |
Free evening | |
Friday 04 April | |
09:00 – 10:30 | Announcements, School Highlight |
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break |
11:00 – 12:30 | 4 Breakout Sessions |
12:30 | Lunch at Conference Centre |
Free afternoon/evening | |
Saturday 05 April | |
10:00 – 11:00 | Keynote 4 - TBD |
11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee Break |
11:15 – 12:00 | Closing Challenge |
12:30 | Lunch at Conference Centre |
"The 2024 ICEC Europe conference provided an excellent opportunity for spiritual renewal and lasting connections/networking within the Christian education community."
- Phil Armstrong, Dallas Baptist University, ICEC Europe 2024
We want to partner with you!
The ABI Conference provides you with an opportunity to get your product, message, degree, or opportunity to leaders at influential, accredited, bilingual and international Christian schools representing thousands of students. Teachers and leaders at ACSI member schools are always eager to hear about products and companies that can enhance their work of bringing Christian education to the children of the world.
If you have any questions, please contact David McNamee, david_mcnamee@acsi.org.
Why sponsor ABI?
- The ABI Conference will pull in top leaders from accredited, bilingual and international schools across Latin America
- We are expected 150* top leaders for this event
- The schools in the Latin America region represent approximately thousands of students, many of whom will graduate to attend colleges and universities in the English-speaking world
- Leaders at the ABI Conference are looking for strong providers and partners to help them fulfill their God-given purpose
- Your sponsorship gets your message out to leaders efficiently
(*Early projections)
Who is a good candidate to sponsor ABI?*
Online course providers
Christian colleges and universities looking to recruit international and national students
Christian colleges offering Masters and Doctoral degrees for teachers and leaders
Christian education consultants and job boards
School systems management providers
International Insurance groups who serve expats and others
Educational training programs
Service organizations
Curriculum and textbook providers
Assessment and testing organizations
Other – reach out to us to see if your organization is a good fit to our conference
*ACSI, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse or prohibit any vendor from participating in or otherwise exhibiting at a conference if such participation or exhibiting is contrary to or conflicts with ACSI's mission and values.
Ways to sponsor our event:
Come to the ABI Conference and have an exhibit table (see tier level options)
Work with us to sponsor a conference SWAG item with your logo to give to every delegate (conference pen, notepad or book, bag, other)
You don’t have to attend to sponsor a swag item
Exhibitor/Sponsor Testimonials:
"It's very inspiring to attend a conference as an exhibitor and still receive a warm and appreciative treatment."
- Sergio De la Calle, FACTS, ICEC Asia 2023
"Exhibiting at ACSI international conferences has been a great way to enable our program to serve more students and schools outside our own borders."
- Jeff Ogne, Dean of Students, Oaks Christian Online, ICEC Europe 2024
"ACSI invites exhibitors to align and unite with the mission of its schools during the days at the conference. We appreciate the togetherness and inspiration."
- Carola Ibañez, FACTS, ICEC Europe 2024
CEUs:
You will earn valuable CEUs based on your attendance in the conference.
Don’t forget to come back here to submit them after the conference.
Quotes from Leaders Conference Europe 2023:
"As a new international school leader, I found the conference refreshing and inspiring on many levels."
- Anna T. Irby, Rain Forest International School, Cameroon
"A great opportunity to lift your head outside your own small school world to the broader mission of ACSI schools"
- A School in Middle East
"Fellowship and networking are invaluable! Extremely beneficial to get away from your own school community for a break and to worship / chat / commiserate / pray with fellow leaders and make valuable new friends!"
- Anonymous
"The opportunity to fellowship with your international friends and colleagues simply cannot be valued. It is priceless and you should not pass up the opportunity to join wherever and whenever they are offered!"
- Jesse Newman, NICS/OASIS
"It is a great time of like-minded leaders coming together learning and discussing important topics of the day. It is also a time to connect and network with other leaders. The spiritual emphasis is also a time of renewal that we need to be intentional about to be able to continue serving."
- Anonymous
Exhibitor & Sponsor information coming soon!
International Quick Links
- Home Page
- About Us
- Member Benefits
- International School Vacancies
- Accreditation
- Events
- Resources
- Global/International Student Leadership & Learning
- Global/International Student Leadership & Learning Staff
- Transcripts
- Transcript Form
- Apostille Form
- Apostilles or Authentications for Accredited International Schools
- PFO2Go Online Course
References:
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