Welcome to Stories
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Leadership U is a 14-month program designed to help leaders grow as they navigate a transition into a new role or prepare for potential future roles. Three scholars, one from each of the last three cohorts of Leadership U, recently shared how the program impacted them and how their lives have changed since they participated.
Every graduating senior is a unique creation in the image of God, yet schools aim to instill certain desired outcomes in all of them. During my time as head of school at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Texas, we prayerfully aspired for our graduating seniors to demonstrate these foundational desired outcomes.
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The Academy for GOD in Old Hickory, Tennessee, is changing students' lives, revitalizing their community, and having a significant global impact through their unique, holistic approach to Christian education.
Located 1,500 feet north of the Mexican border in California, Tecate Christian School (TCS) is on a mission to reach children and their families with the hope of salvation while providing a quality, Christ-centered education. The school is a ministry of Tecate Mission International (TMI) and was established in 1965 as a missionary school for families serving with TMI in Tecate, Mexico.
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West Virginia State Senator Patricia Rucker had dreams of making a difference as an educator, but little did she know that she would end up influencing education on a much larger scale than she ever imagined.
Featured Event
Rooted Educator Worldview Summit
This June, ACSI and the Colson Center are partnering together for an educators "worldview summit" to discuss how to more effectively engage students in the spiritual formation journey and help develop deeper roots in the flourishing soil of a biblical worldview. Join June 24-26 for the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit in Black Mountain, NC.
Blog
Explicit Phonics in Early Education: Where do I begin?
Suzanne Anderson | May 13, 2024
Two important truths motivated the thought leaders at Nest School. First, according to “What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able to Do” by Louisa C. Moats, the most fundamental responsibility of schools is teaching children to read. Second, it was the front-page news that 95% of students who follow science can learn to read.
Podcast
The Flourishing Journey Ep 5 | Tools & Resources for Spiritual Formation
Dr. Edward Bunn | May 13, 2024
Dr. Edward Bunn sits down with Douglas Campbell, ACSI Ministry Team Senior Coordinator, to discuss tools and resources for the spiritual formation of students and 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.
Christian School Educators Embrace AI Risks, Benefits
OTTAWA, ON & COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – A new study finds that around 38% of Christian school educators use artificial intelligence (AI) at least sometimes at work. An almost equal proportion (37%) reports never using AI. Those findings come from "Navigating AI in Christian Schools," a report published by think tank Cardus based on an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) survey of educators (teachers and leaders) at its member schools.
The report also found that:
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70% of educators report being at least somewhat familiar with AI
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87% of educators agree that AI can help teachers save time and effort
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60% of educators agree AI can help teachers create more effective curriculum and lesson plans
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Only 18% of educators indicated their school banned students’ use of AI
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor believes educators’ faith should inform how they leverage AI.
“I believe AI has tremendous potential, but it’s imperative that we exemplify how to use it in a Christ-like, biblically honoring way,” he shared. “This report is extremely timely as we navigate the new norms that AI has already brought into the world of education.”
Despite educators’ familiarity with and use of AI, they’re also concerned about the potential downsides of the technology for students. Many worry that AI could lead students to cheat, stunt their critical thinking skills, invade privacy, or even undermine students’ faith. In fact, educators’ top use of AI is to detect student plagiarism. They also use it to find teaching ideas and resources, or to prepare emails and lesson plans. Dr. Lynn E. Swaner, a report co-author, President - US at Cardus and ACSI Senior Fellow, says many Christian schools are only just starting to come to grips with how widespread AI has become.
“Ever since ChatGPT exploded onto our screens in 2022, Christian schools have had to navigate their way toward finding the appropriate place for AI,” Swaner said. “Hopefully, our study will help educators see the big picture of how Christian schools are finding their way through the world of AI and spark conversations about how AI fits within their school’s mission and values.”
ACSI Director of Research Rian Djita echoed Swaner’s sentiment, stating, “This ground-breaking research, the first of its kind in Christian education, positions ACSI as a leader in navigating the potential of AI in Christian schools."
"Navigating AI in Christian Schools" is freely available online and is the first of many conversations ACSI and Cardus will provide Christian education leaders on this new technology in the coming months.
Media Inquiries:
Caitlyn Harding
ACSI – Corporate Communications & PR Manager
613-899-5174 719-867-0243
media_inquiries@acsi.org
Daniel Proussalidis
Cardus – Director of Communications
media@cardus.ca
About The Association of Christian Schools International
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Association of Christian Schools International (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. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education.
About Cardus – Imagination toward a thriving society
Cardus is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to clarifying and strengthening, through research and dialogue, the ways in which society’s institutions can work together for the common good.
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.
