Welcome to Stories
We asked Dr. Os Guinness, renowned author, theologian, and speaker at ACSI's Public Policy & Advocacy Summit, some poignant questions about the upcoming documentary, "Truth Rising," and the importance of public policy.
When the hard-working students of Ambassador Christian Academy (ACA) wanted to expand their STEM horizons, they didn’t schedule a field trip to a local science and technology museum. No, they scheduled flights and flew across the country from New Jersey to Phoenix, Arizona, in March 2025 to compete in the International Christian Stem Competition (ICSC) at Grand Canyon University. Much more than a field trip, the entire experience enabled hands-on learning and personal growth from beginning to end.
Dr. Debbie MacCullough, ACSI’s Senior Director of School Improvement, recently shared her insights about the revised edition of the book “Undivided.” “Undivided” is both a philosophical and practical guide to biblical worldview integration in the classroom, offering a compelling framework for how to teach all subjects—even mathematics—with theological depth and coherence. Debbie wrote one of the appendixes and possesses an acute understanding of “Undivided” since it was written by her mother, Dr. Martha MacCullough, a veteran educator with over four decades of experience training Christian teachers.
Beth Afanador grew up attending public schools in Illinois, so she didn't foresee a career in Christian education, let alone overseas. But in seventh grade, her family moved to Mexico for a year due to her father’s grad school program and she experienced Christian education for the first time. That year opened her eyes to the value of teaching overseas, even if her long-term goal was to minister to students in inner-city Los Angeles. When she graduated from Wheaton College and heard about an opportunity to teach in Bogotá, Colombia, she was intrigued.
Dr. Michael Mosley was at a crossroads in March 2020. “I was getting ready to lay off half my staff after sending home all the kids for Covid,” he said. Before he made that decision officially, Mosley attended one of ACSI’s Public Policy & Legal Advocacy Zoom meetings. "They said, ‘If you’re at a Christian school and you’re getting ready to lay off all your people, don’t. There’s something being discussed in the Senate that may keep you from having to do that.’ That was the Paycheck Protection Program,” Mosley said.
Featured Event
Public Policy and Advocacy Summit 2025
September 15–17, 2025 | Washington D.C.
Join us in Washington, D.C.! Our annual Public Policy and Advocacy Summit will be held in Washington, D.C., September 15-17. This year's special professional development summit will include panel discussions on important legislative issues, special guest speakers, and so much more.
Blog
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I get a lot of questions from Christian teachers lately that sound something like this: “What are we supposed to do with AI in schools? Is this the end of education as we know it?” These are fair questions! AI technology feels mysterious, and maybe even threatening. It can seem almost… magical… so it’s no wonder it causes us to ask big questions. Big questions demand thoughtful answers. For us, as Christian educators, I think this means we need to cultivate an imagination big enough to understand what AI is, what it isn’t, and how we might use it in ways that glorify God and affirm what it means to be truly human.
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The Cognitive Abilities Test™ (CogAT) was designed to empower educators with deeper insights into their students and guide their efforts to adapt instruction to best meet students’ needs and abilities. The key to adapting instruction is CogAT’s unique Ability Profile score, an indicator that concisely conveys the level and pattern of each student’s CogAT scores. Using the Ability Profile is an easy way to visualize the resources and abilities that students bring to their own learning and allows us to link students’ test scores to strength-based instructional strategies.
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I tiptoed clandestinely to an empty seat at the back of a social studies classroom. Only a couple of students noticed I had entered. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! The students sat focused on the topic at hand. My focus was on more than the topic. It was also on classroom atmosphere. The teacher I was observing was a veteran educator. They had both a mastery of the content and a mastery of creating a positive and thriving classroom atmosphere. What do we mean by atmosphere? Over many years, I have sat in numerous classrooms. Some teachers work to create a learning atmosphere that both stirs and motivates their students. I compare it to being invited to a dinner party where the host makes a significant effort to make a memorable meal and an unforgettable evening. So, let's take a trip up the atmospheric ladder and see how these effective teachers create an atmosphere that tickles the cerebral matter and encourages students to yearn for more.
Many Christian schools have taken on the profound calling to minister to international students. These residents of other countries attend school in the United States on a special visa, often seeking a better education than they would receive in their home country. As Christian educators, our goal should be to minister to these students in a manner that goes beyond academics. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs teaches us that addressing basic needs is foundational to nurturing students who can excel academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Podcast
Dr. Steve Mason, Student Success Services Teacher at Southside Christian School in South Carolina, joins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss Artificial Intelligence, biblical worldview integration, and human intelligence.
Josh Leonard and Jerry Nelson discuss targets for students to know, understand, and believe upon graduation. Josh serves at North Raleigh Christian Academy and is currently leading in the role of Dean of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship.
Students are returning to school shaped by culture, for better or for worse. Hear actionable strategies on how to capitalize on the beginning of the school year.
Hear from ACSI's Divisional Directors in East Asia, Africa, and Asia Pacific, plus learn how to utilize ACSI's Career Center.
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.
ACSI Hosts First-Ever National Math Olympics with 11,000 Students
ACSI's Student Leadership and Learning Department hosted the first-ever ACSI National Math Olympics Competition from April 30-May 2. The competition took place in an online testing environment with nearly 11,000 students competing to earn a spot in the national competition. A total of 434 students from 31 states and Taiwan participated in the national competition.
The competition was organized into two categories: Reasoning and Computation.
For the reasoning competition, winners for each grade level included: 3rd grade- Abigail Chu from Eastside Christian, WA; 4th grade- Lucas Forrey from Tri-City Christian, CA; 5th grade- William Li from Los Altos Christian, CA; 6th grade- JJ Liang from Providence Christian, GA; 7th grade- Clark Hartman from Grace Christian, OH; 8th grade- Jaden Huang from Veritas Chrisitan, MA, Zhiqian Wang from Prestonwood Christian-Plano, TX.
For the computation competition, winners for each grade level included: 3rd grade-Donovan Chen from Olive Branch Christian, CA, Leona Jiao from Valley Christian Elementary, CA, Olivia Zamora from Round Rock Christian, TX; 4th grade- Madalyn Tan from Eastside Christian, WA; 5th grade- Gabriela Valencia from Weston Christian, FL; 6th grade- Tanya Chiang from Trinity Christian, TX; 7th grade- Caleb Cho from New Covenant, CA; 8th grade- Calista Tjandra from California Crosspoint, CA.
Emily Pigott, ACSI’s Director of Student Leadership and Learning, shared about this new program and her hopes for the following year.
“The National Math Olympics competition is a testament to the dedication of our young mathematicians and those that educate them,” she said. “Students from across the country, as well as one international school, showcased their mathematical abilities through problem-solving and critical thinking. We celebrate the culmination of their hard work and perseverance. We look forward to expanding this competition for the 2024-25 school year as we implement our International Math Competition and engage schools globally.”
There are many new and innovative programs in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year that will continue ACSI’s commitment to fostering student leadership, engagement, and cultural impact. These include experiential leadership conferences and immersive learning experiences that are crafted to empower students to utilize their God-given abilities in impacting their culture for Christ.
Pigott shared what she is passionate about regarding new programs this upcoming school year.
“The focus on servant leadership and the integration of biblical worldview development into every component of our programs will equip students to discover and hone their God-given talents and increase their cultural influence for Jesus,” she said. “There is nothing more exciting than watching students understand their capacity and worth in Jesus and use their influence to make Him known. This is why we do what we do…creating experiences to develop servant leaders that exemplify Matthew 20:26-28.”
Learn more about Student Leadership and Learning opportunities at https://www.acsi.org/studentleadership.
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.
