Welcome to Stories
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By David Harding
For Sonya Wright, the dream of launching Beauty from Ashes Leadership Academy was more than an educational endeavor. It was the fulfillment of a promise shaped by hardship, faith, and a deep calling to serve young girls who need hope. “I was told most of my life that I was not going to be anything,” Wright shared with me. “I was thrown away… But God turned my ashes into beauty. And I said, ‘I’m going serve You until the day I die, and I’m going to go and get others.’” The academy’s mission is rooted in reaching girls who may feel unseen, overwhelmed, or unloved. Wright imagines the day a student says, “I didn’t know God before I came here, now I know God… I want to get baptized.” That moment is the one that will represent success to her.
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Read time: 4 minutes
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Read time: 5 minutes
Christian schools in Japan serve a unique mission. In a country where Christians make up only about 0.5% of the population, many Christian schools provide one of the first opportunities for students and families to encounter the gospel. “Many Japanese people have never met a Christian or heard the gospel firsthand,” said Peter Lee, ACSI Divisional Director for East Asia. “Christian schools become places where families experience the love of Christ through authentic relationships, biblical teaching, and a caring community.” Cross Mission Christian School in Tsukuba, Japan, has seen that mission lived out.
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Read time: 4 minutes
When ACSI launched Paths to School Improvement (PSI) in 2017, the goal was to equip Christian educators with practical tools, biblical foundations, and sustainable systems that could strengthen entire communities through local leadership. Today, PSI operates in 14 countries, with three additional nations preparing to launch the program. PSI first took root across Africa and expanded into its second continent in 2025 when ACSI Asia Pacific introduced PSI in Indonesia. In the short time since, PSI has grown immensely in Indonesia. There are four cohorts being conducted, with 28 schools and 113 leaders in the training. There are 25 certified trainers leading the way.
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Read Time = 3 Minutes
Across Europe, Christian school students are being challenged to lean into their faith and lead with truth and courage. That was the focus of ACSI Europe’s 2025 Student Leadership Conferences (SLC) last fall in Budapest, which brought together 410 students and chaperones from 47 schools across Europe. Held over two conference weeks, the gatherings gave students opportunities to worship and grow in their faith while building relationships with Christian peers from other nations.
Featured Event
Leadership Network Meetings
Various Dates & Locations
- Leading Spiritual Formation with Purpose
- Leading Healthy & High-Performing Teams
- Leading with Financial Wisdom & Sustainability
- Leading Through Today's Legal Landscape (Public Policy Updates)
- Find a date and location nearest you and register today!
Blog
This third blog installment of the 2025 Bible Program Survey series identifies two Bible program design features that emerged clearly in the survey data: 1) decision-making structures, and 2) intentional skill formation across grade levels. These aspects appear to individually and collectively shape whether a Bible program emerges as either a collection of somewhat disjointed biblically reinforced activities or a truly intentional and immersive student spiritual formation and biblical worldview roadmap.
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Christian schools care deeply about the Word of God. Bible classes are scheduled. Chapel services are planned. Devotions are encouraged. Yet many educators see the same pattern year after year: students engage with the Bible for a season, then slowly drift away. This isn’t usually rebellion. It isn’t hostility. And it isn’t disbelief. More often, it’s a lack of habit. Many students genuinely value Scripture but struggle to stay consistent with it once the structure around them changes. Understanding why this happens, and what actually helps, can shape how Christian schools approach long-term spiritual formation.
In recent years, the education community has witnessed a significant shift in literacy instruction through the widespread adoption of the Science of Reading. Grounded in cognitive science and decades of research, this movement has reshaped how educators approach reading instruction—prioritizing explicit, systematic teaching of foundational skills. Mathematics is now at a similar turning point. Across K–12 education, there is growing recognition that math instruction should align with the science of how students learn. This is where the Science of Math comes in. The Science of Math is a research-informed framework that emphasizes explicit, systematic, and coherent instruction designed to build deep and lasting mathematical understanding. At its core, it integrates several essential and interconnected elements: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, number sense, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving. These are not isolated skills taught in silos; rather, they work together to develop students who can think flexibly, reason logically, and apply mathematics with confidence.
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There is a quiet revolution happening in Christian education, and it is sitting in the pews, the bleachers, and the volunteer rooms of our schools. Grandparents represent one of the most underutilized yet profoundly strategic partners available to Christian school leaders today. Research consistently confirms what Scripture has long declared: the multigenerational transmission of faith is not an accident. Psalm 78:4–7 calls each generation to make God's deeds known to their children and their children's children. Deuteronomy 6:2 frames the commands of God as a multigenerational inheritance. The family in its broadest and most extended sense is God's design for discipleship.
Podcast
Hear a portion of John Stonestreet's presentation at the Rooted Educator Worldview Summit earlier this year. Plus, Dr. Steve Whitaker, Head of School at The First Academy (FL), shares how the ACSI Flourishing Faith Index can help.
Part Two of the Kingdom Athletics Series focuses on how identifying your goals will lead to forming your vision. Billy Sparacio, longtime athletic director and educator, rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast.
Billy Sparacio, longtime athletic director and educator, rejoins the Grafted Together Podcast to discuss Kingdom athletics and how to forge deeper connections and discipleship through sports.
Heather Hager, Head of School at Harp's Crossing Christian Academy (GA), shows how impactful ACSI accreditation can be. Hear her school's story and also learn what makes Calvary Christian High School (FL) unique with Head of School David Kilgore.
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.
ACSI Reaches Highest Tier Attainable in the Best Christian Workplaces Survey, Earning “Flourishing Status”
The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is proud to announce that it has once again earned “Flourishing Status” through the Best Christian Workplaces Survey.
In a multi-year trend upward, ACSI employees ranked the organization as being the highest tier attainable in the Best Christian Workplaces Survey—a thorough employee engagement survey assessing organizational culture.
The association’s score this year lands in the 83rd percentile, which is 20% higher than in 2023, with areas of strength including high commitment to excellence and effective teamwork. One of the organization’s largest jumps in improvement was helping each other with healthy work/life integration.
ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor is thrilled by this great accomplishment.
“At ACSI, our dedication to excellence in serving our communities and partners stems from an unwavering commitment for Jesus Christ,” he said. “This recognition highlights our significant progress in areas where we’ve previously sought improvement, actively incorporating employee feedback into our decision-making processes, and fostering a culture of innovation and exploration. We are enthusiastic about continuing to develop and nurture a thriving workplace environment that exemplifies what it means to be a dynamic and flourishing organization.”
Best Christian Workplaces Consulting Director Cary Humphries is excited about the survey results and is honored to serve as ACSI’s engagement partner.
“ACSI has demonstrated a commitment to regularly measure the health of their workplace culture,” he said. “This year’s actions and survey progress display excellence and the increased opportunity for full engagement of the ACSI team.”
The organization conducted this anonymous survey to all employees in May of 2024 and analyzed the data in June.
ACSI Vice President of Human Resources Chris Loncar looks forward to implementing strategies to address the data specifically regarding areas that present opportunities for growth.
“In recent years, we have targeted lower scoring areas that are representative of where we can improve. We continue to see progress in several of those areas as we make efforts post survey to address areas of employee concern. By doing this, we will continue to affirm our commitment to improving our culture at ACSI,” he shared.
Taylor believes the future of Christian education is bright.
“We deeply appreciate our team’s dedication to ACSI's mission and vision,” he stated. “Their commitment empowers us to shape future leaders who will advance our goals and make a significant impact globally, furthering the reach and influence of Christian education.”
To learn more about the Best Christian Workplaces Certified Workplaces, visit the website at https://workplaces.org/certification. To learn more about ACSI, visit the website at https://www.acsi.org/.
About 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 Best Christian Workplaces:
Best Christian Workplaces exists to equip and inspire Christian leaders to create an engaged, flourishing workplace. Since 2003, the ministry has surveyed over 1,000 churches, nonprofits, businesses, and educators. Their vision is that Christian-led workplaces set the standard as the best, most effective places to work in the world.
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.
