Public Policy & Legal Affairs

P. George Tryfiates is ACSI’s Vice President for Public Policy & Legal Affairs in Washington, DC. He has filled multiple roles in public policy throughout his career in D.C., including one as executive director for over 13 years of a national Christian public policy organization and, earlier, as the first full-time executive director of a state-level Christian public policy organization. The latter he helped to transition from its volunteer base in one part of the state to the state capital. George has participated in all aspects of public policy, including nonprofit governance and policy, advocacy, and media. He holds an M.A. in public policy from Regent University. George enjoys history and lives with his wife in historic Fredericksburg where Jefferson crafted his Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. They have been married for 33 years and have four adult children who all graduated from Christian high school. 

Email          Phone: 202.558.7040

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. 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.

Email          Phone  202.573.7776

LinkedIn

Dr. Tom Cathey is the ACSI Chief of Staff and former Assistant Vice President for Public Policy & Legal Affairs. Tom is the editor for the Legal Legislative Update and consults with schools around the country on legal, legislative, and human resource issues. Tom has been in Christian Education for over 40 years. In 2000, he founded and served as the Administrator for Calvary Christian High School in Clearwater, Florida. He has his doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Tom and his wife Gail have been married 45 years and have four adult children.

Email          Phone: 719.867.0201

LinkedIn

Elizabeth Clayton is the ACSI Public Policy & Communications Assistant. Elizabeth works closely with the Public Policy & Legal Affairs department conducting research, writing, and reports related to public policy developments. She also coordinates written legal content for scholarly journals, legal briefs, and newsletters, as well as manages social media and facilitates departmental events. She holds a B.A.S. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She also freelances as a professional wedding and portrait photographer and as communications director for a theology and arts society. 

Email         Phone: 719.867.0138

LinkedIn