ACSI Headquarters introduces new staff to serve you
Dear Colleague,
I’m happy to announce that ACSI Headquarters has recently welcomed four new team members. These men come from a variety of rich backgrounds and bring a wealth of experience—which will translate to better resources and services for your school.
Please join us in rejoicing with two of your colleagues who have been promoted from within to accept positions at Headquarters. These men are well-acquainted with the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis, because they have walked in your shoes. The other men deserve an equally warm welcome; they provide skills our association desperately needs to remain viable in today’s world and to move to the cutting edge in business practices.
Our future as an association holds exciting new developments, and we believe God has led these four individuals to us to help bring these initiatives to fruition. Praise God for bringing these new colleagues to our team, and let’s welcome them!
Sincerely,
Brian S. Simmons
Vice President of Professional Development
Sam Barfell has accepted a new position at ACSI Headquarters designed to greatly expand professional development opportunities for ACSI members. In this role, which will begin July 1, 2011, Sam will develop a new model for delivering professional development—ACSI Nexus, which will feature both live and virtual components.
He has 28 years of experience in Christian school teaching and administration, and he has served as ACSI’s director for the Mid-America Region since 2007. He loves to bow hunt white-tailed deer in the fall and wild turkey in the spring, particularly when he can go with his son. He also enjoys mountain biking whenever the weather is good. His favorite candy is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups—any size, any shape!
Sam and his wife, Jenni, have three children and live in Rockford, Illinois. They plan to eventually relocate to Colorado Springs.
He believes that effective Christian schooling has never been more necessary. “Our western culture is becoming increasingly anti-Christian,” he says. “We need an army of well-trained, intelligent, articulate people of faith in Christ who can not only defend their reasonable faith, but can perpetuate it as well. I know of no other tool in God’s arsenal that has the potential Christian schooling has in the intellectual and spiritual training of future generations.”
Prepared for the Role
Professional Experience
- Indiana Wesleyan University and Huntington University (IN), adjunct graduate professor, current
- Blackhawk Christian School (Fort Wayne, Indiana), superintendent, 2003–2007
- Liberty Christian School (Anderson, Indiana), superintendent, 1992–2003
- Bethel Christian School (Erie, Pennsylvania), K–12 administrator, 1989–1992
- Faith Christian School (Hamilton Square, New Jersey), principal, 1985–1989; middle school teacher, 1983–1985
Educational Leadership Experience
- ACSI Mid-America Regional Director, July 2007–present
- Chaired numerous accreditation teams for Christian schools
- Taught at many ACSI conferences for teachers and administrators
- Served on the board of directors for the Indiana Non-Public Education Association
Educational Background
- Doctorate (EdD) in educational leadership, Nova Southeastern University (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
- Master of arts in Christian school administration, Grace Theological Seminary (Winona Lake, Indiana)
- Bachelor’s degrees in secondary education, Cornerstone University and Calvin College (both in Grand Rapids, Michigan)
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Assistant Vice President of Development and Public Relations
We invited Michael Jones to join the ACSI Headquarters team October 25, 2010, because of his experience from marketplace and ministry roles in leadership and in program and product development. He was selected to fill this role because of his work in leading international corporate organizations, handling marketing for international Christian education organizations, and heading up a denominational foundation.
“We were ready to take the former director of development position to an assistant vice president level,” says President Brian Simmons. “We wanted to grow the ACSI Education Foundation, and even before Jan Stump resigned, we were consulting with The Orchard Foundation. And what does God do? He brings us a past president of that organization. Michael has great people skills and a great executive presence.”
Michael is passionate about facilitating the development of people who can become agents of change, especially in the arena of Christian schooling. “God has called individuals to become players in the worldwide work He is doing through schools and educators; I want to connect them to opportunities to make an impact on the world through ACSI.”
He and his wife, Yvonne, live in Colorado Springs. They have four grown children, three of whom work in the field of education. He enjoys watching a well-performed play, listening to an incredible musical piece, and taking a good walk or a good run. “I am not a candy aficionado,” he says. “For sweets, I prefer great oatmeal-raisin cookies.”
Prepared for the Role
Professional Experience
- JW Collaborative (Colorado Springs, Colorado), managing principal, 2004–2010
- The Orchard Foundation (Colorado Springs, Colorado), president/CEO, 2000–2004; vice president, marketing and development, 1999–2000
- David C. Cook (Colorado Springs, Colorado), director of worldwide marketing, 1994–1998
- Urban Ministries Inc. (Chicago), director of marketing and sales, 1993–1994
- ROLM/IBM/Siemens Corp. (Santa Clara, California), executive marketing programs manager/program manager, 1987–1991; marketing manager, 1983–1987
Leadership Experience
- President, Black Alliance for Educational Options
- Board member, Urban Outreach Ministry
- Board member, Association of Christian Foundations
- Board chair, marriage and family ministry
Educational Background
- Graduate, National Planned Giving Institute, College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia)
- Graduate, School of Foundation Management, Northwestern University (Chicago)
- Graduate, Family Wealth Counselors of America
- Graduate, Values-Based Estate Planning
- Bachelor of arts, Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California)
- Master of divinity, Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California)
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Vice President of Technology Services
With a goal of leveraging technology to serve most effectively in today’s high-tech world, we hired Walt Tracy December 1, 2010. Walt brings more than 20 years of experience in information technology. He has served in management and consulting roles for Fortune 500 companies as well as at midsize organizations in various industries.
“The Lord has brought to us a former top leader at SmithBucklin, the world’s largest association-management company, who also has experience with La Petite Academy,” says President Brian Simmons. “We need that kind of expertise so we can move forward with both technology and professional development.”
Bringing Walt to the ACSI Headquarters team will enable the association to upgrade our technology. “To survive and thrive as an association,” says Director of Human Resources Mark Morley, “we need the tools to help us serve better. Part of the value Walt brings is his experience with constituencies similar to ACSI.”
Walt enjoys soccer, water sports (boating and skiing), and snow skiing, and he likes any candy that combines chocolate and nuts. He is passionate about Christian schooling because of his volunteer work with youth in urban schools. “Per Matthew 5:16, by opening the door to educational opportunity,” he says, “we have a chance to demonstrate the love of Christ to those who are disenfranchised.”
He and his wife, Angela, have two sons and live in the Chicago area. They plan to relocate to Colorado Springs.
Prepared for the Role
Professional Experience
- SmithBucklin (Chicago), senior vice president and chief information officer, 2007–2010
- La Petite Academy (Chicago), vice president and chief information officer, 2003–2007
- Performance Parking (Chicago), principal, 2003
- InterPark Holdings (Chicago), chief information officer, 1999–2002
- McDonald’s Corporation (Oak Brook, Illinois), information services director, 1992–1999
- T&M Investments Inc. (Savannah, Georgia), director of operations, 1988–1992
- Touche Ross & Co. (Atlanta), associate, management consulting, 1987–1988
- Texas Instruments (Johnson City, Tennessee), business systems analyst, 1983–1985
Educational Background
- Master of business administration, the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
- Bachelor of science, Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
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Assistant Vice President of Membership and Student Activities
We have created a new position to strategically focus on serving members effectively and recruiting new schools and educators. David Ray, ACSI-Florida regional director, accepted the invitation to fill this role beginning January 1.
David’s 30 years of experience in Christian education as an instructor, an admissions counselor, a teacher, and a school administrator have equipped him to take the ACSI membership department to the next level. “David was chosen for this position because of his progressive strategies in membership retention and recruitment and his ability to relate to school administrators in his region,” says Taylor Smith, senior vice president for ACSI USA. “He has a great rapport with our regional and program directors, and they all have a great respect for him. He is also well acquainted with the regional and national student activity programs.”
David is passionate about Christian education because of his experience with Christian schools early in his life. “I saw the impact [Christian schools] made on my life and the solid biblical worldview I had instilled in me. When I see graduates of Christian schools stepping out to serve the Lord and be champions for Christ, I know I’m following God’s leading in my life to develop these young leaders for Him.”
He enjoys music and playing the piano, and he loves to travel and visit new places, along with going to Walt Disney World. He collects Disney pins and says he can be bribed with Peanut or Peanut Butter M&M’s. He and his wife, Natalie, have one son. They live in Dunedin, Florida, where David is completing his duties as ACSI Florida regional director. They will eventually move to Colorado Springs.
Prepared for the Role
Professional Experience
- ACSI Florida Regional Director, 1997–present
- Lakeside Christian School (Clearwater, Florida), administrator, 1985–1997; vice principal, 1982–1985; teacher, 1981–1995
- Clearwater Christian College (Clearwater, Florida), admissions officer, instructor, and college recruiter, 1979–1981
Educational Leadership Experience
- ACSI and SACS accreditation team chair and member, 1991–present
- ACSI convention planning committee member, 1987–1990
- ACSI Southeast Regional Council representative, 1990–1997
- International School Project Co-Mission team member (Russia), 1994
- School Governance and Strategic Planning trainer, 1997–present
- Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders board member, 2006–2008
Educational Background
- Master of arts, Luther Rice Seminary (Lithonia, Georgia)
- Bachelor of arts, Clearwater Christian College (Clearwater, Florida
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New ACSI Headquarters Staff