When a school leader gets fired up about the right things, transformation happens. Dr. Cy Smith joins Jerry Nelson to discuss practical ways for spiritual formation directors to influence students.

Dr. Cy Smith is the Superintendent of Mansfield Christian School and a national leader in Christian education. As host of the Clearly Christian Podcast, he challenges cultural drift, highlights the importance of Christian education to turn the tide, and contends with conviction for the biblical worldview. 

Dr. Smith is a Colson Fellow with the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and has degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of Toledo and Ashland University.  He is a conference speaker, executive coach, and school board consultant in addition to his role as Superintendent.  Dr. Smith has served at Mansfield Christian [MCS] for 34 years.

Digital Resources:  

https://mcsflames.org/

Jerry Nelson discusses Gospel-centered racial reconciliation with Dr. James Noble, the Vice President for the Center of Community, Dignity, and Inclusive Campus Family at Anderson University (SC), and the Pastor of Kingdom Community Church of Anderson.

Dr. Noble earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Race and Grace: Gospel-Centered Racial Reconciliation.

Dr. Noble's book: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/race-and-grace-gospel-centered-racial-reconciliation.

Why do some students seem to be ready for leadership but don't take the initiative, and what can we do about it? Emily Pigott has insights on what leads to the leadership gap and how educators can help bridge it.

The Student Leadership & Learning Podcast aims to help create enriching experiences beyond the classroom, explore ways to maximize educators' impact, and develop student leaders. Your host is Emily Pigott, ACSI's VP of Educational Resources & Student Programs.

The ACSI Podcasts help sharpen your leadership and explore ways to cultivate a flourishing school community, all through a biblical worldview framework. Find more info on all four shows here: https://www.acsi.org/podcasts

What would happen if our desire for more parental involvement extended beyond the child's academics to something of greater worth? Dr. Toyin Atolagbe shares how parental engagement shapes spiritual formation.

Dr. Toyin Atolagbe serves as Executive Director of Great Hearts Christos, a private Christian classical school with campuses in Phoenix and Gilbert, Arizona. Previously, she led Archway Lincoln Classical Academy as Headmaster and was a founding faculty member at Archway Arete Classical Academy and Archway Trivium Classical Academy, all Great Hearts Academies. She is also the co-founder of Agape International School in Ilorin, Nigeria, which offers free classical education to underserved communities. She is the founder of Lighthouse Parenting Hub, a partnership that equips parents through public speaking, training, coaching, and curated resources to foster flourishing families. Dr. Atolagbe earned her Doctor of Education from Grand Canyon University, a Master of Education from the University of Lethbridge, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Ilorin.

Digital Resources:

Dr. Atolagbe's email: [email protected]  

Website: www.lighthouseparentinghub.com 

Instagram: lighthouseparentinghub 

Rachael Jones sits down with Dr. Edward Bunn to discuss ways to recognize the crucial role that middle leaders serve as the "bridge" between upper-level leadership and staff.

The Flourishing Journey podcast explores strategies for building a thriving school culture through research and practical application. The show is hosted by Dr. Edward Bunn, ACSI's Director of Professional Development.

The ACSI podcasts will help sharpen your leadership and explore ways to cultivate a flourishing school community, all through a biblical worldview framework. Find more info here: https://www.acsi.org/podcasts

Dr. Chuck Fuller, Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University, shares his transition from pastoral ministry to higher Christian education and identifies traits of "good" and "the right" types of education.

Dr. Chuck Fuller serves as Director of the Honors College and Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Anderson University. A native of Kentucky, Dr. Fuller came to AU in 2010 following thirteen years in full-time pastoral ministry. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, where his primary emphasis was homiletical theology with additional studies in philosophy and systematic theology.

https://andersonuniversity.edu/honors-college/

How does someone in charge of spiritual formation build a team to ensure growth continues beyond themself? Are you a spiritual formation lone ranger? Dr. David Brinkley, Director of Spiritual Life at Rosslyn Academy in Kenya, has helpful insights.

David is the Director of Spiritual Life at Rosslyn Academy, a Christian international school in Nairobi serving about 700 students from over 50 nations. Previously at Rosslyn, he taught Bible to 11th–12th graders and served as Department Chair for seven years. He holds a D.Min from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and an M.Div and Th.M from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. David also serves on the pastoral team at International Christian Fellowship in Nairobi. Before moving to Kenya, he spent seventeen years in youth ministry and five years in Christian education.

Digital Resources: www.rosslynacademy.org

Hear a snippet of Trevin Wax's presentation at the 2026 FSi Dallas, learn more about the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, and hear how God is working through ACSI Europe.

For more on the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, visit everystudenteverystate.org and childrenstuitionfund.org

To discuss how underserved students have been transformed by Christian education, Jonathon Basurto joins the Grafted Together Podcast.

Jonathon is the Principal at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy South Campus in Tucson, AZ, the first school in the nation that is Christian, Classical, Covenantal, and Dual Language. He has been in education and educational leadership for over fifteen years. He serves at his local church, helping the teens and college students through Bible studies.

Digital resources:

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy website

Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization

Institute for Better Education Scholarships

Center for Unity 2026 Summit

What is the responsibility of leaders to invest in the spiritual formation of the employees they steward? Chris Loncar, ACSI's VP of Human Resources, discusses how organizations should care for their most important asset: people.

Chris Loncar is the VP of Human Resources at ACSI. He spent the first 10 years of his calling as a pastor before transitioning to the human resources field, a blend that has given him a versatile and thoughtful approach to leading the HR function of an organization. He has a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management and is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resources Management.

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The Grafted Together Podcast examines how biblical worldview and spiritual formation should integrate into everyday Christian education.

All four shows of the ACSI Podcasts have a new episode each month, available here on YouTube and in audio-only form on most major podcast platforms. These podcasts will help sharpen your leadership and explore ways to cultivate a flourishing school community, all through a biblical worldview framework. Find more info here: https://www.acsi.org/podcasts