The ACSI International Educational Leadership Conference is a response to a growing desire for developing practical cooperation among Christian school administrators from various countries of Europe and beyond. We have hosted the IELC in 2015 and 2017 with about 190 participants from 23 countries! We are blessed to be able to work together for the promotion of quality Christ-centered education worldwide. See the 2017 Conference Report

Conference Theme:  "Partnerships for Increased Impact"

Conference Location:

Danubius Hotel Flamenco, Budapest, Hungary
Address: 3-7. Tas vezér utca, 1113 Budapest
Website: https://www.danubiushotels.com/en/

Conference Goals:

• Inspire a shared vision for Christian education globally
• Encourage fellowship among Christian school leaders
• Encourage developing partnerships for Christian schools
• Enhance leadership skills through plenary and workshop sessions

Program Details:

• This conference will highlight keynote speakers from various regions.
• Workshops will be available, presented by highly experienced and qualified educators working in Christian school settings.
• The schedule will incorporate a significant time for networking between schools and schools will be provided a small display area for initiating contacts and partnerships.
• The 2019 DRAFT schedule is now available
• We provide simultaneous translation in Czech/Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian during the main sessions. If you do not speak English, you will need to provide your own translator for school interaction times and workshops.

Educational leaders from 31 countries will gather for this event.

Workshops to be presented on Thursday and Friday:

• Highlighting school leaders from various parts of Europe
• Workshop options for Thursday:

  David Bartlett– Training in Board Governance 1 - Mission Drift and Ministry Lifecycle

  David Bartlett – Training in Board Governance 2 - The Board and Executive in Ministry Together

  Lisa Bernier – Cross-Cultural Partnership: An Eternal Investment
  Gavin Brettenny & Marco van der Zwaard – Leading and Facilitating Collaborative Partnerships with Impact
  Mike Epp – Partnership Strategies for India and Pakistan
  Marja van de Lagemaat – Connecting internationalization to the Christian Identity of your School
  Estuardo Salazar – Communities of Hope and Reconciliation: Examples from Latin America

• Workshop options for Friday:

  David Bartlett – Training in Board Governance 3 - Board Policy Development

  David Bartlett – Training in Board Governance 4 - Best Practice Board Reporting

  Sjoerd van den Berg – Partnering in Teacher Training for a Biblical Approach to Education
  Matt Coe – Student Leadership: Igniting and Sustaining a New Approach for your Curriculum
  Daniel Egeler – Seize Eternity: Building Relationships for Eternal Impact in Christian Education
  Martin Jan de Jong – A Value and Content-based Approach to School Structure
  Debbie MacCullough – Strategic Partnerships for School Improvement: A Model from Africa
  Gregg Vossler – Discerning and Implementing God's Vision through New Educational Initiatives

School Partnership Development:

• IMPORTANT:  We can only provide 20 small display tables on each day. The list of presenting schools is now online.
• Half of the schools will be able to display and host on Thursday while the other schools visit the tables. The other half will host on the 2nd day of the conference.
• Your school display could be a self-running PowerPoint presentation, video or brochure that would communicate the potential for collaboration with your school.
• Please also think about ways that you want to collaborate with schools from other countries for the mutual benefit of your students and teachers. The best encouragement for partnership is highlighting what you can offer to others in these partnership opportunities.
• Your School Profile Form may also be submitted to be included in our database as an option for connecting and partnership development.

Special Invitation to School Board Members...

While the structure and function of school boards varies from place to place, there is no doubt that board members play a significant role in the leadership of our Christian schools. Recognizing this, ACSI Europe invited DAVID BARTLETT, Director of Governance and Business Operations | ACSI Global, to lead a series of workshops specifically designed for Christian school board members. These 4 topics will be addressed during the 4 board governance training sessions.

1. Mission drift and Ministry Lifecycle
2. The Board and Executive in Ministry Together
3. Board Policy Development
4. Best Practice Board Reporting

Costs: 

* These ACSI members receive a scholarship to help cover the costs of this conference.

* A 5% discount is available for groups of 5 or more participants from the same school.

Conference fees include:

• Conference without lodging or breakfast: lunches on Thursday and Friday, evening meals on Wednesday and Friday, 2 coffee breaks per day, all conference materials and registration
• Conference with Double or Single room accommodation includes the above plus lodging for 3 nights, 3 breakfasts and access to the pool and hotel facilities
• Spouse registration only includes lodging for 3 nights, 3 breakfasts, evening meals on Wednesday and Friday and access to hotel facilities.
• If you need accommodation for up to 3 nights before or after the conference, please contact us to arrange the extra hotel nights at the same discounted rate.
• Contact us at ACSIEurope@acsi.org for special arrangements.

Payment and Cancellation Policy:

• All conference fees must be paid by December 10, 2018 or your reservation will be cancelled. Participation may be limited to 240, so your payment guarantees your reservation.
• Payment can be made by credit card or by bank transfer after completing the registration process.
• Cancellations by December 10 receive a 90% refund.
• Cancellations between December 10 and January 10 receive a 20% refund.
• No refunds for cancellations after January 10.
• Same gender or single room participant replacements are allowed until February 10.
• Accommodation cannot be guaranteed for new reservations after December 10.

Keynote Speakers:

Mike Epp has been involved in Christian school education for over 30 years. He has traveled to more than 50 countries as an educational consultant and accreditation advisor. Mike served at a bilingual international Christian school, Pan American Christian Academy in São Paulo, Brazil for 19 years. His experience included serving as a guidance counselor, history teacher, coach and as the head of the school for the last 13 years. He travels extensively to serve the international school Christian community around the world. The Association of Christian Schools International serves nearly 20,000 schools in over 100 countries. He holds a Master’s in Education and Guidance, a B.S. in Social Sciences, and an Education Specialist Certificate in Educational Administration.

Laci Demeter is passionate about identifying, equipping, and empowering young leaders to reach their full potential in life, that is, to fulfill their God-given calling. Laci holds three university degrees: MSc in Engineering, MA in teaching EFL, and MEd in Christian school education. He is currently working on his PhD degree in Christian school leadership through Columbia International University. Laci has been with ACSI Europe since 1995, and has served in various positions. He was appointed as Regional Director in 2011. Laci and Rita are blessed with six children, who provide unlimited educational anecdotes for his teachings.

Jaap Braaksma is manager of the international program of Driestar Christian University in the Netherlands. He studied History and Economics and is working in Christian education since 1985. He started his work as a teacher in secondary education. He has served as a consultant and project leader for projects in several countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.

Daniel Egeler, EdD is often described as a story teller, having learned the art of relating oral history from his African elders while growing up as a missionary kid in Tanzania. It is that form of communication and passion that he brings to bear when sharing with his audiences today. Dr. Egeler earned a bachelor's degree in history from The King's College (New York, NY), a master's degree in physical education from Washington State University (Pullman, WA), and a doctorate in administration and instructional leadership from the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL). Dan served for thirteen years as a teacher, soccer coach, high school principal, and Director of the Alliance Academy in Quito, Ecuador. He returned to the United States in July 1999 and worked with the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in Colorado Springs, CO in a variety of roles in the Global division, including the role of President of ACSI from July 2013-March 2018. He currently serves as a Vice President for Strategic Educational Alliances for Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Dan and his wife, Kathy, have four children.

Bert Vogel, born in 1952, is the former director (chairman of the executive board) of Calvijn College in the Netherlands, a Christian reformed high school (www.calvijncollege.nl) offering pre-university, vocational and special needs education. Bert served the school as a leader through the highs and lows over a period of thirty years. His interest areas are teacher education, quality assurance in education built on the mission of Christian schools, and coaching in organizational leadership. Bert has gained an understanding of the cultural differences between Christian schools by having a sustainable connection with a school in Romania, and visiting other schools in Europe, America, Africa and Singapore. He passionately works to build a Christian education community that stands on a foundation of parents, teachers and school leaders who love Jesus Christ and have a deep desire to share the good news of the gospel.

Estuardo Salazar, M.ED., is the Continental Director for ACSI Latin America since 1990, responsible to provide strategic leadership to the team who produces and offers resources, programs and services to Christian schools and educators in Mexico, Central, South America and the Caribbean.  Honorary pastor of El Camino Bible Church in Guatemala City.  Undergraduate degree in Theology, Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Regent University (in Virginia, USA) and completing a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Paul University in Guatemala City.  Happily married for 34 years with Mrs. Sheny Salazar who also serves at ACSI as Associate Director and with two children who also serve in the ministry of Christian school education.