International School Leaders Conference – Europe

Portoroz, Slovenia

Since its beginning over 20 years ago, the International School Leader's Conference (ISLC) has been designed for busy school leaders to gather for challenging PD, networking, and time away from the busyness of leadership. The inspiring keynote speakers will challenge your thinking and the intentional interaction will sharpen your understanding. You do not want to miss this one. This conference will be held at the Grand Hotel Bernardin. 

The prestigious Grand Hotel Bernardin is located directly by the sea, between Portoroz and Piran. It offers an excellent wellness center, Paradise Spa, with saunas and various massages and an indoor swimming pool with heated sea water. All rooms have private balconies overlooking the sea and the hotel has a luxurious private beach.

Conference Host

Tim Shuman | ACSI Regional Director for International Schools

Tim Shuman serves as the Regional Director for International Schools at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Prior to joining the ACSI team in 2010, he and his wife, Sandee, lived and worked in Germany for nearly 25 years at Black Forest Academy where Tim served as Head of School. The Shumans have two married sons, Luke and Andrea live in Brooklyn NY and Tyler and Jennifer live in Palmdale CA. When Tim is not visiting or consulting at international Christian schools around the world, he can often be found hiking with Sandee in the Colorado Front Range.

Conference Speakers

Dr. Jan Dormer | Associate Professor of TESOL, Messiah College

Dr. Jan Dormer is the author of the recent book What School Leaders Need to Know about English Learners, and is frequently invited to speak on this topic in schools. Jan has many years of experience teaching English learners (ELs) and working with international schools in countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, and Mozambique. Herself a child language learner at age ten in a school immersion and the mother of two children who learned language through schooling, her perspectives on this topic are not only professional, but personal. Jan believes that ELs enhance a school community and that with the right approaches and strategies, English language learning can positively impact students, teachers, and the whole school community.  

Dr. Randy Richards | Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Palm Beach Atlantic University 

Dr. Randy Richards is the Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He has been teaching since 1986, originally at a state university and then abroad at an Indonesian seminary. Dr. Richards served at two Christian universities before joining Palm Beach Atlantic University as the dean of the School of Ministry in 2006. He loves training students for ministry, both domestically and internationally. His wife Stacia has joyfully accompanied him from jungles of Indonesia to rice fields in Arkansas to beautiful South Florida. They have two sons: Josh and Jacob. Dr. Richards has authored or co-authored nearly a dozen books and dozens of scholarly articles. He is currently writing an introduction to the New Testament and is beginning a major 2-volume commentary on the Gospel of John in the Word Biblical Commentary series. Recently, he completed a major new edition of Rediscovering Paul (2017), a popular college and seminary textbook on the Apostle Paul; A Little Book for New Bible Scholars (2017), an introduction to Biblical studies; and Paul Behaving Badly (2016), a popular book on the beloved apostle. Other recent books include Rediscovering Jesus (2015), Reading Scripture Deeply (2015), and Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes (2012).

Download the Draft Conference Schedule

For questions email the Conference Coordinator 

Registration is open!
Look for your invitation in your email, or email the conference coordinator for the link.
Conference registration is separate from hotel accommodation/package rates and includes lunch and snack breaks during the conference. Dinners are on your own.

ACSI Member School Conference Registration | $350

Non–Member School Conference Registration | $450

Spouse—ACSI Member School Conference Registration* | $175

Spouse—Non–Member School Conference Registration* | $225

*Spouses are welcome to attend any and all sessions and meals with the group.

Cancellation Fees: 
ACSI cancellation policy is as follows: 
Prior to March 1 | full refund 
March 1–March 31 | 75% refund 
After March 31 | no refund available  

Hotel Accommodations
Grand Bernardin Hotel
Hotel room reservations will be made through the registration process.  We have secured a block of rooms at the conference hotel with the following rates:
Double Room/Single Occupancy | $118 /per night + tax (single person in room)

Double room/Double Occupancy | $90 per person/per night + tax (2 people in room)

Room cost includes breakfast buffet, access to the swimming pool Spa Paradise, free entrance into the Water Park Laguna Bernardin and in-room wi-fi. 

Travel and transportation information will come soon!