COLORADO SPRINGS, May 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Brian S. Simmons, incoming president of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), announced on May 8 that ACSI's current president, Dr. Ken Smitherman, has agreed to serve as the assistant to the president for support services effective August 1, 2009, after retiring from the presidency. Smitherman's primary responsibility will be to assist the new president with the continued growth of both the ACSI Capital Corporation and the ACSI Education Foundation. Smitherman is uniquely qualified for this new role because of his love for the Lord and his lifelong commitment to the mission of Christian schooling. He brings to this position personal giftedness, a deep knowledge of ACSI, and a wealth of relationships built during his thirteen-year tenure as the president. According to Simmons, "Higher education has a rich tradition of placing former university presidents in roles of further service, and those roles often carry the title of chancellor. The outgoing president is also available to assist with the transition as consultant and mentor to the incoming president."

Along with other assignments, Smitherman's primary role will be to strengthen the scope and reach of both the ACSI Capital Corporation and the ACSI Education Foundation, entities created in 2005 and 2006, respectively. As a service to member schools, the former was established to provide tax-exempt bond financing for member schools and colleges. This financing, made available through the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority, provides schools with substantially reduced interest and issuance costs for long-term debt. The ACSI Education Foundation's mission is to secure, manage, and distribute private support to promote the strategic growth, influence, and effectiveness of Christian schooling worldwide.

Simmons will undertake his new responsibilities as ACSI's president August 1, 2009. He currently serves as the vice president for university relations at Indiana Wesleyan in Marion, Indiana. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ACSI (www.acsi.org) is the world's largest association of Protestant schools. Its mission is to enable Christian educators and schools worldwide to effectively prepare students for life. ACSI leads its 5,300 member schools in more than 100 countries to greater effectiveness through a wide variety of services targeted toward school improvement, professional development, and the provision of resources for the unique needs of children.