The ACSI Emerging Leaders Initiative is aimed at raising up and investing in the current and future generation of school leaders. We aim to facilitate leadership learning and development to support, strengthen and encourage our new and emerging leaders in the ACSI family of schools.
Investing in the next generation of leaders is a principle we see frequently throughout the pages of scripture. Leaders spent time raising up the next generation of younger leaders to build and advance God’s Kingdom. This took time and effort as they were deliberately and intentionally nurtured and developed to prepare them to serve. There are many examples of leaders investing into the lives of their successors through time spent teaching and coaching, doing life together, praying, discipling, imparting faith, encouraging and delegating of responsibility. Moses invested in Joshua, Samuel in David, Elijah in Elisha, Jesus in His disciples, Paul and Timothy… the list is comprehensive. We have little doubt in the value of leadership development, especially in the context of Christian Education.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11–12 (NKJV)
Cost: The cost of R5 250 per person includes:
- All course facilitation and material
- The prescribed book
- Accommodation and meals for the 2-day in-person “graduation”.(Travel costs to the Gauteng area are excluded).
Payment must take place prior to the start of the course. Schools/participants may choose to pay for the course in three instalments throughout the year. Due Dates: R5 250.00 Full payment (31 October) or 3x R1 750.00 Part Payments (31 October, 30 November, 31 December)
Registration: email claudia_hiestermann@acsi.org for the registration link. Registration should be completed, together with payment to ACSI (please use reference indicated on your proforma invoice) as soon as possible. Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first serve basis. Further administrative details will completed after registration.
This initiative is aimed at two groups of leaders in our schools:
Current, inexperienced school principals
Many new leaders have been appointed into the position of principal over the past few years without sufficient training or adequate time in a leadership “incubator” to develop their leadership skills. They are forced to learn as they go, sometimes under significant pressure because they lack exposure/experience in the challenges they face. ACSI has a large group of inexperienced principals who are very eager and have great hearts to serve their schools but are simply overwhelmed by the task at hand.
Emerging leaders.
As some current principals get closer to retirement, or as school leaders resign and move, there is seldom sufficient succession planning in place within the school that deliberately focuses on grooming and training the next potential principal. Christian schools need to be intentional in growing our future Christian school leaders by investing in those younger men and women with the potential to lead and carry the vision.
Course Structure
The Course Structure: We plan to address various topics relevant to Christian school leaders (see breakdown below) over a period of 16 months. There will be 12 x 3 hour online sessions, scheduled to take place on a Friday afternoon, once a month, over Zoom. The training will culminate with a 2-day in-person gathering in Johannesburg in April 2028 (tbc), during which the final workshop will be held. Experienced school leaders and professionals will present each of the 12 sessions – see below for details of who will present each session.
In addition to the 12 sessions, participants will be tasked to work through John Maxwell’s book ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’. Every effort will be made to make the content practical and relevant to both personal development and School Leadership.
The Emerging Leaders Initiative will be restricted to 40 participants. The first online session to launch ELI 5 will be held on Friday 29th January 2027. The first session will be an orientation and meet-and-greet workshop.
The course will be submitted to SACE for accreditation so that CPTD points can be allocated. Every effort will also be made to secure SETA funding to enable access to the initiative.