January 22, 2025

The ACS Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Thiessen as Executive Director of Abbotsford Christian School. Mark brings extensive experience in Christian school leadership, both in Canada and internationally. He has spent the last seven years as Head of School at Sekolah Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he led one of the top Christian education systems in the region.
Mark will officially begin his role on August 1 and will be joined by his wife, Alecia, and their two children, Naomi (currently in grade 7) and Jeremiah (currently in grade 9).

ABOUT MARK THIESSEN
Prior to his role in Indonesia, Mark served as principal and vice principal at Niagara Christian Collegiate in Ontario, overseeing academic and residential operations and leading staff in creating a culture of continued growth.
Mark’s accomplishments at Sekolah Pelita Harapan include:

  • leading strategic planning, operational management, and long-term financial planning;
  • creating a campus master plan and academic framework; and
  • empowering his leadership team and fostering a Christ-centered culture focused on excellence and community.

Mark holds a Master of Education in Administration and Leadership from Brock University, as well as a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. Most recently, he completed the Van Lunen Fellowship in Executive Management for Christian Schools at Calvin University.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mark is passionate about shaping Christ-centered learning environments where students and staff can thrive. His leadership philosophy emphasizes strategic vision, collaboration, and a commitment to honouring God in all aspects of education.

OUR SEARCH PROCESS
Over the past several months, the Search Team, consisting of three board members (Trevor De Jong, Ray Olthuis, and Steph Ingwersen) and three society members (Rick Thiessen, Christine Bomhof, and Bill Vanderkooi) have worked diligently to search for a new Executive Director to lead our school forward. They followed a robust and thorough process, ensuring the focus remained on finding a capable leader who embodies ACS’ mission and vision. Below is a summary of the steps taken:

Phase 1 – Preparation and Outreach:

  • Developed a detailed position profile, advertising strategy, and interview format.
  • Job postings were distributed widely through platforms such as the ACS website, SCSBC, Christian Schools International, EDvance, and PCC.
  • Conducted targeted outreach to 20 potential candidates, both locally and internationally.

Phase 2 – Initial Candidate Evaluation:

  • Reviewed five applications and shortlisted three candidates for initial interviews.
  • Added Ed Noot, retired SCSBC Executive Director, to the search team for additional educational insight.
  • Conducted interviews and advanced two candidates.
  • Performed thorough reference checks for both finalists.

Phase 3 – Comprehensive Candidate Assessment:

  • Facilitated campus tours and staff interactions for each finalist.
  • Conducted structured interviews with the ACS Leadership Team (principals and director of learning support services) using standardized templates and scorecards.
  • Organized a social event with the board and search team, during which candidates presented their vision for ACS.
  • Held a final round of interviews featuring case studies, further questioning, and opportunities for the candidates to engage deeply with the team.

Phase 4 – Final Review and Decision:

  • After prayerful deliberation and discussion, the search team recommended Mark Thiessen for the position of ACS Executive Director. The board approved their recommendation, and Mark accepted the position of ACS Executive Director.

We are excited to welcome Mark and his family to the ACS community and look forward to the impact his leadership will bring to our school. Please join us in praying for Mark, Alecia, Naomi, and Jeremiah as they prepare for this new chapter with ACS.

On behalf of the ACS Board of Directors,

 

TREVOR DE JONG
ACS Board Chair