Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Keith Nix, head of the Veritas School in Richmond, VA, and Eric Cook, President of the Society for Classical Learning. The two are co-directors of Gordon College’s new graduate program in Classical School Leadership. They discuss some of the challenges faced by the classical renewal movement, providing insight as to how Gordon’s new graduate program prepares classical educators for effective leadership at their schools. They also share tips for choosing a college that will enrich a student’s faith life.

On this episode of Anchored, CLT’s Adam Roate is joined by Dr. Jason Jewell and Dr. Andrew Jacobs of Faulkner University’s Center for Great Books and Human Flourishing. The two share about their educational journey and how Faulkner University fostered their love for classical education. They discuss the importance of faith in the academy, the value of overcoming challenges in education, and share details about graduate and undergraduate degree programs at Faulkner University. They also hear from admissions counselor Megan Lee, who shares information for interested prospective students. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Ginny Gentles, Director of the Education Freedom Center of the Independent Women’s Forum. They discuss Ginny’s background, which includes serving as a senior political advisor for the George W. Bush Administration, as well as championing school choice at the Florida Department of Education. They also discuss the harmful effects that radical ideology can have on individuals and society.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Dr. David Diener, Professor of Education at Hillsdale College. David shares how his educational journey led him to teach at a Christian school in Bogota, Colombia, before moving back to the US to pursue a passion in classical education. He emphasizes the need for good leadership in the classical renewal movement, and highlights the new Master of Arts in Classical Education program at Hillsdale College. He also discusses how classical education transcends geographic and ideological boundaries in pursuit of human flourishing for all.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino’s Pizza and Ave Maria University, as well as Adam Kinnick, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Ave Maria University. Tom recounts growing up in foster homes and Catholic orphanages across Michigan, working multiple jobs to pay for classes and textbooks as a young adult, and eventually founding Domino’s Pizza with his brother while a student at the University of Michigan. He highlights the important role his Catholic faith plays in his daily life, and how it ultimately motivated him to found Ave Maria University. He and Adam discuss Ave Maria’s faithfully Catholic identity and share tips for students interested in attending.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Cassidy Syftestad, a Hillsdale College graduate and current third-year PhD student at the University of Arkansas studying Education Policy. Cassidy discusses how her family benefited from school choice while navigating the public school system and responds to common criticisms of school choice, emphasizing the need for freedom in education. She also shares memories from her time in the American Studies program at Hillsdale, including interviewing Annette Kirk and studying in Washington, D.C.

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Dr. Jordan Almanzar, Professor at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in Warner, NH and teacher at Kolbe Academy. He discusses his new memoir, When the World Was Flat: One Boy’s Life at the Edge of the Millennium, which recounts his upbringing as a homeschool student in rural Colorado. He highlights many of the changes he has witnessed in society since the turn of the millennium and promotes homeschooling as an effective way to nurture family relationships in a disconnected world. He also shares about his experiences while earning his PhD at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, Germany, including living with his family in a medieval castle.

On this special episode of Anchored, guests Anika Prather and Doug Wilson continue their conversation on race relations in the United States. They engage in a lively discussion on topics including the value of classical education, the power of the gospel in creating racial healing, and the importance of listening to and understanding other perspectives. Join us for this special two-hour episode hosted by Dr. Christopher Perrin of Classical Academic Press.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by two leaders of St. Benedict Classical Academy in South Natick, MA: Headmaster Jay Boren and Co-Founder Erika Bachiochi. Erika shares about her academic path to becoming a legal scholar and subsequently helping found St. Benedict. Jay shares about his experience as a novice Benedictine monk before becoming a classical Catholic educator for twelve years. Under his leadership, St. Benedict’s enrollment has blossomed from 25 to 233 students. Erika and Jay share advice for new classical schools, examine the relationship between classical and authentically Catholic education, and discuss the need for good school leaders. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Becky Priest, College Counselor at The Cambridge School in San Diego, CA. She discusses how her childhood interest in education led her to Washington University in St. Louis, where she discovered a passion for helping others. She eventually joined the University’s financial aid department, before leveraging her skills to help start The Cambridge School. She shares advice for new college counselors, recommends strategies for developing a robust faith life in college, and discusses the value of classical education in preparing students for undergraduate studies.