National Symposium for Classical Education Archive: 2025
“Cultivating Wonder” was the theme of the 2025 National Symposium for Classical Education, which takes us back to the formative years of our youth when we begin our educational journey. Cultivating wonder is the foundational work of classical education. The literal meaning of wonder is surprise, the experience of something strange and new before which we stand in awe perhaps, but also with a capacious sense of curiosity. Wonder is the beginning of education because it inspires questions and the desire to comprehend what we see or perceive, but do not yet fully understand.
The ways in which classical education cultivates wonder ran a path through the 2025 National Symposium, through keynote lectures, scholar talks, and workshops focused on classroom pedagogy, curriculum, and educational accessibility, as well as school leadership and operations.
2025 Program
Topics of discussion include the great books and ideas that inspire us, curriculum and pedagogy, school leadership, operations, and more. Speakers are drawn from the classical education world: expert K-12 teachers, scholars of classical, historical and philosophical studies, math and science, school leaders, public intellectuals, policy experts, authors, and artists.
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2025 Keynote Speakers
These distinguished leaders delivered powerful addresses on the vital role of classical education in the modern world. Through their reflections on Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, and the cultivation of wisdom, they reignited our collective commitment to the Great Conversation—inviting us to reflect deeply on how classical education can meet the moral and intellectual challenges of our time.
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2025 Leadership Sessions
The Leadership Track at the 2024 Great Hearts National Symposium focused on empowering K-12 school leaders with the philosophical foundations and practical strategies needed to guide classical schools toward excellence. Designed for heads of school, administrators, and those aspiring to leadership roles, the sessions delved into the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a classical education institution.
Leadership Sessions
2025 Scholarly Talks
Scholarly talks at the 2025 Symposium offered attendees a chance to dive into the rich intellectual tradition of classical education. Academics, researchers, and thought leaders presented in-depth studies on classical texts, educational philosophies, and the implications of liberal arts education in today’s schools. Each presentation illuminated the enduring relevance of classical ideas, encouraging educators to continue the rigorous pursuit of knowledge and truth in their own classrooms.
Scholarly Talks
2025 Panel Discussions
At the 2025 Symposium, our panel discussions brought together a diverse group of experts from classical K-12 education, policy, and philosophy. These conversations explored a range of pressing topics—from the role of virtue in leadership to the future of classical education in a rapidly changing society. Each panel engaged attendees with thought-provoking insights and fostered lively, respectful debates, demonstrating how the classical tradition of dialectic can inspire collaboration and wisdom.
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K-12 Workshops
The workshops were designed to equip K-12 school leaders and educators with practical tools and strategies to enhance their teaching, leadership, and community-building efforts. Hands-on sessions allowed participants to explore new ways to integrate classical texts, foster meaningful dialogue, and cultivate virtue in students. These workshops provided immediate takeaways that educators could bring back to their schools, renewing their commitment to the holistic formation of young minds.
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Accessibility Workshops
This track of workshops tackled the complexities of serving students with special needs who learn differently. “This is about ensuring that we welcome every student into our classrooms and invite them into the rich, transformative experience of a classical education,” said Thomas Doebler.
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