Modeling Excellent Instruction: Hillsdale’s Master Teacher Program

Modeling Excellent Instruction: Hillsdale’s Master Teacher Program

Author: Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast February 9, 2026 Duration: 16:58

Julie Apel, assistant headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss Hillsdale’s Master Teacher Program, what makes a teacher a master teacher, and how the program aligns with classical education principles and best practices.

Learn more: https://k12.hillsdale.edu/

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In each roughly twenty-minute episode of the Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast, host Scot Bertram guides a conversation that feels more like a thoughtful discussion among colleagues than a formal lecture. The dialogue brings together the college's own professors, practicing K-12 teachers from its affiliated schools, and other friends of Hillsdale to explore the enduring framework of classical learning. These guests don't just define the tradition in abstract terms; they delve into its practical application in modern classrooms and its profound relevance for students today. You'll hear specific examples of how classical methods shape lessons in literature, history, and civics, fostering a deeper love for truth and beauty beyond standardized testing. This podcast serves as an accessible entry point for parents and educators curious about an education model that prioritizes wisdom and virtue, examining what truly sets this time-honored approach apart. The concise format makes it easy to fit into a daily commute, offering substantive ideas that resonate long after the episode ends.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Hillsdale College K-12 Classical Education Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Grammar as a Liberal Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:31
Benjamin Beier, chairman and associate professor of education at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on grammar and the development of the liberal arts. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excelle…
Supporting Literature Instruction Over Summer Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:15
Sam Foat, dean of upper school at Treasure Coast Classical Academy in Stuart, Florida, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime literature instruction, how to encourage students to read over the summer, and how leis…
The Middle Ages: Their Meaning and Enduring Significance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:55
Charles C. Yost, assistant professor of medieval history at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how the Middle Ages were instrumental in developing Western Civilization. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center…
Supporting Math Instruction Over Summer Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:20
Nikki Teeple, lower school math specialist at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime mathematics instruction, promoting wonder and discovery, and examples of fun dail…
Forming the Imagination Through Literature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:44
Joshua Villarreal, Teacher Support Lead for Hillsdale College K-12, delivers a lecture on how literature forms a student's moral imagination. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence seminar,…
Summer Break for the Classical Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:01
Tomek Grzesiak, fourth grade teacher at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how classical teachers can best use their summer break, activities that can help teachers make their su…
Whitman, Melville, and the Poetry of the Civil War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:55
Kelly Scott Franklin, associate professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the Civil War poetry of Walt Whitman and Herman Melville. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excelle…
Supporting Virtue Instruction Over Summer Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:02
Colin Mullaney, assistant director for school leader development for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss summertime virtue instruction, family activities that naturally promote virtue, an…
Practical Structures for Teaching Close Reading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:53
Aaron Schepps, upper school principal at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on practical tips for teaching students to read closely. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teache…
Hallmarks of a Classical Summer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:38
Sonja Bindus, teacher support lead for Hillsdale College K-12 Education, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss making the most of the summer, minimizing screen time, and summer activities that are both fun and educational.…