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
The Value of Diagramming Sentences [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:14
Daniel Coupland, dean of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education and professor of education at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how diagramming sentences makes students better at language.…
The Necessity of Summer Break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:38
Mike Roberts, headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss why summer break helps support students, teachers, administrators, and parents in the pursuit of a classical educat…
Practical Tips for Teaching Western Civilization in Elementary School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:49
Kenneth Calvert, professor of history at Hillsdale College and former headmaster of Hillsdale Academy, delivers a lecture on making the ancient world exciting for young students. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Ce…
Governing a Hillsdale Classical School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:15
Jed Hartings, founder and current board chair of Cincinnati Classical Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how to build a school's board, how to locate a building for a school, and how Hillsdal…
The Progressive Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:07
Paul Moreno, the William and Berniece Grewcock Chair in Constitutional History, professor of history, and dean of social sciences at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the rise of progressivism and the administrati…
Portrait of a Graduate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:46
Stephen Shipp, headmaster at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss developing a "Portrait of a Graduate" to help guide your students, setting proper expectations for you…
Discussions for Discovery in Mathematics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:33
Sam Clausen, upper school mathematics teacher at Atlanta Classical Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, delivers a lecture on how to use discussion as a tool in mathematics instruction. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Cen…
Why Is There So Much Math in Science Class? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:31
Michael Tripepi, assistant professor of physics at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the daily realities of teaching in a science classroom, the best methods for keeping students engaged, and the rela…
History: The Most Humanizing of the Arts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
Wilfred McClay, the Victor Davis Hanson Chair in Classical History and Western Civilization at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how history helps us better understand ourselves. This lecture was given at the Hoog…
Inspiring Teachers to Inspire Students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:07
Steven Battaglia, history and Latin teacher and assistant headmaster of the upper school at Seven Oaks Classical School in Ellettsville, Indiana, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss building a school culture, what resourc…