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
Chemistry in a Classical Curriculum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
Matthew Young, dean of natural sciences and professor of chemistry at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how chemistry and the other natural sciences factor into a classical education. This lecture was given at the…
The Legacy of Calvin Coolidge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:31
Dr. Vincent Kane, head of school at Idaho Novus Classical Academy in Eagle, Idaho, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss president Calvin Coolidge's upbringing and political legacy, what we can learn from Coolidge's preside…
Teaching The Little Prince [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:35
J. A. Jackson, chair and professor of English at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how to teach The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher Excellence s…
The History and Philosophy of Physical Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:21
Michael Roberts, headmaster at Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss the development of physical education in ancient Greece, how to make fitness a life-long passion for students, a…
Enduring Principles of the American Founding [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:54
Paul Moreno, the William and Berniece Grewcock Chair in Constitutional History and professor of history at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on the foundational principles of the American Founding as enumerated in th…
The Path to a Classical School – One Student’s Tale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:23
Lindsay Horton, institutional advancement associate at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her family’s decision to move to Michigan so she could attend Hillsdale Academy, how classical education shaped…
Science and the Modern Spirit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
Michael Berndt, director of curriculum in the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office, delivers a lecture on how to reconcile science and modern thought in a classical classroom. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Ce…
Reclaiming Science Through Classical Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:04
Emily Williams, dean of faculty at Kootenai Classical Academy in Post Falls, Idaho, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss her journey from public to classical education, how science education can fail students, and how to u…
Mathematics and Humor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:57
David Gaebler, associate professor of mathematics at Hillsdale College, delivers a lecture on how to use humor to help students understand mathematical concepts. This lecture was given at the Hoogland Center for Teacher…
Raising the Standard for Standardized Tests [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:02
Jonathan Gregg, assistant professor of education at Hillsdale College, joins host Scot Bertram to discuss how standardized tests can help supplement a classical education, the best methods for prepping students for stand…