Continuing Education Catalog

In this self-paced course, Brighton Demerest-Smith (a classically trained artist and veteran educator with Great Hearts Academies) moves from how to teach the elements of drawing up through still life and master study. Grounded in fundamentals and close observation of subjects, his methods of teaching drawing are traditional and time-tested.

This two-part APEX course is focused on both outlining foundation principles of instructional coaching while also dedicating time to the practical work of conducting the observation and feedback process. During the first 8 weeks, we will ground the learning in several key texts and do a guided practice of the coaching cycle. The texts used in this course are Plutarch’s essay “How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend,” excerpts from The Art of Coaching, Never Underestimate Your Teachers, The Coaching Habit, and excerpts from Leverage Leadership 2.0. The second part, lasting 8 weeks, will shift gears into a mentorship model, with the facilitators meeting individually with participants to be a thought partner as they do the work of coaching on their campus.

Intended for any teacher or rising leader, this course seeks to build awareness of the larger context of leading school change and managing transitions. While not exhaustive, it aims to develop an awareness of the process of change and the ways a leader can manager and facilitate change and transitions. 

In this self-paced course, veteran mathematics teacher and leader Jake Tawney provides a clear and engaging introduction to the beauty of Mathematics. This course does not propose a specific curriculum. It does, however, present a list of “those things from mathematics you should have learned but probably didn’t.”

In the classical school, all elements of school life reflect the leader’s vision, including scheduling, recruitment, enrollment, budgeting, and facility management. This course takes current and prospective school leaders through a one-year cycle of operationalizing vision, including delegating strategically.

In this self-paced course, you will read through Homer’s Odyssey, guided and inspired by St. John’s College tutors Dr. Eva Brann (who has tutored at St. John’s for over 60 years and is the author of Homeric Moments) and her colleague Dr. Hannah Hintze. In addition to hearing from both Dr. Brann and Dr. Hintze on the Odyssey, you will also find four seminars (discussion-based class sessions) on the Odyssey, led by Hannah Hintze and featuring several St. John’s students and another tutor.

In this self-paced course, Dr. Joshua Avery guides teachers through Shakespeare’s sonnets as well as seven of his plays, providing key insights into enjoying and understanding these classics with your students. 

In this self-paced course Jerilyn Olson connects classical principles to practical techniques that teachers can employ in the classroom.