Through complex narratives and multifaceted characters, upper school literature challenges young minds to grapple with profound truths and cultivate a love for virtue.


Join us for a conference on teaching upper school literature, featuring talks by professors at Hillsdale College and leaders in our affiliated classical schools. Leave inspired and ready to re-enter the classroom with renewed joy and purpose.

This program is entirely free of charge and includes lunch. Participants receive a certificate that may count towards professional development hours for certification.

To view all upcoming Hoogland Center seminars, click here.

Conference Information

The Art of Teaching: Upper School Literature

February 28, 2025

Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel
4500 MacArthur Boulevard
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Speakers

  • Joshua Villarreal, Teacher Support Lead 

  • Dr. John Peterson, Assistant Director of Curriculum

  • Aaron Schepps, Atlanta Classical Academy

  • Semi Park, Orange County Classical Academy

  • Dr. Stephen Smith, Professor of English

  • Dr. Kelly Franklin, Associate Professor of English

​Conference Schedule. 

 

Event Recordings

  • Forming the Imagination Through Literature - Joshua Villarreal, Teacher Support Lead
  • Teaching Literature through the Seminar Method - Dr. John Peterson, Assistant Director of Curriculum
  • Practical Structures for Teaching Close Reading - Aaron Schepps, Atlanta Classical Academy
  • Why I Lead a Classical School - Semi Park, Orange County Classical Academy
  • Freedom, Education, and Leadership: Why You Should Read and Teach Dante - Dr. Stephen Smith, Professor of English
  • Whitman, Melville, and the Poetry of the Civil War - Dr. Kelly Franklin, Associate Professor of Englis​h

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