A Classical Education Conference for Hillsdale Member Schools

As educators, it’s important to develop our craft and get involved with a community of others doing the same important work. It can be difficult to find time during the school year to rekindle the love of learning. That is why each summer, the Hillsdale College K-12 Education Office hosts the K-12 Summer Conference for teachers, leaders, and administrative staff from Hillsdale Member Schools. Educators gather on our beautiful Michigan campus for an energizing time of learning with and from each other. 

The conference features topics that are intended to renew in educators the same wonder and love of learning that they encourage in their students in the classroom every day. Whether you are new to teaching at a Hillsdale Member School or an experienced educator, you’ll find new ideas, discover unique solutions to challenges, and foster friendships with a network of peers you can lean on throughout the school year ahead. 

The conference sessions, activities, lodging, and dining are provided at no cost and are exclusive to Hillsdale Member School educators. 

The 2025 Summer Conference will take place on June 14-20.

 

Access Registration Page

 


 

10

Days

300+

Sessions

900+

Attendees

 

 

The K-12 Summer Conference offers of 300+ sessions across 7 days so that every teacher and administrator can focus on the topics they are interested in. Some sessions from past conferences include:

  • Making Literature Student's Favorite Class
  • Ways to Engage Students in Science Outside the Classroom
  • Pedagogy of Foreign Languages
  • The Revolutions of 1989 and German Unification
  • Kinesiology: Principles of Motor Learning
  • DIY Drypoint Printmaking
  • How to Delegate Effectively
  • Case Studies in School Security
  • How to Build a College Counseling Program from Scratch
  • Introduction to Plate Tectonics
  • Asking Great Questions in Math
  • Effective Literacy Practice
  • Poetry Memorization & Recitation

June 14, 2026 - June 20, 2026

 

Regular Session

  Session 1: Upper School

  Monday, June 15 - Tuesday, June 16

  • Upper School (7-12): subject area teachers; student services teachers; paras, aides, and teachers assistants [of these grade levels]
  • K-12 Art, Music, P.E., Foreign Language, Latin: subject area teachers; student services teachers; paras, aides, and teachers assistants [of these subjects for all grade levels]
  • College counselors
  • Athletic directors

  Back to College Day

   Wednesday, June 17

  • · Optional for all attendees, open to the first 650 registered. Adjust travel dates if attending.
  • Back to College Day is a dedicated portion of the conference designed for attendees to deepen their content knowledge in specific subject areas. By attending lectures and discussions led by world-class Hillsdale College professors and dialoguing with their peers, attendees should recapture the feeling of working on their undergraduate degree.

  Session 2: Lower School

  Thursday, June 18 - Friday, June 19

  • · Grammar school (K-6) teachers, student services teachers, paras, aides, teachers assistants

 

New Hire Track

  ​Monday, 6/15

  ​Monday, 6/15

  • Literacy Essentials for K-6
  • Teaching ________ in a Classical School and Summer Conference content for 7-12 and co-curriculars
  • The Classical Classroom (pedagogy) for 7-12 and co-curriculars
  • Philosophy of American Classical Education for all NHT

Tuesday, 6/16

Tuesday, 6/16

  • Literacy Essentials for K-6
  • Summer Conference content for 7-12 and co-curriculars
  • Virtue for all New Hire Track

Wednesday, 6/17

  • Literacy Essentials for K-6
  • Pedagogy 101, 201, 301 with Dr. Coupland for 7-12 and co-curriculars

Thursday, 6/18

Thursday, 6/18

  • Singapore Math for K-6

  • The Classical Classroom (pedagogy) for K-6

Friday, 6/19

  • Singapore Math for K-6

Featured Speakers

We have teachers, school leaders, K-12 Education Office staff, Hillsdale College professors, and special guests giving presentations at Summer Conference. A complete list of speakers will be available soon!

 

Dr. Justin Jackson

Dr. James Hankins

Dr. Daniel Willingham

Julian Peterson

Dr. Daniel Higgins

Andrew Pudewa

Dr. Ross Greene

Dr. Tom West

Dr. Dan Coupland

Dr. Bill McClay