Anchored by the Classic Learning Test

On this episode of Anchored, CLT’s Chief Strategy Officer Noah Tyler is joined by Vince Verges, who recently retired from the Florida Department of Education after 31 years in Florida public schools. They discuss how Florida emerged as a national leader in classical education. Vince shares his journey from classroom teacher to serving as the head of Accountability and Assessment at the Florida Department of Education, including his choice to steer away from Common Core standardized testing. They explore the role of virtue in education, particularly in connection to the rise of AI. 

On this episode of Anchored, Dr. Jennifer Frey shares the story behind her recently published New York Times op-ed, "This is Who's Really Driving the Decline in Interest in Liberal Arts Education." Frey reflects on her abrupt dismissal as Dean of the Honors College at the University of Tulsa—despite building a demonstrably successful program. She reflects on the tension between student's intellectual needs and college administrators' own view of "success." Dr. Frey emphasizes the need for reform in higher education and the importance of authentic liberal education for a thriving democracy.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker on X and The Tucker Carlson Show. They discuss the ultimate purpose of education as arriving at wisdom, rather than merely accumulating knowledge. They dive into the connection between ugly architecture and the pursuit of evil. Tucker also talks about his regrets surrounding his children’s education. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Ann Brodeur, the Chair of Education and Liberal Arts at Catholic International University. They explore the relationship between Ann’s love for medieval history and her background growing up on a ranch in Montana. They dive into how a view of education as formational, rather than mere informational, helps mitigate the threat posed by AI. They discuss Catholic International University’s founding mission to educate the laity along with today’s cultural revival of Catholic education and orthodoxy. They conclude by highlighting key texts that shaped medieval culture for an illiterate audience. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by CLT Director of Legislative Strategy Michael Torres. The two discuss the recent policy victories for CLT and the classical renewal movement in states such as Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. They unpack the surprising and predictable responses from politicians and SAT and ACT lobbyists. Finally, they dive into the characteristics of states that are excited about adopting the CLT into their college admissions processes. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Marissa Streit, CEO of PragerU and host of Real Talk. They discuss Marissa’s educational experiences growing up in Israel and attending college in America, exploring how her travels deepened her appreciation for American freedoms. They dive into the founding of PragerU and PragerU's breakthrough moment. They also discuss how PragerU embraces the classical education movement and how homeschoolers and traditional school communities alike utilize its resources.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Michael Adkins, Dean of Academics and Director of the Lower School of Saint Agnes School in St. Paul, Minnesota. They discuss the secret to keeping Catholic education faithfully Catholic. They dive into misconceptions about the word “classical” and how its popular conception has changed over time. They also explore the identity crisis driving people to reconnect with the cultural heritage of classical education. 

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Andrew Ellison, Vice President of Enrollment at the University of Dallas, and Amber Dyer, Head of School at Great Hearts Irving. Andrew introduces the exciting new University of Dallas–CLT Auto Admit Initiative, which grants automatic admission to students who score 88 or higher on the Classic Learning Test. The three also share insights on how to choose a college that values and cultivates a classical education. Finally, they reflect on the enduring legacy of former UD professor Louise Cowan, under whom Amber studied. 

On this episode of Anchored, Soren is joined by Josh Dyson, the Executive Director of the C5 Urban School Initiative, launching Hope Academy Wichita this coming fall. They discuss the founding of C5, the meaning behind its name, and its mission in serving inner-city communities. They conclude by exploring literacy as a core educational value and the importance of creating a safe, joyful learning environment.

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Austin Stevenson, Assistant Professor of Theology at Palm Beach Atlantic University and former Junior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford. Austin reflects on his experience at Oxford and his transformation from initially seeing academia as a barrier to finding fulfillment and enjoyment in it. They explore why Christians have withdrawn from academic institutions in the past, and the current shift as more Christians begin to reengage with higher education. They conclude by discussing his book, Consciousness of the Historical Jesus: Historiography, Theology, and Metaphysics, and Austin's venture to bridge the work of theology with biblical scholarship.