In Pursuit of Virtue Wed, 07 Oct 2026 14:15:01 -0500 http://graceclassical.org en-us © 2026 In Pursuit of Virtue yes 7dc5da31-c3b2-5271-bf29-953d243f042f bkinzer@graceclassical.org Grace Classical Academy episodic false In Pursuit of Virtue is a podcast dedicated to helping families better understand what classical Christian education is. The methods of classical education are different than those of modern education, so we want to help people get a feel for the “why?” and help them to see the importance of not letting students “go out unarmed, in a day when armor was never so necessary.” (Sayers)

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Education, Classical Grace Classical Academy bkinzer@graceclassical.org https://storage.buzzsprout.com/mt7udzu33gk82aa1whfd7wnq1b0r?.jpg In Pursuit of Virtue http://graceclassical.org Barry Kinzer Luke Shawhan Ultimate #3 - Embrace Learning Ultimate #3 - Embrace Learning In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explores what it means to “Embrace Learning,” the third of GCA’s core “ultimates.” Drawing from 2 Peter 1, we consider the relationship between what God has graciously given us and our responsibility to “make every effort” as we grow in knowledge and virtue. From geometry proofs and Latin conjugations to push-ups and the soccer field, we see how the hard work of learning strengthens students for lives of faithful service, even when they can’t yet see how that work will pay off.


]]> In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explores what it means to “Embrace Learning,” the third of GCA’s core “ultimates.” Drawing from 2 Peter 1, we consider the relationship between what God has graciously given us and our responsibility to “make every effort” as we grow in knowledge and virtue. From geometry proofs and Latin conjugations to push-ups and the soccer field, we see how the hard work of learning strengthens students for lives of faithful service, even when they can’t yet see how that work will pay off.


]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-19915652 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:00:00 -0500 1068 4 2 full false GCA Orientation 26-27 GCA Orientation 26-27 In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan and Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy. If you will be a part of the GCA community this school year, you do not want to miss this episode. 

]]> In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan and Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy. If you will be a part of the GCA community this school year, you do not want to miss this episode. 

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-19600784 Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:00:00 -0500 1714 4 1 full false Ultimate #2 - Love Each Other Ultimate #2 - Love Each Other In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explains why “Love Each Other” is one of GCA’s core “ultimates” and how it transforms the classroom and the culture of the school. From shared lunches to geometry proofs, we see how friendship makes hard work easier and learning more enjoyable. We are also introduced to the idea of wearing “resurrection lenses” to help us assume the best, extend grace, and work through conflict.


]]> In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explains why “Love Each Other” is one of GCA’s core “ultimates” and how it transforms the classroom and the culture of the school. From shared lunches to geometry proofs, we see how friendship makes hard work easier and learning more enjoyable. We are also introduced to the idea of wearing “resurrection lenses” to help us assume the best, extend grace, and work through conflict.


]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-18779876 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:00:00 -0600 1343 full false Ultimate #1 - Glorify God Ultimate #1 - Glorify God In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explains why “Glorify God” is one of GCA’s “ultimates” and how it shapes schoolwork, sports, and all kinds of daily habits. From Genesis to geometry, we show how bringing order from disorder turns ordinary tasks into worship and joy.

]]> In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan explains why “Glorify God” is one of GCA’s “ultimates” and how it shapes schoolwork, sports, and all kinds of daily habits. From Genesis to geometry, we show how bringing order from disorder turns ordinary tasks into worship and joy.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-18614979 Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:00:00 -0600 819 3 3 full false What is an ideal student? What is an ideal student? In this episode, we here an excerpt from a teacher training session where Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan shares insights about what it means to be an “ideal” student. 

]]> In this episode, we here an excerpt from a teacher training session where Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan shares insights about what it means to be an “ideal” student. 

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-18081330 Mon, 27 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0500 3738 3 2 full false GCA Orientation 25-26 GCA Orientation 25-26 In this episode, Headmaster Jedidiah Moss, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan, Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short, and teacher Barry Kinzer go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy. If you will be a part of the GCA community this school year, you do not want to miss this episode. 

Upcoming episodes of In Pursuit of Virtue will discuss various topics related to Classical education in a Christian context, but this episode is specifically for our GCA community. 

]]> In this episode, Headmaster Jedidiah Moss, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan, Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short, and teacher Barry Kinzer go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy. If you will be a part of the GCA community this school year, you do not want to miss this episode. 

Upcoming episodes of In Pursuit of Virtue will discuss various topics related to Classical education in a Christian context, but this episode is specifically for our GCA community. 

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-17605651 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 23:00:00 -0500 2356 3 1 full false A Conversation About Grades (Kindergarten-6th) A Conversation About Grades (Kindergarten-6th) Join us for a conversation with Kaitlin Short, Terry Flores, and Phil Mendenhall about GCA life in the elementary years. In this episode we get a chance to know some of our teachers better, as well as learn about how we approach grades, discipline, and how parents and teachers can work together to achieve the best for our students. This is one of our longer podcast conversations, but well worth the listen. 

]]> Join us for a conversation with Kaitlin Short, Terry Flores, and Phil Mendenhall about GCA life in the elementary years. In this episode we get a chance to know some of our teachers better, as well as learn about how we approach grades, discipline, and how parents and teachers can work together to achieve the best for our students. This is one of our longer podcast conversations, but well worth the listen. 

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-16394399 Tue, 07 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0600 4324 2 4 full false A Conversation About Grades A Conversation About Grades On this episode of In Pursuit of Virtue, Luke and Barry are joined by upper grades faculty Kirsten Daniel and Susan Tolbert to discuss all things grading. Grades are the point of school, right? Find out which teacher does not care about grades for their own kids and which one confessed to lying on a science experiment in 9th grade!

]]> On this episode of In Pursuit of Virtue, Luke and Barry are joined by upper grades faculty Kirsten Daniel and Susan Tolbert to discuss all things grading. Grades are the point of school, right? Find out which teacher does not care about grades for their own kids and which one confessed to lying on a science experiment in 9th grade!

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-15928653 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 06:00:00 -0500 2511 2 3 full false How Can Parents Support Classical Education at Home? How Can Parents Support Classical Education at Home? In this episode, we give some updates about changes in administration at GCA. Then, we get into a question submitted from a GCA parent. Jennifer, Jed, David, Luke, and Kaitlin discuss the question: “How can parents support classical education at home? Specifically in the areas of teaching and reinforcing virtue and wisdom?” Ultimately, three factors (among others) must be present for virtue and wisdom to take root: opportunities for kids to grow, opportunities to fail, and opportunities to repent.

]]> In this episode, we give some updates about changes in administration at GCA. Then, we get into a question submitted from a GCA parent. Jennifer, Jed, David, Luke, and Kaitlin discuss the question: “How can parents support classical education at home? Specifically in the areas of teaching and reinforcing virtue and wisdom?” Ultimately, three factors (among others) must be present for virtue and wisdom to take root: opportunities for kids to grow, opportunities to fail, and opportunities to repent.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-15610635 Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2887 2 2 full false GCA Orientation 2024-25 GCA Orientation 2024-25 In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan and Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short join teacher Barry Kinzer to go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy.  

Upcoming episodes of In Pursuit of Virtue will discuss various topics related to Classical education in a Christian context, but this episode is specifically for our GCA community. 

]]> In this episode, Dean of the Upper School Luke Shawhan and Dean of the Lower School Kaitlin Short join teacher Barry Kinzer to go through orientation information for families at Grace Classical Academy.  

Upcoming episodes of In Pursuit of Virtue will discuss various topics related to Classical education in a Christian context, but this episode is specifically for our GCA community. 

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-15533936 Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0500 2095 2 1 full false Stories of God’s Faithfulness – Part 2 Stories of God’s Faithfulness – Part 2 It’s always encouraging to think back on all the ways God has blessed our school, from the opening of the doors to the people He has brought and all the ways He has shown His goodness. In this episode, we reminisce and tell some of our favorite stories of God’s faithfulness to GCA.  

]]> It’s always encouraging to think back on all the ways God has blessed our school, from the opening of the doors to the people He has brought and all the ways He has shown His goodness. In this episode, we reminisce and tell some of our favorite stories of God’s faithfulness to GCA.  

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-14821412 Wed, 03 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0500 1866 full false Stories of God’s Faithfulness – Part 1 Stories of God’s Faithfulness – Part 1 It’s always encouraging to think back on all the ways God has blessed our school, from the opening of the doors to the people He has brought and all the ways He has shown His goodness. In this episode, we reminisce and tell some of our favorite stories of God’s faithfulness to GCA.  

]]> It’s always encouraging to think back on all the ways God has blessed our school, from the opening of the doors to the people He has brought and all the ways He has shown His goodness. In this episode, we reminisce and tell some of our favorite stories of God’s faithfulness to GCA.  

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-14465885 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:00:00 -0600 1326 1 7 full false Interview with Caressa Gadd, GCA Parent and Teacher Interview with Caressa Gadd, GCA Parent and Teacher In this episode, we chat with Caressa Gadd about what she feels her children gained from attending a classical Christian school, as well as what she saw in her classroom when she taught at GCA.

]]> In this episode, we chat with Caressa Gadd about what she feels her children gained from attending a classical Christian school, as well as what she saw in her classroom when she taught at GCA.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-13967862 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600 1278 1 6 full false Interview with Michael Loftis, former GCA Student Interview with Michael Loftis, former GCA Student Michael Loftis attended GCA for a few years as a preteen. While he didn’t understand the value of the education he was receiving back then, he does now, and it has inspired him to open a new classical Christian school in Texas. In his interview, he discusses why he feels so strongly that CCE is what he wants for his own children.

]]> Michael Loftis attended GCA for a few years as a preteen. While he didn’t understand the value of the education he was receiving back then, he does now, and it has inspired him to open a new classical Christian school in Texas. In his interview, he discusses why he feels so strongly that CCE is what he wants for his own children.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-13810947 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 14:00:00 -0500 2056 1 5 full false Why Latin? Why Latin? One of the first questions many people ask when they are learning about classical schools is often why they teach Latin. In this episode, Deidre Cairns, Latin teacher from Summit Classical Christian School in Bellevue, Washington, discusses why Latin is such a valuable tool for students to have in their tool belt.

]]> One of the first questions many people ask when they are learning about classical schools is often why they teach Latin. In this episode, Deidre Cairns, Latin teacher from Summit Classical Christian School in Bellevue, Washington, discusses why Latin is such a valuable tool for students to have in their tool belt.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-13634688 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0500 1444 Classical Education, Christian Education, Education, Latin 1 4 full false What Does Classical Christian Education Look Like in Practice? What Does Classical Christian Education Look Like in Practice? Now that you know what Classical Christian Education is, perhaps you would like to know how it plays out in the classroom. In this episode, rhetoric teacher Luke Shawhan discusses ways that he uses the classical approach to teach his students well.

]]> Now that you know what Classical Christian Education is, perhaps you would like to know how it plays out in the classroom. In this episode, rhetoric teacher Luke Shawhan discusses ways that he uses the classical approach to teach his students well.

]]> Grace Classical Academy Buzzsprout-13512532 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0500 2565 education, classical, christian 1 3 full false What is Classical Christian Education? What is Classical Christian Education? Classical Christian education is not the system that most people grew up in, but now many are looking for something better than what they had for their children. In this episode, Jennifer Morris gives an overview of Classical Christian Education. If you’re new to the world of Classical Christian Education, or if you would just like to better understand what it is, this episode would be a helpful starting point. 

]]> Classical Christian education is not the system that most people grew up in, but now many are looking for something better than what they had for their children. In this episode, Jennifer Morris gives an overview of Classical Christian Education. If you’re new to the world of Classical Christian Education, or if you would just like to better understand what it is, this episode would be a helpful starting point. 

]]> Buzzsprout-13309461 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:00:00 -0500 1676 1 2 full false