Dr. Christopher Perrin Announced as Keynote Speaker at the 2026 National Symposium

The countdown has begun for the 2026 Great Hearts National Symposium for Classical Education and it is already shaping up to be another big tent event for the emerging classical education movement with the announcement that Dr. Christopher Perrin, MDiv, PhD, will be joining as a keynote speaker.

Hosted by the Great Hearts Institute, this eighth annual gathering led by Director Carol McNamara and her team will once again bring together educators, scholars, and leaders from across the country (and beyond) for three days of great conversation, inspiration, and professional growth. This year’s Symposium will take place February 25–27, 2026, at the Tempe Mission Palms in Arizona.

Dr. Perrin is a national leader in the classical renewal movement and CEO of Classical Academic Press. A dynamic speaker and prolific author, he has written and co-written several influential works, including An Introduction to Classical Education: A Guide for Parents, Greek for Children Primer A, The Scholé Way: Bringing Restful Learning Back to School and Homeschool, The Good Teacher: Ten Key Pedagogical Principles that Will Transform Your Teaching, and the widely used Latin for Children series.

He brings decades of experience in classical education, as a former headmaster of a classical Christian school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and now as a sought-after consultant for classical schools, school startups, and homeschool co-ops across the country. He serves as board president of the Alcuin Fellowship, is a former co-chair of the Society for Classical Learning, and teaches as an adjunct professor with the Honors Program at Messiah College and the Classical School Leadership master’s program at Gordon College.

Dr. Perrin joins Doug Lemov, the acclaimed educator and author of Teach Like a Champion, as part of this year’s keynote lineup. Together, they bring both timeless educational philosophy and practical classroom insight, offering a rare opportunity to hear from two thought leaders whose work continues to inspire and shape classical classrooms nationwide.

The theme for the 2026 Symposium is “Classical Education and the American Experiment: The Declaration of Independence at 250.” As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, this theme invites us to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Declaration of Independence and the role classical education plays in sustaining our republic. In a letter written just before his death in 1826, Thomas Jefferson described the Declaration as “an expression of the American mind.” In that same spirit, the Symposium will explore how classical learning—in all disciplines from science and math to the arts, languages, literature, and philosophy—continues to shape the civic and moral fabric of our society.

With interest in this year’s timely theme and the keynote speakers already running high, seats are expected to fill quickly. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this pivotal event. Register now and take advantage of early bird pricing at https://classicaleducationsymposium.org/en/registration-form.

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