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Welcome to the 2025 National Symposium for Classical Education

The Great Hearts National Symposium for Classical Education, held this year in Tempe, Arizona, February 19-21, 2025, is an annual gathering dedicated to cultivating a dynamic and thoughtful conversation about the restoration of classical, liberal arts education today. The Symposium brings together participants from across the country (and beyond) to hear from numerous speakers over three days.

Topics of discussion include the great books and ideas that inspire us, curriculum and pedagogy, school leadership, operations, and more. Speakers are drawn from the classical education world: expert K-12 teachers, scholars of classical, historical and philosophical studies, math and science, school leaders, public intellectuals, policy experts, authors, and artists.

Keynote Speakers

Matthew Crawford

University of Virginia
NYT Best-Selling Author, Shop Class as Soulcraft

Matthew Crawford

University of Virginia
NYT Best-Selling Author, Shop Class as Soulcraft
Read Bio

Sir Jonathan Bate

Regents Professor of Literature & Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities, Arizona State University

Sir Jonathan Bate

Regents Professor of Literature & Foundation Professor of Environmental Humanities, Arizona State University
Read Bio

Jessica Hooten Wilson

Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books, Pepperdine University

Jessica Hooten Wilson

Fletcher Jones Chair of Great Books, Pepperdine University
Read Bio

Watch the 2024 Symposium Recap

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsorship benefits: 

  • Renew American K–12 education through the Classical Liberal Arts Tradition
  • Experience a one-of-a-kind in-person event
  • Gain valuable brand exposure with your core audience

For more Sponsor Partnership information, CLICK HERE

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Frequently Asked Questions


The mission of the Great Hearts Institute is to deepen the understanding and enhance the practwdice of classical, liberal arts education among teachers and leaders at Great Hearts Academies and beyond for the sake of forming young minds and hearts into educated human beings.  The Institute seeks to lead the national conversation to revive the tradition of great books education by building a vibrant community of classical educators, with Great Hearts providing the example of commitment to excellence in every K-12 classroom.
The Great Hearts National Symposium for Classical Education invites the classical education community broadly understood to join us at Symposium in Arizona each year. We encourage all who are interested in deepening their understanding of the classical, liberal arts, and dedicated to improving the quality of K-12 education in the United States, and around the world, to attend. Our chief focus is to host a conversation at Symposium that focuses on providing the best classroom education available through the discussion of the classical ideas that inspire us, and the pedagogy, curriculum, and educational accessibility that inform the best teaching practice at every grade level. The content of the sessions also goes beyond the classroom to include panels and workshops for school leaders, school operations managers, thought leaders in the classical education world from the perspective of higher education, as well as sponsors who work with and support classical educators.
Yes, you will need to fill out our registration form to gain access to the event. Please go to National Symposium Registration page to get started.
Yes, our platform is compatible with any computer or mobile device and browser.
We are advising everyone to download the vFairs app on your smartphone or on your computer as that will allow you to sign up for Symposium sessions and receive correspondence from the Great Hearts Institute Symposium organizers. You will need access to the internet.
Once you download the app and once the program is up, you should be able to go in to sign up for sessions and create a personalized attendance schedule. If you have any trouble, you can contact us at symposuim@greathearts.institute and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please click on our Sponsorship tab to select the level that you are interested in sponsoring. We are also happy to tell you more about the sponsorships and the benefits offered for each level. To schedule an informational meeting about the sponsorship, please set up a time by emailing Carol.McNamara@greathearts.org.
We have set up a room block at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel. Please click on this link to book your rooms: Symposium 2025 at Tempe Mission Palms.
Please email a written notification to symposium@greathearts.institute. Substitutions are allowed. Our cancellation/refund policy is as follows for one person. For more than one person, please let us know in the written notification and a Great Hearts Institute Team member will contact you to let you know the administrative fee for your group:
If notified by January 2, 2025: Refund 100% minus $25 administrative fee
If notified between January 3-19, 2025: Refund 75% minus $25 administrative fee
If notified between January 20-February 9, 2025: Refund 50% minus $25 administrative fee
After February 10 and later: No Refunds
Yes, we will have livestream of the Symposium but on a limited basis. Registration for the online Symposium will be promoted when it gets closer to the event dates.
Drop us an email at symposium@greathearts.institute and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Venue Location

Tempe Mission Palms
60 E 5th St Tempe, Arizona, 85281
(480) 894-1400

 

Contact Details

Great Hearts Institute Team

Email: symposium@greathearts.institute