{"id":2669019,"date":"2026-09-24T08:59:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-road-to-recovering-american-education-runs-through-excellent-teacher-training-like-this\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T09:08:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T13:08:02","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-road-to-recovering-american-education-runs-through-excellent-teacher-training-like-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-road-to-recovering-american-education-runs-through-excellent-teacher-training-like-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Recovering US Education Begins With Teacher Training Like This"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignthe-road-to-recovering-american-education-runs-through-excellent-teacher-training-like-this%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2669019&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Nikole Hannah-Jones, known for creating the 1619 Project and criticizing school choice, admitted in a recent essay that she and her husband enrolled their daughter, Najya, in underperforming inner-city schools to align with her woke beliefs. They initially hoped their resources would improve the schools but later recognized that this decision negatively impacted Najya\u2019s education. When Najya transferred to a more rigorous high school through a school choice program, she noticed significant academic gaps, especially in math, highlighting the drawbacks of ideological educational decisions. <\/p>\n<p>Recent international assessments show that U.S. student performance in reading and math has declined sharply, with scores reaching their lowest in decades. Amid this decline, a coalition of educators is working to improve teaching quality through professional growth, notably via free seminars from Hillsdale College\u2019s Center for Teacher Excellence. These seminars focus on timeless teaching methods and content-rich curricula, emphasizing American history, civics, and character education. <\/p>\n<p>The first seminar of the school year attracted nearly 90 educators from several states and covered topics like the importance of understanding america&#8217;s founding documents and practical methods for teaching civics and history. Attendees, including teachers from classical and faith-based schools, valued the training and the prospect to enhance their teaching craft. Schools like Liberty Tree Academy and Our Lady of lourdes Catholic Classical school exemplify the success of a classical education approach that emphasizes rigorous academics, character, and patriotism.<\/p>\n<p>Teachers expressed appreciation for the free, high-quality professional development provided by Hillsdale, which contrasts with often costly or superficial programs elsewhere.Such investment in teacher quality can lead to improved student outcomes, as evidenced by Hillsdale\u2019s academic success. these efforts demonstrate that the decline in K-12 education can be halted or reversed through focused, content-rich instruction and strong educator training.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the controversial 1619 Project and a frequent critic of school choice programs, recently confessed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/09\/20\/magazine\/ny-public-schools-black-students-segregation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">in an essay<\/a> that in order to live up to her woke ideology, she and her husband <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2016\/06\/12\/magazine\/choosing-a-school-for-my-daughter-in-a-segregated-city.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">enrolled<\/a> their daughter, Najya, in underperforming inner-city elementary and middle schools. They did so hoping their resources and connections would help improve them but later recognized that this decision cost their daughter\u2019s education. When Najya transitioned to a more rigorous high school through a school choice program, she experienced noticeable gaps in her academic preparation, particularly in math, and felt she hadn\u2019t received the education she wanted.<\/p>\n<p>This experience highlights the consequences when educational decisions are guided by ideology rather than student needs. While Hannah-Jones moved her daughter to a higher-performing school, many students from less advantaged backgrounds remain in underperforming schools.<\/p>\n<p>Recent results from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edweek.org\/leadership\/reading-ability-craters-on-international-exam-both-in-the-united-states-and-abroad\/2026\/09\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Program for International Student Assessment<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/nationsreportcard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Assessment of Educational Progress<\/a> show that U.S. student performance has dropped sharply. Reading and math scores for American 15-year-olds are at their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/education\/2026\/09\/08\/us-falls-new-low-international-tests-dissatisfaction-with-k-12-grows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lowest in decades<\/a> on the\u00a0Program for International Student Assessment. The National Assessment of Educational Progress results also reveal that older students are still below their past performance highs. Against this depressing backdrop, a coalition of teachers, principals, and school leaders across the country is working together to make positive changes.<\/p>\n<p>The Center for Teacher Excellence at Hillsdale College, acting on the principle that \u201cgreat teachers deserve great professional development,\u201d provides <a href=\"https:\/\/k12.hillsdale.edu\/Programs\/Center-for-Teacher-Excellence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free, content-rich seminars<\/a> for K-12 school leaders and teachers across the country during the academic year. As Dr. Kathleen O\u2019Toole points out, the seminars give educators \u201ctime and space to grow in their craft\u201d and enable them to learn \u201ctrue methods of teaching that have stood the test of time.\u201d In contrast to much of the K-12 system that often treats teacher excellence as an afterthought, the Hillsdale approach is an intentional choice: better teachers, then better students.<\/p>\n<p>The first of eight seminars organized this school year opened at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goldenviewclassical.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Golden View Classical Academy<\/a> (GVCA) in Colorado on Sept. 18, the day after Constitution Day, with nearly 90 K-12 educators in attendance, including educators and leaders from Colorado, New York, and South Dakota.<\/p>\n<p>The one-day seminar focusing on \u201cThe Art of Teaching: The American Founding\u201d had a complete schedule. In the morning, two professors from Hillsdale delivered talks on the importance of teaching the history of America\u2019s founding and the principles of the U.S. Constitution. Dr. Wilfred McClay emphasized that an understanding of documents such as the Declaration of Independence is essential since \u201cbecoming a good American citizen requires the knowledge needed to take part in governance\u201d and these documents \u201ctell young people what America is and what it aims to be.\u201d He stated that teachers should help students come to appreciate the republic, adding that \u201cif our children are taught that they live under a bad regime, harm will be done to their souls.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the afternoon Dr. Robert Garrow, principal of GVCA, together with a number of experienced teachers, conducted breakout sessions covering practical methods of teaching civics and American history at both the grammar and upper school levels. GVCA is regarded as one of Colorado\u2019s leading K-12 classical schools and has a reputation for academic strictness as well as a strong emphasis on the moral and character development of its students.<\/p>\n<p>I spoke to a number of people during the breaks. Harold Siegel, who previously taught at Hillsdale and is now head of <a href=\"https:\/\/ltaeagles.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Liberty Tree Academy<\/a> in Falcon, Colorado, runs a K-12 classical school with approximately 400 students. He stated that parents generally select the school because of its academic standards. They are looking for schools that teach children to read, do math, know the founding, and build character. Liberty Tree follows Hillsdale\u2019s classical education approach, emphasizing strong math and phonics programs as well as classic books, which are not typically found in most public schools. No wonder some parents are willing to drive more than 45 minutes to send their children to study at Liberty Tree.<\/p>\n<p>Siegel values the excellent, free training offered by Hillsdale College because many other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-left-is-lying-they-are-peddling-hate-with-crt-in-our-schools\/\" title=\"The Left Is Lying: They Are Peddling Hate With CRT In Our ...s\">professional development programs<\/a> for teachers are either costly, lack content, or both. Having previously sent three of his teachers to a comparable math seminar, he has also brought in more colleagues for this event.<\/p>\n<p>Mary Shaye Brost, a humanities teacher at <a href=\"https:\/\/my.catholicliberaleducation.org\/member-school\/our-lady-of-lourdes-catholic-classical-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Classical School<\/a> in Denver, teaches fourth- and fifth-grade students. She said that the school supports its teachers and helps pupils choose books that are suitable for their age and that reflect truth and beauty in order to address parents\u2019 concerns regarding the limited number of options available through the public library. During the \u201cHow to Weave a Narrative\u201d breakout session, she learned to use storytelling and visual aids to help students understand both historical events and their significance.<\/p>\n<p>Veronica Tharan and Grace Maicki are two young teachers from <a href=\"https:\/\/braveacademy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Brave Academy<\/a>, a four-year-old classical Christian school in Englewood, Colorado. Tharan teaches kindergarten, and Grace Maicki teaches sixth-grade literature and history, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-francisco-reverses-equitable-ban-on-middle-school-algebra\/\" title=\"San Francisco lifts ban on middle ... algebra\">eighth-grade algebra<\/a>. Tharan previously served as chief operating officer at a childcare organization, where she saw problems in public schools. Before joining Brave, Maicki felt unsupported as a new teacher at a public school and looked for guidance through 21 days of fasting and prayer.<\/p>\n<p>Both Tharan and Maicki felt called to join Brave Academy. Tharan, one of the school\u2019s first teachers, values working in an environment where faith is central and colleagues share similar beliefs. Parents prioritize fostering their children\u2019s relationship with God, and Tharan appreciates being able to pray for students and discuss her beliefs openly. Maicki values the flexibility to tailor instruction to students\u2019 academic needs, encourage curiosity, and teach critical thinking. Tharan contrasted this with her observations of public schools, stating they often \u201cteach kids what to think,\u201d and that dissent is punished.<\/p>\n<p>After the seminar, Tharan shared her thoughts in an email: \u201cThe American Founding seminar was extremely informative. The seminar inspired my co-workers and me as we teach American History at Brave Academy. I appreciated the breakout session led by Jennifer Mulvey. She gave us a practical, immediately applicable way to teach American history in lower grammar school.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tharan was likely not the only attendee to leave with new ideas, a stronger sense of purpose, and practical tools to support students. The students who attend these schools are blessed.<\/p>\n<p>The free, high-quality seminars offered by Hillsdale show that K-12 decline is not inevitable. Many teachers who attend work in public charter schools, so the positive effect is not limited to private schools. Schools can choose excellence. The classical model Hillsdale supports uses a content-rich core in history, literature, math, and science; phonics and grammar from the start; Latin or another language; great books; Socratic discussion; and a clear focus on virtue and citizenship. <\/p>\n<p>When teachers get the chance to master that content and the craft to teach, student results can follow. <a href=\"https:\/\/academy.hillsdale.edu\/Academic-Program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hillsdale Academy<\/a>, for example, has for years placed in the 97th to 99th percentiles on K-8 Iowa Tests and draws strong National Merit recognition. If more schools follow that path and invest in teachers, as Hillsdale does, America\u2019s K-12 future will look brighter than the latest reading and math assessment numbers suggest.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p>      Helen Raleigh, CFA, is an American entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. She&#8217;s a senior contributor at The Federalist. Her writings appear in other national media, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.  Helen is the author of several books, including &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Confucius-Never-Said-Helen-Raleigh\/dp\/1499185278\/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&#038;keywords=Helen+Raleigh+Confucius+Never+Said&#038;qid=1606079469&#038;sr=8-1\">Confucius Never Said<\/a>&#8221; and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Backlash-How-Chinas-Aggression-Backfired\/dp\/1736008501\/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&#038;qid=1606006113&#038;sr=8-1\">Backlash: How Communist China&#8217;s Aggression Has Backfired<\/a>.&#8221; Her latest book is &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Not-Outsiders-Americans-political-activism\/dp\/1736008552\">Not Outsiders: Asian Americans\u2019 political activism from the 19th century to today<\/a>.\u201d Follow her on Twitter: @HRaleighspeaks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hannah-Jones admits choosing underperforming schools for her daughter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":536,"featured_media":2669020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Copy-of-Untitled-2026-09-22T160218.754.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41992,5152,4353,50584],"class_list":["post-2669019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-american-schools","tag-education","tag-reform","tag-teacher-training"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Copy-of-Untitled-2026-09-22T160218.754.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2669019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/536"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2669019"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2669019\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2669029,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2669019\/revisions\/2669029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2669020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2669019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2669019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2669019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}