Spotlight on Teacher Training

Imagine a classroom where ancient wisdom meets the truth of Scripture, where curiosity is cultivated and students wrestle with big ideas, all while growing in truth, goodness, and beauty. That is the heart of Regents School, and it’s only possible with well-trained teachers who embody and impart these virtues to their students. As teachers head back to campus next week, we wanted to give you a glimpse into how Regents equips teachers to shape hearts and minds.

Classical philosophy is the first of three pillars for professional development at Regents. This begins with immersing teachers in the rich tradition of Western thought, rooted in Scripture and the pursuit of wisdom. During two weeks of pre-planning workshops and weekly faculty meetings, teachers study the Trivium as both a method of instruction and as a way to cultivate virtue and wisdom in students at each developmental stage. Teachers are equipped to see education not merely as the transfer of information, but as soul formation rooted in the Christian and classical tradition. Through study of the Trivium, classical texts, and historic Christian thought, they learn to teach in a way that aligns with a transcendent purpose.

The second pillar of teacher training at Regents is theology, as we seek to weave a biblical worldview into everything we do. This training involves grounding teachers in a robust, orthodox understanding of Scripture, the nature of God, and a biblical view of the world around us. Teachers explore how theology shapes every subject, revealing the unity of truth and the divine order behind all learning. This training calls them not only to teach from a biblical worldview, but to live as disciples who guide students toward a deeper love for God and His creation. This isn’t just adding a Bible verse to a lesson; it’s showing students how faith intersects with truth across disciplines.

The third and final pillar of our professional development is pedagogy. Training a teacher in the pedagogy of classical Christian education involves learning to teach in harmony with the natural stages of child development as outlined in the grammar, logic, and rhetoric phases of education. Teachers are equipped to use enduring instructional methods such as narration, Socratic questioning, memorization, and guided discovery to foster deep thinking and joyful learning. This training emphasizes the teacher’s role as a mentor and model, guiding students not only in knowledge, but in how to love all that is true, good, and beautiful. This portion of training involves many practical skills such as classroom management, balancing discipline with kindness, effective communication, and supporting students with learning differences.

At its core, effective teacher training enables educators to embody the mission of Regents School: cultivating students who delight in truth, beauty, and goodness. It’s no small task, but with thoughtful support, teachers become the lifeblood of schools that shape hearts and minds for generations. We are so excited to welcome our teachers back next week; please pray for them as they begin preparing for their ministry to your students!
-Johnnie-Ann Campbell, Grammar School Principal