November 13–15, the Forum welcomed more than 130 teaching men to campus for the inaugural Convivium. Educators arrived from thirty states and six countries for two and a half days of conversation, collegiality, and professional formation. By all measures, the first Convivium was great success. As one participant put it: “I was encouraged to see so many men all in one place with shared vision for education. It was good to meet many of them and chat.”
The event opened with a lecture by Headmaster Alvaro de Vicente, who posed the fundamental question: What does it mean to be a good teacher? Among other qualities, he emphasized the importance of contemplation in the life of the educator. The conversation on the topic continued over dinner, followed by cigars and spirits.
Programming over the following days included classroom observations, lectures, and breakout discussions. Colin Gleason, head of the Lower School, spoke on The Teaching Vocation, while Michael Moynihan, head of the Upper School, offered a deep exploration of Intellectual Virtue and Personal Sovereignty. Dr. Matthew Mehan, former Heights faculty member and current dean of Hillsdale’s Graduate School of Government, delivered the day’s keynote lecture, A Good Mother Wit: On Forming the Imagination.
After the morning’s observations and talks, participants divided into breakout groups. Topics included:
- Guiding Knowledge: Lessons on the Socratic Method with Judge Ryan Holte
- On Feasting Well with Kyle Blackmer
- Seminar Discussion of Selections from Fr. Gerard Manley Hopkins and Dr. Alice von Hildebrand with Austin Hatch & Tom Steenson
- Teaching Religion Class with Students of Many Faiths with Bill Dardis
- Reimagining School for Boys: Lessons from a Microschool Launch with Jack Johnson Pannell
- Implementing Poetry in the Classroom: A Return to Poetic Metaphysics with Rinju Chenet
Participants then stepped away from the academic focus to enjoy a range of excursions, including hiking at Great Falls National Park and weightlifting in The Heights gym.
In the evening, attendees joined Heights faculty for a festive celebration of the teaching vocation—complete with a feast and musical performances from participants.
Similar to the previous days, the conclusion of Convivium featured a lecture and breakout discussions. The highlight was Harvard Professor Dr. Arthur C. Brooks’ keynote on discovering one’s life calling.
Breakout sessions included:
- Authoring Heroes: Storytelling for America’s Next Generation of Virtuous Leaders in the AI Age with Bill Rivers
- Plutarch: Biography and Leadership with Tom Cox
- Testing that Teaches with Mark Grannis
- A Roundtable Discussion on the Teaching Vocation with Colin Gleason
- Supporting Students with Disabilities with Brian Peppiatt
- Learning from History to Rediscover Education with Dan Murphy
- Teaching Penmanship to Boys with Rob Greving
- Teaching Science Scientifically with Michael Moynihan
- Workshop on Teaching Students to Write in the AI Age with Rich Moss & Nate Gadiano
- Digital Monasticism with Rev. Seth Hedman
- An Introduction to Charlotte Mason’s Art of Narration with Ted Watkins
- Seeing What History Frees Us to See with Andrew Zwerneman
In addition to the main programming, Convivium included five special sessions for the Leaders Initiative fellows.
The Forum is deeply grateful to The Herzog Foundation, whose generosity made the gathering possible.
Stay tuned for the dates of next year’s Convivium!
