An Examined Education

20 Alumni Stories - Isaiah Francisco

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Isaiah Francisco enrolled at Cambridge in kindergarten and graduated thirteen years later with the class of 2023. He is now a junior at the University of Notre Dame, majoring in history and minoring in International Security Studies, and is preparing for a commission as a Naval officer. His story is one of formation meeting vocation. When Isaiah reflects on Cambridge, he reaches naturally for the school's telos: think well, love rightly, live wisely. Not as a slogan, but as a lived framework he can trace through his college experience with remarkable specificity. The habits Cambridge built in him, seeking out professors, pressing through difficulty, asking for help before the difficulty became crisis, proved to be precisely what his freshman year demanded of him. The holistic curriculum that once felt like a burden became the foundation for navigating a major in history alongside two semesters each of calculus, physics, and naval engineering. But Isaiah's formation at Cambridge runs deeper than academic preparation. The rightly ordered affections Cambridge cultivated in him, his love of service, his commitment to Christ, his sense of what deserves his time and attention and what does not, are the values he is now carrying into a calling. He wants to serve as a surface warfare officer not out of ambition but out of gratitude, and he traces that impulse directly to the ministerium Cambridge wove into the fabric of daily school life.

20 Alumni Stories - Nathan Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nathan Kim enrolled at Cambridge in its founding year in 2006 and graduated with the class of 2020. He went on to study economics at Gordon College and now works as an implementation specialist at Epic Systems in Madison, Wisconsin. But the most formative part of his story has less to do with where he ended up than with what it took to get there. Nathan didn't have an easy run of it. There were years where the distance between who he was and who Cambridge was forming him to become seemed impossibly incongruous. What closed that gap wasn't a single turning point but the steady presence of teachers who pursued him with patient care, who asked enduring questions, and who came alongside him through trying seasons. Through daily effort alongside trusted mentors, Nathan nurtured a resilience that he would carry well beyond graduation, one that continues to serve him in college, in the workplace, and in life. In his resilience, his love of learning, and his ability to engage people from every walk of life, Nathan continues to see the fruit of a Cambridge education long after the season in which it was planted.

20 Alumni Stories - Ethan Chin

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Ethan Chin graduated with Cambridge's eighth class in 2025 and has been part of the community since junior kindergarten. Now a freshman at Harvey Mudd College, he reflects on what it meant to spend formative years in a place that valued depth over speed, discussion over delivery, and formation over output. Ethan unpacks two ideas that have stayed with him: coherentism as an epistemological model, the web of interconnected beliefs that deepen and reinforce one another, and the paradox of the "inefficient education." At a rigorous science college surrounded by peers who took organic chemistry in high school, he's finding that what Cambridge gave him can't be replicated later. Rightly ordered affections, the capacity to think at depth, the groundedness to know who you are amid a sea of competing ideas: these don't come from a textbook or a summer of self-study.

20 Alumni Stories - Emma Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from Emma Kim, Class of 2018, now a UC Berkeley graduate and returning faculty member at The Cambridge School. Emma reflects on her journey from student to teacher and the profound gratitude she feels as she celebrates Cambridge’s 20th anniversary from the other side of the classroom. Looking back, she considers how the school’s guiding vision, to think well, love rightly, and live wisely, quietly shaped her long before she fully understood its depth. She shares how learning to ask thoughtful questions, especially in moments of uncertainty, prepared her for the academic rigor of a large university and continues to shape her teaching today. She reflects on the formation of well-ordered affections through the partnership of school, family, and church, and how that foundation has guided her priorities, relationships, and sense of purpose. And as she considers adulthood and vocation, she returns to a simple but enduring question: How then should I live? This episode is a warm and thoughtful meditation on gratitude, formation, and the joy of returning to invest in the very community that once formed you. It is a celebration not only of 20 years of Cambridge, but of the enduring fruit of a classical Christian education lived out in faith, humility, and hope.

20 Alumni Stories - Anna O'Neill

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from alumna Anna O’Neill, Class of 2025, now a freshman at Colorado State University, as she reflects on her 13 years at The Cambridge School. Anna shares how the house system and three years of student leadership shaped her growth, strengthened lasting friendships, and cultivated a deep sense of community. She highlights two enduring gifts of her education: learning to engage in thoughtful, charitable dialogue and developing a confident, well-grounded understanding of the Christian faith through years of biblical study, logic, rhetoric, and apologetics. Through a candid story about an unexpected conversation while upgrading her phone, Anna describes how her Cambridge formation prepared her to articulate and defend her faith with clarity, composure, and grace. Her experience illustrates how a classical Christian education equips students not only for college, but for meaningful, everyday conversations about truth. This episode is a reflection on formation, friendship, and the lasting impact of an education ordered toward wisdom and virtue. Think well. Love rightly. Live wisely.

20 Alumni Stories - Mason Settergren

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, we hear from Mason Settergren, Class of 2024, now a sophomore at Hillsdale College studying Classics and Math. Mason reflects on how 13 years at The Cambridge School cultivated a deep and abiding intellectual curiosity. From physics and Greek to neuroscience and theology, he describes an education where subjects were never siloed but woven together, each illuminating the other. A memorable moment in 11th-grade physics, wrestling with the implications of the double-slit experiment, sparked not only scientific wonder but philosophical and theological reflection. Rather than dismissing those connections, his teachers encouraged them. At Hillsdale, Mason continues to see the fruit of that formation. In studying the history of mathematics, even the words of Bertrand Russell prompt him to consider beauty, order, and perfection as reflections of a Creator. For Mason, math, language, science, and faith are not competing domains, but harmonies within a unified vision of truth. This episode is a thoughtful meditation on curiosity, integration, and the distinctly classical Christian conviction that all truth is God’s truth. It is a reminder that education, rightly ordered, forms not only knowledgeable students, but worshipful learners. Think well. Love rightly. Live wisely.

20 Alumni Stories - Sara Spinar

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, Sara Spinar, a member of the Class of 2025, reflects on spending her entire fourteen-year education at The Cambridge School before preparing to study Humanistic Studies at John Cabot University in Rome. Sara shares how the house system and Cambridge’s both and vision shaped her most deeply. While the school is known for academic rigor, she reflects on how that rigor was never merely about grades or performance. It was about virtue cultivation, about forming a conscience, and about asking not only what you know, but who you are becoming. Through challenging Latin translations, demanding junior year coursework, and lively hallway debates, Sara began to see how diligence, humility, patience, and intellectual charity were being quietly formed alongside academic skill. She recounts moments when slowing down, admitting she did not understand something, or listening carefully to another perspective became acts of courage rather than weakness. Looking ahead to college, Sara recognizes that Cambridge did not simply teach her how to study well. It trained her to honor texts, pursue truth in conversation, and approach learning as a moral endeavor that shapes character as much as intellect. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on formation, gratitude, and the enduring integration of knowledge and virtue that students carry long after graduation.

20 Alumni Stories - Emma Mohler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, Emma Mohler, a 2023 graduate of The Cambridge School and current student at Hillsdale College, reflects on how her time at Cambridge shaped both her intellectual curiosity and her understanding of what it means to care for others. Emma shares how the sacrificial investment of teachers and the depth of relationships within the community formed her attentiveness to people. Through ordinary moments, conversations during lunch, after school help sessions, and mentors who remembered small details, she began to see that true education involves the giving of time and presence. She also recounts wrestling with profound questions first encountered in eighth grade while reading Augustine’s Confessions, particularly the tension between a good God and a world marked by evil. Rather than offering easy answers, Cambridge cultivated in her a love for lifelong inquiry, teaching her that some questions are not problems to solve once but mysteries to pursue faithfully over time. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on mentorship, curiosity, and the kind of education that forms not only the mind, but the heart.

20 Alumni Stories - Alex Chin

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, Alex Chin, a member of Cambridge’s eighth graduating class, reflects on spending twelve formative years at The Cambridge School before heading to Duke University. From pre-K through high school graduation, Alex describes Cambridge as home, a place shaped by deep relationships, rigorous academics, and a community that continually pushed him to grow. He shares how virtue formation, house leadership, and the rhetoric curriculum expanded his capacity for thought and cultivated a lasting awareness of how environments shape identity. Now navigating college life, Alex considers what it means to remain attentive to the cultural waters we swim in and how a classical Christian education equips students not only to think critically, but to love rightly and live wisely. This episode is a thoughtful reflection on formation, friendship, leadership, and the enduring gift of a school that becomes home.

20 Alumni Stories - Jasmine Gingrich

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 18:50:50 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, alumna Jasmine Rupani Gingrich (Class of 2019) reflects on how her years at The Cambridge School shaped not only her academic path, but her understanding of grace, vocation, and faithful presence in the world. From discovering a love of rhetoric that led her to study communications at Gordon College, to working as a barista in Berkeley and later serving in church ministry, Jasmine shares how a classical Christian education formed her confidence, humility, and sense of purpose. With honesty about performance anxiety and gratitude for mentors who pointed her toward God’s grace, she explores what it means to apply a rigorous education beyond prestigious titles — into hospitality work, community life, children’s ministry, and everyday faithfulness. Jasmine’s story is a compelling reminder that the true aim of education is not status, but formation — shaping men and women who love the Lord, serve thoughtfully, and carry wisdom into every sphere of life.

20 Alumni Stories - Haley Hom

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:08:26 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, Cambridge alumna Haley Hom, Class of 2018, reflects on her full journey through a Cambridge education and beyond, from grammar school through law school and into her calling as an attorney. Through a series of formative moments, Haley shares how the habits of thought, discipline of writing, love of learning, and support of a gracious community prepared her not for an easy life, but for a meaningful one. Her story traces the cumulative power of a classical Christian education that shapes students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely through both triumph and trial.

20 Alumni Stories - Josh Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:39:53 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, Cambridge alumnus Josh, Class of 2018, reflects on how a Cambridge education continues to shape his life well beyond graduation. Now a University of Chicago graduate and founder of a venture-backed AI company serving biotech and pharmaceutical firms, Josh traces a clear throughline from his time on Cambridge’s debate team to the work he does today. He shares how Cambridge’s distinctive approach to debate emphasized clarity, reasoned discourse, and pursuing truth over technical wins, and how those habits of thought continue to inform his professional life, relationships, and decision-making. Josh reflects on the formative power of conversations with teachers, peers, and mentors, and on the lasting value of an education aimed not at formulas or shortcuts, but at cultivating wisdom, virtue, and a grounded vision of human flourishing.

20 Alumni Stories - Katelin Sung

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 22:20:23 +0000

Transcript: (Auto-generated)

Welcome to An Examined Education, a podcast from the Cambridge School. At Cambridge, we often say that education is never merely about what students know, but about who they are becoming. For 20 years, our community has been shaped by conversations that ask enduring questions about truth, goodness, and beauty, and by a shared commitment to forming students who think well, love rightly, and live wisely.

Today, the Cambridge School is honored to be ranked the number one private K-12 school in San Diego, but rankings tell only part of the story. Our deeper aim, our telos, has always been the formation of a whole person, intellect, wisdom, virtue, and faith, integrated and ordered toward a life of purpose and service. In this series, we turn to our alumni.

Through their stories, we explore how a Cambridge education continues to echo long after graduation in college classrooms, careers, relationships, and callings. These are reflections on learning, on becoming, and on the ways a formative education shapes how we experience and engage with the world around us. This is An Examined Education, stories shaped by the belief that a flourishing life begins with cultivating good habits alongside great people toward noble ends.

Enjoy. My name is Katelin Sung. I just graduated from Cambridge in 2025, and I'm currently a first year at Berkeley majoring in rhetoric.

I was at Cambridge for the long haul, K-4 through 12th grade. College is basically the first time in my memory that I've existed away from the Cambridge community, so I've had lots of prompting to reflect on my elementary through high school experience and the way it's shaped me up until this point. I've become appreciative of the both and aspect of Cambridge, specifically both humanities and STEM, after having been in college at UC Berkeley for a few months.

Something about Berkeley that I've been learning isn't really true at some other colleges is that nearly every freshman comes to Berkeley knowing exactly what field they want to go into, and although there are many intellectually curious and open-minded students there, they pretty much just stay in their own lane in terms of the subjects they study. The engineers are there just for engineering, the biology majors are there just for biology, the English people are there just for English, and so on. And most people see what we call breadth classes or just just general education classes outside of their major as annoying requirements they just have to get out of the way because they don't have to do directly with their major.

I think coming to Berkeley after having grown up in Cambridge, I came in with a pretty different perspective. I do have a career goal in the field of medicine, but I'm not approaching education and the college experience as mere means to get to that. Cambridge definitely instilled in me the idea that education is not just stuffing information into my brain to get a piece of paper that says I have a degree, but rather a joyful, or mostly an ideally joyful, privilege meant to enrich my life, not just monetarily in the long run, but intellectually and characteristically.

Learning is about understanding the human experience, and I think when you look at learning like that, it's ridiculous to think that you could really learn without valuing both STEM and humanities. My choice to major in humanities, rhetoric to be specific, so the Cambridge influence is very very apparent, in addition to the pre-med courses is certainly a result of that idea of learning as understanding the entire human experience. The prospect that I had to choose only one subject to study for the next four years was quite saddening when my time at Cambridge had sparked my interest in both, and it wasn't just that Cambridge did a good job of teaching both sciences and humanities independently, but the subjects themselves were often intertwined and teachers themselves embodied an integrated approach to their subjects.

The Cambridge curriculum was carefully crafted so that each year's subjects overlapped in meaningful ways, and that each year as a whole fit into the grander scheme of the entire K through 12. I didn't fully appreciate this until late in high school, but I still remember many like whoa moments when I made connections with other things I was concurrently learning. This includes small things like in grammar school when scientific discoveries I was learning about were made in the same era as the era of history that I was learning about, or more impactful realizations in rhetoric school like the application of a rhetorical concept to enact in history that also related to a principle in computer science.

I feel like I was trained to start seeing these patterns across classes more, which just further augmented my education and grew my appreciation for all subjects both STEM and humanities. An example of a teacher embodying multiplicitous and interdisciplinary interests is Mrs. Hahn, my beloved chemistry and physics teacher. She was not just trying to make us learn the cold hard facts and procedures of science.

She had an infectious interest in the history behind scientific discovery and cared about the way we were able to communicate ideas. Also, outside of the classroom, she was the person that I talked to the most about books more than any other student, the literature teacher. Mrs. Hahn inspires me not only because of her incredible ability to make tricky chemistry, physics concepts understandable, but also because of how much value she puts on reading, evidenced by the amount of time, even in her busy schedule, that she gives to books.

Mrs. Hahn is a great example of someone with interests in both STEM and humanities and has definitely inspired me to keep both in my academic life. Mr. Goodwiler is another teacher who is knowledgeable about humanities, given that he's a rhetoric and literature teacher, but also about science and other general topics. He would say to my class that he knows nothing about science or math, but that's just not true.

If it pertained to the context of a literary work or current cultural movements, he would come to class prepared to converse about the relevant science of a topic, too. Examples that come to mind are discussions surrounding AI that my senior thesis class had and the way that Mr. Goodwiler approached a modern sci-fi novel that a group of us read in book club and the way he thought about which parts were feasible because, to me, it seemed like he approached it with a mindset of a scientist, regardless of how much technicality there was to his knowledge. Mr. Goodwiler, someone who shows deep appreciation and has curiosity for fields in humanities and STEM, and has definitely been a role model in the way I approach all topics open-mindedly and with a stance of wanting to understand more about the world we live in.

So, because of Cambridge's both-and model and their goal for education to be about preparing students for the entire human experience, not confined to one area of study, I've been formed to care about both STEM and humanities and see them as necessary pieces for the same puzzle, inspired both by the integrated curriculum I've experienced since I was four and by the great teachers who live that out in their own ways. If there's one thing my gratitude for the both-and posture of Cambridge has taught me, it's that academia has so much to offer in both fields, and that learning one does not weaken but rather enriches the other. Thank you for listening to An Examined Education.

Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if you like what you hear, reach out to the Advancement Office. Check out our website and schedule a tour at cambridgeclassical.org. Until next time, think well, love rightly, and live wisely.

20 Alumni Stories - Alyssa Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 9 Jan 2026 20:42:56 +0000

As The Cambridge School marks twenty years, An Examined Education opens a new season by turning to the voices that know its formation from the inside: its alumni. In this season-opening episode, we hear from Alyssa Kim, Class of 2022, now a senior at Georgetown University studying history on a pre-med track. Alyssa reflects on a journey shaped by Cambridge from pre-K through graduation, one that cultivated not only academic excellence but a way of seeing the world. From “living history” in grammar school to translating Latin and Greek in the upper school, Alyssa describes how the humanities at Cambridge became more than a subject of study. They became a practice of immersion, context, and empathy, training students to understand people across time, culture, and circumstance. History, literature, and language were not merely facts to master but lenses through which to inhabit another’s world. As she prepares for a vocation in medicine, Alyssa connects the humanities to the sciences, arguing that education aimed at excellence must also train us to understand the human person. At its core, she reflects, education is ordered toward people, toward service, wisdom, and a life lived with purpose. This episode sets the tone for a season of alumni stories that explore how a formative education continues to echo long after graduation, shaping habits of mind, guiding vocation, and reminding us what it means to live a fully human life.

Rooted in the Past: How Livy’s Storytelling Shapes Virtue and Identity

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Donny McNair, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Fri, 23 May 2025 21:39:42 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, we sit down with Cambridge School Latin teacher Donny McNair to explore the Roman historian Livy and the power of narrative in shaping a civilization’s moral compass. Livy lived through the collapse of the Roman Republic and the rise of Augustus' empire—a time of immense political and cultural upheaval. Through vivid, almost novelistic storytelling, Livy didn't just recount events; he sought to guide readers toward virtue and civic responsibility. Join us as we discuss how Livy's philosophical lens, his critique of Rome’s moral decline, and his belief in the transformative power of history remain strikingly relevant today.

Rooted in Civic Virtue: How Classical Education Anchors a Flourishing Society

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Kelsey Bonilla, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Thu, 1 May 2025 20:13:21 +0000

What holds a society together when factions clash and partisanship rises? In this episode, Kelsey Bonilla, history and government teacher at The Cambridge School, unpacks the deep connections between law, government, and a flourishing civil society. We trace the founders’ inspirations from Rome to the Enlightenment, explore the responsibilities of citizenship, and ask how education can ground us in civic virtue today. Whether you’re a student of history or just wondering what keeps the American experiment alive, this conversation offers timeless insights and practical hope.

Rooted in Community: Faith, Identity, and Flourishing in a Secular Age

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 21:51:41 +0000

In this episode of An Examined Education, host Jeff Yoder sits down with Patrick Claytor, a Bible and Latin teacher at The Cambridge School, to explore how faith and community shape personal identity and societal flourishing. Drawing on the metaphor of a "cut flower society," they examine how secularization uproots individuals from traditional sources of meaning while people continue to seek community in alternative spaces. Claytor shares insights from his theological background on why church community offers unique benefits different from secular affiliations, discussing how Christian identity is grounded in Christ's work rather than personal achievement. The conversation explores the implications of rootedness versus individualism in modern society, offering practical guidance for families seeking to nurture faith and community connections in their children. Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone interested in the intersection of faith, community, and identity formation, this episode provides valuable perspective on finding stability and meaning in an increasingly disconnected world. Join us as we continue to examine education that prepares students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely.

Rooted: Intellectual Virtues and the Pursuit of Knowledge

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Longing to Know - Esther Meek

Nicomachean Ethics Book VI - Aristotle

An Essay in Regulative Epistemology by Robert C. Roberts and Jay Wood

Rooted: Finding Stability in a Restless Age

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Jean Kim, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 22:41:47 +0000

An Examined Education, presented by The Cambridge School in San Diego, explores the foundations of classical Christian education and its vital role in today's world. In this episode, Jean Kim, founder and head of school, delves into Os Guinness's compelling metaphor of "cut flower civilization" - the idea that Western society continues to display the beauty of Christian and classical influences while being increasingly disconnected from these vital roots. Drawing from her decades of experience in education, Kim examines how classical Christian education can help reconnect students to enduring truths and traditions in an age of rootlessness. She discusses the challenges facing today's youth, from moral relativism to a crisis of meaning, and presents a hopeful vision for renewal through education that emphasizes wisdom, virtue, and purpose beyond individual achievement. This thought-provoking conversation explores how schools can foster genuine human flourishing by connecting students to transcendent truth, cultivating meaningful relationships, and grounding them in the rich soil of classical and Christian traditions. Whether you're an educator, parent, or simply interested in cultural renewal, this episode offers valuable insights into creating an education that prepares students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely.

Instilling Virtues Through Children's Literature

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Colleen Dong, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 21 May 2024 19:50:52 +0000

On Reading Well - Karen Swallow Prior

Enduring Ideas through Senior Thesis | DJ Goodwiler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:07:35 +0000

In this podcast episode, DJ discusses the evolution of senior theses in classical schools. They explore how the tradition fosters critical thinking and reflection on enduring ideas, while adapting to technological advancements. DJ emphasizes the shift towards collaborative discussions and open-mindedness among students, aiming to cultivate wisdom and deeper engagement with the world.

Reading Guide : Moby Dick

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Doug Jones) — Tue, 9 Apr 2024 16:57:20 +0000

Doug is welcomed back on the podcast to give us a reading guide on America’s epic: Moby Dick. If you have yet to listen to the full episode on Moby Dick, make sure to go back and give it a listen!

Decoding the Depths of Moby Dick

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Doug Jones) — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 18:02:35 +0000

Join us as we welcome back Doug Jones, our Literature Chair, to delve into the depths of "Moby Dick" on this week’s episode. This enlightening discussion explores Melville's creative writing prowess and the profound questions he poses to readers. Embark on an educational journey at sea, as we uncover the masterpiece that has shaped the minds of readers and influenced renowned authors. Come explore these intriguing waters with us as we navigate "Moby Dick."

Reading Guide: Gilgamesh

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Amanda Sansonetti) — Thu, 7 Mar 2024 17:42:21 +0000

Amanda Sansonetti gives us some interesting insight into Gilgamesh as well as a few helpful tips for first-time readers.

The Humanity of Gilgamesh

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Amanda Sansonetti, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 21:04:21 +0000

Amanda Sansonetti, our 7th grade literature teacher joins us to discuss the significance of "The Epic of Gilgamesh" as the oldest surviving literary work and how it raises questions about the meaning of life and human existence, making it relevant to contemporary readers despite its ancient origins.

Alumni Answer Your Questions

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Alumni, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Thu, 8 Feb 2024 18:32:23 +0000

A host of Alumni join us to answer questions from the community about their education at Cambridge, their college experience, and more. Our next episode will continue with our Great Books and Big Ideas theme as we talk to Amanda Sansonetti, our 7th grade literature teacher, about the humanity of Gilgamesh. Stay tuned!

Reading Guide: Brave New World

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 18:58:14 +0000

In our concluding discussion on Modern American Literature, DJ returns one more time to explore the final reading guide, spotlighting Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. This guide serves as a valuable companion to maximize your understanding of the text. If you haven't listened to the previous episode covering Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature, be sure to start there. We trust you'll find this reading guide enriching, and we'll see you next time!

Reading Guide: The Sound and The Fury

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler) — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:01:19 +0000

DJ returns with a new reading guide, this one focused on "The Sound and The Fury." It serves as an excellent resource to delve into before immersing yourself in this great book. If you haven't already, make sure to check out the episode on Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature before proceeding. Keep an eye out for DJ's final reading guide on "Brave New World," bringing the series on modern American literature to a close.

Reading Guide: Great Gatsby

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler) — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 22:24:10 +0000

DJ gives us a few things to think about as we make our way through Great Gatsby. If you have yet to listen to DJ's conversation on Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature, be sure to go back and listen there first.

Epistemic and Axiological Questions in Modern American Literature

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 17:50:15 +0000

DJ Goodwiler joins us on this week's episode to help us define what makes a great book and how some modern American literature can help us make sense of the world around us and our own interactions within it.

Great Books and Becoming Human

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Doug Jones, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Wed, 3 Jan 2024 21:11:34 +0000

Doug Jones joins us to delve into the transformative influence of great books on shaping our identity through the way we teach and learn.

Neuroscience of the Teenage Brain

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Melissa Gingrich, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 16 May 2023 20:17:12 +0000

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Melissa Gingrich as our guest, who will shed light on the fascinating field of neuroscience and its relevance to the developing brain. By delving into this subject, we aim to empower parents and teachers to forge stronger connections with students during these crucial stages of their lives.

Parent Partnership - The Secret to a Better Education

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Russ Kapusinski) — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:32:28 +0000

Russ Kapusinski joins us to talk about Parent Partnership and how parents and schools working in conjunction lead to a better education for children.

Raising your child right - Better schools for the best kids

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Colleen Dong, Host: Jeff yoder) — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:30:43 +0000

Colleen Dong joins us to discuss childhood development and why it is so important to find the right school for your child.

The Best Way to Read Graphic Novels

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: DJ Goodwiler, Host: Jeff yoder) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 22:40:05 +0000

DJ Goodwiler joins us to talk about visual rhetoric and how graphic novels provide a platform from which we can learn to utilize it in our day to day lives.

Modern Magic - Saying the Unsayable with Poetry

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jeff Yoder, Doug Jones) — Tue, 6 Dec 2022 18:31:29 +0000

Doug Jones joins the show to talk poetry--its interesting origins, why poetry is important, what can be gained from reading it, its connection to rhetoric, and he reads a few of his favorite poems for us in a special segment we have dubbed "Doug's Poetry Corner". We hope you enjoy this episode!

Misunderstanding Math - a Liberal Art in Disguise

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Jacob Mohler, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Jacob Mohler, the Chair of Math at the Cambridge School, joins us to talk about math as a liberal art--both how it is and is not a liberal art and why the distinction is important. Jacob's vigilant inspection of the process of math instruction and his intentional approach create a unique learning environment for his students. We hope that you enjoy the episode.

Changing Perspectives | Carolyn McClaskey

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Carolyn McClaskey, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Mon, 7 Nov 2022 19:32:29 +0000

Carolyn McClaskey joins us to talk about how her perspective has changed now that she is a teacher's aide. Having been a Cambridge parent, Carolyn has a unique perspective on the Cambridge education now that she has had a look behind the curtain.

Changing Perspectives | Emma Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Emma Kim, Host: Jeff yoder) — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:09:47 +0000

Coming full circle, Emma Kim joins us on the podcast to talk about what it is like to go from student to teacher at her alma mater and how being classically educated affects her experience in the classroom while educating the next generation to Think Well, Love Rightly, and Live Wisely.

Changing Perspectives | Margaret Lowing

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Margaret Lowing, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Mon, 3 Oct 2022 21:34:58 +0000

A returning teacher shares her perspective on how things have changed since she taught here a decade ago and what her time away has made her appreciate about a Cambridge education.

Science Experiments | Melissa Mayne & Esther Han

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 21:10:22 +0000

Science Chair, Melissa Mayne, and everyone's favorite Chemistry teacher, Esther Han, join us to walk us through some science experiments they do with the high schoolers. From editing DNA to creating your own experiment, it's no holds barred when it comes to fun and exciting experiments in the Cambridge Laboratory.

Roaring 20s | 6th Grade | Kelsie Howze

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Kelsie Howze, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 18:29:15 +0000

WARNING! This episode contains a spoiler for a surprise event for Cambridge 6th graders! Parents with students in 6th grade or below should not listen with their students. Mrs. Kelsie Howze joins us to go over some of the fun events covered in 6th grade; one of which is unique not just in the world of classical education, but Cambridge as well! It is a surprise event for our students that really immerses them within the roaring 20s. Unlike other events that typically culminate students' studies of a given time period, this event kicks off their studies and gets the whole class excited to learn! Knock! Knock!

Beowulf | Fourth Grade | Paula Jones

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 23:15:00 +0000

Our bard for the evening, Mrs. Paula Jones, guides us through the 4th grade literature curriculum where we dive deep into the epic Beowulf and learn of the significance it holds in the history of literature and within the intentional curriculum at Cambridge. We hope you enjoy!

Simple Machines | Second Grade | Esther Berends

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Esther Berends) — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 20:15:19 +0000

Esther Berends, our second grade lead teacher, joins us on the podcast to share a unique lesson our second graders experience as they learn about ancient Egypt. This episode highlights historical integration as an organizing theme in our curriculum and illustrates lessons that cultivate wonder in our students.

Playing a Role in Ancient History | Jim Hamilton

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Jim Hamilton) — Mon, 6 Dec 2021 23:50:22 +0000

Jim Hamilton walks us through a unique lesson that he created for 8th grade history in which the students role play citizen on the brink of the Peloponnesian War to see if they would make the same mistakes. This lesson presents an opportunity to learn through history and practice empathy.

Advisory Program | Melissa Gingrich

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Melissa Gingrich) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 20:46:59 +0000

Melissa Gingrich, our Upper School Principal, joins us to discuss the what and why of the Upper School Advisory Program. Melissa brings a unique perspective - being both the Upper School Principal as well as the mother of two graduates and a current Sophomore - that makes her especially equipped to discuss the program's objective and implications.

The Rhetoric of Place and Space | Jr./Sr. Trips to DC and Italy | DJ Goodwiler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder) — Mon, 1 Nov 2021 18:15:27 +0000

DJ Goodwiler, our Humanities Chair and Rhetoric Teacher, walks us through the Junior and Senior trips to DC and Italy. These trips culminate their studies of rhetoric and history, allowing the students to put their studies into practice as they interact rhetorically with historical places and spaces.

Student Experience | Alice & Ben

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Ben, Guest: Alice, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 19:47:08 +0000

Alice and Ben, two of our 6th graders, join us to talk about their experience as Cambridge students. They offer unique insights into the Cambridge experience and advice for other Cambridge Students. It was a blast having Alice and Ben on and we were blown away with what they had to say! This is an episode you definitely do not want to miss!

Parent Experience | Eric and Shelly Potwardowski

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 16:14:53 +0000

Eric and Shelly Potwardowski join us to share their experience as parents at The Cambridge School. The Potwardowskis currently have children in every stage of The Cambridge Education (Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, Aluma), making their experience an especially unique one. Listen in to hear about how their children's experiences have differed and how, as parents, they have handled the ups and downs as the school has grown with them.

Computer Science | Dr. Reuben Settergren

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Mon, 1 Feb 2021 18:28:15 +0000

3:16 on amazon

Hermann Zapf's illustration of John 3:16

1 Tim 3:16 "note the Russian orthodox cross in the negative space" -Dr. Settergren

literateprogramming.com

The Annotated Turing, Charles Petzold

Eyes in the Sky, Arthur Holland Michel

Beauty and Joy of Computing:

"We also think that computer programs (not just the pictures that programs can produce) can be things of beauty.... good programmers develop a sense of programming aesthetics."

Progymnasmata | DJ Goodwiler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: DJ Goodwiler) — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:55:16 +0000

DJ Goodwiler joins us back on the show to discuss progymnasmata, a series of "pre-exercises" that our students practice before entering Rhetoric School.

Operations | Amy Tollefson

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Guest: Amy Tollefson, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 22:29:00 +0000

Amy Tollefson, Business Manager at The Cambridge School, joins us to take us behind the scenes of operations--the human endeavor that keeps the wheels turning at Cambridge.

Development | Jeff Yoder

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Alli Kaye, Guest: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 1 Dec 2020 20:02:54 +0000

Jeff switches roles and joins us as a guest to talk development at The Cambridge School. Alli Kaye, our Development Coordinator, steps in as host for this episode. We hope you enjoy!

Admissions & Enrollment | Leslie Yoder

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Leslie Yoder) — Mon, 9 Nov 2020 13:00:00 +0000

Leslie Yoder, our Director of Enrollment Management, joins us to discuss admissions at The Cambridge School. Leslie has a lot to say about the what makes admissions at Cambridge different than your typical admissions process.

Building a High Performing Leadership Team | Jean Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Wed, 4 Nov 2020 17:09:05 +0000

Jean Kim speaks at the Society for Classical Learning on building a high performance leadership team

Leadership | Jean Kim

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 19:20:22 +0000

Jean Kim, founder of The Cambridge School, talks about the formation and importance of a leadership team.

Grammar School | 2nd & 3rd Grade | Hana Rodgers

Fri, 22 May 2020 12:00:07 +0000

Hana Rodgers, our 2nd and 3rd Grade team lead, sits down to walk us through a bit of the early Grammar School curriculum. She talks about feast days, 3rd grade events, our unique teacher partnerships, and how virtue development is cultivated in our students from a young age.

The King's Speech

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: Jean Kim) — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:51:18 +0000

Jean gives her speech from Back to School Night 2016.

College Counseling Part II | Class of 2020

Fri, 8 May 2020 12:00:02 +0000

The Class of 2020 joins us on the podcast to describe their college admission process and how Cambridge has shaped their decision on which schools to pursue.

A Robust Rebirth

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: Jean Kim) — Wed, 6 May 2020 19:06:26 +0000

Jean speaks at Back to School Night 2015 about the need for Robust Rebirth of a Classical Christian Education.

Afternoon with The Cambridge School | Jean Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: Jean Kim) — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:44:01 +0000

Jean Kim, Founder of the Cambridge School, speaks to the need of an education like the Cambridge education. Listen Now!

The Cambridge Response to Covid-19 | Jean Kim

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 18:39:33 +0000

Jean Kim joins our hosts Jeff and DJ to discus the way that Cambridge reacted to the Covid-19 pandemic--the decision process of closing the school, the migration to an online teaching format, and where we are at now as an educational program and as a community.

Education for True Freedom | Jean Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: Jean Kim) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:42:50 +0000

This is a speech that Jean Kim gave in 2017 at Back to School Night. We hope everyone is staying healthy and safe!

College Counseling | Becky Priest

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 15:50:40 +0000

2020 College Acceptances

Math at Cambridge Part II | Jacob Mohler, Andrew Chung, and Josh Sansonetti

Fri, 27 Mar 2020 12:00:01 +0000

Jump back in to Math at Cambridge with Par II of our discussion on what Math looks like at Cambridge.

Math at Cambridge Part I | Jacob Mohler, Andrew Chung, and Josh Sansonetti

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 12:00:17 +0000

The Cambridge Math Department joins us this week to talk about math at Cambridge and how we approach math a little differently. This episode will be broken into two parts, so make sure that you tune-in in two weeks to hear part 2!

Science at Cambridge | Dr. Melissa Gingrich

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:00:04 +0000

As we continue to cover our curriculum at Cambridge, we welcome Dr. Melissa Gingrich, our Upper School Principal, who has been with the school since its inception and has been a big part in writing our Science Curriculum and refining it over the years. She speaks on the scope and sequence of our Science curriculum and talks about what makes Cambridge unique in its study of Science when compared to other educational organizations.

How Cambridge is Christian Part III | Russ Kapusinski, Brent Baber, and DJ Goodwiler

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:00:13 +0000

Welcome back to the continuation of How is Cambridge Christian, this week we will pick up the conversation we were having with Russ Kapusinski, Brent Baber, and DJ Goodwiler about how exactly Cambridge is Christian. Last episode we talked about a lot of the explicit ways in which Cambridge is Christian and in this episode we talk a bit more about some of the implicit ways Cambridge is Christian. As always we would love to hear your thoughts on the conversation and any questions you may have. Feel free to send any correspondence to our social media pages @anexaminededucation on facebook and instagram.

How Cambridge is Christian Part II | Russ Kapusinski, Brent Baber, and DJ Goodwiler

Fri, 31 Jan 2020 13:00:33 +0000

Join us this week to hear from Russ Kapusinski, Brent Baber, and DJ Goodwiler, all teachers who have been part of creating and implementing the Bible Curriculum at Cambridge. We begin to discuss what the Cambridge Bible Program looks like. This episode will be continued in Part III. Stay Tuned!

Rhetoric - What is it? Part II | Colleen Dong & DJ Goodwiler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Jacob Goodwiler) — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 13:00:08 +0000

Jeff, Colleen, and DJ continue their conversation of Rhetoric within the Cambridge School as well as how Rhetoric manifests itself in its many forms and how it can influence the way we interact with the world around us.

Rhetoric - What is it? Part I | Colleen Dong & DJ Goodwiler

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 13:00:03 +0000

Co-host DJ Goodwiler, takes off his hosting hat to be a guest on this episode of An Examined Education as he talks with Colleen Dong about Rhetoric-what it is and how it is taught at the Cambridge School. Enjoy!

Combustible Data | DJ Goodwiler

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: DJ Goodwiler) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 13:00:26 +0000

DJ Goodwiler addresses the Cambridge Community about the Upper School literature program at The Cambridge School and how a reader can approach a work of literature rhetorically and ethically.

How is Cambridge Classical Part I | Jim Hamilton

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Speaker: Jim Hamilton) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:00:41 +0000

Language Chair Jim Hamilton addresses the Upper School students at a retreat earlier in the year. Jim tracks classical education back to its origins to illustrate a couple ways in which the Cambridge Education is a classical education.

How is Cambridge Classical Part II | Jim Hamilton

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Guest: Jim Hamilton) — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 13:00:41 +0000

Jim discusses Latin, Ancient History, and what makes The Cambridge Curriculum so unique. This is part two of this conversation and a follow up to a speech that Jim gave earlier in the year to a group of students about How Cambridge is Classical.

How is Cambridge Christian Part I | Russ Kapusinski

Fri, 6 Dec 2019 13:00:03 +0000

Russ Kapusinski joins us on today's episode to tell what it does and does not mean to be a Christian School in today's contemporary climate and challenges assumptions that may be brought into the discussion. This conversation will be continued in a future episode, so keep an eye out for that!

Not just Kindergarten Part II | Colleen Dong

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:02:22 +0000

In Part 2 of our discussion with Colleen Dong, DJ steps in to do a deep dive on some of the concepts that Colleen discussed on her previous discussion with Jeff. Tune-in to hear how “Kindergarten is really 12th grade Lite” and how our Kindergarten Teachers embody Homer as they transition these young children from oral culture into literacy.

Not just Kindergarten Part I | Colleen Dong

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 12:00:03 +0000

Colleen Dong has been with Cambridge more than most and has been involved in all stages of the educational development of the students. In this episode, Colleen tells her story of how she first got involved in the Kindergarten classroom and eventually came to teach Kindergarten here at Cambridge. It is a truly incredible story that shows Kindergarten is not something to look over when it comes to the early development of a child.

Alumni on their time at Cambridge

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Co-host: DJ Goodwiler) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:11:36 +0000

Book Recommendations

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson

Wisdom and Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn and Charles T. Evans

Liberal Arts Tradition by Kevin Clark and Ravi Jain

Institutes of Oratory by Quintilian

Collected Works by Erasmus

Beginning with the end in mind | Jean Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Co-host: DJ Goodwiler, Host: Jeff Yoder) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:11:12 +0000

Book Recommendations

Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson

Wisdom and Eloquence by Robert Littlejohn and Charles T. Evans

Liberal Arts Tradition by Kevin Clark and Ravi Jain

Institutes of Oratory by Quintilian

Collected Works by Erasmus

The Founding of The Cambridge School | Jean Kim

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Co-host: DJ Goodwiler) — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:10:39 +0000

Jean Kim’s address to new parents at the New Parent Orientation. Jean tells about herself and the foundation of The Cambridge School. Tune in to the next episode where Jeff Yoder will dive deeper with Jean into why Cambridge, how Cambridge approaches education, and who the Cambridge education is for.

Welcome to An Examined Education

jgoodwiler@cambridgeclassical.org (Host: Jeff Yoder, Co-host: DJ Goodwiler) — Wed, 6 Nov 2019 22:35:09 +0000

Jump into the inaugural episode of An Examined Education, with your host, Jeff Yoder, Director of Advancement, and your co-host, DJ Goodwiler, Humanities Chair and Rhetoric and Literature teacher at The Cambridge School. In this commencement, you will learn all about your hosts (perhaps more than is necessary) and learn about why The Cambridge School has decided to start a podcast. We hope you enjoy and perhaps share a laugh or two with some friends (at the expense of our intrepid hosts).