We’re Here to Support You and Your School
As a school leader, it can be tough to navigate the daily challenges and complexities that come with the role. It’s easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed, especially when faced with new and unfamiliar situations. That’s why having a support system in place is crucial for success.
At The Society for Classical Learning, we understand the importance of having a strong support network to lean on when you need it most. Our team of experts is dedicated to providing you with the help and resources you need to build a healthy, thriving school.
Who We Are
We Are Classical
The SCL is rooted in The Great Tradition, using its wisdom and virtue to raise up the next generation.
We Are Christian
The SCL is grounded in the historic Christian faith as expressed in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creeds.
We Are Leaders
The SCL is the leader in the classical Christian education movement by focusing on guiding school leaders.
Over his time at SCL, Eric has made leadership development a top priority, equipping leaders to serve the classical Christian school movement. In 2021, he worked alongside SCL colleagues and Dr. Michael Lindsay, then President of Gordon College, to design and launch the first Masters program specifically tailored for classical Christian school leaders. The program is graduating cohorts of leaders filling key positions in the movement. Eric is the Co-Director of the program as well as an adjunct professor.
In his role as SCL President, Eric also leads the Arete Fellows, a group of 25 seasoned heads of school from across the country who provide feedback, wisdom, and insight to Eric and the SCL leadership team. This important advisory committee is mentoring younger leaders, working closely on SCL projects, and providing leadership for the movement’s most challenging issues and questions. In 2024, SCL launched its inaugural year accreditation program largely formed by the input and participation of the Arete Fellows.
As a consultant to dozens of schools across the United States, Eric has worked with school leaders to grow thriving schools, mature their governance models, conduct strategic planning sessions, and equip their key leaders. In 2020, Eric developed a head of school coaching program specifically designed for classical Christian school leaders. The program focuses on ensuring that wisdom and virtue are not merely theoretical commitments, but embodied both in the character and daily decisions of prudent leaders.
Eric works collaboratively with leaders and organizations across a vast network. He is a board member of the Classic Learning Test, an advisory board member with the Spreading Hope Network, an advisory board member of the Classical Liberal Education Network in England, and an advisory board member of the Center for Education and Public Policy at the University of Austin. Eric writes and speaks on a variety of topics from governance to philosophy to pedagogy. He has presented at numerous universities, conferences, and events over his time as President of SCL, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Previously, Eric was the Head of School at Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas from 2009 to 2022. During his leadership tenure, the school grew from 180 students to well over 400. Covenant is currently one of the leading schools in Fort Worth and the classical Christian movement. The school has full enrollment, a beautiful classically designed campus, and a dynamic leadership team.
Over Eric’s educational career he has taught history, philosophy, apologetics, thesis, world religions, reformation theology, rhetoric, political science, psychology, and civics. He also developed numerous programs, including a Philosophy Club, Civic Society, and a variety of reading groups.
Eric received an Ed.S. in Classical School Leadership from Gordon College in 2023. He also holds an M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Northern Kentucky University and a B.A. in Education from Transylvania University. He started his career in public school as a history teacher and administrator before moving into classical Christian education as Upper School Head at Faith Christian School in Roanoke, Virginia in 2007. Eric and his wife, Liz, have six children and live in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Our President
Eric Cook is the President of the Society for Classical Learning (SCL), an organization dedicated to fostering human flourishing through the advancement of classical Christian education. He provides executive leadership for SCL, overseeing the organization’s vision, strategy, thought leadership, and fundraising efforts. As President, Eric plays a pivotal role in the classical Christian school movement, seeking to revive timeless principles to reform education, renew culture, and promote human flourishing.
Eric received an Ed.S. in Classical School Leadership from Gordon College in 2023. He also holds an M.A. in Instructional Leadership from Northern Kentucky University and a B.A. in Education from Transylvania University. He started his career in public school as a history teacher and administrator before moving into classical Christian education as Upper School Head at Faith Christian School in Roanoke, Virginia in 2007. Eric and his wife, Liz, have six children and live in Charlottesville, Virginia.
SCL Team
Early in life, she moved West from her native home of Savannah, GA, where she served as a Congressional press intern, met her husband, and became a newspaper editor. From there, utilizing her newfound love of the Southwest, she became Director of Communication for the Tucson Chamber of Commerce and later moved back to her home on the Georgia Coast to raise a family.
While just beginning to research and read about classical education, Angie worked as a legal market analyst with an international consulting firm and enjoyed working in communication and events for political affairs, including the Conservative Political Action Conference. She also clocked many hours behind the scenes in her family’s restaurant franchise businesses.
After years in school leadership and the family business and raising four boys, Angie and her husband made plans for a sabbatical and early semi-retirement. She spent a year writing and traveling the country full-time with her husband and 10-year-old daughter, whom they classically home-schooled. Now a recent widow, Angie enjoys supporting classical education through her work with SCL while traveling as often as possible. She loves to read, write, hike national park trails, discover new places, meet new people, cook Senoran food, coach a spirited game of little league basketball, and be anywhere where family is gathered.
While at Veritas, Starrla developed curricula and academic programs, trained hundreds of teachers, served on accreditation teams for similar schools, and helped many classical, collaborative schools launch and grow. She is passionate about Kingdom building through the expansion of classical, Christian schools; and after receiving her Masters in Leadership through Gordon College, shifted her focus to developing programs for training future Christian school leaders.
Starrla and her husband, Jef (the longtime Veritas HOS), are the parents of three adult children, all graduates of Veritas Academy. After living in the Texas Hill Country for nearly 30 years, Starrla and Jef now enjoy living close to their adult children in Memphis, Tennessee.
Prior to SCL, Marissa served as the program director for the Alec & Belle Waterhouse Lecture Series in Honolulu, HI where she organized conferences and seminars for nearly 10 years. She also has held administrative positions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the President’s Office. Marissa is married to Shelby, and they have three children who attend Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth, TX. Born and raised in Honolulu, HI, Marissa enjoys traveling, reading, and volunteering in her daughters’ American Heritage Girls’ troop.
SCL Board
Kevin’s Christian Classical Education experience spans 17 years, including 15 at The Geneva School, Winter Park, FL. During this time he taught broadly across the upper school—logic, classical guitar, Old and New Testament survey, New Testament Greek, rhetoric—though Christian philosophy and theology were his main interests and perennial areas of teaching. He later assumed a leadership position at the school, serving five years as academic dean of The Geneva School before leaving to found The Ecclesial Schools Initiative.
Also active at the national level, Kevin has ten years of leadership as a fellow for The Society for Classical Learning, providing academic leadership to Christian classical schools throughout the country by hosting retreats and speaking at conferences. He also joined the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University in 2018 as a teaching fellow in their new Master of Arts in Classical Teaching program.
Both of his children attended Grace Academy beginning in kindergarten providing them the classical Christian education not afforded their parents. Hayden holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy, an MBA from The University of Texas and a Master of Information Technology from Virginia Tech.
When he is not talking to parents, friends and patrons about the transformative power of classical Christian education, you can often find him preparing for Grace athletic events, training on his own or enjoying the Texas Hill Country with his family.
Core Values
At SCL, we are committed to joyfully serving Christ as the core calling and purpose of our work.
At SCL, we believe the great work of CCE should be broadly accessible.
At SCL, we believe that our work is to serve the movement by showing grace, love, and tangible acts of hospitality.
Education With Purpose
The Society for Classical Learning (SCL) has existed since the mid-1990s to facilitate and encourage thinking and discussion among professionals associated with Christ-centered education in the liberal arts tradition.
The Society provides a forum where educators can share wisdom, experience, and ideas as they deepen their understanding of classical theory into everyday, real-world education.
The SCL is committed to historic Christianity as expressed in the Nicene Creed and to exploring the relationship of Christ to the broader culture.
Mission & Vision
The Society for Classical Learning exists to foster
human flourishing by making classical Christian
education thrive. The ancient world has much to offer
us today in thinking about how we might best teach
and encourage young people toward virtue, wisdom,
and truth.
The SCL works together with classicists, teachers, and
lifelong learners to ensure that the great heritage of
Western civilization is preserved, cherished, and
handed on to the next generation.
Here’s What Our Members Are Saying
“SCL continues to provide classical Christian educators with the best of the tradition alongside an approach to the culture that is honest without being anxious. This is a much needed approach in our polarized climate.”
– SCL Attendee
“I was very encouraged by meeting so many other like-minded teachers coming from institutions sharing the same values and commitments. It encourages me in the fight for truth, goodness, and beauty!”
– SCL Attendee
“SCL was a place to connect with other teachers on the front lines. It’s easy to feel like we’re out there alone, but seeing how many other teachers are out there fighting the good fight, and having the chance to hear their stories and learn from them, it reminds me why I got into teaching in the first place.”
– SCL Attendee