About Us
School Governance
Dr. William Rutherford
Head of School
Dr. William Rutherford served as Executive Director for Great Hearts Texas, where he led the Academic Services Team to support student academic achievement and growth across the network of K-12 classical charter schools in Great Hearts Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Rutherford has worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, has taught theology and religious studies at St. Edward’s University, Houston Baptist University, and Fuller Seminary, and has served as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas.
He has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications on Christianity and Judaism in the Roman empire, including contributions in Harvard Theological Review and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Dr. Rutherford loves to take hikes and trips with his wife Heather and daughter Charlotte, rollerblading, riding his bike, and reading great books that widen the human vision to see what is true, good, and beautiful.
Dr. William Rutherford served as Executive Director for Great Hearts Texas, where he led the Academic Services Team to support student academic achievement and growth across the network of K-12 classical charter schools in Great Hearts Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Rutherford has worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, has taught theology and religious studies at St. Edward’s University, Houston Baptist University, and Fuller Seminary, and has served as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas.
He has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications on Christianity and Judaism in the Roman empire, including contributions in Harvard Theological Review and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Dr. Rutherford loves to take hikes and trips with his wife Heather and daughter Charlotte, rollerblading, riding his bike, and reading great books that widen the human vision to see what is true, good, and beautiful.
Head of School Updates
2020-2021
2017-2020
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Head of School Update: Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,Our priority is to be in-school, in-person. In order to get students here, and keep them here, we must be vigilant. Our community will need to selflessly do tasks that take longer (and might even feel unnecessary) to assure the physical safety and emotional well-being of all. Trust is built when together we sacrifice for the greater good. -
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,They lived in a very sparsely furnished flat in New York City, barely able to pay their $8.00 a month rent. $1.87 was all Della had left to buy a Christmas present for her husband Jim. It seemed that a gift worthy of all of her love was going to require a great sacrifice -- selling her most treasured possession, her long, lustrous hair that fell to her knees. So, Della sold her hair for $20.00 to Madame Sofornie, a nearby hairdresser. After searching around the city, Della found a platinum chain for Jim’s prized pocket watch. $21.00 dollars, with 0.87 left. Della was satisfied. She had found the perfect gift for Jim. For Della, Jim made a sacrifice no less great.Jim came home from work on Christmas Eve and looked at Della. He stared, not sure what to say. Fearful that Jim might not find her beautiful anymore, Della admitted that she sold her hair to buy him a present. But before she could give Jim the gift, he pulled a package out of his overcoat. Inside, Della found a costly pair of decorative hair combs that she’d so long admired -- useless now that her hair was short. Hiding her tears, Della held out the chain she bought for Jim. He flopped down into the old sofa and put his head in his hands. He told Della that he sold his pocket watch, a gift from his father, to get the money to buy her ornamental hair combs. -
Head of School Update: Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Transitions take patience and perspective. Advent is a time of longing and waiting. This is the season we are in both at JH Classical Academy and in our liturgical calendar year. We spent a good portion of our faculty-in-service day last Monday talking about getting through the Wilderness and into the Promised Land; the physical and psychological effects of the transition our school is going through. It is a time of ending, losing, and letting go before new beginnings provide new energy, identity, and purpose. Transitions are wandering between two worlds, one past and one not yet born, but birthing. We united and celebrated by decorating the school and enjoying a feast at Figs.Read More -
Head of School Update: Thursday, November 21, 2019
Most Americans think of the first Thanksgiving as a feast shared by pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Few know that the modern version of a nation-wide Thanksgiving holiday didn’t come until 1863, thanks to the persistence of Sarah Josepha Hale. When President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation declaring “a day of thanksgiving and praise," the 36-year campaign started by the so-called “mother” of Thanksgiving finally ended. Hale promoted her silent lobbying by publishing poems of gratitude, recipes for autumnal feasts, and stories to make Thanksgiving the heart of the American experience, like 4th of July.Read More -
Head of School Update: Monday, November 4, 2019
Two weeks ago, the Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole brought in Brad Griffin, co-author of a book Growing Young and director of the Fuller Youth Institute, to help us learn ways to reach and engage the younger generation that breathe life into a church. Mr. Griffin’s research revealed that there are a few common core commitments that keep teenagers and young adults coming back for more.Read More -
Head of School Update: Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Read MoreThere was a beautiful herd of elk resting in the corner of our property this morning as I drove into the school. This is such a beautiful place to build a school and work every day! We are so blessed to have more space, bright classrooms, and mountain views from every point on the land. Our week of firsts – first birthday books, first poetry recitation, first morning assembly, first Latin quiz, first day of rain with no gym, first sack lunch delivery, first sick child -- is over. Everything went more smoothly than expected. -
Head of School Update: Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,I hope you marked your calendars for our Campus Dedication on Monday, September 2nd. We have a lot to celebrate! It is a miracle that we are able to start school on Tuesday. I use the word miracle as defined: “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural law and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” Despite tremendous twists and turns (Bouma might use the word obstacles!), God has shepherded us through this 3-month construction project and we must give Him praise! -
Head of School Update: Friday, August 9, 2019
Dear JH Classical Academy Parents,Read MoreI hope your children are having a great summer adventuring, reading, and enjoying time with family and friends. We returned from two wonderful weeks in the Swiss and French Alps, taking full advantage of the Jungfrau and Mont Blanc passes. We hiked the trails, visited the glaciers and ice caves, and summited the peaks via trains, gondolas, and trams. The beauty of those views and healthy exercise nourished my soul. Time away with my family restored my vision and provided time for new learning and inspiration. I am am so grateful. I hope the same for each of you... -
Head of School Update: Friday, June 14, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means the point of highest reality.” The challenges this year presented, of seeking approval for our new campus and securing an interim place to operate, provided all of us this testing point.
In the first stanza of Rudyard Kipling’s poem, If, he advises his son:If you can keep your head when all about youAre losing theirs and blaming it on you,If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,But make allowance for their doubting too;If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise… -
Head of School Update: Monday, June 3, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
End-of-year traditions abound as we head into the final two weeks of school. Baby chicks hatched in Mrs. Patrick’s classroom, and the Kindergarten students are visiting a working farm today. First Grade had their annual visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and Fish Hatchery last week, and the Fifth Grade is returning to Cosmic Apple Gardens in Idaho. Students who have Birthdays in July and August are receiving their Birthday Books on Thursday mornings. Eighth Graders will be challenged in the Escape Rooms next Thursday before their memorable Promotion Ceremony. Our final community event, Field Day, will culminate in JB Park’s delicious Korean BBQ and a time of thanks for those that have given extraordinary time, talent, and treasure to JH Classical Academy. I’m looking forward to these two weeks! -
Head of School Update Thursday, May 16, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Families,Tonight is a special night at our Academy. It is our annual Evening of the Arts, and the last performance of our five years in this building. It is a celebration of music, poetry, and learning this year, and a closure to the founding phase of JH Classical Academy in this space.A liberal arts education is a vital foundation for both individual flourishing and the well-being of our society. We celebrate both tonight -- the individual flourishing of students in areas where God has gifted them and they have excelled, and the cultural preservation of our Western cannon through our oral and visual arts program here at JH Classical Academy. -
Head of School Update: Friday, May 3, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
Jackson Hole Classical Academy’s new campus for Fall 2019 is in full motion!The new facility will be a substantial upgrade. Today’s 13,000 square feet, which includes our half-court gym/multi-purpose space, will be replaced with almost 18,000 square feet of instructional and office space, plus a full-size gym in an 11,700 square foot field house. The 80-acre setting gives our great institution plenty of room to grow and open space to enjoy for generations. -
Head of School Update, Thursday April 18, 2019
Dear JH Classical Parents,Read More
We ended our study of the virtue of love during this Holy Week. Tonight, liturgically known as Maundy Thursday, is one of my favorite nights of the year. John, Jesus’ “beloved disciple,” chose to devote over a quarter of the pages of his Gospel to remembering the Last Supper with his Lord and Savior. Jesus washed his Disciples feet that night and commanded them to “love each other as I have loved you.” They argued about which of them was to be considered the greatest, but Jesus showed them that true greatness comes through being a servant to all. -
Head of School, Friday, March 22, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
In the middle of all our recent political "tribulations”, I had a short respite while attending a gathering of classical educators at Arizona State University. The Symposium was designed to enrich our understanding of the classical, liberal arts. Over 400 teachers and administrators learned about the theory and practice of classical teaching. We discussed how to revitalize teaching as the model of exemplary content and exceptional character.By its very nature, Classical education is character education. As classical educators, we seek to integrate character and virtue into all aspects of our curriculum, pedagogy, and culture at JH Classical Academy. Amidst the turbulent climate of pop culture, the explosion of screen-time and technology, and the proliferation of radical educational theories, classical educators still read Great Books. We believe that reading great literature helps restore our relationship with ourselves, our friends, nature, and G -
Head of School Update: Friday, February 1, 2019
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
A new friend, a retired US Navy officer who has been extra-ordinarily kind to JH Classical Academy, told me I must read The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Within days, a long-time mentor was explaining a tactical concept to me and referenced Sun Tzu’s strategies of warfare. Clearly I needed to purchase this book and become better equipped for the battles we face! Perhaps I could learn something from an expert on physical warfare and apply those principles to spiritual warfare?
The Art of War is one of the world’s most influential books on military strategy. Written well over two thousand years ago in ancient China, its relevance has been reconfirmed by commanders in every century. Sun Tzu avoids the particular and takes the high ground to provide general insights, emphasizing the tricky and devious nature of war. Of utmost importance is knowing your enemy, his plans, forms, and dispositions. “Know your enemy and know yourself, and fight a hundred battles without danger,” Sun Tzu observed. “Know yourself but not your enemy, and win one battle but lose another.” -
Head of School Update: Monday, January 21, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
"We've got some difficult days ahead," civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., told a crowd gathered at Memphis's Clayborn Temple on April 3, 1968. "But it really doesn't matter to me now because I've been to the mountaintop… and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."These were prophetic words, uttered the day before his assassination. The words challenged those he left behind to see that his "promised land" of racial equality became a reality. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a testament of hope at a time when people needed inspiration and leadership. He was inspired by his Christian beliefs, his life experiences, and a compassionate concern for the dignity of all humankind.
He galvanized the Civil Rights Movement in a historic August 28, 1963, speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial: “I say to you today, my friend, that in spite of all the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream.” Like many men who changed the world, Martin Luther King Jr.’s determination not to let go of the dreams God had placed on his heart made him an agent of hope and liberation. -
Head of School Update, Thursday, December 20, 2019
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Mohr hurried down the road from his home in the Austrian village of Oberndorf to find his friend Franz Gruber in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf. Father Mohr brought with him a poem he had written two years earlier. He desperately needed a carol for the Christmas Eve midnight mass. The church organ had been damaged by recent flooding of the Salzach River. He hoped his friend, Franz Gruber, a school teacher, and the church’s choirmaster and organist, could compose a simple tune for his poem -- something that could easily be sung by the choir acapella that night.Father Mohr was the son of a poor single mother. His father had left his mother early in his childhood, forcing the two to make a way for themselves. But a kind man recognized talent in Mohr and paid for his education at the seminary in Salzburg. Mohr was the assistant priest in the church where Gruber served as choirmaster. In just a few hours, Franz Gruber composed the melody for “Silent Night." On December 24, 1818 in the Church of St. Nicholas, the silence was broken with a beautiful new carol: “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.”From this humble beginning came one of the world’s best-known and well-loved Christmas songs. For many years people assumed this melody must have been written by a more famous composer, possibly Beethoven, Haydn, or even Mozart, because it was so beautiful and popular. But when the original score was found, the truth was confirmed: in the upper right-hand corner of the arrangement Mohr had written the words, “Melody by Franz Gruber.” God works through all His faithful servants. -
Head of School Update: Monday December 17, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
The virtue of temperance was our focus this month. Temperance is often defined as “saying or doing the right thing at the appropriate time” or the “golden mean” that helps us determine how far we can act on our desires. Unlike the theological virtues, which are gifts from God through grace, the cardinal virtues are the foundation of natural morality and require practice, perseverance, patience, and prayer.Three weeks ago, I read the students excerpts from C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, in which the White Witch beguiles Edmond with Turkish Delight. Edmond’s desires overtake him so powerfully that he continues to choose Turkish Delight, even after he realizes it will enslave him and jeopardize his siblings Lucy, Peter, and Susan. Edmond’s inability to reign in his desires takes his agency away, until Aslan steps in to rescue him.The apostle James advises us: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for a man of wrath does not produce the righteousness of God.” Even though it seems counter-intuitive, restraint can actually guide us to reach our goals. For example, when we compete in sports, our goal is to win. Yet winning requires listening to your coach, playing within the boundaries, and showing consistent sportsmanship. Winning often requires restraint. -
Head of School Update: Saturday, November 17, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,The first Thanksgiving was held almost 400 years ago in 1621 in Plymouth,Massachusetts. The Governor, William Bradford, and the Pilgrims established a time of fasting and praying in the spring, followed by a time of thanksgiving in the fall. The spirit of profound gratitude for God’s provision and the gift of family pervades narratives written by the colonist during those hard times.However, Thanksgiving did not become an annual event in America until 1863, when President Lincoln was in office. After persistent appeals from Sarah Joseph Hale, a popular women’s magazine editor from Boston, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our benevolent Father. Lincoln wrote: -
Head of School Update: Monday October 29, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, a poet, a minister, a pioneer in the field of fantasy literature, and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll. J.R.R. Tolkien was influenced by MacDonald’s writing, especially his fairy tales that “reflected in a particular way man’s visions of Truth.” C.S. Lewis regarded MacDonald as his “master” and commented after reading MacDonald’s Phantastes one day at a train-station, “I knew I had crossed a great frontier.” G.K. Chesterton cited The Princess and the Goblin as a book that “made a difference to my whole existence.” I read several excerpts of this book to the students this month, during our reflections on the theological virtue of faith. -
Head of School Update: Monday October 15, 2018
Dear JH Classical Academy Parents,Read More
My family had the pleasure of attending my mother’s Brown Family Reunion in New York City this past weekend, celebrating 200 years of banking history. For me, the entire experience was an education. It was the type of education that made me eager to learn more, and yet content to stop and apply the principles learned to current situations. That is classical education! Looking to the past and finding connections for the future. -
Head of School Update: Friday, September 21, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy families,Thank you for your strong support as we began our new school year. It is wonderful to have the students back on campus learning and discovering. Our team was encouraged to see nearly every family atttend Parent Orientation last week. The education triangle that connects student, teacher, and parent sets the best framework for success. Open communication between everyone involved fosters a culture of trust and responsibility. On Tuesday we experienced the largest turn-out ever for our Singapore Math parent training. Thank you for your partnership. -
Head of School Update: Saturday, September 1, 2018
Dear JH Classical Academy Parents,Read MoreOur faculty and staff just completed three intense weeks of orientation, curriculum training, a servant leadership seminar, and our annual retreat at the Mariposa Ranch in Cody. We have 32 new students this year, three new teachers, and one new staff member.Time away during June, traveling through Europe with my family, let me reflect, restore, and reboot for these wonderful weeks of practical preparation and relational investment. I hope your family had a summer full of adventure and intentional time together, and that all 106 of your children are ready to begin school next week! -
Head of School; Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
It has been a beautiful two and a half weeks since the students left our campus. I met with the faculty and staff to reflect on this past year, and to thoughtfully prepare for the year ahead. The board gathered and implemented sound policy governance to protect the mission and vision of our school. Our architects and builders came to town to further prepare for our future facility. We made important progress on many fronts.
Now, it is time for rest. I’m tired. It has been an intense time of giving. It is time to withdraw. Tonight, we depart from Salt Lake City for Prague. It is time to have fun and enjoy my family. In Psalm 23, David said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” -
Head of School Update, Thursday May 24, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
Fortitude comes from the Latin word fortitudo, which is often translated as courage or being strong in the face of adversity. These past few weeks have required extra strength of mind and strength of character as our faculty and team soldier on to defend truth, beauty and goodness on behalf of our students and their future. This is what we are meant to do. This is why we exist. We see the need and we care. Our eyes are fixed on the far horizon so that temporary turbulence doesn’t cause us to deviate. We persevere on the path set before us, standing strong in faith in order to not grow weary in our pursuit of doing good. -
Head of School Update, Saturday April 14, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents
Songs can stir powerful emotions that transport us back in time. Opening Ceremony on Monday morning began with listening to three glorious pieces by 16th Century British composer Thomas Tallis. My mind retrieved experiences singing that early polyphony in numerous cathedrals across England, Scotland, and Wales, recalling the beautiful reverberations and an important time in my life. Music suggests much about the society in which it is created, reflecting the culture and people of historical times. Students learned how Tallis adapted his compositions to fit the demands of rapidly shifting Royal tastes during a time of political and religious turmoil and how he influenced his pupil and fellow composer William Byrd. -
Head of School Update: Friday, March 23, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,Fortitude, sometimes translated as courage, is the virtue of persisting with what you really know deep down is right. Fortitude can carry us through the fear that might prevent us from doing what is necessary and good. It is not a feeling. It is taking action, that our faith and reason have concluded is morally right, when we feel the least brave.Two Monday Morning Messages this month featured 15th and 16thCentury figures: Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) and Galileo Galilei (1564-1642). Erasmus was a Catholic priest, social critic, classical scholar, and theologian. Galileo was an Italian polymath and has been called the father of observational astronomy and modern physics. Both men exhibited fortitude. -
Head of School Update: Friday March 2, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Families,
We concluded our month focused on the cardinal virtue of Justice with a thoughtful reflection by 9th Grader Lily Lonneker. Completely on her own, Lily researched the legal and moral definitions of justice and combined them to create a compass of how to treat others: to help the needy, to love our enemies, and to live justly. Three of our 9th Graders have thus far shared reflections with the entire student body. What an encouragement it is to see our young adults articulate important insights with poise and confidence! Please encourage potential 8th & 9th Grade students to join our JH Classical Academy students for an Open House with mini-lessons from our teachers this Tuesday, March 6thfrom 8-10:30 AM. Our students are eager to learn alongside more friends! -
Head of School Update: Friday February 16, 2018
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
I spent the day yesterday with my Board Chair, Brent Hodges, at the school he leads here in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is so good to have a Board Chair who recognizes the value of my hard work, cares for me, and shows me how to lead. The Lord asks us to live together in this way. Comforting. Teaching. Reminding. Advocating. Holding Accountable. Strengthening. The spirit of our age is a somewhat leadership-intolerant, but perhaps due to the lack servant leadership models. Max DePree, in his book Leadership is an Art, says, “Leadership is much more an art, a belief, a condition of the heart than a set of things to do.” Brent shares an educational body of knowledge with me, shows me how he stewards his relationships and values, and together we learn and stay vital in our faith and work. It makes a meaningful difference in my life. -
Head of School Update: Friday, February 9, 2018
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
Our annual school-wide Spelling Bee took place last Thursday. Sixth grade student Paschall McDaniel, who earned second place last year, outlasted the runner-up, fourth grade student Avery Ward, to take the title. Paschall will head to the regional competition on March 24 in Rock Springs, and, if she is victorious, she will proceed to the Nationals. Spelling competitions are great challenges to our memory and to our knowledge of phonetics. But they also point to the power of words. Noah Webster was a bookish farmboy who became obsessed with uniting America through words. He spent twenty years writing two thousand pages to accomplish that, and the first American dictionary was published in 1828 when he was seventy years old. -
Head of School Update: Friday January 12, 2018
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Families,
My husband reads to our children every night for at least 30 minutes. He has done this for years. He has a favorite beanbag perfectly situated between the boys and girls rooms so they can hear him from their beds on both sides. Reading is the heart of education. But in reading aloud, we also condition the child’s brain to associate reading with pleasure, provide a reading role model, and build a base of knowledge and advanced vocabulary. On Father’s Day, our third child announced that reading aloud was what he loved about his Dad! -
Head of School Update: Friday December 8, 2017
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
As parents headed out for Thanksgiving Break, the faculty spent an in-service day with Dr. Dan Russ working through Dante’s Divine Comedy. Advisory Board Member, Dr. Russ, was in Orvieto, Italy for a month this fall teaching this supreme literary work to doctoral students, so it was quite a privilege to be under his guidance. The Divine Comedy, a sacred poem from Medieval Christendom, is a stirring drama of the human soul discovering the life of faith in a faithless world. Using himself as a fictional character, Dante walks through Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso and relates his journey from the dismal gloom of hell to the blinding light of heaven. Dr. Russ gave the simple but profound analogy: Inferno is without music; Purgatorio is singing the blues, and Paradiso is constant music. Each section of this three-part poem portrays a different stage in our human understanding of God’s love, and each part of his journey provides Dante the wisdom needed to return to his earthly trials. People cannot live without loving, and we have a free will to choose to love right or wrong. As Plato says, “Education is teaching children to desire the right things.” So this was a significant work for us to reflect upon as educators. We are invested in coming alongside students, often through such beautiful texts and stories, during this brief section of their life-long journey of discovering their loves and authentic selves. -
Head of School Update: Friday November 10, 2017
Read MoreThanksgiving is the oldest American Holiday. The first Thanksgiving was held almost 400 years ago in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. William Bradford and the Pilgrims prayed in times of trouble, and gave thanks in times of plenty. They established a time of fasting in the spring, followed by prayer and thanksgiving in the fall. The spirit of profound gratitude for the gifts of friends, family, and material provision pervades the narratives from the Pilgrims and Colonists. -
Head of School Update: Friday October 27, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,The JH Classical Academy Board gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona last weekend for an extended board meeting. We opened with a two hour discussion on Christopher Perrin’s “An Introduction to Classical Education” led by Dr. Kevin Roberts. That was the perfect launching point for a fine-tuning of our mission statement, led by Brent Hodges. A wise consultant, Dr. Gary Damore's, instructed us on board governance policies to secure the longevity and stability of our school. An institution is created when the founding members are gone and the vision lives beyond! So, it was an important weekend and an uplifting time with new partners in this work. -
Head of School Update: Friday October 13, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,There is much information below, and many reminders, so I will keep my letter short today.- The 5th & 6th Graders recited poems captured on video and we are sharing them today via Vimeo for the first time. I hope the links work!
- Classroom History and Science projects launched last week with the 5th Grade cell project. See photos and read details about the project below.
- A heartfelt thanks to the parents who helped raise $76,000 at Old Bill’s Fun Run this year! We will receive the match at the annual awards ceremony on Monday, October 23rd at the NMWA.
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Head of School Update: Friday September 29, 2017
Dear JH Classical Academy Parents,Read MoreToday completes our first month of school! I hope families have adjusted to school schedules and that you are in a good rhythm with homework management and uniform expectations. If not, please reach out to your teachers so that we know how to support you better. History and Science projects are beginning, and the 5th Grade class will be the first to present their cell molecules for classmates and parents next Thursday, October 5th. -
Head of School Update: Friday September 15, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
Teachers commented all week on how happy they are to be back in the classroom teaching again. Students told me me how much they love their new teachers and friends. The first two weeks of school do focus on setting expectations, but there was a lot of joy in the building. It is good to see our beloved school grow in size and stature.On Monday mornings, I’ve been sharing how the quotes on the walls represent foundational aspects of our school. The three theological virtues and the four cardinal virtues are now displayed in each classroom. The theological virtues of “Faith, Hope, and Love” aim at serving God. The four cardinal virtues of “Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude” guide our actions. These seven virtues have been established for thousands of years as the most essential one, and we strive to learn moreabout them throughout the year. -
Head of School Update: Monday, September 4, 2017
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
The school year begins tomorrow! We have been preparing for several weeks, and the only missing element is having students in the building. We are so excited to greet our returning students and welcome our new students tomorrow for a true, good and beautiful year of learning.I spent three days with this amazing group of teachers at our faculty retreat in Cody. We often say that classical education can be summarized in two words: human flourishing. But, what does human flourishing really mean? How do you recognize it? How do you create a culture to encourage it? How can you bring those from suffering into flourishing? This was the topic of our retreat, amidst wonderful times of fellowship, trail rides, meals, searching for petrified wood in the river, skeet shooting, fly fishing, square dancing, journaling, resting and reading and more. (There’s never a dull moment with me!) Enjoy a small collage of our Cody Faculty Retreat. -
Head of School Update: Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,
I hope your children, like mine, are having great summer experiences. They still have over a month to enjoy the outdoors, read great books, and spend time with friends and family. A tremendous year of learning and growing awaits them, beginning Tuesday, September 5th.As of today, August 1st, our official preparations for the school year begin. Four teachers just returned from a 3-week seminar at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture titled: Tragedy and Comedy: Literature as a Mode of Knowledge. Two teachers and our new Board Chair attended the Society for Classical Learning Conference, also in Dallas, titled: The Good Life. Other faculty members are getting further training in their fields, some have summer jobs and most are visiting family. -
Head of School Update, Friday, 9 June, 2017
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
Our 8th Graders headed to Washington DC today with chaperones Mrs. Birnie and Mr. Walter. Their comprehensive tour of our Nation’s Capital includes a tour of Mt. Vernon; visits to the Lincoln, Vietnam, FDR and US Marine Memorials; Evensong at National Cathedral, touring the Air & Space Museum; meeting Congress woman Liz Cheney; lunch at the National Gallery; a visit to Arlington National Cemetery; and a guest speaker from International Justice Mission over dinner. Please pray for safety, good weather, and wonderful fellowship as they enjoy this time together! -
Head of School Update: Friday June 2, 2017
Dear JH Classical Academy Families,Read More
This has been a joyful week of class field trips and celebrations, in such beautiful weather. Today, the 7th & 8th Grades combined Science and Physical Education with a bike trip to Josie’s Ridge for Nature Study. The 2nd & 3rd Grades had a Pioneer Day celebration, complete with square dancing and treats from the Bar J Chuckwagon. On Wednesday, our 1st Grade completed an all-day adventure around Jackson Hole. Please read this wonderful BuckRail article sharing the details: Buckrail. Next week our 4th Grade is heading to the Jackson Hole History Museum and the Kindergarten class is returning to Haderlie Farms. Don’t worry 5th Grade: we have a surprise coming for you! And 6th Grade, you did get to ski the tram this winter and learn about the engineering behind that amazing machine. -
Head of School Update: Friday May 12, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Families,
Our school is growing, but we still have room for new students in all but one grade. Your children are eager for more friends, especially in Grades 6-9. If you have suggestions of families that want to know more about JHCA, please contact either Mrs. Landis or me. We are especially appreciative of the following parental recruiting and community building efforts: -
Head of School Update: Friday April 28, 2017
Read MoreDear JH Classical Academy Parents,Chess is one of the most enduring and globally enjoyed games in history. We know it provides infinite opportunities to improve critical thinking, problem solving, mental acuity and strategic planning. Additionally, we are seeing among our students that chess provides an opportunity to improve emotional intelligence, healthy competition, and an eagerness to learn. -
Head of School Update: Friday, February 24, 2017
Please mark your calendars for our Term Presentation on Friday, March 10th. Personally, it is my favorite event of the year. I love seeing every student in the school share a highlight from every subject in such a creative and varied manner. I encourage you to come and bring new friends.Read More
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Contact
Physical Address:
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7466
Jackson, WY 83002
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7466
Jackson, WY 83002
Enrollment Inquiries:
Lisa Landis, Admissions
(307) 201-5040
All Other Inquiries:
School Office
(307) 201-5040
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Nondiscrimination Policy: Jackson Hole Classical Academy admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Jackson Hole Classical Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance, athletic, arts and other school administrated programs.