July 7, 2026

In the pursuit of professional development, continuing education, and fellowship, many of our teachers and staff members from ECCS attended the Association of Classical Christian School (ACCS) Conference, “Repairing the Ruins” in Atlanta, Georgia, June 25-26. 

The conference was all about biblical vision, hands-on training, and life-giving community for teachers, leaders, and staff members in classical Christian schools. 

“The panels, workshops, sessions and speakers were great, but what’s so wonderful about a conference like this is the time you get to spend with your colleagues and peers who are also part of doing the good work here at the school,” say ECCS Grammar school principal, Dr. Stacey Parham. “Having meals together, waiting between sessions, and talking about sessions together really shows you how amazing these people are that we get to work with every day.” 

Dr. Parham says she particularly enjoyed a workshop session with speaker, Josh Gibbs, about what logic and rhetoric teachers can learn from grammar teachers and how they focus more on storytelling, singing, and jingles. He spoke about how older students should sometimes put down their pens to stop taking notes and put down their phones to stop constantly taking pictures. Instead, he said they should listen and be in the moment, which can help with retention and ultimately learning more. 

She also enjoyed the session by our own Latin and literature teacher, Mrs. Lindsay Murphy, whose session, “Classical Pedagogy 101” was about why every age needs each stage of the trivium and how they cross over into different phases of growth, development, and learning. Dr. Parham said the session was practical, relatable, and one that can easily translate to every teacher’s classroom. 

ECCS Dean of Classics and Latin Department Head, Mr. Thomas Caucutt also led a workshop session called “The Seven Laws Alive,” which was about how under pressure, teachers tend to fall back on unproductive habits that undermine learning. He spoke about practical applications of John Milton Gregory’s theory of the “Seven Laws of Teaching” at every level, grammar through rhetoric, and how teachers can remain faithful in classical instruction even on the hardest days. 

ECCS Logic, Latin, and Literature teacher, Mr. Eric Callender led a session as well, titled “Bringing Logic to Life: Teaching the Arts of Argument and Discussion Through Debate.” He presented about translating logic from book knowledge to a living skill using debates as a teaching tool and logical exercise with the goal of cultivating students who can listen and discuss with others intelligently, wisely, and persuasively. 

We’re thankful for ACCS, their annual conference, and the opportunity for so many of our teachers and staff members to be sharpened and encouraged this summer about classical education and more.