This past year marked the launch of Ralston College's K–12 Partnership Program, a strategic effort to strengthen the renewal of classical education through teacher formation, institutional partnerships, and the development of new educational pathways rooted in the humanities tradition.
What began with our first Educators' Outreach Gathering last fall has quickly developed into a growing network of relationships with independent, classical, and public schools throughout Savannah and beyond. Over the past year, Ralston faculty and staff met with educators from Savannah Country Day School, Benedictine Military Academy, St. Andrew's School, Veritas Academy, Meeting Street Schools, and other educational organizations to explore meaningful opportunities for collaboration and student engagement.
As part of this outreach, the College was also invited to visit Elevate Savannah, a leadership and college-access initiative serving students in Savannah's public schools. Hosted at Alfred E. Beach High School, the visit provided an opportunity to meet students, learn more about the program's work in mentoring and preparing young people for college and careers, and begin exploring how Ralston might contribute to its mission in the years ahead.
Seven Ralston students participated in the initiative this past year, receiving mentorship and pedagogical training before completing successful classroom teaching experiences at Savannah Country Day School. Students also participated in teaching tutorials led by Dr. Joseph Conlon, Fr. Nathan Carr, and alumnus Aaron Waits, focusing on lesson planning, classroom leadership, and the vocation of teaching.
The response from our partner schools has been deeply encouraging. One Calvary Day School student described the opportunity to hear Ancient Greek spoken aloud and philosophical texts recited from memory as "truly impressive," while another faculty member reflected that the visit sparked students' curiosity about classical philosophy, virtue, and the pursuit of wisdom, truth, goodness, and beauty. Likewise, Veritas Academy expressed its gratitude for Ralston's generosity in sharing its "resources, time, and lectures" in service of the humanities.
