Episode Overview

Podcast: Hillsdale College Podcast Network Superfeed
Episode: Leading Lake Country Classical Academy
Host: Scott Bertram
Guest: Margaret Danu, Principal of Lake Country Classical Academy
Date: September 18, 2025

This episode features a presentation by Margaret Danu, principal of Lake Country Classical Academy in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, speaking at the Hoagland Center for Teacher Excellence. Margaret shares her philosophy of classical education, insights on school leadership, and the deeper mission guiding classical schools. She offers practical anecdotes and reflections for current and aspiring educational leaders.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introduction to Classical Leadership (02:09)

• Margaret Danu introduces herself and her school, Lake Country Classical Academy (LCCA), which opened in 2021 and now serves K–12 students.
• She expresses her belief in the unique calling and stakes of classical education:

  "Classical education isn't about test scores or college admissions. It's about something far more profound, the cultivation of human souls." — Margaret Danu (03:00)

Three Fundamental Beliefs about Classical Education (03:30–07:15)

1. Education Is About Cultivating Virtue, Not Just Knowledge

• The focus is on who students are becoming, prioritizing virtue over mere information acquisition.

  "What use is success if it cannot be enjoyed by good men and good women? What value is knowledge if it doesn't lead to wisdom?" — Margaret Danu (04:19)

• Classical education aims to develop not just minds, but hearts and character.

2. The Importance of Cultivating Goodness (“Illiteracy of the Soul”)

• Quoting Nicolás Gómez Dávila: "There is an illiteracy of the soul which no diploma cures."

  "The world doesn't necessarily need more smart people. It absolutely needs more good people." — Margaret Danu (05:20)

• LCCA emphasizes exposure to good books, music, and ideas in order to train students to love the right things.

3. Commitment to Enduring Things

• LCCA avoids ephemeral trends, focusing on “things that endure”—the wisdom of the ages.
• Cites the ongoing impact of Homer, Bach, and Augustine as examples of perennial relevance.

  "We don't chase the latest educational fads... Instead, we focus on what has proven itself as tried and true." — Margaret Danu (06:55)

• Clarifies: classical education is not about living in the past, but giving students tools to navigate the present with discernment.

The Daily Work and Heart of Classical School Leadership (07:40–11:15)

• School leadership sits at the crossroads of pragmatic management and principled vision.
• Margaret describes the day-to-day operations: managing budgets, staffing, curriculum, student safety, and compliance.
• She shares a humorous and revealing anecdote about asking her youngest students what a principal does:

  "You solve all the problems." — LCCA Elementary Student, relayed by Margaret Danu (09:23)

• Emphasizes the “critical responsibility” of mission fidelity: every decision should reflect the school's core values.

Balancing Practical and Philosophical (11:16–12:34)

• Leaders must possess organizational acumen, emotional intelligence, and adherence to purpose.
• They mediate between teachers, families, and boards, always prioritizing classical education’s deeper mission.

The Rewards and Responsibilities of Classical Leadership (12:35–13:40)

• Truly effective classical schools become “sanctuaries of human formation” rather than mere academic institutions.
• Academic rigor and character development are inseparable.

  "True education is not about efficient information transference, but about cultivating young minds and hearts, guiding students toward an understanding of what is good, true, and beautiful." — Margaret Danu (13:05)

• Leadership is less about flawless execution, more about consistency of purpose:

  "Successful school leadership is consistent intention." — Margaret Danu (13:30)

Civic Virtue and the American Mission (13:41–14:15)

• Classical education’s mission is connected to America’s founding ideals of liberty and equality.
• Teaching virtue is essential for preparing students for civic life, not just personal success.

The Ultimate Goal (14:16–14:36)

• The highest purpose: to help students find truth, practice goodness, and appreciate beauty.
• Education is about helping students not only make a living, but live well.

  "Our goal isn't just to help students make a living, but to help them live well. We want them to become individuals who can think clearly, judge wisely, and love deeply." — Margaret Danu (14:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Classical education isn't about test scores or college admissions. It's about something far more profound, the cultivation of human souls." — Margaret Danu (03:00)
• "What use is success if it cannot be enjoyed by good men and good women? What value is knowledge if it doesn't lead to wisdom?" — Margaret Danu (04:19)
• "There is an illiteracy of the soul which no diploma cures." — Nicolás Gómez Dávila, cited by Margaret Danu (05:03)
• "The world doesn't necessarily need more smart people. It absolutely needs more good people." — Margaret Danu (05:20)
• "You solve all the problems." — LCCA Elementary Student, relayed by Margaret Danu (09:23)
• "We don't chase the latest educational fads... Instead, we focus on what has proven itself as tried and true." — Margaret Danu (06:55)
• "True education is not about efficient information transference, but about cultivating young minds and hearts, guiding students toward an understanding of what is good, true, and beautiful." — Margaret Danu (13:05)
• "Our goal isn't just to help students make a living, but to help them live well. We want them to become individuals who can think clearly, judge wisely, and love deeply." — Margaret Danu (14:25)

Timestamped Segment Highlights

• 02:09–03:29 | Margaret Danu introduction and roots of her educational philosophy
• 03:30–07:15 | The three pillars of classical education: virtue, soul, endurance
• 07:40–11:15 | The practical, daily realities of classical school leadership
• 11:16–12:34 | Balancing pragmatic demands with philosophical mission
• 12:35–13:40 | Transformative rewards of classical leadership
• 13:41–14:15 | Fostering civic virtue and upholding American ideals
• 14:16–14:36 | The ultimate purpose: forming wise, virtuous, happy individuals

Conclusion

Margaret Danu’s presentation offers a compelling look at the mission and practice of leading a classical school. Her speech blends philosophical conviction, practical realities, and inspirational mentorship for educators committed to lasting human formation. The episode is a resource for anyone interested in education’s highest callings and the day-to-day work that sustains them.