My guest for today’s conversation was Bob Schaffer, Headmaster of Liberty Common School in Fort Collins, and Chairman of Leadership Program of the Rockies. Bob presented to my Rotary club a couple months back, and was kind enough to share time with me on The LoCo Experience podcast!
Long before his focus on education - because he had yet no children - Bob got into politics mostly as a writer. His first real job was as an Intern/speechwriter for the Republican caucus in Ohio - and he was good at it! - and it translated well to a similar role for the then-majority Republican party when he and his wife moved to Colorado. One thing we agree upon - is that writing is thinking - and Bob’s good at both - which is why he was appointed at age 25 to finish a departing State Senator’s term - the youngest in Colorado history to serve the role.
And it’s also why - after his own littles started arriving - that he turned his focus toward education - first in the Colorado Senate, then the US House of Representatives. And that’s where Wikipedia notes he also sponsored a balanced budget resolution and amendment to the Constitution - which unfortunately for all of us - was unsuccessful.
But - since our country is broke - we’re gonna need smart kids to dig us out - and that’s where Liberty Common School comes in. Bob shares widely about how they’re different - and why - and how everyday moms and dads and grandparents can be involved in their children’s classical education. Bob’s the kind of guy I could enjoy a 6-hour conversation with, so consider this hopefully a part I - and please enjoy, as I did, my conversation with Bob Schaffer.