When Garrett Holt graduated from college, he had opportunities to move across the country and pursue adventure.

Instead, a mentor gave him simple advice:

“Go with your friends.”

More than a decade later, that decision shaped his career, his family, his community, and hundreds of students at Atlanta Classical Academy.

In this episode of The Liberty Show, Matthew Kirby sits down with Garrett Holt to discuss teaching, coaching, friendship, fatherhood, and the role community plays in forming meaningful lives. Garrett reflects on his journey from a young teacher fresh out of college to one of the most beloved educators and mentors at Atlanta Classical Academy.

Along the way, they explore classical education, character formation, faculty culture, coaching athletics, digital distraction, and why the relationships we build often matter more than the opportunities we chase.

Topics include:

• Why community matters more than career advancement
• Lessons from teaching fifth grade and high school students
• Building meaningful friendships after college
• Coaching, leadership, and character formation
• The role of history in developing wisdom and judgment
• Why schools should help form virtuous citizens
• The importance of intergenerational relationships
• Fatherhood and finding a slower pace of life
• Fighting distraction in a digital world
• Advice for aspiring teachers

Whether you’re a parent, educator, coach, student, or recent graduate, this conversation offers a thoughtful reflection on what makes a life well-lived.

🎙️ About the Guest

Garrett Holt serves as Dean of Student Life and History Teacher at Atlanta Classical Academy. Since helping launch the school in 2014, he has taught across multiple grade levels, coached championship athletics, mentored students, and helped cultivate a thriving school culture rooted in friendship, virtue, and intellectual formation.

📚 Learn more about Liberty Classical Schools:
https://libertyclassicalschools.org

Subscribe for more conversations on classical education, character formation, leadership, and human flourishing.