Putting Education Policy Into Practice | Michael Bileca

On this episode of Anchored, Jeremy is joined by Michael Bileca, founder of True North, a network of classical charter schools in Florida. They discuss his time working for the Florida state legislature, including some of the education reform policies he enacted. They explore how his work in state politics convinced him to go beyond policy and start a school. They conclude by diving into the story of introducing the CLT to Florida and sharing statistics on its growth over the past few years.

Transcript

CLT Exam (00:01.39)
Folks, welcome back to the Anchor Podcast. We have with us today one of our dear, dear friends, Mike Vileka, who's the founder of True North, a classical charter school in Florida. Mike Vileka is also a former legislator, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder of a network of high performing classical charter schools. He founded a dental service organization, Towncare Dental Partnerships in 2005.

Folks, welcome back to the Anchor Podcast. We have with us today one of our dear, dear friends, Mike Vileka, who's the founder of True North, a classical charter school in Florida. Mike Vileka is also a former legislator, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder of a network of high performing classical charter schools. He founded a dental service organization, Towncare Dental Partnerships in 2005.

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riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (00:09.87)
No.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (00:24.77)
He grew that organization from a startup to 55 locations with 100 affiliated doctors supported by a thousand employees and merged with Dental Care Alliance in 2013. In addition to his private sector experience, Mike served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018, serving in various capacities with a focus on education policy. He was a chairman of the Education Committee and sponsored and passed major education reform legislation in Florida during his tenure.

He grew that organization from a startup to 55 locations with 100 affiliated doctors supported by a thousand employees and merged with Dental Care Alliance in 2013. In addition to his private sector experience, Mike served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018, serving in various capacities with a focus on education policy. He was a chairman of the Education Committee and sponsored and passed major education reform legislation in Florida during his tenure.

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riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (00:47.47)
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riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (00:53.262)
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Mike is the executive director of the Dennis Balecca Institute for Character and Excellence. The foundation has primarily funded schools that focus on virtue-based education, emphasizing classical liberal arts curriculum. He is the founder and president of True North Classical Academy Schools, which are among the top performing schools in Florida. True North success is a byproduct of its vision that holds moral and intellectual virtue as the true aim of education.

Mike is the executive director of the Dennis Balecca Institute for Character and Excellence. The foundation has primarily funded schools that focus on virtue-based education, emphasizing classical liberal arts curriculum. He is the founder and president of True North Classical Academy Schools, which are among the top performing schools in Florida. True North success is a byproduct of its vision that holds moral and intellectual virtue as the true aim of education.

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riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (01:03.278)
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In the 2024 school year, True North serves 2,500 students across four charter schools and two early learning centers for infants through 12th grade. In 2024, True North Classical Academy received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education. According to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report, True North's first two schools are in the top 10 in Florida and number two and three in Miami. The two recent schools are not yet ranked.

In the 2024 school year, True North serves 2,500 students across four charter schools and two early learning centers for infants through 12th grade. In 2024, True North Classical Academy received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Education. According to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report, True North's first two schools are in the top 10 in Florida and number two and three in Miami. The two recent schools are not yet ranked.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (01:27.918)
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riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (01:46.24)
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Michael is the current chair of the board of trustees for Miami Dade College, which has the nation's largest undergraduate enrollment. He holds degrees from Tulane University and a minor in philosophy and an MBA from Kellogg University. Mike Vileka, our dear friend at CLT, welcome to the Anchor Podcast.

Michael is the current chair of the board of trustees for Miami Dade College, which has the nation's largest undergraduate enrollment. He holds degrees from Tulane University and a minor in philosophy and an MBA from Kellogg University. Mike Vileka, our dear friend at CLT, welcome to Anchor Podcast.

Well, thanks for having me, Jeremy.

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riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (02:13.321)
Well, thanks for having me, Jeremy.

Though Mike, you've had such an amazing accomplished career already and still so much I know that you're gonna do. You've been such a dear friend to CLT. We first met in New York City on an Alkyo and Retreat back in 2017 and we've just we've had a friendship ever since and you've been such a champion for the work we're doing. I love to hear about your early days. You what was school like for you growing up and when did you first get exposed to classical education?

So Mike, you've had such an amazing accomplished career already and still so much I know that you're going to do. You've been such a dear friend to CLT. We first met in New York City on an alkyl and retreat back in 2017. And we've just we've had a friendship ever since and you've been such a champion for the work we're doing. I love to hear about your early days. What was school like for you growing up? And when did you first get exposed to classical education?

Yeah, so I mean, growing up, went to typical traditional public schools. I went to public schools all the way through high school. But I was introduced to the ideas of classical philosophy, classical education, the great books from my dad. so other schools, and we now have the six schools in the community, they're all dedicated to my father. He taught at Rutgers.

Yeah, so mean growing up I went to typical traditional public schools. I went to public schools all the way through high school. But I was introduced to the ideas of classical philosophy, classical education, the great books from my dad. And so other schools, and we now have the six schools in the community, they're all dedicated to my father. He taught at Rutgers.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (03:10.446)
You know, just lived and breathed the ideals of the classical ideals and the purpose of education, what it should be, what it ought to be. And so even though I was, you know, educated in traditional public schools, I really was educated by my father. And a lot of the work that I've done in the classical education and politics really is, you know, it's through his influences.

and just lived and breathed the ideals of the classical ideals and the purpose of education, what it should be, what it ought to be. And so even though I was educated in traditional public schools, I really was educated by my father. And a lot of the work that I've done in the classical education and politics really is through his influences.

Mike, really love that you, that's a beautiful story and I love that you make this point and it's something I think about a lot that regardless, we've got six kids in six different schools right now. Wherever the kid is in school, the parent is still the first and primary educator and your dad really believed that and lived that and that's a beautiful story to hear. And then tell us about your journey into political life as well. You've been an entrepreneur, but were you always interested in policy?

Mike, really love that you, that's a beautiful story and I love that you make this point and it's something I think about a lot that regardless, we've got six kids in six different schools right now. Wherever the kid is in school, the parent is still the first and primary educator and your dad really believed that and lived that and that's a beautiful story to hear. And then tell us about your journey into political life as well. You've been an entrepreneur, but were you always interested in policy?

Well, my dad immigrated here, escaped the war from Romania, immigrated at 10 years old. And when he came to this country, he believed upon arriving after escaping the war and he was a refugee in his own country for eight years that the streets were paved with gold. he was the type, with my dad, we'd go to a sports game, they'd play the national anthem.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (04:06.338)
Well, my dad immigrated here, escaped the war from Romania, immigrated at 10 years old. And when he came to this country, he believed upon arriving after escaping the war and he was a refugee in his own country for eight years that the streets were paved with gold. he was the type, with my dad, we'd go to a sports game, they'd play the national anthem.

most of time he cried during the national anthem. He just loved this country to his very being and the opportunities. And I think, you know, I didn't have my experience of this country, not contradicted, but compared to escaping war and poverty. And so, you know, he loves this country to a level that it's hard for the second generation to understand.

most of time he cried during the national anthem. He just loved this country to his very being and the opportunities. And I think, you know, I didn't have my experience of this country, not contradicted, but compared to escaping war and poverty. And so, you know, he loves this country at a level that it's hard for the second generation to understand.

My foreign politics really was to honor him and there was an experience that led to it. I was always, you know, with my parents, my father's influence, interested in politics, followed politics, and believed in the traditional and conservative values and free markets. But I wasn't involved politically. I founded a company that mentioned town care and I had that company for...

But then my foreign politics really was to honor him and there was an experience that led to it. I was always, you know, with my parents, my father's influence, interested in politics, followed politics, and believed in the traditional and conservative values and free markets. But I wasn't involved politically. I founded a company that mentioned town care and I had had that company for

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (05:28.718)
13, 14 years. No one knew my political party, the Alliance never talked about it. So I wasn't active in that sense. I was grounded in my philosophy but not active. But the turning point for me was actually, my dad came to the country when he was 10. He's from the old country, from Romania. We went back when he was 72. He had not been back. It was a big, I was traveling at that time with a three month old.

13, 14 years. No one knew my political party, the Alliance never talked about it. And so I wasn't active in that sense. I was grounded in my philosophy, but not active. But the turning point for me was actually, my dad came to the country when he was 10. He's from the old country, from Romania. We went back when he was 72. He had not been back. It was a big, I was traveling at that time with a three month old.

Hmm.

Hmm.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (05:58.062)
an 18 month old and a three year old with my wife and my brother and his kids. And we went back and most of the family, his family, side of the family is still in Romania. They never got to this country. And when I went, we found the house he was born where he was chased out by fascists. His grandmother shot, my grandmother shot, his mother shot. And then traveled to the towns he had been.

an 18 month old and a three year old with my wife and my brother and his kids. And we went back and most of the family, his family, side of the family is still in Romania. They never got to this country. And when I went, we found the house he was born where he was chased out by fascists. His grandmother shot, my grandmother shot, his mother shot. And then traveled to the towns he had been.

every year they would move to set up and move again and we relived that with him and then saw what communism had done to, even though that time Romania was free and democratic, was still, and still is, coming from a totalitarian system that every day person, every day experience is government controlled, even in a democratic structure they were post-communism.

every year they would move to set up and move again. And we relived that with him and then saw what communism had done to, even though at that time Romania was free and democratic, was still, and still is, coming from a totalitarian system that the everyday person, everyday experience is government controlled. Even in a democratic structure, they were post-communism.

It's not a free market robust system that's based on transparency and trust. And met family there that were still there, that went from war to freedom after World War II, to communism, to freedom again, and lost everything multiple times. And that experience forever changed me. And I remember the day or two before we leaving, we were with family in Costanza.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (06:54.318)
It's not a free market robust system that's based on transparency and trust. And met family there that were still there, that went from war to freedom after World War II to communism to freedom again and lost everything multiple times. And that experience forever changed me. And I remember the day or two before we were leaving, we were with family in Costanza.

and one of the younger cousins, 10, 11 years old, says, oh, I want to come visit you in Florida. And I was like, oh, we'll take you to Disney World. It would be great. goes, no, I want to see the Statue of Liberty. I want to go see Washington, DC. And I would just start crying. And when I got back, that's when I got involved politically, because I vowed to myself and had that experience.

and one of the younger cousins, 10, 11 years old, says, oh, I want to come visit you in Florida. And I was like, oh, we'll take you to Disney World. It would be great. He goes, no, I want to see the Statue of Liberty. I want to go see Washington, DC. And I would just start crying. And when I got back, that's when I got involved politically, because I vowed to myself and had that experience.

was I will never take this country for granted. And the structure and system and the democratic ideals we have and we live under is not the norm, it's the exception. And again, even though I was brought up understanding that and my wife's Cuban, her side of the family had the same experience escaping communism, socialism, it became real to me. And so I went from no one knew what I was with political affiliation to volunteering for the McCain campaign, running through our offices.

was I will never take this country for granted. And the structure and system and the democratic ideals we have and we live under is not the norm, it's the exception. And again, even though I was brought up understanding that and my wife's Cuban, her side of the family had the same experience escaping communism, socialism, it became real to me. And so I went from no one knew what I was with political affiliation to volunteering for the McCain campaign, running through our offices.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (08:12.818)
I'm very involved in his campaign and that's, I got involved in that campaign and then I ran shortly thereafter for the Florida House.

I'm very involved in his campaign and that's, I got involved in that campaign and then I ran shortly thereafter for the Florida House.

Michael, turning back just a bit, I'm thinking about one of my dear friends, Michael Orner. He's got this unusual business story where after working for a few years in the business world, he went to Africa on kind of a mission service trip. But there, he read Aristotle's Politics for the first time. He read Ayn Rand.

Michael, turning back just a bit, I'm thinking about one of my dear friends, Michael Ordner. He's got this unusual business story where after working for a few years in the business world, he went to Africa on kind of a mission service trip. But there, he read Aristotle's Politics for the first time. He read Ayn Rand.

And his introduction to the classics actually that led him to become an entrepreneur. When you think about the classical education that you received directly from your dad, do you think that in some ways planted seeds for you to become an entrepreneur later on?

CLT Exam (08:45.714)
And his introduction to the classics actually that led him to become an entrepreneur. When you think about the classical education that you received directly from your dad, do you think that in some ways planted seeds for you to become an entrepreneur later on?

It's funny because I'm from a family of educators. My sister, I two younger sisters, both are teachers. My mom's retired teacher. My dad had taught at Rutgers at one point. And my brother is a teacher, now an administrator. I went, my undergrad was at Tulane.

It's funny, because I'm from a family of educators. My sister...

have two younger sisters, both are teachers. My mom's retired teacher. My dad had taught at Rutgers at one point. And my brother is a teacher, now an administrator. went, my undergrad was at Tulane. And I was the business guy. Like always when I was young, I had something going. know, ice cream stand or garage sale. Like I always had something, something going. So everyone knew I was gonna, I was not.

And I was the business guy. always when I was young, I had something going, you know, ice cream stand or garage sale. Like I always had something, something going. So everyone knew I was going to, I was not the academic. was the business guy, but I went to Tulane. These are influences from my dad. I found a teacher I love, Dr. Berger, Rona Berger, who was in the department of classics at Tulane and still is. And.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (09:29.677)
Yeah.

Yeah

the academic, was the business guy, but I went to Tulane, these are influences from my dad. I found a teacher I loved, Dr. Berger, Rona Berger, who was in the department of classics at Tulane and still is. And I took undergraduate classes with her and started, the way Tulane was, it's two years arts and sciences and you go to business school. Well I took a ton of philosophy classes those first two years. When I was in business school,

I took undergraduate classes with her and started, the way Tulane was, it's two years Arts and Sciences and you go to business school. Well, I took a ton of philosophy classes those first two years. When I was in business school, I still would go back and take Plato and Aristotle one class a semester with her just because I wanted to do it. When I graduated, I was one class short of a double major. I didn't even know it. So I have the minor in philosophy. And so I did have

I still would go back and take Plato and Aristotle one class a semester with her just because I wanted to do it. When I graduated, I was one class short of the double major. I didn't even know it. So I have the minor in philosophy. And so I did have kind of this rich exposure to classical philosophy. I studied a lot with her, the Greeks.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (10:17.474)
kind of this rich exposure to classical philosophy. I studied a lot with her, with the Greeks. And I would say it didn't inspire me. I always wanted to do business, but what it did was I learned more and applied more from my classical education background, the classical fly of building culture, the striving for heritay, for excellence.

I would say it didn't inspire me. I always wanted to do business, but what it did was I learned more and applied more from my classical education background, the classical flight of building culture, the striving for heritay, for excellence, and how to shape culture and move culture, and that it's all about realization of human potential in terms of our workforce and very heavy.

and how to shape culture and move culture and that it's all about realization of human potential in terms of our workforce and very heavy in the training and development. That all came from the richness of liberal arts education I received.

the training and development, that all came from the richness of liberal arts education I received.

That's beautiful. So you kind of had this this multi-pronged background to start True North. You understood the policy side from you know your time in political office. You understood the educational side of course from your own formation as well. So I want to hear the True North story in just a moment but before we do I'd like to just kind of hear some reflections about your time in the Florida legislature.

CLT Exam (11:04.148)
That's beautiful. So you kind of had this this multi-pronged background to start True North. You understood the policy side from your time in political office. You the educational side of course from your own formation as well. So I want to hear the True North story in just a moment but before we do I'd like to just kind of hear some reflections about your time in the Florida legislature.

Yeah.

Yeah.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (11:27.661)
and the focus on education. When you look back at that, what do you kind of see as your greatest accomplishments, the things that you are most proud of?

and the focus on education. When you look back at that, what do you kind of see as your greatest accomplishments, the things that you are most proud of?

Yeah, so yeah, I got in in 2010, served in 2018. my father passed the night I won the primary. And my first election, it was a very kind of Republican district. If you won the primary, you're going to win. So his last good night where he was out was actually when I won the primary and was going to win. Thereafter, I got redistricted at a very in-the-middle

Yeah, so yeah, I got in in 2010, served in 2018. And my father passed the night I won the primary, and my first election

It was a very kind of Republican district if you won the primary you're win. So his last good night where he was out was actually when I won the primary and was gonna win. Thereafter I got redistricted on a very in the middle competitive district. But when I went up, you were asked on well what committees do you wanna serve on? And I had a healthcare background and

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (12:07.184)
competitive district. But when I went up, you were asked on, what committees do you want to serve on? And I had a healthcare background. And I was in the business community, healthcare background, and nobody could figure out why I ran. I ran out of the blue. I wasn't involved in the political circles. I wasn't involved in Miami politics, only recently involved in some of the party politics.

I was in the business community, healthcare background, and nobody could figure out why I ran. I ran out of the blue. I wasn't involved in the political circles. I wasn't involved in Miami politics, only recently involved in some of the party politics. And one is I didn't want to do healthcare because I didn't want anyone to point to me and say, hey, this is why he ran. It's to help his business. And I was in the dental side of the world. It didn't intersect much with government anyway. So I asked for education.

And one is I didn't want to do healthcare because I didn't want anyone to point to me and say, hey, this is why he ran. It's to help his business. And I was in the dental side of the world. It didn't intersect much with government anyway. So I asked for education. I didn't realize not a lot of people asked to be on education committees, so I just put on all of them.

I didn't realize not a lot of people asked to be on education committee, so I just put on all of them. And I got very lucky in this sense. I had two really big school choice bills my freshman, my first year that I got by accident. I won't go through that story, but they weren't supposed to go to me. They were supposed to go to someone much more seasoned. But it was the best thing I could do because no one expected much from me as being a new representative.

And I got very lucky in this sense. had two really big school choice bills. My freshman, my first year that I got by accident. I won't go through that story, but they weren't supposed to go to me. They were supposed to go to someone much more seasoned. But it was the best thing I could do because no one expected much from me as being a new representative. And I had these two big choice bills. One was massively expanding private school choice. We had the McKay Scholarship Program.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (13:16.014)
And I had these two big choice bills. One was massively expanding private school choice. We had the McKay Scholarship Program that a student with an IEP could get a scholarship from the state to go to a private school.

that a student with an IEP could get a scholarship from the state to go to a private school. Our legislation and my legislation that I got passed expanded that to anyone with a 504. And the 504 population is two or three times the size of an IEP population. So the eligibility for private school choice

Our legislation and my legislation that I got passed expanded that to anyone with a 504. And the 504 population is two or three times the size of an IEP population. So the eligibility for private school choice dramatically, dramatically expanded. And that stayed with me. We now are at universal school choice in Florida that was done after, but during my time, something I'm proud of, we dramatically expanded private school choice.

dramatically, dramatically expanded and that stayed with me. We now are at Universal School Choice in Florida. That was done after, but during my time, something I'm proud of, we dramatically expanded Private School Choice. The other bill I got that year, which became a culminated for me in my last couple of years and largest legislation,

The other bill I got that year, which became a culminated for me in my last couple of years and largest legislation was school of hope legislation was focusing on failing schools. And so that bill, the second bill like that, I had that freshman year was if a school is failing and perpetually failing, if 50 % of parents vote, they could get converted to a charter school. Passed in the house got

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (14:15.15)
was school of hope legislation was focusing on failing schools. And so that bill, the second bill like that, I had that freshman year was if a school is failing and perpetually failing, if 50 % of parents vote, they could get converted to a charter school. Passed in the house, got two years in a row, got stuck in the Senate and did not pass on a tie vote. What it did was pull me into schools and visited schools and talked with parents.

two years in a row got stuck in the Senate and did not pass on a tie vote. What it did was pull me into schools and visited schools and talked with parents where their kids are trapped in failing, failing schools that fail year after year where literacy rates are 5%, 10%, 15%. And by my, when I was chairing the main education committee in my last term, we passed school of hope legislation, which was sweeping reform to bring high impact.

where their kids are trapped in failing, failing schools that fail year after year where literacy rates are 5%, 10%, 15%. And by my, when I was chairing the main education committee in my last term, we passed school of hope legislation, which was sweeping reform to bring high impact, high performance charters into areas of high poverty, frameworks around turnaround for traditional public schools, resources for these.

high performance charters into areas of high poverty, frameworks around turnaround for traditional public schools, resources for these turns arounds and flexibility on the rules in terms of union contracts and what would have to be in place. And so I think those two things were, you know, those two things I did my first year became, you know, kind of the foundation for a lot of the education reform work I did throughout my time in the Florida legislature.

turns around and flexibility on the rules in terms of union contracts and what would have to be in place. And so I think those two things were, know, those two things I did my first year became, you know, kind of the foundation for a lot of the education reform work I did throughout my time in the Florida legislature.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (15:30.605)
Was it during this time that you first started to kind of mull over the idea of starting a school?

Was it during this time that you first started to kind of mull over the idea of starting a school?

Yeah, no, definitely. my original bills, which they passed later, not as big and sweeping. My first two bills I ever filed was, one was a character education bill, and then two was to create American Founders Month, to designate it a month. And those two themes are present in true north, but those are the two ones. But I got stuck, and I'll tell you where I got stuck. I filed a character education bill. I'm visiting tons of schools, and I'm like, it's not bad.

Yeah, no, definitely. my original bills, which they passed later, not as big and sweeping. My first two bills I ever filed was, one was a character education bill, and then two was to create American Founders Month, to designate it a month. And those two themes are present in True North, but those are the two ones. But I got stuck, and I'll tell you where got stuck. I filed a character education bill. I'm visiting tons of schools, and I'm like, it's not bad.

But you can't really change a school's culture just by passing something saying you're going to teach character education. It becomes something you check the box off of. And the more I visited schools, became convinced. And then of all the language I have of classical education now of what's wrong and diagnosing what's wrong. But what I saw was the value system by and large was very moral relativistic. Curriculum very disjointed.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (16:05.442)
But you can't really change a school's culture just by passing something saying you're going to teach character education. It becomes something you check the box off of. And the more I visited schools, became convinced. And then of all the language I have of classical education now of what's wrong and diagnosing what's wrong. But what I saw was, you know, the value system by and large was very moral relativistic. Curriculum very disjointed.

And there was nothing to pull and I toured a lot of schools. There was no discussion on the purpose is to shape and build character to create, you know, create, you know, strong virtuous human beings. was, you know, kind of more STEM related and disjointed and not a clear, know, position as I said on, on, on, on values. And so I really, for about my first two or three years, I was just perplexed on like, how do you change this? Like if we're going to.

And there was nothing to pull and I toured a lot of schools. There was no discussion on the purpose is to shape and build character to create, you know, create, you know, strong virtuous human beings. was, you know, kind of more STEM related and disjointed and not a clear, you know, position as I said on values. And so I really, for about my first two or three years, I was just perplexed on like, how do you change this? Like if we're going to

redeem our culture, we have to reform culturally our public schools, but I didn't see how it could get done and I got a little bit of a funk and but then I started to coalesce on a couple of things. One is curriculum matters a lot. Real literature matters a lot. This movement towards technology and every kid has an iPad and a playlist does not, is not what education should be and even from

redeem our culture, we have to reform culturally our public schools, but I didn't see how it could get done and I got a little bit of a funk and but then I started to coalesce on a couple of things. One is curriculum matters a lot. Real literature matters a lot. This movement towards technology and every kid has an iPad and a playlist does not, it's not what education should be and even from

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (17:30.282)
my side of conservative education reform. There's a lot of personalized learning and every kid has their own learning path and I believe in that but I don't believe that every child should be on a computer with headphones creating their own journey. So I was kind of starting to cut across kind of conservative education reform and the curriculum wasn't even discussed. It was more like school choice, which I believed in, kind of believed in.

my side of conservative education reform. There's a lot of personalized learning and every kid has their own learning path and I believe in that but I don't believe that every child should be on a computer with headphones creating their own journey. So was kind of starting to cut across kind of conservative education reform and the curriculum wasn't even discussed. It was more like school choice, which I believed in, kind of believed in.

You can't really legislate curriculum. You can't legislate aspects of character. And so I started to formulate around, this is really the biggest reform in education. It's curriculum and purpose, curriculum and purpose. And I still remember the moment. I shouldn't say I did this, but I was reading...

You can't really legislate curriculum. You can't legislate, you know, aspects of, you know, character. And so I started to formulate around this is really the biggest reform in education. It's curriculum and purpose, curriculum and purpose. And I still remember, you know, remember the moment. I shouldn't say I did this, but I was reading,

the book, Classical Education, the movement sweeping the world. I think it was Andrew Curran, on the floor of the house. And I'm reading, and in between this, we decided to homeschool our kids, which brought me into, I should say, brought me into, I was great books educated, influenced by classical philosophers, but I was not classically educated. My dad didn't say, this is what classical education is. He just lived and breathed it. He didn't know there's this complete.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (18:22.218)
the book, Classical Education, the movement sweeping the world. I think it was Andrew Curran, On the Floor of the House. And I'm reading, and in between this, we decided to homeschool our kids, which brought me into, I should say, brought me into, I was great books educated, influenced by classical philosophers, but I was not classically educated. My dad didn't say, this is what classical education is. He just lived and breathed it. He didn't know there's this complete,

know, form and structure and framework that had created this renaissance that was happening in classical education. And I would say, I won't sidetrack it, but we did homeschool our kids. decided it was very hard going back and forth from Tallahassee, young family. And we decided to homeschool our kids with my sister's kids, kind of a mini co-op. And we were educating our kids with classical conversations. So that brought me to, there's this world that's been figured out.

know, form and structure and framework that had created this renaissance that was happening in classical education. And I would say, I won't sidetrack it, but we did homeschool our kids. decided it was very hard going back and forth from Tallahassee, young family. And we decided to homeschool our kids with my sister's kids, kind of a mini co-op. And we were educating our kids with classical conversation. So that brought me to, there's this world that's been figured out.

Yeah.

Yeah.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (19:19.47)
And that was connecting now with me what I'm trying to do in the legislature. But no, this is it. It's classical education. That's the biggest, you know, the biggest reform. It's curriculum, it's purpose. It's deeper than that. And so those things came together and realized I can't come up with legislation other than school choice that would govern and structure to promote a different form, to provide the opportunity to do it.

And that was connecting now with me what I'm trying to do in the legislature. But no, this is it. It's classical education. That's the biggest, you know, the biggest reform. It's curriculum, it's purpose. It's deeper than that. And so those things came together and realized I can't come up with legislation other than school choice that would govern in structure to promote a different form, to provide the opportunity to do it.

We had no classical schools in Florida. And then we're like, we're going to do it. This is all the legislative work I'm doing. we got to show this works. And really in a lot of policy world where Florida goes, the rest of the country goes. And so like, if we could prove this out in the accountability structure of Florida and the school grading system of Florida, that going back to what education should be and ought to be can work. That'll be more valuable than all the policy stuff I do.

We had no classical schools in Florida. And then we're like, we're going to do it. This is all the legislative work I'm doing. This, we got to show this works. And really in a lot of policy world where Florida goes, the rest of the country goes. And so like, if we could prove this out in the accountability structure of Florida and the school grading system of Florida, that going back to what education should be and ought to be can work. That'll be more valuable than all the policy stuff I do.

Yep.

CLT Exam (20:02.456)
Yep.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (20:17.886)
or it will help fuel the policy stuff. Yeah, that became True North. We created the application. We put the application in at the same time. Two other schools put it in in their districts. There was Mason and Classical Prep that's out in Pasco. We got rejected our first year. They got approved. So they opened a year before us, and we opened up the following year. And it was, True North still exists, in fact, is to serve the families and community we're in.

or it will help fuel the policy stuff. Yeah, that became True North. We created the application. We put the application in at the same time. Two other schools put it in in their districts. There was Mason and Classical Prep that's out in Pasco. We got rejected our first year. They got approved. So they opened a year before us, and we opened up the following year. And it was, True North still exists, in fact, is to serve the families and community we're in.

It also exists to show what education ought to be and should be into influence policy.

It also exists to show what education ought to be and should be into influence policy.

Well, and I think that's exactly what it's doing. It's so important in this movement. In this movement, we've got a handful now of clear flagship schools. You the classical Christian side, we're talking about Veritas in Richmond, the Regent School of Austin, Logos in Idaho.

CLT Exam (20:55.022)
Well, and I think that's exactly what it's doing. It's so important in this movement. In this movement, we've got a handful now of clear flagship schools. You know, the classical Christian side, we're talking about Veritas in Richmond, the Regent School of Austin, Logos in Idaho.

on the classical charter side I think of school like the Vanguard School, Great Hearts Irving and certainly True North in Florida. It's become a flagship and this is so important because it allows new folks wanting to start schools to have a much clearer vision for what a school can and should be like. I'm wondering when you now that you're in this position of kind of being a flagship that people come and see and I visited and was blown away but when you were launching were the

on the classical charter side. I think of school like the Vanguard School, Great Hearts Irving, and certainly True North in Florida. It's become a flagship and this is so important because it allows new folks wanting to start schools to have a much clearer vision for what a school can and should be like. I'm wondering when you, now that you're in this position of kind of being a flagship that people come and see and I visited and was blown away, but when you were launching,

Were there schools that you visited or knew about that were inspirational in your own vision?

schools that you visited or knew about that were inspirational in your own vision.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (21:45.88)
yeah, and so we're an open visiting campus because so many people are so generous with us with time out of never expected that. I mean, every day we had a group of 10 leaders here yesterday all day. We have a group of 60 leaders coming next month and it's really just to pay back the generosity that people showed us. And so to connect back, and this I'll do the school visit. I'm on the floor of the legislature. I'm reading Classical Education, the movement shaping the world.

yeah, and so we're an open visiting campus because so many people are so generous with us with time I would have never expected that. I mean every day we had a group of 10 leaders here yesterday all day. We have a group of 60 leaders coming next month and it's really just to pay back the generosity that people showed us. And so to connect back, and this I'll do the school visit, I'm on the floor of the legislature, I'm reading Classical Education, the movement shaping the

the world and the last chapter, like five pages is on charter schools, Ridgeview Classical, Great Hearts. And I'm like, my gosh, that was this light goes off. It's like, classical education has moved to charter. I didn't know such a thing existed. Legislation ends, I do two visits. I go out to Great Hearts in Arizona before they're in Texas. And I go to Geneva, Christian Classical in Winter Park.

The last chapter, like five pages, is on charter schools, Ridgeview Classical, Great Hearts. And I'm like, my gosh, that was this light goes off. It's like, classical education has moved to charter. I didn't know such a thing existed. Legislation ends, I do two visits. I go out to Great Hearts in Arizona before they're in Texas. And I go to Geneva Christian Classical in Winter Park.

Great Heart spends the whole day with me. I had at this point visited hundreds of other schools. They take me, Dan Skog and takes me over. Yeah, Dan Skog it. And part of my, there might not have been a True North because I did at that point, Great Heart wasn't in Texas. I said, you wanna come to Florida? They chose Texas. And we're like, we're gonna do it. But I went to the Humane Letters classes.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (22:44.31)
Great Heart spends the whole day with me. I had at this point visited hundreds of other schools. They take me, Dan Skoggan takes me. Yeah, Dan Skoggan. And part of my, there might not have been a True North because I did, at that point, Great Heart wasn't in Texas. I said, you wanna come to Florida? They chose Texas. And we're like, we're gonna do it. But I went to the Humane Letters classes.

Which great hearts I was with Dan Skaggen just earlier this week. Yeah, great man.

Which great hearts I was with Dan Skagen just earlier this week. Yeah, great man.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (23:13.006)
kids were reading, they were reading The Republic, talking about the nature of a philosopher king. And I'm like, this does exist. was like, reach, this does exist. It exists not just in schools, it exists in public schools. Because I became convinced that you had to bring objective truth and goodness into public schools where most of our kids are. At that time,

kids were reading, they were reading The Republic, talking about the nature of a philosopher king. And I'm like, this does exist. was like, reach, this does exist. It exists not just in schools, it exists in public schools. Because I became convinced that you had to bring objective truth and goodness into public schools where most of our kids are. At that time,

know, Florida was the largest school in school choice of families and it still is. But back then, the largest, where 10 % of kids were outside a traditional public and it's if we can't, or outside of public, if we can't reform that, we can't reform and reform our culture. so, yeah, so Great Hearts was super gracious with their time, spent the whole day, visited classes.

Florida was the largest school in school choice of families and it still is. But back then at the largest, where 10 % of kids were outside a traditional public and it's if we can't, or outside of public, if we can't reform that, we can't reform and reform our culture. so, yeah, so Great Hearts was super gracious with their time, spent the whole day, visited classes, Dan I could call anytime and he would never not

Dan I could call anytime and he was you know would never not you know give incredible advice and the other one That was really just very influential and beyond helpful was Bob Ingram at Geneva Christian classical so I'm reading which Kevin Clark and Robbie James book at the time the classical liberal arts tradition and

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (24:08.322)
give incredible advice. And the other one that was really just very influential and beyond helpful was Bob Ingram at Geneva Christian Classical. So I'm reading which Kevin Clark and Ravi Jain's book at the time, The Classical Liberal Arts Tradition, and it's like incredible book. I had already gotten through kind of the beginning classical education books and doing the reading and

Great man, yeah.

Amen. Yeah.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (24:27.21)
And it's like incredible book and it's, I had already gotten through kind of the beginning classical education books and doing the reading and as I'm coming into this world and I read that and it has an entry point for a more beginner but depth for someone that's immersed. So I'm reading the book, not knowing they're from Geneva. Dan Copeland, Dr. Copeland from Hillsdale.

as I'm coming into this world and I read that and it is an entry point for a more beginner but depth for someone that's immersed. So I'm reading the book, not knowing they're from Geneva. Dan Copeland, Dr. Copeland from Hillsdale, actually when I asked him what is one of the best classical schools I could visit, he goes, it's just in Florida.

Actually, when I asked him what is one of the best classical schools I could visit, he goes, it's just in Florida. It's in Winter Park, Florida. You need to visit. So, finished legislative session, those are my two visits. I actually visited Geneva on my way driving back to Miami and Great Hearts when I got to Miami. When I got to Miami, I flew there. Geneva, so I'm reading Kevin and Ravi's book, not knowing they're from Geneva.

It's in it's in Winter Park, Florida. need to visit so finish legislative session. Those are my two visits I actually visited Geneva on my way driving back to Miami and great hearts when I got to Miami When I got to Miami I flew there Geneva so I'm reading Kevin and Robbie's book not knowing they're from Geneva a little nervous I hadn't really connected with the Christian classical movement on what what is in a so, you know, what is the interpretation? We're doing charter. They're gonna be supportive. They feel

little nervous. hadn't really connected with the Christian classical movement on what is the interpretation. We're doing charter, they're going to be supportive, they feel it. And there weren't a lot of charters at the time. And so I meet Bob and I expect it to be a half hour meeting. I still have my notebooks from Bob. The day with Bob Ingram and Kevin and Ravi is, and I call them Bobisms of all of this pouring this advice.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (25:25.166)
And there weren't a lot of charters at the time. And so I meet Bob and I expect it to be a half hour meeting. I still have my notebooks from Bob, the day with Bob Ingram and Kevin and Ravi is, and I call them Bobisms of all of this pouring this advice, blocked a whole day, knowing who I am, not knowing anything. I randomly introduced myself on an email and got to visit through Geneva. Then at lunch,

blocked a whole day not knowing who I am, not knowing anything. I randomly introduced myself on an email and got to visit through Geneva. Then at lunch, I meet Kevin Clark, Robbie Jane, and I'm like, I'm reading your book. And then I'm like awestruck. It's like, I'm at the heart of the classical education renaissance. And from there, even the location for us, we're on the campus of a church.

I meet Kevin and Kevin Clark, Robbie Jane, and I'm like, I'm reading your book. And then I'm like awestruck. It's like, I'm at the heart of the classical education renaissance. And from there, like even the location for us, we're on the campus of a church. Church was a little hesitant, not knowing what this type of education we're doing. Bob writes a two page letter about how this is a good moral thing and they should be proud to have it on the campus of the church.

Church was a little hesitant, not knowing what this type of education we're doing. Bob writes a two page letter about how this is a good moral thing and they should be proud to have it on the campus of the church. And so we're a sister school with Geneva for, know, especially in our early years when before they would go to SCL, Ravi and Kevin one year were doing SCL training. Our teachers went up to Geneva, they did training for the teachers, they've been down.

And so we're a sister school with Geneva for, know, especially in our early years when before they would go to SCL, Ravi and Kevin one year were doing SCL training. Our teachers went up to Geneva, they did training for the teachers, they've been down. But those were, and many others after, but those were the two real influential schools that were beyond generous with us.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (26:38.618)
But those were, and many others after, but those were the two real influential schools that were beyond generous with us.

Love it. It's so important the work you're doing. And one of the cool things about True North as well is, we believe this is the best kind of education for every student. And that's not just an idea, but at True North, it's a reality. Demographically, it's extremely diverse school, which is one of the things you notice on campus. Mike, I wonder if we can talk CLT in Florida. We are so indebted to you. The first time we met in New York,

Love it. It's so important the work you're doing. One of the cool things about True North as well is we believe this is the best kind of education for every student. And that's not just an idea, but at True North it's a reality. Demographically, it's extremely diverse school, which is one of the things you notice on campus. Mike, I wonder if we can talk CLT in Florida. We are so indebted to you. The first time we met in New York,

You know, I think you were several steps ahead of where I was with thinking the downstream, down the road implications of CLT. At that time, I wasn't seeing why we would necessarily need to move legislation. And 2023, you were...

I think you were several steps ahead of where I was with thinking the downstream, down the road implications of CLT. At that time, I wasn't seeing why we would necessarily need to move legislation. And 2023, you were...

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (27:31.693)
really the main reason that this happened, your conversations with Soren Schwab and knowing that it was the time. Wonder if you can kind of share a little bit about that from your perspective. For us, it was a wild year just to give you some numbers. 2023, we had a total of about 25,000 students take the CLT nationally. 2024, it was 150,000 nationally.

really the main reason that this happened, your conversations with Soren Schwab and knowing that it was the time. I wonder if you can kind of share a little bit about that from your perspective. For us, it was a wild year, just to give you some numbers. 2023, we had a total of about 25,000 students take the CLT nationally. 2024, it was 150,000 nationally.

This year will be 250,000 or 275,000 nationally. But that started really with getting on equal footing as the SAT and ACT for bright futures, for graduation requirements, and you're a big, big reason that happened. So I'd love for you to kind of tell that story a bit from your perspective as you remember it.

This year will be 250,000 or 275,000 nationally. But that started really with getting on equal footing as the SAT and ACT for bright futures, for graduation requirements, and you're a big, big reason that happened. So I'd love for you to kind of tell that story a bit from your perspective as you remember it.

Yes, when we met in New York, when you guys were more starting out and I was in the legislature 2017, we looked at it because it's like one of the things that always stuck with me and this is Robert Pandisio from back then it was Core Knowledge Foundation. I have these statements from people that just stay with me. I forget a lot of what my wife tells me in the morning and I forget it the next hour.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (28:18.478)
Yes, when we met in New York, when you guys were more starting out and I was in the legislature 2017, we looked at it because it's like one of the things that always stuck with me and this is Robert Pandisio from back then it was Core Knowledge Foundation. I have these statements from people that just stay with me. I forget a lot of what my wife tells me in the morning and I forget it the next hour but...

Ah, what a fun is here.

Ah, what a fun is here.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (28:41.823)
the

But some things just stick. And his, we're redoing the standards in Florida, and I was helping redo the standards, is you change the test, you change the instruction. If teachers are gonna teach to a test, give them something worth teaching to. And that really stuck with me, stays with me, is you change the test, you change the instruction. so originally when we met, it's like, oh, if we could get CLT in and...

But some things just stick and his, we're redoing the standards in Florida, and I was helping redo the standards, is you change the test, you change the instruction. If teachers are gonna teach to a test, give them something worth teaching to. And that really stuck Swiffing State's with me, is you change the test, you change the instruction. And so originally when we met, it's like, if we could get CLT in and...

It just, you guys weren't ready yet. We were looking for the data and the analysis. The test was there, but you didn't have all the support. so fast forward, we're actually up at Hillsdale at a event in Hillsdale, Seesoran, state of Florida is tiffing a bit with the college board. now also see the shaping of instruction that happens when you're teaching to AP. Cause we have, you know, our, our rhetoric school, our high school and, and CLT has come way.

It just, you guys weren't ready yet. We were looking for the data and the analysis. The test was there, but you didn't have all the support. so fast forward, we're actually up at Hillsdale at a event in Hillsdale, Seesoran, state of Florida is tiffing a bit with the college board. We now also see the shaping of instruction that happens when you're teaching to AP. Cause we have, you know, our, our rhetoric school, our high school and, and CLT has come way.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (29:40.91)
so much farther along and has the data and the studies to prove the validity for a state, a legislator to look at our Department of Education. It's at lunch with Sorin at Hillsdale. And I'm like, you know what? The time might be right. Like, let's re-approach it. And so I called the Chief of Staff to the Department of Education, which happens now to be the current Commissioner Stasi, Commissioner Stasi, and say, hey,

so much farther along and has the data and the studies to prove the validity for a state, a legislator to, you know, to look at our Department of Education. It's at lunch with Sorin at Hillsdale. And I'm like, you know what? The time might be right. Like, let's re-approach it. And so I called the Chief of Staff to Department of Education, which happens now to be the current Commissioner Stasi, Commissioner Stasi, and say, hey,

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think this is, the time's right. And they're ready and CLT is ready. think the state of Florida is ready and they were looking for alternatives. So the timing was great. That then became a call and in between, which you couldn't have scripted this, College Board had sent, in between when the call is scheduled to when I called and when CLT has their first call with the department, the College Board writes a scathing.

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (30:10.314)
I think this is, it's the time's right. And they're ready and CLT is ready. think the state of Florida is ready and they were looking for alternatives. So the timing was great. That then became a call and in between, which you couldn't have scripted this, College Board had sent, in between when the call is scheduled to when I called and when CLT has her first call with the department, the College Board writes a scathing

letter to the Department of Education, accusing them, including the state of doing all sorts of off the base accusations. So then the game's on. I don't think we had to do anything else. like, it just had to be. And I still joke with the commissioner now. It of the main focuses during the legislative session and is unprecedented.

letter to to the Department of Education accusing that including the state of doing you know all sorts of off the base you know accusations so then the game's on like I don't think we had to do anything else it's like it just had to and we I still joke with the commissioner commissioner now became you know commissioner is one of the main focuses during the legislative legislative session and is unprecedented it was

Yeah.

Yeah.

riverside michael bileca raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0005 (31:07.63)
know, the of Florida is always willing to be the first to do things that are meaningful and purposeful, and this was one of them.

know, the of Florida is willing to be the first to do things that are meaningful and purposeful, and this was one of them.

Awesome. We're very, very grateful for you being an advocate for the work we're doing and seeing value in it. I love the way that Pondisio put it. Yeah, you change the test, you change your curriculum always. Michael, we always end the Anchor Podcast by talking about books. Is there one book that has been most formative for you? Maybe one that you reread every year or so.

Awesome. We're very, very grateful for you being an advocate for the work we're doing and seeing value in it. I love the way that Pondisio put it. Yeah, you change the test. You change your curriculum always. Michael, we always end the Anchor Podcast by talking about books. Is there one book that has been most formative for you? Maybe one that you reread every year or so.

to narrow it. mean the one...

riverside michael bileca raw audio jeremy's studio 0005 (31:40.128)
to narrow it. mean the one...

I'm in Brothers K, that was me going through traditional public school whenever there was an independent book you could pick. My dad would give that one to me. I've read that over and over again. I probably read it four or five times. I read it again two years ago. And that's the, you see the benefit of having a classical school, whereas I'm reading it in isolation on my own and presenting it to class. had my dad to talk to getting to read that book and know, book and

I'm Brothers K. That was me going through traditional public school whenever there was an independent book you could pick. My dad would give that one to me. I've read that over and over again. I probably read it four or five times. I read it again two years ago. And that's the, you see the benefit of having a classical school, whereas I'm reading it in isolation on my own and presenting it to class. had my dad to talk to getting to read that book and know, book and

book and community. From the classical world, norms and nobility with David Hicks, read that. I try to read that every year, if not every other year, I probably read that 10 times. I think it was prophetic. One of the deepest, dense, but deepest treatises on classical education. And then we open the school year every year for a new faculty on C.S. Lewis, Appalachian of Man. And so I'll lead those discussions.

book and community. From the classical world norms and nobility with David Hicks I read that I try to read that every every year if not every other year I probably read that ten times I think was prophetic one of the deepest dense but deepest treatises on classical education and then we open the school year every year for a new faculty on CS Lewis Appalachian of man and so I'll lead those discussions.

riverside jeremy tate raw video cfr jeremy's studio 0006 (32:37.953)
Yes, awesome.

Yes, awesome.

And you get to the point, no matter how many times you read that, you get to the point where you realize every sentence is a masterpiece. It's not just the lines, there's more lines that are prominent or people know of irrigating deserts. But you realize every sentence in this crescendo of an argument that goes through that book.

And you get to the point, no matter how many times you read that, you get to the point where you realize every sentence is a masterpiece. It's not just the lines, there's more lines that are prominent or people know of irrigating deserts. But you realize every sentence and this crescendo of an argument that goes through that book.

And we're here with Mike Balecka, entrepreneur.

CLT Exam (33:03.948)
And we're here with Mike Balecka, entrepreneur.

CLT Exam (33:11.924)
South Florida in the Miami area, you've got to visit True North Classical Charter School. It's incredible, transforming hearts and minds on that campus, changing a generation. Mike Blankett, thank you for your great work and thanks for being with us today.

got to visit True North Classical Charter School. It's incredible, transforming hearts and minds on that campus, changing a generation. Mike Blecha, thank you for your great work and thanks for being with us today.

Thanks for all the work you do, Jeremy.

Thanks for all the work you do, Jeremy.