Welcoming Paul Barton as Board Chair
A Champion for Critical Thinking and Civil Discourse
After fifteen years of dedicated service to the Great Books Foundation, Paul Barton steps into the role of Board Chair, bringing passion, experience, and a deep commitment to transforming classrooms through Shared Inquiry.
The Great Books Foundation is thrilled to announce that Paul Barton, Head of School at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, has been named Board Chair. With fifteen years of service on the Foundation’s board, Paul brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of experience as a student, teacher, administrator, and passionate advocate for the transformative power of great literature and thoughtful discussion.
A Journey Rooted in the Great Conversation
Paul’s connection to Great Books runs deep. As a student at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, he experienced firsthand the intellectual awakening that comes from engaging with challenging texts through Socratic dialogue. This formative experience ignited a lifelong passion for the Great Books curriculum and Shared Inquiry™ method.
“I saw firsthand how engaging the curriculum and pedagogy were with students in the classroom,” Paul reflects. “I was so grateful for how Great Books inspired me as a student, as a teacher, and as an administrator. Board service was my way of paying it forward.”
That commitment to paying it forward has defined Paul’s fifteen years on the Great Books Foundation Board, where he has witnessed what impresses him most about the organization: “the breadth and depth of the commitment to the mission of the Foundation by every staff member and every board director.”
Leading with Humility and Purpose
As Paul steps into his new role as Board Chair, he does so with characteristic humility and clear-eyed purpose.
“It’s humbling and gratifying to work with such a generous, talented, and dedicated group of professionals,” he says. “The Foundation’s commitment to promoting civil discourse and critical thinking is vital for the welfare of our democracy. I look forward to working with our staff and board to ensure that GBF remains at the forefront.”
In an era when civil discourse and critical thinking skills are more essential than ever, Paul’s leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the Foundation’s mission.
Great Books in Action: Lessons from Holy Innocents’
Paul’s “day job” as Head of School at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School provides him with a front-row seat to the impact of Junior Great Books® in real classrooms. The school has integrated the Junior Great Books curriculum throughout its programs, and many teachers have benefited from Shared Inquiry training.
“When I walk into our classrooms and see the excitement on the faces of our students and teachers as they engage in the readings and wrestle with thoughtful questions,” Paul observes, “my favorite part of the experience is how it affects the culture of the classroom.”
The benefits extend far beyond academic achievement. Teachers at Holy Innocents’ report that a Great Books classroom cultivates a higher level of collaboration and mutual respect among students—qualities that ripple outward, positively impacting how students relate to each other in the cafeteria, on the playground, and throughout the school community.
“This Is My Favorite Part!”
Paul frequently drops in on Junior Great Books discussions, often participating alongside students. Recently, he visited a fifth-grade class exploring the new Junior Great Books Inspire series to see how students and teachers were responding to the updated curriculum.
The class was discussing “First-Day Fly” by Jason Reynolds, and the conversation was characteristically lively and engaged. At the end of the discussion, something remarkable happened.
Claire, a new student at Holy Innocents’, exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm: “I love these discussions! This is my favorite part of Holy Innocents’!”
For Paul, moments like these encapsulate why the work of the Great Books Foundation matters so profoundly.
“JGB activates learning by transforming classrooms into energetic spaces for highly engaged, collaborative conversations,” he explains. “It’s the natural way we all learn as adults—by asking good questions and listening to one another.”
Looking Ahead
As Paul Barton assumes the role of Board Chair, the Great Books Foundation looks forward to his leadership in advancing the organization’s mission to help people of all ages think and share ideas. His decades of experience in education, combined with his unwavering belief in the power of great literature and thoughtful discussion, position him perfectly to guide the Foundation through its next chapter.
From a St. John’s College classroom where he first discovered the transformative power of the Great Conversation, to the vibrant Junior Great Books discussions at Holy Innocents’, to his new role leading the Foundation’s Board, Paul Barton’s journey has come full circle—and the best is yet to come.
The Great Books Foundation extends its gratitude to Paul Barton for his fifteen years of service and congratulates him on his new role as Board Chair. We look forward to the continued impact of his leadership in promoting critical thinking, civil discourse, and the love of great literature for generations to come.
Director of Marketing and Development
Dan Lindstrom is the director of marketing and development for the Great Books Foundation. He promotes the important work that the Foundation does for lifelong learners, helping all who are interested to take part in civil discussions about outstanding literature and other objects of inquiry. During his 30 years with the Foundation, he has spoken with dozens of educators who love how Junior Great Books encourages children to express their own opinions about what they have read.
