One of the fastest growing segments in Classical Christian Education is homeschooling. Robert Bortins, the Chief Officer of Classical Conversations, shares how the company his mother founded in 1997 is meeting the needs of 120,000 worldwide and 50,000 families…allowing families to educate children in ways that glorify God and best meet their children’s needs. An excellent reminder about how a classical education is a wise choice no matter how you choose to educate.
Chief Executive Officer of Classical Conversations, Inc., is a job that Robert Bortins was born to…literally. Dissatisfied with the education options she found as a new mom, Leigh Bortins decided first to homeschool her four sons, and then decided to develop her own curriculum, with Robert, her oldest son, as her first pupil.
Then, in 1997 Leigh began teaching a once-a-week, classical-model rhetoric program in the basement of her home with Robert and 10 of his friends. Classical Conversations’ Challenge I program was born, and a service of home-centered educational options for parents began. From kindergarten through high school, Leigh home-educated Robert and his three younger brothers.
Fast forward a few years, and Robert earned a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University in 2006. After graduating, he worked as a management trainee for UPS and as a plant engineer for Easy Gardener, a Jobes company. In 2011 he returned to the family business, Classical Conversations, Inc., to develop a marketing program. He was then appointed CEO of the family-owned company in 2012.
In the years since Robert Bortins became CEO of Classical Conversations, the company has grown by 500 percent and become the world’s largest classical homeschooling organization.
Robert is a member of the board of directors of Homeschool Now USA, the Southern Pines Rugby Board and the Clemson University Rugby Foundation Board. He is also a member of C12 Group, the largest professional development network of Christian CEOs and executives.
Under Robert’s leadership, Classical Conversations has been named a Certified Best Christian Workplace by BCWI for three years in a row.
Robert and his wife, April, live in Southern Pines with their two young children. In his free time Robert enjoys playing rugby and golf.