A Passion for Policy: Cassidy Syftestad Klutts’s Mission to Advance Classical Education
Written by Doug Goodnough
To say Cassidy Syftestad Klutts, ’18, is passionate about education is an understatement.
As a junior high student in a California public school, when one of her teachers wrote the words “Living Constitution” on the whiteboard, she realized there was a problem.
“I thought that if she was going to tell the students about how to interpret the Constitution, she should present the array of philosophies and let the students decide themselves,” said the strict originalist.
Her mother, who was a teacher, helped her foster a sense of critical thinking and an appreciation for classical education at an early age.
“I just knew that what I was receiving at home and what I was learning at school didn’t match,” she said.
So she and her family exercised the school choice options available, and when it was time to choose a college, one quickly emerged.
“I chose Hillsdale, which is a school that I wanted to go to for a very long time because I thought it was simply the best sort of education that I could receive where I would be challenged and have a rigorous education,” she said. “I could read primary texts and have the array of viewpoints presented to me and learn to discern the truth for myself and not rely on other people to tell me what was true. And so I studied what I loved, and learned how to think critically.”
When she arrived at Hillsdale, she thought she might pursue a law degree. She worked several jobs while in school, including five internships—one of which was at a law firm. However, later internships at the Charles Koch Institute and the Heritage Foundation helped lead her to the area of education policy, which is now her primary focus—and personal mission.
“I decided that policy was the best fit for me,” she said. “If I had to clarify what I was passionate about, I wanted to make a way for classical and Christian education to expand and flourish in the country. Allowing parents and families to have access to schools where they previously were not allowed to exist by changing policy, and making parents aware of options that are available to them that they didn’t know existed—that is the mission I clarified for myself over time.”
After graduating from Hillsdale with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies, Klutts continued her educational journey. In fact, she is a board member at Anthem Classical Academy in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is completing her doctoral studies in education reform at the University of Arkansas. Since last fall, she has also worked part-time with Hillsdale College’s K-12 Education Office, and she hopes to have an increased role once she completes her Ph.D.
“I truly believe that God has directed my steps more wonderfully than I could have ever directed them myself,” she said. “My resume represents a laundry list of people who God has used to really spur me forward and give me opportunities and challenge me.”
She credited Hillsdale faculty members like Dr. Kevin Portteus and Dr. Matt Spalding for helping shape her educational and career path.
“After studying with Dr. Spalding, I realized that the best way for me to help classical and Christian education was to engage either in policy or legislation, or directly with schools,” Klutts said. “My internships, jobs, and doctoral studies were all designed to help me speak the language of the legislator, the parents, the researcher, the policymaker, and the school leader. That way I can understand their needs and translate that to the other interested parties.”
She said she has a vision for education and will work through policy to help make that a reality.
“Over the next 20 to 30 years, I would love to see classical education spread throughout each education sector, within the country, and through each state,” Klutts said. “I would love to see schools governed well. I would love to see them grow old and healthy, with deep roots.”
Recently married, she said she met her husband, Wilson, through kickboxing, and also loves the outdoors, especially hiking and camping. Reading is also a passion, and she is very involved in her church community.
“My church community and my family are my center of gravity,” she said. “I really love spending time with my big family. And I love children.”
Klutts said she is excited about the future, especially advancing Hillsdale’s K-12 Program.
“There’s definitely a steady increase in the number of member schools that we have,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see.”
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in April 2024