Philosopher-in-Residence Program

Creating Powerful Minds

PLATO’s national Philosopher-in-Residence Program brings trained instructors in philosophy and ethics into K-12 schools and community organizations to inspire high-quality, civil discussions about life’s larger questions.

There is no charge for this program for public schools or nonprofit organizations.

Each residency is custom designed to meet the needs of a school, organization, or specific class or group of students. Residencies can take the form of one intensive week or continue over multiple weeks. Longer residencies (10 visits or more) can take place over an entire school year or semester. Typically, the philosopher-in-residence meets with students regularly (every day, week, or every other week) over the course of the residency. Visits are scheduled in accordance with teachers’ needs.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

  • Enrich existing academic curricula
  • Develop students’ ethical and philosophical thinking
  • Foster civil dialogue and promote deep listening
  • Help students to develop strong reasoning, logic, and analytic skills.
  • Encourage creative approaches to challenging problems and cultivate strong communication skills
  • Expose students to trained philosophy educators
CLICK HERE FOR DIFFERENT GRADE LEVEL OPTIONS

What is a residency?

Residencies can involve:

  • Classroom visits to lead philosophy sessions
  • After-school philosophy and/or ethics clubs or other programs
  • Professional development programs for teachers
  • Family and other intergenerational programs
  • Advisory period activities in middle and high school
  • Summer programs
  • Community programs

Philosophers in residence use a variety of grade-level appropriate prompts, including literature, art and music, philosophical texts, games and activities, and key questions, to inspire exploration of important philosophical topics. Examples of topics include:

  • The obligations involved in being part of a community
  • The relationship between knowledge and belief
  • The meaning of happiness
  • The relationship between justice and punishment
  • Moral responsibility and moral luck
  • The distinction between wants and needs
  • The purpose of education
  • The nature of kindness
  • Philosophy of music and art
  • Environmental ethics
VIDEO: FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS EXPLORE THE NATURE OF TIME
Collaboration with Teachers and Staff

ROLE OF THE CLASSROOM TEACHER

Classroom teachers are an integral part of PLATO’s program and are expected to remain in the classroom during the philosophy sessions. Teachers who participate in discussions often inspire their students to take greater risks and learn even more from the sessions.

Philosophers in residence can collaborate with teachers to co-design content when desired. Some teachers are happy for the philosopher in residence to determine content while others prefer regularly or occasionally matching philosophical themes to the curriculum. For example, visiting philosophers in residence can tie philosophy lessons to other curricular areas, including literature, science, music, art, history, and math.

PLATO offers separate in-service and professional development programs for teachers.


WORKING WITH SCHOOL STAFF

  • Philosophers in residence can meet yearly, monthly, or on an as-needed basis with administrators.
  • Administrators are encouraged to share their goals for the school year with the philosopher in residence to enable the development of content that supports the school’s themes and objectives.
  • Philosophers in residence can collaborate with instructional assistants, ELL teachers, and other staff. Examples of this collaboration include:
    • Determining how students with particular needs are doing and how the philosopher in residence can help address those needs.
    • Philosophers in residence can collaborate with ELL professionals to develop ways of making philosophy more inclusive for multilingual learners and the content of philosophy sessions more culturally informed, including working with UDLs to accommodate learner differences.
History of the Program

PLATO’s Philosopher-in-Residence Program was launched by the Center for Philosophy for Children in 2013 at John Muir Elementary School in Seattle. The program was supported by a grant from the Squire Family Foundation and individual donors. In 2018 the program expanded to Thurgood Marshall Elementary School with help from additional donor support.

These Seattle elementary schools are culturally diverse K-5 schools in Seattle’s south end. Many of these students are among those least likely to have access to academic enrichment programs. PLATO continues to prioritize reaching students from low-income communities in an effort to help to close educational achievement gaps.

In 2023, the Philosopher-in-Residence Program expanded to high schools around the country, funded by a grant from the Whiting Foundation.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the program is operating in multiple public schools in six states – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington State.  





If you are interested in bringing the Philosopher-in-Residence Program to your school or district, please contact us at info@plato-philosophy.org.