NATIONAL ORTHODOX SCHOOLS UNITED

Advancing Orthodox Christian Education

We are not alone!

NOUS is providing a network of Orthodox Christian educators with opportunities to connect, create, and sustain. Our vision is synergistically to create and sustain 35 new schools by 2035. Join the association to access conferences, a resource library, and expert advice.

Join NOUS for free (beta) Meet the Team

St. Nektarios, pray for us!

Subdeacon Callum (Benjamin) Lyda and Reader Dionysius (Keith) Buhler cordially invite you to an online only education conference:

The St. Nektarios Orthodox Educators Conference

Designed to help connect school leaders, homeschool parents, Orthodox Christian teachers, and all those who are putting their hand to the plough.

Dates November 6-7, 2026

RSVP By October 1, 2026

Reserve Your Spot ($40) Fill out the 2026-2027 survey

Essential Reading

Into the Light

Classical Education and Orthodox Christianity

This new book offers a comprehensive assessment of Orthodoxy and classical education. It provides the historical, theological, and practical groundwork for returning to the traditional liberal arts rooted in the mind of the Church.

Every Orthodox educator, leader, and backer should own a copy.

Order from SVS Press

The Context

Meeting the Moment

As converts pour into the Orthodox Church, the need for stable foundations has never been greater. We need more than just full pews; we need stable homes, a robust clergy, and a new generation of Orthodox teachers.

Currently, many Orthodox parish schools, private schools, and homeschool co-ops exist:

Some are 20+ years old: their challenge may be transforming into a generational institution.

Some schools are 1-19 years old: their challenge may be maintaining momentum, motivation, enrollment, and capital stability.

Still other initiatives are brand new -- or yet to launch: their challenge is gathering the people, the place, and the finances under a single vision.

NOUS aims provides solutions to schools of any size, in each stage.
We equip parishes, communities, and families with the tools they need to thrive.

The 2035 Mandate:

35 thriving, sustainable Orthodox classical schools across the US by 2035.

Resource Bank

Consulting & Community

NOUS offers direct connection to peers, school leaders, and experts so as synergistically to build stable schools.

Curriculum Direction (beta)

We provide recommendations a set of vigorous, Great Books-aligned frameworks spanning K-12. The goal of Orthodox education is to follow the footsteps of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil, St. Maximos, and more who were masters of the liberal arts and had purified hearts.

Grants & Endowments

Our NOUS Donor network has generously provided a grant opportunity for launching schools or stabilizing schools. We also offer consulting to help newer schools with tuition planning, capital strategy, and fundraising campaigns.

Scalable Models

Build for Success at Every Size

Institutions require different foundations based on their mission and scope.

Small

Homeschool Coop

The Model: Parent-led communities meeting 1–3 days a week | 2-15 families | Focus on supplement and fellowship.

Our Recommendation

NOUS affiliates should tap the Homeschool Coop Resource Bank and receive Peer Support

Medium

Parish School

The Model: 5-day schools and 3-day schools, often hosted by or connected to a parish) with a majority Orthodox student body and full administrative team | 10-100 families | Focus on professionalization, training, and annual fundraising.

Our Recommendation

NOUS members should go through the Herzog SchoolBox program, then tap Resource Bank & purchase consultant support

Large

Community School

The Model: 5-day, full-service private schools in major metropolitan statistical areas. These schools have Orthodox leadership and many Orthodox families within a majority Non-Orthodox student body) serving the wider community with broad classical vision. | 50-250 families+ | Focus on institutional stability, generational success, and endowments.

NOUS Recommendation

Consider a St. Constantine School Partnership; and purchase consultant support

We already have great schools!

Are we missing your school? Contact us to join the directory.

California

Pennsylvania

Ohio

Kentucky

Greek, Russian, & Arabic Schools

We have lots of great Orthodox schools that are preserving the faith and the origin culture of our immigrant communities. Please email us for more information. USA ✦ Language

Directory last updated: April 2026

Strategic Alliances

Curated Partners

NOUS serves as a central hub. From here, you can find the knowledge and inspiration needed to integrate all parts of education for your community.

Talent acquisition

Baugher Group

A national executive search firm to help you hire the right leaders and staff. Helpful for aligning people, purpose, and performance so organizations can grow in a healthy and sustainable way.

Operational Support

Herzog Foundation

A startup runway and administrative excellence models.

Financial Catalysts (beta)

NOUS Foundation

(Intended launch in 2027) -- Critical grants to fuel the growth of the Orthodox educational landscape.

Curriculum Library (beta)

Classical Academic Press, CiRCE, and more

A substantial library of world-class classical curriculum for Orthodox Christians.

CAP

CLRC

Podcast (beta)

Research, interviews, and more to delight and instruct

Data-driven insights to support Orthodox school efficacy from NOUS, as well as OSI, Circe, SCL, and ACCS

Academic Core (beta)

NOUS banquet.

Documents for teacher training, policy, and other institutional resources.

University & Seminary Partnerships (beta)

Future Pipeline

Connecting priests and undergrads to St. Vladimir's, St. Athanasius, Hellenic, and Holy Cross.

The Advisory Group

Building Up the Church

Providing the tactical expertise required to build lasting institutions for the glory of God.

Reader Dionysius (Keith) Buhler, PhD

Strategy, Start Up

As a founding headmaster and Director of Advancement, Dionysius specialises in moving schools from initial vision to sustainable reality. Drawing on extensive experience from academic philosophy to capital raising and entrepreneurial operations, he helps boards structure endowments, secure anchor funding, and implement the NOUS "School-in-a-Box" framework.

Subdeacon Callum (Benjamin) Lyda

Classical Education & Culture

Subdeacon Benjamin specialises in writing, vision, beauty, poetic knowledge, and the core teaching of a classical and Orthodox curriculum. He provides hands-on coaching and curriculum mentorship, ensuring that the visual and narrative components of each affiliate school reflect an authentic classical educational model.

Our Name & Philosophy

"Wisdom through repentance."

The nous (Gr. νοῦς) is the heart, mind, or center of man. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, the νοῦς was united to God in the Garden, darkened in the Fall, and is cleansed again through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, liturgical worship, and participation in the sacraments.

Saint Paul urges us to be transformed by the renewing of the νοῦς, so as to reject conformity to a world which is passing away.

This pursuit of noesis or the highest understanding echoes throughout the classical tradition. Plato urged his followers to practice noesis—the contemplation of the divine forms—rather than merely seeking education through arithmetic, music, or the practical arts alone.

At the NOUS network, we believe true education must address the center of the human person. We must not only enrich the mind but restore the νοῦς to its proper orientation toward God and the created logoi of creation.