Neighborly Love Podcast, Episode 59 – Kelly Gary

Ordinary People. Extraordinary Conversations.

The Neighborly Love podcast features casual conversations over coffee in a virtual coffee shop that explores the integration of classical education with teaching what it means to be a neighbor. Classical learning empowers liberation from ignorance and confusion, from prejudice and delusion. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan in the Bible, this liberation echoes the Samaritan’s freedom from societal prejudice that allowed him to see the wounded traveler not as a stranger but as a neighbor. In this way, the Samaritan demonstrated what Christian classical education seeks to cultivate—the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty for the glory of God and the flourishing of human beings and human community.

Neighborly Love is an original podcast by MindWolves. Host Marc Casciani, author of Craft Your Calling, interviews people humbled by education’s sacred potential—not merely to inform minds but to form souls who recognize the divine image in every neighbor they encounter. Perhaps this is the glory of God made manifest—in minds that discern truth, hearts that choose goodness, and spirits that create beauty in a world desperately in need of neighborly love.

Kelly Gary

In this episode of Neighborly Love, I sit down with Kelly Gary, a professional learning facilitator and board director at Penn Woods Classical Academy, for an enlightening conversation that explores the heart behind education and service. Kelly tackles three thought-provoking questions that reveal her character, passion, and purpose.

When asked about a time she did something nice for someone, Kelly shares her meaningful habit of writing little notes of encouragement to her students—a practice that has naturally extended to adults as she discovered that everyone, regardless of age, needs those moments of affirmation and support.

We dive into what Kelly would do for a living if money weren’t a factor. Her answer might surprise you: she would still choose teaching, drawn by its noble purpose and profound impact. However, she dreams of expanding her reach by traveling the world to provide education and resources to children everywhere, with a particular focus on promoting literacy across communities that need it most.

Finally, Kelly opens up about her choice of classical education, sharing how her deep love for the church beautifully intersected with her educational philosophy. This led her to Penn Woods Classical Academy, an institution founded upon Christian Classical Education principles that align with her values and vision for holistic student development.

Join me as Kelly reveals how small acts of kindness, unwavering purpose, and faith-centered education come together to create lasting impact in the lives of students and communities.