About Us

Spirit, Mind, Body

The Academy strives to offer enrichment and to develop character through both curricular and extracurricular offerings, to nurture the child’s humanity—spirit, mind and body—with a constant view to the potential adult. The time-honored liberal arts curriculum and pedagogy direct student achievement toward mastery of the basics, exploration of the arts and sciences, and understanding of the foundational tenets of our Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman heritage.

The curriculum, by purpose and design, is a survey of the best spiritual, intellectual, and cultural traditions of the West as they have been developed and refined over countless generations.

Our Mission

The mission of Hillsdale Academy is to cultivate students such that they continue growing in virtue and wisdom for the rest of their lives. We do this by providing an academically excellent classical Christian education to K-12 students in Hillsdale, Michigan, and by serving as an exemplar and resource for schools and educators who share our educational goals.

Hillsdale Academy develops within its students the intellectual and personal habits and skills upon which responsible, independent, and productive lives are built, in the firm belief that such lives are the basis of a free and just society. The Academy strives to offer enrichment and to develop character through both curricular and extracurricular offerings, to nurture the child’s humanity—spirit, mind and body—with a constant view to the potential adult. The time-honored liberal arts curriculum and pedagogy direct student achievement toward mastery of the basics, exploration of the arts and sciences, and understanding of the foundational tenets of our Judeo-Christian and Greco-Roman heritage. The curriculum, by purpose and design, is a survey of the best spiritual, intellectual, and cultural traditions of the West as they have been developed and refined over countless generations.

Our Story

In the late 1980s, Hillsdale College began preparations to expand outside of collegiate education and to found an elementary school. This plan was born from a desire to establish a school for community members that stood in line with the college’s beliefs and also to create an exemplary school to serve as “a model for America.” Hillsdale Academy was founded in 1990 and opened on August 27 of that year with 45 students. The Academy started with a program for Kindergarten through 8th grade students and was housed in portable classrooms located where the Hillsdale College soccer fields now stand.

On May 16, 1997, Hillsdale Academy broke ground for the current school building on the south-east corner of the Hillsdale College campus and overlooking Winona Lake. The new building opened in 1998 and was dedicated that fall on October 9th. With the opening of the new school building, Hillsdale Academy expanded to include high school students, starting with 9th and 10th grades in its first year. In 2001, Hillsdale Academy graduated its first 12th grade class.

Since its foundation, Hillsdale Academy has been served by seven headmasters, has grown in enrollment to over 200 students, and has graduated over 300 seniors. In addition to serving local families, the Academy has aided thousands of classical schools and educators through its curriculum reference guides and customized consulting.

Our Impact

Since its founding, Hillsdale Academy has served not only our local families but also schools and educators all around the country who are aligned with our mission. Over the decades the Academy has provided resources to thousands of such schools and educators based on our experience in implementing a classical Christian education. These resources have included consulting calls, on-site visits, curriculum recommendations, teacher training, hosting visits at the Academy, and assistance in starting new schools. As part of Hillsdale College’s K-12 Initiative, the Academy continues to support the classical education movement around the country as Hillsdale College’s flagship classical school.

Hillsdale Academy also works closely with Hillsdale College students to prepare the next generation of classical teachers and administrators. Each semester undergraduate students in the classical education program spend time at the Academy as part of their apprenticeship course. These apprentices spend time in Academy classrooms and shadow our teachers in order to observe and learn from them. Over the years the Academy has sent out hundreds of apprentices who carry what they have seen and learned at Hillsdale Academy into their own classrooms in classical schools all across our country. Each year we also work with graduate students from the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship who have interest in becoming future classical school administrators. As graduate research assistants, these students are apprenticed by Academy administrators and gain valuable experience and insights regarding how to run a school. Thus Hillsdale Academy is having a profound educational impact, both in the lives of our own students locally and also in classical schools all over our country and the world.

Our Team

Administrative Staff

Michael Roberts

Headmaster

About Hillsdale Academy

Spirit, Mind, Body

Our Mission

Our Story

Our Impact

Our Team

Administrative Staff

Michael Roberts

Teresa Heckenlively

Pam Wonders

Julie Apel

Nathan Neveau

Our Faculty

Ms. Lori Andaloro

Dr. JohnMark Beazley

Mr. Ross Bonjernoor

Mrs. Carie Brown

Mrs. Julie Budd

Dr. Kenneth Calvert

Dr. Ellen Condict

Miss Deanna Ducher

Mrs. Sara Galloway

Ms. Monika Grzesiak

Mr. Przemyslaw Grzesiak

Mr. Tomek Grzesiak

Mrs. Pamela Heckel

Mr. Andrew Holm

Mrs. Katherine Huffman

Mrs. Rita Jenkins

Mrs. Katherine Johnson

Mrs. Stephanie Maxwell

Mrs. Kristie McArthur

Mrs. Heather Miller

Mrs. Kimberly Miller

Mrs. Gail Mowry

Mr. Michael Nikkila

Mr. Matt Nolan

Mrs. Patricia Péwé

Mrs. Lisa Roberts

Mrs. Heather Scharer

Mrs. Arena Shelley

Mrs. Kathryn Wales

Mrs. Kristine Wilkinson

Career Opportunities

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