Welcome to Hilltop Academy, where seeds are planted and Heroes grow! We are so happy you are here to learn more about us and we are delighted to share! 

Hilltop Academy is a nonprofit, independent, innovative, and transformative school, born out of inspiration and motivation to be a change agent in education. Collectively, our team leading the charge has 21 college degrees, 75 years as educators, 17 years as administrators. Couple our professional experience with our own personal experiences as students, and as parents of 16 children combined, who also attend and/or have attended public schools and colleges, we've spent our lives observing, living, gathering, and listening to knowledge, experience, and wisdom surrounding what is great about school and what would make it better. We've all had so many conversations with colleagues, college professors, school leaders, students, friends with and without children, members of the community, and our own children, always seeming to land at the same place, a wishlist for what should be different in schools.  Many of us with children, and/or in education, have had and continue to have that deep sense of knowing that there has to be a better way.

So, how did we get here? Personally, in my final year teaching back in 2013, something inside of me began to shift from just talking about the long wishlists to making moves that have ultimately painted the full vision and mission for our dream school. Since that time, a plan has been created and the groundwork laid for what is now Hilltop Academy, which is an amalgamation of several educational models and philosophies--project-based, student centered, play-based, adventure-based, experiential, and holistic (Montessori, Reggio Emilia, Waldorf ). Our philosophy is to draw the best from the best and not limit ourselves to one best practice. 

We are proud to offer an education that fills the hearts and the minds of each and every learner, knowing that students learn best when their spirit, mind, and body are in balance. We strive to create an experience that holistically equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful on their journey to wherever they may choose to go upon graduation- whether they are inspired to pursue a pathway for service, immediate career, or trade following high school graduation, just as we do for our learners who are college bound.  We want every student to know, feel, and believe that they each have a life of purpose and each is equally important.

We are especially excited about providing a learning environment that is natural for how young people learn- being experiential and fun; infusing play; supporting curiosity and exploration; and using the natural environment for all facets of learning.  Through their mentoring, acts of service, internships, and their capstone entrepreneurship aimed at solving a real world problem, our students learn that they are never too young to make a difference in the world, big or small, truly demonstrating the hero that resides within.  When we incorporate these measures, connect it to our learners' passions and talents, and make the learning relevant and assessments authentic, engagement levels soar and learning is a joy.  

From its inception, making Hilltop Academy accessible to all who are interested in attending, especially for those who might otherwise not have the means or opportunity to attend a private school, has mattered deeply to us. Diversity offers a beautiful richness and we have made it a priority to create a school community that embraces all of ours through our enrollment, hiring, programming, learning, and instructional practices- top down and through and through. 

Each of the members of our Board of Trustees has been instrumental in ensuring we stay the course. They continue to share the same convictions illustrated in our mission and vision and have been invaluable in seeing this through from just a dream, to what and where we are now. If you want to learn more about our Board, please be sure to visit that page under the About tab. 

We have so much more to share with you about what makes Hilltop Academy special and all that it has to offer you, like our Hilltop Life Organization, Mentor-Mentee Program, internships and apprenticeships, family and community partnerships, and much, much more. So, we encourage you to explore all of our website to learn all of the details. 

Again, welcome and thank you for visiting us here! We hope you enjoy learning all about us and what we are striving to do at Hilltop Academy and would love to meet with you. You've already taken the first step toward starting your own personal Hilltop Academy journey by visiting us and we encourage you to take the next step by completing our Inquiry Form. 

We look forward to hearing from you! Reach out to speak with me and/or a member of our team personally and directly.  

With gratitude and a whole lot of excitement,

Gina L. Martin-Ryan

Founder & Executive Director

gmartinryan@hilltopheroes.org

860-544-2225