I’ve Never Been Prouder of My Alma Mater
Written by Doug Goodnough
Gallup, New Mexico, may be best known as a stop on historic Route 66, but for many there, it is a road to nowhere.
Smack dab in the poorest county in the state, Gallup is surrounded by Native American reservations where many live without running water, electricity, and certainly not the internet. So when Juliane Malia Hillock, ’91, was looking to lead a Hillsdale College K-12 Member School, Hózhó (pronounced HO-jo) Academy initially wasn’t at the top of her list.
In fact, her husband told her “anywhere but Gallup” when she was deciding on a new challenge.
However, there was a burning question Hillock had to answer: Could Hillsdale’s K-12 classical education model work in an environment like Hózhó? So in 2018, she left her position as a special education teacher for autistic students in Phoenix and took a leap of faith to try to find the answer.
The charter school started with 100 students. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, in-person classes shut down for two years, with Hillock and her teachers often driving from house to house delivering education packets and lessons to keep the learning process going.
When the pandemic dust cleared, Hózhó was able to purchase a former Catholic elementary school complete with classrooms, offices, and a gymnasium. This allowed for rapid growth, and despite not spending a penny on advertising for students, Hózhó Academy currently has about 800 students in grades K-11, with a 200-student waiting list. The school will add 12th grade this fall.
With approximately 60 percent of the students coming from Native American households, Hillock said parents from that community have been very supportive of her and her staff.
Each morning before the start of classes, students gather in the gym and walk in a counterclockwise circle until Hillock gathers them by class for the morning assembly. They start by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in four different languages—Navajo, Zuni, Spanish, and English. They then recite the preamble of the Constitution, and depending on the day, list their local and state leaders before going their separate ways for classes.
In a city that claims to be the “most patriotic” in America, it was truly a remarkable sight to witness. Impressive was an understatement.
Hózhó’s mission statement is “to train the minds, improve the hearts, and strengthen the bodies of students through a classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character, civic virtue, and physical vigor.” In simpler terms, the academy aims to provide a well-rounded education that focuses on intellectual development, moral growth, and physical well-being.
About the physical well-being part. Gym class is rigorous, with students expected to improve their fitness each day. And despite having to use the gym as a cafeteria, school meals feature non-processed foods, and Hillock said teachers try to show students how to grow their own food.
The school even got the attention of the newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He recently visited Hózhó to check out the amazing things happening there.
As far as getting an answer to her question, Hillock said the early returns are promising. Students are outperforming their public-school counterparts, and Hózhó is thriving in other areas. The Wolves are the only charter school in the state to field an 11-man football team. And the dance team is one of the state’s best. Last October, the school added band and now has 90 members.
Hillock said Hillsdale College has been vital to her efforts. In fact, she said she would not be taking on this challenge without her alma mater. And she has some Hillsdale reinforcements on her staff. Elise Steffke, ’16, leads the gifted student program, while husband-and-wife Ethan, ’18, and Jenna Wiita Williams, ’20, teach in Hózhó’s junior high.
During our alumni travels, we often get asked how Hillsdale can expand its educational outreach. Our K-12 program does just that. As Hillsdale grows its classical educational model, the hope is that students who graduate from places like Hózhó will lead the educational revival in our country.
Hillock, who we were visiting as part of a video shoot for our upcoming alumni awards ceremony, is an inspiring example of the College’s motto of “Strength Rejoices in the Challenge.” As I travel and highlight the outcomes of Hillsdale College alumni, I can’t think of any better example than what Hillock is doing at Hózhó.
Hózhó is a Navajo word for “beauty.” Watching those students with their hands on hearts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a very long time.
I’ve never been prouder of my alma mater.
Doug Goodnough, ’90, is Hillsdale’s senior director of Alumni Marketing. He enjoys connecting with fellow alumni in new and wonderful ways.
Published in April 2025