Hometown Hillsdale: Jaminda Springer, ’95

Written by Stephanie Gordon

For as long as she can remember, Jaminda Britt Springer, ’95, desired to have a large family and work with children in an educational setting. The Detroit native is raising her five children in Hillsdale, Michigan, with her husband Bryan, ’94. Today, Jaminda is living her childhood dream as the director of her own school, Hillsdale Classical, while enjoying all Hillsdale has to offer with her family.

A first-generation college student, Jaminda said getting to Hillsdale College was a big accomplishment. “My dad owned a successful restaurant in Detroit, and my mom was mostly home raising our family,” explained Jaminda. “When we visited Hillsdale, we found the people to be friendly. It was close to home, and I liked Hillsdale’s culture.”  

As a student, Jaminda was actively involved in Alpha Xi Delta sorority, volunteering, and babysitting for professors. She majored in early childhood education and minored in psychology, and recalled a fondness for Professor Kathleen Connor’s genuine nature when it came to education. “I loved her nature with children,” said Jaminda. “She was very important to my formation as an educator.” 

Jaminda and Bryan met as students in 1993 and married in 1997. The couple lived briefly in California and in Georgia, where Bryan attended graduate school, before settling in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for nearly a decade. In 2008, Bryan was offered a teaching position in the College’s Art Department. “Bryan had kept a connection with Professor Sam Knecht for many years. When Sam offered Bryan this position, I cried all day,” Jaminda said, recalling her reluctance to leave the life they had established in Ann Arbor. “But, God knew what was best for us. It was a great learning experience for me.”

Life flourished for the Springers after moving to Hillsdale. “There is very little ‘rat race’ in Hillsdale, compared to Ann Arbor,” said Jaminda. “Hillsdale has so many opportunities for children. The culture is unmatched. Here in Hillsdale, we gather in our homes and share meals with friends and neighbors. It’s really unique.” 

Up until 2016, Jaminda was mostly focused on being a mom to her children, but her teaching dreams were never dashed. She was Hillsdale’s La Leche League leader for many years and volunteered at her children’s school. “My kids were in a traditional charter school for a few years, and I desired more involvement in their education,” Jaminda said. “I wished for a school that was more concise, allowing for more time at home, and one that would reduce the amount of evening activities we had. I knew there had to be a better way to utilize time.”

Queue Hillsdale Classical Family Learning Community. Hillsdale Classical came to fruition in 2016 as a K-8 hybrid program that combined both the home and the classroom. The school, located in Hillsdale’s Manufacturing and Technology Park, currently has 163 enrolled students. Approximately 25 parents are involved with teaching and volunteering on any given day. “To me, there’s a benefit to peer learning with adults who are not your parents,” said Jaminda. “But, the parents are closely involved here. I love it.”

In addition to being director, Jaminda is actively involved in the classroom and loves teaching her students. “There’s something so wonderful about watching the spark you bring to a student’s brain. It is so clearly evident in their faces,” said Jaminda. “In kindergarten, it’s a huge weight to teach students how to read and write, but I love being that person who actually teaches them to blend letter sounds and makes sure their letters are formed the right way. I also love the middle school grades so much. They know so little and so much at the same time, and their brains are exploding. Teaching is a privilege to me.”

While Hillsdale Classical continues to grow, the Springers stay busy with their five children. Their oldest, Ella, is a college student in Paris, France, and will graduate in 2025. Bryan is a college freshman studying engineering at the University of Michigan. Berdi is a sophomore at Hillsdale High School, and Ben and Charlotte attend Hillsdale Classical as seventh and first graders. 

The move that originally caused angst brought abundant blessings for Jaminda and her family. And now that their children are forging their own paths, Hillsdale will forever be home for Jaminda and Bryan. “I love this community. It’s both rural,” Jaminda reflected, “and cosmopolitan because of the College. This combination is really lovely to me and my family. I love that my children can roam freely, and I love the scenery. We don’t ever want to live anywhere else. God knew what was best for us.”

Stephanie Gordon, a lifelong Hillsdale native, is the managing editor of Virtue and Valor: The Official Blog of Hillsdale College. She is married to chiropractor, Dr. Matt Gordon, and has three children – Eloise, Flora, and Jack. When she has a spare moment, she enjoys paleo baking, floating on Baw Beese Lake, and breaking a sweat at the gym.

Published in October 2024