Podcast

Angela Wilhight

Angela Wilhight is the Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at Hope Academy, a private Christian K–12 school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that provides a remarkable, Christ-centered education rooted in academic excellence, spiritual growth, and family partnership. In her role, Angela helps connect families with a school community known for small class sizes, close student-teacher relationships, strong parent involvement, and a culturally diverse environment where more than 30 languages are represented. Angela is a recipient of Christa McAuliffe’s Excellence in Education Award, previously served as an adult education instructor and trainer, and worked as a recruiter for Minnesota’s third-largest school district.

Joshua Gillespie

Joshua Gillespie is a Student Recruiter at Hope Academy, where he helps connect families with a Christ-centered school community in Minneapolis. As a former Hope Academy student, Joshua brings firsthand experience to his role, sharing how the school supports students through faith, discipleship, strong relationships, and academic growth.

Ruben Rodriguez

Ruben Rodriguez is a Student Recruiter at Hope Academy, where he helps welcome and guide families through the admissions and recruitment process. With a heart for the Latino community, Ruben supports families by building relationships, sharing Hope Academy’s mission, and helping students find a school environment rooted in faith, belonging, and opportunity.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

  • [3:40] Ways smaller class sizes foster real student-teacher relationships
  • [7:18] How family ministry supports both students and parents
  • [8:08] Why Hope Academy feels like a true community, not just school
  • [13:16] Weaving faith and scripture into daily learning
  • [23:21] How a Christ-centered culture helps students avoid drugs
  • [34:18] The benefits of a diverse, bilingual, and culturally rich school

In this episode…

A child’s school can shape far more than report cards. When students are anxious, bullied, overlooked, or unsure of their worth, what changes when faith, family, and community become part of their everyday education?

For Angela Wilhight, Joshua Gillespie, and Ruben Rodriguez, the answer is Hope Academy’s Christ-centered approach to seeing and supporting the whole child. Joshua explains that smaller class sizes, real relationships with teachers, and discipleship allow staff to notice struggles like anxiety, depression, bullying, and insecurity before students feel lost in the crowd. Angela emphasizes that love, belonging, accountability, and family involvement help students understand their worth in God, while Ruben points to the power of meeting families in the community, praying with them, and showing students that faith can shape every part of life.

In this episode of the Align & Abide podcast, Dr. Kim Tran is joined by Angela Wilhight, Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at Hope Academy, and Student Recruiters Joshua Gillespie, and Ruben Rodriguez to discuss building strong, God-centered students. They talk about addressing bullying, discipling students through Christian education, and partnering with families. The trio also shares details on school tours, affordability, and community support.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments

  • “And it’s a great opportunity to get more involved with Hope Academy.”
  • “We want to make sure that each and every scholar that is there at Hope Academy, they do feel belong and they do feel loved.”
  • “And it’s just kind of like spreading that hope, spreading that light when we go into these different communities, right?”
  • “Kids that are five years old. Getting them to dig into that word so that when they get to the end of high school, they’re beginning to sprout into trees.”
  • “It’s because of the mentorship and the people that hope, that were surrounded by him, that kept him on a certain path.”

Action Steps

  1. Build real relationships with students: When teachers know students personally, they can better recognize anxiety, bullying, insecurity, and other struggles before they grow worse.
  2. Address bullying immediately and directly: Responding quickly helps students feel protected while also giving the child causing harm a chance to learn, take ownership, and change.
  3. Keep families involved in the process: Partnering with parents creates stronger support around each student and helps address challenges that may begin outside the classroom.
  4. Center education on faith and discipleship: Bringing Christ into daily learning helps students understand their worth, build character, and make wiser choices.
  5. Invest in the local community: Meeting families where they are, praying with them, and offering practical support can bring hope and transformation beyond the school walls.

Sponsor for this episode:

This episode is brought to you by Minnesota Family Chiropractic, a wellness clinic founded and led by Dr. Kim Tran. 

Dedicated to helping patients find lasting relief and vibrant health through chiropractic care, nutrition, and functional medicine, Minnesota Family Chiropractic is on a mission to transform lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally. 

Its Signature Wellness System focuses on whole-person care to address the root causes — not just the symptoms — so you can get back to living fully.

Ready to start your path toward better health? Visit MinnesotaFamilyChiropractic.com or call (612) 545-5672 to schedule your consultation and experience integrative, patient-centered care.

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