Collaborative Education Alliance

A New Charity Supporting Meaningful Education

Our inaugural fundraising campaign, the June 16, 2026 Gala, launched our work in support of Evergreen Leadership Academy, our founder school. Our mission is to grow a network of aligned schools committed to whole-child education.

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Our Mission

Every child deserves an education that prepares them for life, not just exams. The Collaborative Education Alliance exists to support schools that believe the same thing. Schools that build character alongside curriculum. That give students real freedom, real responsibility, and real ownership of their learning. That understand who a child becomes matters just as much as what they achieve.

We began with one school. We intend to grow something much larger. A network of learning environments where students are known, challenged, and genuinely prepared for the world they're about to inherit. If you believe education can be better, we're glad you found us.

What CEA Is Building

Three commitments that guide every decision we make.

Founder school icon

Founder School Support

We are beginning by supporting student learning at Evergreen Leadership Academy through educational equipment, classroom resources, and tuition assistance.

Whole-child education icon

Whole-Child Education

Most schools overload academics. We support those building real skills that last.

Network of schools icon

A Network Over Time

A growing network of schools designed around freedom, agency, and real learning.

Our Inaugural Campaign

June 16, 2026 | Inaugural Fundraising Gala

Thank you to the families, educators, and community supporters who came together on June 16, 2026 to launch CEA's first fundraising campaign. 100% of funds raised support student access, educational equipment, and classroom resources at our founder school. Photos and campaign updates will be shared soon.

Inaugural Gala June 16, 2026
Beneficiary Evergreen Leadership Academy
Funds Support Student Access And Classroom Resources
Host Collaborative Education Alliance (CEA)
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Students learning together in an outdoor classroom setting
"Designed around how students truly grow."
Our Story

Built for How Students Actually Grow

CEA was built on a simple but urgent belief: that the way most schools are designed doesn't match the way children actually grow. Most education systems are built around completion. Around coverage. Around output that can be measured and ranked. And while academic rigour matters deeply, something essential gets lost when the system optimises for results at the expense of the child behind them.

The Collaborative Education Alliance was founded to support a different kind of school. Schools that prioritise character. That make space for creativity, struggle, and genuine discovery. That trust students with agency and watch them rise to meet it. We began with Evergreen Leadership Academy, our founder school and the starting point of this work. What we witnessed there confirmed what we believed: when a school is designed around how students truly grow, the results speak for themselves. Not just academically, but in who those students become. This is the work. And we are just getting started.

What We Stand For

We stand for schools that take the whole child seriously. Not just the student who performs well on assessments, but the one who is learning how to think, how to lead, how to recover from failure and try again. The one who is figuring out who they are, and needs an environment that gives them the space to do it. The schools we support are built differently. They are designed with intention, not inherited by tradition. They make room for freedom and hold students to real responsibility. They understand that creativity, resilience, and character are not soft outcomes, they are the foundation everything else is built on.

We stand for families who chose something different because they knew their child needed more than a conventional system could offer. We stand for educators who showed up every day with a philosophy rather than just a lesson plan. And we stand for the donors who understand that the most important investment any of us can make is in how the next generation learns to show up in the world. This is what we are building. We would be honoured to have you beside us.

Students engaged in whole-child learning at Evergreen Leadership Academy

Our Values

Five principles that shape what we support and how we support it.

01

Ownership

Students take responsibility for their learning

02

Agency

Students have real choice and voice

03

Growth Through Challenge

Real development comes from meaningful struggle

04

Character First

Who students become matters more than what they complete

05

Intentional Design

Learning environments are built with purpose, not tradition

Voices from Our Founder School

Families and community members at Evergreen Leadership Academy on what this kind of education means to them.

"

Nothing makes me happier than seeing my kiddo's personality and accomplishments celebrated. Thank you for all you've done for our kids the past year!

Evergreen Parent
"

There's no better feeling than dropping your kids off at school and them running in with smiling faces. The comfort that brings to me as a mom means so much.

Evergreen Parent
"

The sense of community at Evergreen has been incredible. From the moment we joined, our family felt welcomed and supported. Our child looks forward to school every day, and that's something we never take for granted.

Evergreen Family
"

What stands out most is how much emphasis is placed on character, leadership, and critical thinking. We've seen our child become more confident in expressing ideas and asking thoughtful questions.

Evergreen Family
"

The teachers genuinely know and care about each student. Our daughter feels encouraged to be herself, which has made a tremendous difference in her confidence.

Evergreen Parent
"

We wanted an education that focused on more than academics, and Evergreen has exceeded our expectations. The growth we've witnessed in our child has been remarkable.

Evergreen Family
"

One of the things we appreciate most is the strong partnership between the school and families. It truly feels like we're all working together to help our children thrive.

Evergreen Family

Leadership & Governance

Collaborative Education Alliance is led by an experienced board committed to whole-child education and responsible stewardship. The board provides strategic oversight and is establishing the policies and practices that will guide CEA as it grows, including clear conflict-of-interest standards and accountability for charitable use of funds.

Board of Directors

Portrait of Simon Wolfson, Founder and Chair of CEA
Simon Wolfson
Founder & Chair
Simon Wolfson is the founder of Collaborative Education Alliance and serves as Chair of the Board. With over 25 years of experience in education, Simon has worked across multiple school initiatives focused on developing holistic, meaningful learning environments for children. His work emphasizes autonomy, skill development, and helping students learn how to learn in a rapidly changing world. He brings extensive experience in school leadership, curriculum development, and educational governance.
Portrait of Lana Cianfrini, Director
Lana Cianfrini
Director
Lana Cianfrini is a community leader, event strategist, and fundraising professional with more than 20 years of experience in the developmental services sector. She is dedicated to advancing inclusion, strengthening communities, and improving opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. With extensive experience across the corporate and nonprofit sectors, Lana has successfully planned and delivered meaningful events and fundraising initiatives, from large-scale galas to intimate community gatherings, bringing creativity, professionalism, and a strong commitment to connection and impact to every endeavour.
Portrait of Tammy Vallieres, Director
Tammy Vallieres
Director
Tammy Vallieres is an educator and creator dedicated to supporting children's social and emotional development. She is the creator of the Hero Intelligence philosophy and the STAR model, as well as a co-founder of Raising Empowered Kids. Tammy is also the author of Harmony Hare and Her Three Voices, a children's storybook that uses character-based storytelling to support emotional literacy and well-being. As a practicing teacher, she brings valuable classroom insight and a whole-child perspective to the Board.

Looking Ahead

We are starting with one school, but the need is much bigger.

There are schools doing it in very different ways. They are designing environments that build character, creativity, resilience, and ownership while giving students real freedom and agency in how they learn.

Our goal is to find these schools, support them, and help them grow.

Over time, we will build a network of aligned schools that are committed to this approach and to strengthening it together.

Stay Connected
The Vision A vision of meaningful, whole-child education in action
A growing network of schools designed around how students truly thrive.

Stay Connected to CEA

Get updates on our launch campaign, events like the June 16 gala, and our work supporting whole-child education.

CONTACT:

Collaborative Education Alliance

2701 Rutherford Road, Unit 2,

Building B, Concord, ON

L4K 2N6

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