Who We Are

Wayfinder Collaborative is currently organizing with plans to open in Fall 2026. We are led by a small team of dedicated staff serving as advisors, teachers, and mentors, and guided by a board of directors who share our deep commitment to helping teens thrive through self-directed learning.

Together with community volunteers and college students, we are a diverse group of caring individuals with a wide range of skills, backgrounds, and interests to share.

Emery brings a warm blend of experience and passion to her role as Executive Director of Wayfinder Collaborative. She began her career as a high school math teacher and has spent the last decade leading classes and working closely with young people in a variety of learning settings. As a mom of three kids between the ages of 12 and 15, she understands firsthand the joys and challenges of raising teens.

What draws Emery to self-directed education is simple: she gets to watch each young person discover and embrace what makes them unique. That moment of a teen finding their own path — and flourishing because of it — is what drives everything she does at Wayfinder. When she's not working, you'll likely find her crocheting something creative in whatever quiet moments she can find.