Embedded Files
Facilitators
Facilitators
A Facilitator is a staff member who supports learners' self-directed journeys by creating conditions for curiosity, connection, and growth. Rather than directing what or how students learn, facilitators offer guidance, ask questions, help resolve conflicts, and make themselves available.
Trish McBride is the Program Director and Facilitator of the Philly ALC School. Trish brings over twenty years of experience teaching young children in Quaker and Montessori schools, and was one of the founding members of Philly ALC—helping to build the community from the ground up. Her deep roots in child-centered education have shaped her belief that children learn best when they are trusted, supported, and given the freedom to follow their own curiosity. As Program Director, Trish brings that same spirit to the Philly ALC School every day, weaving together the threads of community, creativity, and self-direction into a space where every child can thrive.
Meg Tremble (she/her)
Program Director and Facilitator, Roots at AwburyMeg Tremble is the Program Director and Facilitator of Roots at Awbury. Meg has been an educator since 2006 and developed an early passion for non-traditional learning spaces. An artist herself, Meg found her niche in arts-led education as she pioneered new programs in children's art & science museums and Moonstone Preschool in Philadelphia. Meg's pedagogical development is heavily influenced by her experiential learning as a mother to her three wild and free children, who show her daily the value of letting a child lead the way. Meg's journey brought her to Roots, which has allowed her to envision a new world of child-led, community-centered education. As Program Director, Meg aims to lead with curiosity, kindness, and a fearless human spirit as she co-creates a space where children can develop into the fullest expression of themselves.
Resource People
Resource People
A Resource Person is a community member who shares their skills, knowledge, and passions with our learners through regular offerings: classes, workshops, projects, and other activities that enrich our learning community. Interested in doing the same? Partner with us.
Alice (she/her) hosts garden mornings, where we start seeds in the early spring, transfer to the community garden when the weather warms, and harvest at the end of the term in June. This year we are growing cukes, tomatoes, peppers, peanuts, oats, corn, herbs, and hopefully a pear tree! Alice loves to geek out about unschooling and permaculture, which come together in real life in our garden. Email Alice if you want to donate compost, talk about your favorite book, or join us in the dirt.
Gabe (he/him) joins us for math and math games, bringing a playful approach to numbers that makes even the most reluctant mathematicians curious. He's also led chess sessions with our learners in the past.
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Nancy Golumbia (she/her)
President
Nancy Golumbia, President of the Philly ALC Board of Directors, has been one of Philadelphia's most dedicated advocates for self-directed education for over two decades. Her roots in this community go back to 2002, when she helped found the Philadelphia Free School, a Sudbury-model democratic school that opened its doors in 2011. That long journey from vision to reality reflects exactly the kind of patience and commitment she brought to Philly ALC, which she co-founded alongside David O'Connor, Trish McBride, and a group of families in 2018.
In her professional life, Nancy is Director of Research Data at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she has managed research computing infrastructure since 2009. She brings that same systems-thinking and problem-solving energy to her board work, helping ensure that Philly ALC has the organizational foundation it needs to grow and thrive.
David O'Connor (he/him)
Member
David O'Connor is a member of the Philly ALC Board of Directors and one of the school's founding voices. In 2018, he co-founded Philly ALC alongside Nancy Golumbia, Trish McBride, and a group of families who believed Philadelphia deserved a self-directed learning community, and then spent years helping build it from the ground up as a lead facilitator.
David brings a rich background as a theater artist to everything he does. A Barrymore Award winner, he has directed and designed productions across Philadelphia for decades and served as Resident Director at Philadelphia Young Playwrights. He also taught theater at the University of Pennsylvania and spent years as a facilitator at Philly ALC. His work in theater and his work in education have always shared the same core belief: that people learn and grow best when they feel fully seen and trusted.
Trish McBride (she/her)
Member
Trish McBride is a member of the Philly ALC Board of Directors and the Program Director of the Philly ALC School. She was there at the founding in 2018, helping build Philly ALC from the ground up alongside Nancy Golumbia, David O'Connor, and a group of like-minded families.
Trish brings over twenty years of experience teaching young children, with a background rooted in Quaker schools including Plymouth Meeting Friends School and Frankford Friends School. Beyond her work at Philly ALC, she serves on the Greater Philadelphia Diversity Collaborative Advisory Council, reflecting her commitment to education that is equitable and inclusive.
Whether she's shaping the day-to-day rhythm of the school or helping guide its long-term direction, she brings deep experience and genuine care to everything she does.
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