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Empower 21st-Century
Learning Together
The Transformative Pasionate Educators Alliance is a vibrant community of educators and learning partners advancing student growth at Tidewater Collegiate Academy and beyond.
Transformative Passionate Educator Alliance (TPEA)
Mission: The mission of TPEA is to create a dynamic, collaborative community to support student growth in the 21st century.
Vision: The Transformative Passionate Educator Alliance is an organization designed as a collaborative community for all types of educators looking to support 21st-century students. TPEA is for parents, paraeducators, support professionals, education students, homeschool educators, licensed and unlicensed teachers, private school teachers, public school teachers, and micro school and learning pod facilitators. The Transformative Passionate Educator Alliance offers opportunities to share innovative ways to cultivate student learning.
Whether you’re a licensed teacher, paraeducator, homeschool facilitator, education student, or learning-pod leader, you belong here.
TPEA welcomes:
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Public, private, and micro-school teachers
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Support professionals and paraeducators
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Parents and homeschooling educators
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Students studying education or looking to serve in classrooms
Joining TPEA gives you:
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A supportive educator network with shared ideas and resources
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Access to professional growth opportunities, workshops, and events
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A platform to present your experiences and learn from others
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A meaningful connection to TCA’s mission and student-centered work
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Recognition as part of the TCA family through our community spotlight
Family & Educators Conference
Saturday, March 28
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
TPEA is proud to host our second annual Family & Educators Conference on Saturday, March 28 at Tidewater Collegiate Academy, bringing together innovative thinkers and dedicated educators from across our community. REGISTER
This event will feature a Signature Talk with Dr. Judy Jankowski (Head of School at Chesapeake Bay Academy) and Spark Sessions with Alissa Stocking (Winding Valley Education Services) and Mercedes Grant (Path of Life Learning).
Event Speakers:
Featured Speaker
Dr. Judy Jankowski
Head of School at Chesapeake Bay Academy
Known affectionately as “Dr. J” to her students, Dr. Jankowski also serves as Community Faculty at Eastern Virginia Medical School and sits on several nonprofit boards throughout the region. Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized with numerous honors, including the YWCA of South Hampton Roads Woman of Distinction Award. She completed postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University and was a Klingenstein Fellow at the Teachers College, Columbia University.
In 2023, Chesapeake Bay Academy was honored as a semifinalist in the Yass Prize competition, sponsored by the Center for Education Reform. Their work focuses on expanding school choice and developing a wide range of high‑quality educational options, including microschools, homeschools, charter schools, and virtual academies.
Dr. Judy Jankowski has devoted her 40‑year career to serving exceptional learners of all kinds, including students with learning differences, social‑emotional challenges, and twice‑exceptional learners who are both gifted and have learning needs. She currently serves as Head of School at Chesapeake Bay Academy and is the Founder of the Center for Educational Research and Technological Innovation (CERTI).
Dr. Jankowski will give the Signature Talk on March 28.
Spark Sessions:
What About the 100 Languages?
Inspired by the poem The Hundred Languages of Children, this SPARK Session invites educators to reflect on how schools recognize and nurture the many ways students think, express, and demonstrate understanding. Participants will explore how intentional scaffolds and supports can restore and empower students by building on their strengths, rather than defining them by perceived deficits or labels. Through reflection and discussion, we will consider how classrooms can honor the diverse “languages” students bring including creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving. And how educators can design learning experiences that help every student’s voice and abilities shine.
Alissa Stocking
Winding Valley Education Services
Beyond Grade Levels:
Designing Learning That Actually Works
Mercedes Grant
Founder, Path of Life Learning
What if age-based classrooms aren’t the most effective way to educate 21st-century learners? Mercedes Grant will lead a collaborative conversation on building dynamic, multi-age environments where students grow through mentorship, ownership, and meaningful work. Participants will engage in discussion and idea-sharing around practical frameworks that help learners thrive — regardless of age, ability, or starting point. Come ready to rethink structure, culture, and what “progress” can truly look like.
Collaborative Network
