Email Ashley:
Ashley Bowman
Executive Director | Co-Founder
Ashley Bowman is one of the founders and currently acts as the Executive Director at The Collaborative. She has been married to her husband Adam for 16 years, and together, they have three sons Titus, Logan, and Deacon.
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Ashley grew up locally in a large and thriving homeschool community. She graduated in 2005 and attended The Master’s University in California, where she focused on writing, film, and Bible.
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Once married and a mother, Ashley homeschooled her boys for six years. During those years, Ashley most valued the flexibility and whole-child aspects of homeschool education as well as the fun and time she got to spend with her kids. Her boys then participated in a local Christian school, where the family found value in a more formal education, a consistent school community, and the shared educational responsibility that a traditional school offers. During that year, Ashley taught high school English as well as a Speech elective.
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After having experienced both communities, Ashley was sure that they could find a hybrid of the two options. Through research, prayer, and guidance from Elmira’s Family Enrichment Center, she is so excited for what God is bringing to the Binghamton area!
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Outside of work, Ashley has been a local library board trustee for 5 years, has worked as her church’s kids ministry co-director since 2023, and has a variety of interest and hobbies that include cooking (but definitely not baking), exercise, international travel, spending time with her family, and listening to books at 2x speed.
Lex Aston
Director of Student Experience | Co-Founder
Lex Aston is one of the founders and currently serves as the Director of Student Experience at The Collaborative. She is a proud mama to her and her husband Joe’s four children—Ava, Wesson, Jase, and Wrenley. Supporting children and encouraging a love for learning has always been close to her heart, and she is so excited to walk alongside families in their homeschool journey.
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Lex is a New York State certified teacher (Birth–6th Grade). She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from SUNY Oneonta and later received her Master’s degree in Special Education from Binghamton University. She spent six wonderful years teaching 1st grade at Chenango Forks Elementary School, where she developed a deep love for helping young learners grow.
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After becoming a parent, her passion for education took on a new meaning. She developed a strong desire to spend more time at home with her children and to be personally involved in their learning journey. That calling led her family to begin homeschooling, and she is now in her second year of homeschooling her two oldest children, currently in Kindergarten and 1st grade.
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The vision to become a founder of The Collaborative grew out of her own family’s experience. She wanted her children—and others—to benefit from a structured learning environment, opportunities to learn from tutors with unique gifts, and the chance to be surrounded by a positive and supportive homeschool community.
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Her heart is to help create meaningful, positive classroom experiences that enrich what families are already doing at home. She is passionate about encouraging students, supporting parents, and building a community where children feel confident, capable, and excited to learn. Lex is truly honored to be part of your family’s learning experience and looks forward to growing together in community.
Email Lex:
Beth Whittaker
Director of Instruction and Enrichment
Kindergarten Tutor
Beth Whittaker is our Director of Instruction and Enrichment. She and her husband Zach are parents to three awesome kids- Sawyer, Grace, and Lainey. They are a family who embraces hands on learning and being outdoors as much as possible.
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Beth is a New York State certified teacher (Birth–6th Grade). She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from SUNY Cortland and a Master’s degree in Literacy. She has had wonderful classroom experiences including Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 4th grade. More recently she has been a part of the Community Schools team at Whitney Point CSD. Her experiences have developed a deep passion for connecting with parents and families to help children learn and grow. She also enjoys providing enriching experiences that foster excitement and a love for learning.
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Beth realizes that every student learns in their own unique way and every families’ path to education looks different. She has chosen the hybrid model to give her children the traditional school experience while also gaining more quality time at home, learning as a family, and tailoring lessons to each of her child’s learning needs. She is so excited to gain this experience and to share it with other families along the way.
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Beth’s goal is to connect children with other children and families with other families. She believes that life is better connected and that learning outcomes will soar when children have the support and collaboration of their tutors and their parents.
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Beth will use her experiences and research based practices to work closely with our tutors to provide classroom support, trainings, professional development, and a cohesive structure to ensure optimal learning for all students.
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Academic Tutors
Erica Lamb
Pre-Kindergarten Tutor
Erica brings a heart for young learners and a passion for creating joyful, hands-on learning experiences. She holds undergraduate degrees in Business and Science and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education.
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Her experience includes coordinating programs for families with children ages 0–5, substitute teaching in grades Pre-K through 12, and working with infants through preschoolers in a local childcare program. Through it all, Erica has discovered a special love for early childhood education and helping young children learn through play.
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Erica believes the best learning happens when children can move, explore, create, and discover! Her classroom will be filled with sensory activities, music and movement, nature exploration, hands-on learning, and plenty of opportunities for curiosity to grow. She is passionate about helping every child feel loved, capable, and excited to come to school each day.
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We're so thankful to have Erica as part of The Collaborative family and can't wait to see the joy, creativity, and enthusiasm she brings to our youngest learners!
First Grade Tutor
Barbara GannonÂ
Barb brings a lifetime of experience, creativity, and heart to the classroom. She is a New York State certified teacher with a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in Flute Performance. After retiring as a longtime Band Director for the Union-Endicott School District, she continued investing in children through substitute teaching, and volunteering with the Whitney Point PAL Center, where she helped with literacy, music, crafts, cooking activities, and family events.
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Barb believes learning should be active, joyful, and full of discovery. Her classroom will be filled with music, literature, art, hands-on experiences, movement, and opportunities for students to explore new interests while growing in confidence and curiosity.
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We are so thankful that Barb is bringing her incredible experience, servant's heart, and enthusiasm for learning to The Collaborative. We know our first graders are going to have an amazing year filled with creativity, exploration, and unforgettable memories!
Tonie Liddle
Second Grade Tutor
Tonie brings decades of experience and a heart for helping children grow. Throughout her career, she has served students in many different roles, including teaching at Head Start, spending 13 years as a Pre-K teacher, 12 years teaching Home Economics, 10 years serving as a Yearbook Advisor, and 18 years in the school office at Central Baptist Christian Academy.
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What Tonie loves most about education is watching students experience those unforgettable "aha!" moments when a new concept finally clicks. She believes every child is capable of learning, growing, and accomplishing hard things with the right encouragement and support.
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When she's not in the classroom, you'll find Tonie making memories with her family—especially her grandsons—relaxing at the beach, gardening, or learning the art of embroidery.Â
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We're so thankful to have Tonie as part of The Collaborative family and can't wait for our students to experience the joy, wisdom, and encouragement she brings to the classroom.
English Language Arts Tutor- 3rd-6th Grade
Haily Valachovic
Haily Valachovic is a New York State certified teacher who earned her teaching degree from SUNY Cortland in 2011. She brings over a decade of educational experience, including seven years as a fourth-grade teacher in the Whitney Point School District, five years of substitute teaching across several local districts, and years of private tutoring.
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After spending the past five years as a stay-at-home mom, Haily is thrilled to return to the classroom as The Collaborative's 3rd–6th Grade ELA tutor while also experiencing the program as the proud parent of a kindergartner.
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She loves helping students discover the joy of reading, build confidence in their writing, and develop a lifelong love of learning through engaging, meaningful lessons. Haily believes every child can succeed when they feel encouraged, challenged, and truly known. When she's not teaching, you'll find her spending time with her family and her dog, Buckeye, cooking, baking, traveling, tackling home renovation projects, reading, or performing in community theater.
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She is excited to become part of The Collaborative family and can't wait to inspire, encourage, and celebrate each student's unique learning journey.
Heather Raab
Math Tutor- Intermediate Level
Heather earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Cedarville University and her Master of Social Work from Marywood University, bringing a unique blend of classroom experience and student support to our team. Her background includes teaching upper elementary and middle school students, serving as a school social worker and student services coordinator, and even applying math in the real world as an office manager.
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This year, Heather will be working with our 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 7th grade students, where she is excited to help them build confidence in math through meaningful, engaging lessons that make challenging concepts easier to understand. She loves building strong relationships with her students and believes math becomes much more enjoyable when students see how it connects to their everyday lives.
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We're so thankful to have Heather as part of The Collaborative family and know our students will be encouraged, challenged, and supported every step of the way.
History Tutor-Â 3rd-6th Grade
Math Tutor- 8th-12th Grade
Alyssa Ford
Alyssa is a New York State dual-certified teacher in General Education and Special Education with a passion for helping students grow in both confidence and ability. She spent nine years teaching students in grades 7–12 through Broome-Tioga BOCES before homeschooling her own children, providing private tutoring, and teaching in local homeschool co-ops.
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Alyssa is excited to return to the classroom, where she will be our 8th–12th Grade Math and 3rd–6th Grade History Tutor. She is dedicated to creating a supportive learning environment where students feel welcomed, build confidence, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and discover their full potential.
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We're so thankful to have Alyssa as part of The Collaborative family and know our students will be blessed by her experience, compassion, and commitment to helping every child succeed.
Jeff Hall
Science Tutor- 3rd-10th Grade
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Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science in K–6 Elementary Education and brings more than 20 years of classroom experience teaching 5th and 6th grade at Susquehanna Community School District. Even after retiring, his passion for education continued as he spent several more years substitute teaching at Susquehanna and Faith Mountain.
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Throughout his career, Jeff has taught every core subject, but his true passion is Science. He loves watching students become curious, ask questions, and experience the excitement of discovering how the world works through hands-on experiments and exploration.
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At The Collaborative, Jeff is excited to inspire students to think critically, explore with confidence, and develop a lifelong love of learning. His wealth of experience, encouraging spirit, and enthusiasm for science will make his classroom a place where students are eager to learn each week.
Stephanie Fish
English Language Arts Tutor- High School
Stephanie is a dedicated educator and mother of seven who has been homeschooling for 21 years. Throughout her homeschooling journey, she has developed passion for literature, the arts, drama, and hands-on-learning. She enjoys creating engaging educational experiences that encourage students to grow in confidence, develop their individual talents, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Stephanie brings years of experience, creativity, and enthusiasm to her work with students and families.
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Daniel Lyford
History Tutor-Â 7th-12th Grade
Chemistry Tutor- 11th-12th Grade
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Daniel studied Dairy Science at Iowa State University and Chemistry at Binghamton University. Alongside his wife, Molly, he owns and operates a local beef cattle and crop farm, where he has developed strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills through years of working in agriculture.
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This year, Daniel will be teaching High School Chemistry and High School History. One of his favorite parts of his work has been mentoring younger employees, helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and discover their potential. He believes every student learns differently and is passionate about creating a classroom where patience, encouragement, and meaningful relationships help students thrive.
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Daniel is excited to inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and help students grow not only in their academics but also in confidence and character. We are so thankful to have him on our team!
Physical Education Tutor
Samantha Darling
Samantha is a New York State certified Physical Education teacher who is passionate about helping students build confidence, stay active, and develop a lifelong love of movement. A graduate of SUNY Cortland, she brings four years of classroom experience as a substitute teacher and has also coached varsity tennis and modified volleyball.
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Samantha believes physical education is about is about building teamwork, perseverance, confidence, and healthy habits that last a lifetime. Her classes will be filled with fun, engaging activities that encourage students to challenge themselves, cheer one another on, and discover the joy of being active.
Whether students are trying a new game, learning a new skill, or simply gaining confidence through movement, Samantha is excited to create an environment where every child feels seen, encouraged, and successful.