How it Began,Where We’re Going
A bold beginning, and a growing promise.
Every great movement starts with a moment of clarity. For veteran educators Dr. Jill Brown and Dr. Susan Deakins, that moment came when they envisioned a school not governed by traditional thinking. They believed children deserved something more than what the traditional system could offer. So they built it.
With more than 25 years each in educational leadership, and a belief that leaders should also teach, they founded a school where best practice is modeled daily. Jill and Susan still teach, mentor, and guide, ensuring that the principles that shaped CALE’s founding remain visible in every classroom.
"We didn’t just open a school. We opened a door to possibility."
—Dr. Jill Brown, Co-Founder
Momentum at a Glance
2021–2022
- 2021: CALE started in the downstairs of a former medical office, serving JK–5th grade.
- January 2022: Moved to Woodcrest Chapel to welcome more learners and make room for families seeking a different kind of school.
- 2022: Launched 6th grade
2023–2024
- 2023: Launched 7th grade
- 2024: Launched 8th grade, then opened a high school in partnership with Columbia College
2025
- Spring 2025: Received Cognia accreditation—an internationally respected signal of quality and continuous improvement in independent schools.
- March 2025: CALE Impact Foundation (CIF) formed and received 501(c)(3) recognition the following September.
Mosaic Health and Wellness
Mosaic brings together practitioners who recognize that wellness is made up of many essential pieces. True to its name, each provider within Mosaic contributes a unique and meaningful piece to the larger collective. Through intentional collaboration, Mosaic offers holistic, coordinated care that honors the whole person.
The Mosaic Health and Wellness Center is located in the back offices of The CALE Collective (formerly known as the Woodcrest Chapel Building). These services are available to CALE students and staff, as well as to the broader community.
Learn About MOSAIC
The CALE Difference
CALE’s story is proof that our model works—and that the momentum is real. What began as one classroom of possibility has become a movement for evidence-based, child-centered education that continues to grow in reach, recognition, and promise.
See the CALE Difference