Meet the team
Passages was founded in 2020 by Kristina House. In 2021 we became a registered charity, and in 2022 received a Ministry of Education BSID as a non-credit granting school.
Staff
Our deep commitment to self-directed, democratic education allows us to support the young people at Passages with deep trust and care. As a team, we work to meet learners where they are, support their natural interests, and encourage them to stretch.
Kristina House (she/her) — Founder, Executive Director, Principal
Hi, I’m Kristina—Founder, Executive Director, and Principal at Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning. I’m also a lifelong questioner of systems that just don’t feel right.
Before launching Passages, I worked as an American Sign Language–English Interpreter for over 15 years, supported women and families as a Birth Doula for 10 years, and had a brief 2-year stint in midwifery school. Empowering people to step into themselves is inspiring to witness. I am passionate about inclusive education—but the real crash course came when I started unschooling my own children when the school system just didn’t fit their needs. That journey led me down a radically different path: one that prioritized autonomy, curiosity, and respect over compliance and control. (Spoiler: it worked—my eldest is now thriving entering her third year of university, after a life of unschooling).
As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent person myself, I’ve worked to understand how systems are not built on inclusion or proper support. My kids are also neurodivergent (AuDHD with PDA profiles), which has deepened my commitment to creating spaces where difference is not just accepted, but embraced and celebrated. I bring this lived experience to every aspect of Passages—from how we structure our days, to how we support each learner in building a life that fits who they actually are.
At the core of everything I do is a deep belief in trusting youth – empowering them to lead their own learning and supporting their autonomy every step of the way.
Passages is more than a learning centre. It’s a sanctuary for young people who don’t thrive in the mainstream school system—and for the families trying to make sense of that. Here, we do things differently. And we do it on purpose.
Kristina was nominated as an Urban Hero in 2022 and won the People’s Choice for Education
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ember alvo (they/them) — Staff Facilitator
ember grew up as a self-directed learner and is excited to support youth through a similar experience. Initially unschooled at home, ember later attended a Sudbury-model school called The Beach School in Toronto from ages 12-16. The feelings of empowerment, challenge, respect, and deep accountability to community that they felt in that environment are something they have wanted to share with other youth since then. After transitioning to a public alternative high school, they volunteered at The Beach School until it closed a year later, and after graduating high school, they visited and volunteered at several other Sudbury schools across Europe. These experiences gave ember insight into the many different ways that self-directed, democratic education can take shape and flourish.
As an adult, ember has continued their educational journey in various formal and informal settings. They hold a diploma in Community Work from George Brown College, have completed a peer support training program, and are currently a part-time student of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. While they have a wide range of work experience, their most rewarding roles have all involved peer support. In this field, ember has worked one-on-one to support folks experiencing mental health and substance use challenges, as well as facilitating therapeutic group activities, all with the aim of empowering and building community between the people they were supporting.
At Passages, ember is looking forward to getting to know the incredible learners who make up the community, and continuing to learn and grow with the group. They aspire to show up as their full self, and to demonstrate self-reflection and accountability as they navigate new relationships. Being queer, trans, mad, and neurodivergent, they are used to feeling different. They look forward to being part of a community in which differences are celebrated and valued. Currently, ember is exploring transformative justice and collective care practices, and is learning Spanish. This fall, they will be studying Mad People’s history. They would love to chat about any of these topics, and also to hear about your interests!
Tristan Bacani-Lim (he/him) - Youth Program Facilitator
I'm Tristan, a former Passages alumnus turned staff member. I began my journey being homeschooled from a young age, alongside my brother.
My educational journey began in Montessori, but my parents wanted to raise me with more independence. At a certain point, I was more unschooled than homeschooled, until my parents found Passages. At Passages, I found the community and independence I needed, with the structure I hadn’t been given. This truly allowed me to explore who I was and what I wanted in the future.
I left Passages as a learner to pursue a different path, but something stuck with me – I even remember telling Kristina while I was a learner that I wanted to work at a place like Passages. I recall from my youth having a strong desire to care for others and leave a lasting impact on the youth, as well as provide guidance, especially after discovering my identity within the LGBTQ community and as a young Filipino.
I am passionate about my work at Passages, and more importantly, with the learners who make it so special. Having the lived experience helps me connect with them at a deeper level and from a different perspective. Now I continue to love my work here, and my time with the learners is all I talk about at home. My brother (who is now in high school) told me that most schools aren’t looking for teachers with the best diplomas, but for teachers who care most for their kids and while I don’t have a teaching diploma, I do have care, kindness and compassion.
Practicum Students
Passages hosts year-long practicum students from Laurier’s Master’s of Social Work Program, George Brown College’s Child and Youth Care and Social Service Worker programs, and most recently, York University’s Education Program. These interns work with the youth day in and day out, offering support, guidance and mentorship. We are so grateful to have these wonderful, open-minded, progressive students with us.
Volunteers
Volunteers work with our learners on a weekly basis to help them achieve their educational goals. We have volunteers in various capacities, including business, music, movement and yoga, self-defence, politics, art, computer coding, social issues, and more. When a learner has a goal, we reach out to the community to build our network of support.
Our vision
We aim to create life-long learners and envision a world full of young people who are empowered and thriving.
Our mission
To create a thriving and sustainable community where youth can freely choose their educational journey in a way that is meaningful to them supported by Mentors.
Reducing financial barriers
Finances should not be a barrier to receiving the education that meets your needs. Young people wishing to lead their education will be supported by Passages through our Tiered Member Fee Model–fees in relation to income. We believe in this wholly and rely on donations and grants to support our centre.
As a registered charity your donation will be recognized with a tax receipt in the full amount that you donate, and is issued automatically to your email address.
Charity Registration Number: 717 989 537 RR0001
