About
Facilitators
Facilitators help create the conditions for self-directed learning: sharing what they know, offering invitations and resources, asking questions, and helping students move toward the things that matter to them. The work changes with the learner and the moment—sometimes teaching, sometimes collaborating, sometimes listening, and sometimes stepping back.
Ryan shollenberger
co-director / facilitator · he/him
Ryan has been a central figure at ALC-NYC since day one. Ryan’s background includes a masters of education from NYU Steinhardt and time teaching in a variety of environments.
He hosts history, geography, astronomy, “How to talk to AI,” and the community Minecraft server. He loves sharing about philosophy, fitness, baseball, astrology/archetypes, and (especially ancient) history. Ryan has been a co-director since 2016 and admissions coordinator since 2018.
Isadora frost
facilitator / After school coordinator · she/her
Isadora joined the team in 2023, bringing a rich background in the arts, including a Master’s degree in Photography and degrees in Fine Arts and Performing Arts. She has exhibited her work internationally since 2007 and brings nine years of K–12 teaching experience, including five years as a self-directed learning facilitator.
Arthur velwest
facilitator / Game Master · they/he
Arthur joined us to host a once-a-week D&D game and then stuck around. And we’re so glad they did! Arthur is a fantastic Game Master who facilitates table-top RPGs, live action role-playing games, as well as outdoor exploration, three dimensional painting, and other offerings focused on social/emotional learning. In his spare time Arthur enjoys going on hikes in Northern New Jersey, and volunteering for a mutual-aid food distribution network Food Not Bombs.
Abby oulton
co-director / administrator · she/her
Abby joined ALC-NYC when the school first officially opened as the flagship ALC in the fall of 2013. Starting in 2015, she took on a bunch of administration and community building work. In 2016, she assumed co-directorship of the school and started organizing trainings. Since 2017, she has served as vice president of the ALC Network, doing work that very much echoes what she does locally in NYC, and consulting for other organizations. She’s nerdy about systems and about how learning happens, in machines and societies as much as in individual living beings. She loves working directly with groups of self-directed kids, but she does more writing and behind-the-scenes work these days.
Caitlin rosen mccormick
facilitator · she/her
Caitlin first joined us for a few summer trainings before following her awesome kid into the community as a full-time facilitator. An artist and maker, she loves welcoming young people into our Makerspace to experiment and build with all kinds of different materials and tools.
With a background as a learning specialist, Caitlin offers ELA as well as hands-on math groups where learners explore patterns, logic, and the conversation between math and art. She also spends much of her time alongside teens as they set goals, plan next steps, and connect with resources and opportunities across the city.