School Leadership

Izabela Podgajna, Principal & Co-Founder
M.A. in Psychology and Pedagogy (Poland), Forensic Social Worker Diploma (Canada), Certified Recall Healing Facilitator,

Alderwood Academy was born from a dream—one I shared with another mother who, like me, wanted something more for her children. We dreamed of a school that treats every child with the dignity, warmth, and deep respect they deserve. A school where learning feels like discovery, where joy is part of the day, and where each child is seen not as a number or grade, but as a whole human being—body, mind, and soul.

As both a mother and an educator, I understand how much trust it takes to place your child in someone else's hands. This is why Alderwood is not just a school—it’s a community, a second home, a place where your child will be known, heard, and loved.

We blend the best of the Cultural Heritage and Canadian educational traditions, rooted in the wisdom of Montessori, Freinet, Korczak, and Sherborne. But more than methods, what guides us most is the belief that emotional health, creativity, and inner confidence are just as important as math and writing. Here, children learn to grow vegetables, to cook, to solve problems, to breathe through big feelings, and to express themselves without fear. They learn that they matter.

We don’t give out letter grades to define a child—we offer feedback that supports their growth. We don’t punish to control—we listen, reflect, and guide. Every day, we help our students build a sense of identity, compassion, and inner strength that they’ll carry for life.

My background in psychology, pedagogy and healing work allows me to go deeper—to create a space where children feel emotionally safe and connected. And every teacher here shares that mission.

This school is my calling. These children are my inspiration. And every day I am grateful to walk beside them—and you—on this journey.

With love and deep care,
Izabela Podgajna
Principal, Alderwood Academy