Stronger Together
The Education Alliance of Colorado (EAC) is a nonprofit, member-supported, nonpartisan coalition of schools, parents/guardians, and community members working to protect educational freedom. We believe that education is a partnership, and when schools and families work together, we build stronger policy, stronger schools, and better opportunities for kids.
Our Mission
To support, strengthen, and enhance educational freedom through public policy that protects and safeguards parental choice and preserves the academic, operational, and philosophical independence of Colorado schools.
Our Vision
We envision that all Colorado parents have the information and ability to access a high-quality education, and that Colorado schools remain free to pursue and provide educational excellence using all tools at their disposal—curriculum, pedagogy, personnel, and administration.
Our History
The Education Alliance of Colorado was founded in 2019 by a group of charter schools who wanted a stronger voice in policy conversations and a direct seat at the table at the Capitol. They also recognized a gap in the charter advocacy space: the need for a true grassroots organization that could connect schools and families and mobilize them around the issues that matter most. Out of that vision, EAC was born.
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Since then, the Alliance has grown into a trusted, nonpartisan coalition representing schools and parents across Colorado. What began as a small alliance has developed into a recognized force in education policy — one that equips schools with policy guidance, empowers families, and advances educational freedom through both grassroots action and direct advocacy.
Guiding Principles
The Alliance focuses its efforts on the issues that matter most to member schools and the families they serve. Our decisions about when and how to act are grounded in a consistent set of guiding principles:
01
Mission Alignment
The Alliance will only engage on policy issues that align with its mission to support high-quality educational options through public policy that preserves and enhances the academic, administrative, and philosophical freedom of Colorado schools.
03
Demonstrable Impact
The Alliance will engage only on policy issues that will demonstrably impact its students, families, or member schools.
05
United Front
Prior to engagement on any policy issue, the Alliance will seek agreement among member schools regarding position, substance, and messaging so it can present a united front.
07
Permanent Interests
The Alliance has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies in the policy space, only permanent interests aligned with preserving and enhancing educational options in Colorado. The organization will work with its partners and allies in every situation possible, but the interests of its member schools and the families they serve must always be primary.
02
Realistic and Valuable Contribution
The Alliance will engage on policy issues only to the extent that it has the capacity to do so, and only to the extent its contribution can reasonably be expected to advance or strengthen an effort to achieve goals in alignment with the organization’s mission.
04
Philosophical Consistency
To provide a good example to students and parents alike, the Alliance will seek to ensure that all policy engagement is consistent with member schools’ philosophies, beliefs, and core virtues.
06
Unapologetic Defense
The Alliance will unapologetically defend member schools and the families they serve and from policies or other efforts that could undermine, disrupt, or damage educational opportunity.
Our Board
The Education Alliance of Colorado is guided by a dedicated board of directors made up of school leaders and community members who share a commitment to educational freedom. Together, they provide vision, accountability, and strategic direction for our work.
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For questions or to connect with our board, please reach out at board@edallianceco.org
Cortney Crouch
Board Chair & Golden View Academy
Cortney Crouch is an economist with degrees from George Washington University and the Colorado School of Mines. A former active-duty Marine, she has worked in the oil, gas, and utility industries before moving into education. Cortney first served on the Golden View Classical Academy Board of Directors as Secretary and Treasurer, where she helped lead a $3.5 million building acquisition and construction project. She later became GVCA’s Chief Financial Officer and one of EAC’s original member school representatives, a role she has enjoyed for the past two years.
Kim McClelland
Secretary & New Summit Charter Academy
Kim McClelland, a Colorado Springs native with over 26 years in education, has served as a teacher, principal, founding director of the Colorado Digital BOCES, and Zone Superintendent of the iConnect Zone in Falcon District 49. Nationally recognized for pioneering programs that expand quality education options across Colorado, she is currently Executive Director of New Summit Charter Academy and a Leadership Strategist with Capturing Kids Hearts, while also consulting through her company, Leadjoy Education Solutions. Kim holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado and Jones International University. Outside of education, she enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her two daughters and their families, and pursuing her passion for photography.
Erik Davis
New Summit Charter Academy
Eric Davis is a business owner in the Colorado Springs area and focuses on developing children, teenagers, and adults. He has started multiple businesses as well as a non-profit to serve his community. He has been involved in many different types of education including homeschool, private school, and public school and therefore understands the different inner workings of school systems, both good and bad. He has 2 young sons ages 6 and 2 and is passionate about developing people to their fullest potential. Eric’s main focus on the board is building the community, marketing, and helping create a culture of character development and a love for learning.
Natalia Miller-Forrest
Heritage Heighs Academy
Natalia Miller-Forrest is from Grand Junction on the Western Slope of Colorado. She has enjoyed teaching children for over 20 years in many capacities; private school teacher, home school parent, charter school teacher and was a Dean of Students. Natalia earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Colorado Mesa University in 2014. She earned her principal license after working at a Classical Core Knowledge school for eight years. In her free time, when she is not reading a book, Natalia enjoys hiking and baking. She keeps busy with her husband and four children and their sports and school activities.
Cullen McDowell
Cullen “Mac” McDowell has been in education for 17 years, beginning as a preschool para while earning his degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Over the last 13 years in Colorado Springs, he has served as a teacher, department chair, instructional leader, program coordinator, dean, adjunct professor, and principal across Districts 2, 11, and 49. Mac has held leadership roles at every level—elementary, middle, alternative, high school, and post-secondary—and holds master’s degrees in history (CSU Pueblo) and educational leadership (UCCS). He is passionate about the Classical Movement and the impact charter schools have on families and communities. He has a strong support system of his wife Rebecca and three beautiful daughters.
Rob Moulton
Founder & President
Rob served two terms on the Board of Directors of The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs from 2015 to 2021; as Treasurer (2 yrs) and Chairman (4 yrs). He is a graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies (2018), and an Entrepreneur who runs a Data Integration Services company he started in 2006. Rob enjoys road cycling, golf, working on his Factory Five Roadster, and spending quality time with his family.
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Email: rob@edallianceco.org
