Katie has been involved with Alzar School as a volunteer, staff member, member of the Advisory Committee, and joined the Board of Directors in 2010. She has worked in the outdoor industry since 2000, and continues to teach wilderness medicine courses for NOLS Wilderness Medicine. Katie studied at Middlebury College in Vermont and Idaho State University in Boise, Idaho, and is now a Physician Assistant in Boise.
Sean Bierle co-founded Alzar School in 2004. Prior to working at Alzar School, he taught in public, private, and charter schools, as well as led in the outdoor industry across the US and abroad. He is a passionate whitewater paddler, loves scheming up endurance challenges to train for and attempt, and relishes the chance to dig into a good book. Email Sean Bierle at sbierle@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 701
Kristin is the co-founder and Executive Director of Alzar School and has been with the organization since 2004. Kristin’s professional and personal path has followed the search for intersections in learning- merging the power of academics with self-discovery in the outdoors and broadening perspectives through cultural exchange. When out of the office, Kristin and her two young children can be found exploring campus in Idaho and Chile. Email Kristin Bierle at kbierle@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 700
Laura has served as Alzar School’s Director of Studies since 2016. Before joining Alzar School, she taught Spanish, English Language Learners, and adults in education programs for ten years. Additionally, Laura worked as a professional river guide for over two decades and lived and worked in Latin American countries for four years. Laura enjoys reading, word puzzles, and sharing time (especially on the river!) with her husband Neal and children Lucas and Ruby. Email Laura Bechdel at lbechdel@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 703
Michael is Alzar School’s Director of Semester Program and has been with the school since 2015. Prior to joining the Alzar School community, Michael taught history, career education classes, and worked in student advising. Additionally, Michael has worked as a river guide in North Carolina, Georgia, and Alaska. Outside of Alzar School, Michael loves reading, being outdoors, learning how to fix bikes, and playing Kubb. Email Michael Ervin at mervin@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 705
Mike taught at Alzar School for two years before stepping into the Director of Expeditions and Risk Management role. Prior to joining the Alzar School team, Mike worked as a graduate research assistant as well as a river guide in Oregon, California and Idaho. Before that, Mike also served as a financial aid counselor for NOLS, a gap year instructor, outdoor science school instructor, and he continues to enjoy wearing many hats. On his time off you’ll likely find Mike out kayaking, mountain biking, skiing, rock climbing, or cooking meals for friends. Email Mike Perez at mperez@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 719.
A native of Santiago, Chile, Michel spent most of his youth enjoying the outdoors and participating in social projects while exploring the different landscapes of his country. He has focused his professional career in developing programs and supporting projects that integrate education, adventure, and community. His passion for education and being outside in the mountains led Michel to take a NOLS Semester in Patagonia as a student back in 2001, right after graduating from Business School in Santiago. This was the start of a long career with NOLS, first working as a field instructor for many years in Chile, Canada, and the United States. Later he took on administrative positions at NOLS Patagonia as a Program Supervisor, Spanish Program Coordinator, and served for multiple seasons as the Operations Manager. In between, Michel had the opportunity to lead trips and run the Outdoor Program of Ecole d’Humanité, an international boarding school in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Michel lives with his family in Coyhaique, Chile, where he spends his free time climbing and skiing in the Patagonian Andes with his wife while raising their 2 kids. You can email Michel at mraab@alzar.org.
Asiah Allen is the Director of Student Life, Equity, and Belonging. Previously, Asiah worked as a Recreation Therapist in a behavioral health facility, helping to guide children and adolescents toward positive coping mechanisms by way of the outdoors. Asiah then worked as a fellow and in-town staff for the National Outdoor Leadership School for several summer seasons. Asiah enjoys finding Easter eggs in films, rock climbing, and cooking meals she’s seen on Tik Tok. Email Asiah Allen at aallen@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 725
Lee joined Alzar School in 2018 as a member of the History faculty, and began a new role as the Director of Gap Programming in 2021. Lee has a deep love and respect for adventure, travel and education that began when he was very young and has grown into a voracious appetite for new experiences, environments, and skills. In his early 20’s Lee began pursuing a variety of outdoor adventure sports that brought him to places around the globe, convincing him of the transformational power of self-supported wilderness based expeditions. He has developed a passion for working with young adults and adolescents through a variety of roles over the past twelve years, including high school History Teacher, Director of Student Life at a small boarding school, Outdoor Instructor, EMT, Gap Year Instructor, and as a Guide for trekking, climbing, kayaking and cycling trips. After an extended time working and traveling throughout Latin American and Asia, Lee is excited to commit to an organization that values global perspectives, inquiry based learning, and community. In his personal life, Lee continues to find inspiration through international travel, playing guitar, and outdoor adventure. Email Lee Neale at lneale@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 713
Deborah joined Alzar as the School’s Controller in January 2023. Before joining Alzar School, she served as the financial officer in several different independent boarding high schools. Prior to independent schools, Deborah worked in the for-profit world managing residential communities for senior citizens. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, puzzles and identifying birds while relaxing on her porch in Bethany Beach, Delaware.
Kim started working at Alzar School in 2013 and is currently the Office Manager. She lives in Cascade with her family and enjoys small town life and boating on the lake. Email Kim Littlejohn at klittlejohn@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 702
Jami is the Director of Admissions at Alzar School who initially began working at the school as a teaching fellow in Fall 2015. Jami first learned about Alzar School when she participated in Alzar School’s Future Leaders of Whitewater summer program in 2010. Jami’s passion for education blossomed while working at a Montessori School in college and she has worked to connect young people and their families with educational opportunities outside of the traditional high school experience ever since. Email Jami Black at jblack@alzar.org or call at +1(833) 862-5927 x 709
