General Questions
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What does “Alzar” mean?
Alzar is a Spanish verb which translates to “to rise,” “to elevate,” “to lift,” or “to boost.” It is used in many different expressions, such as alzar el vuelo (to take flight), alzar la carpa (to pitch a tent), alzar la vela (to set sail). As a verb, it indicates action, and Alzar School students are full of action.
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Why should I support the Alzar School?
We believe that the young people the Alzar School serves will be tomorrow’s leaders. They will go on to make their home communities better places and therefore help make the world a better place. When you support the Alzar School, you will be helping shape the future global leaders. And, not only will you help an individual student have an amazing educational experience… once they complete their semester at the school they will be completing a “Culminating Leadership Project (CLP)” which is their chance to pay forward the opportunity. The CLP allows each student to make a positive impact in his or her home community. So, you could think of your investment in the Alzar School as diversified… the effects of your support will be felt all over the country and world.
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How can I make a donation to the school?
The Alzar School appreciates every contribution. You can make a contribution in several different ways. First, you can send a check made out to Alzar School to PO Box 1609, Cascade ID 83611. Or, you can click here to donate online now, using a credit or debit card.
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Is it possible to make a recurring donation?
We especially appreciate recurring donations! To set up a recurring donation (on a monthly or yearly basis), please contact our Executive Director, Kristin Bierle at 208.639.9891 or kristin@alzarschool.com
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What makes Alzar School unique?
The Alzar School is built on our “Six Foundations”: leadership training, academics, outdoor adventure, service learning, cultural exchange, and environmental stewardship. It is our unique combination of these six foundations that makes the school stand out. We are a small program that places emphasis on really challenging high school students to become leaders. We don’t think that “someday” they can make a difference… we know that they can make a difference today and we want to give them the tools to do so. The Alzar School team has attended, taught at, and met with students and staff at hundreds of schools all over the world. We are confident that there is no other program which will develop global leaders in the same way.
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What is the mission of this school?
The official mission of the school is: to educate and facilitate the leadership development of high school students.
That mission statement might be summed up as “The Alzar School is trying to mold the next generation of leaders, the people that will go out there and make significant change in the world.”
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Why does the Alzar School exist?
The Alzar School is helping to fill the leadership void. The world needs more leaders to tackle the social and environmental issues. Many students think that the point of an education is to prepare them for a job, to make a living, or for more education (college, med school, etc). We believe that students can be expected to do more, that education is meant to prepare you to make the world a better place. We know that our students will be well prepared for university challenges and that they will be able to make a living in a career of their choice. They will be able to achieve these things and have the leadership skills to direct their energy and talents toward improving their local communities and confronting the global issues that they are passionate about.
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Is the school a non-profit?
Yes, the Alzar School is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that is officially registered with the state of Idaho and the IRS. That means that contributions to the school may be tax deductible (check with your accountant to maximize your donation). It was approved as a 501c3 in April 2008.
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How is the school funded?
Currently, the school relies on a variety of sources to fund the school. First, private donations make up a significant portion of our funding. Additionally, we are applying for numerous grants to support the school. At this point, we do charge students a tuition. However, our courses are heavily subsidized by the donations we collect and because we utilize volunteer labor as much as possible.
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Who runs the Alzar School? Who works for it?
The Alzar School is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. That Board consists of: Kim Tanabe (President), Katie Basham (Vice President), Geoff Black (Treasurer), Turin Dickman (Secretary), Katie Hawkins (Liaison to Advisory Committee), and Cailin O’Brien-Feeny (Member). Additionally, the two Alzar School administrators, Sean Bierle (Head Teacher) and Kristin Bierle (Executive Director), sit on the board ex oficio (because of their positions). We also have a volunteer Advisory Committee made up of experts from the fields of education, outdoor recreation, business, medicine, service, etc. These Advisory Committee members are located throughout the United States and offer their guidance to the school. A full list of these members can be found on the Alzar School website.
Sean and Kristin Bierle are also full time employees of the school. For the 2012-2013 school year, there will be an additional 4 full time teachers and two interns. The Alzar School recruits some of the most professional and passionate educators as teachers and staff on its programs.
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How long has the school been in existence?
The school has been in existence since 2004, when it was founded by Sean and Kristin Bierle. Since then, we have led 5 expeditions to Chile, 1 to Mexico, and 4 in the States (each expedition is 3 weeks long). Our first full semester will begin in August 2012.
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Can I contribute something other than money to the school?
Definitely!
More than anything, the Alzar School needs a broad network of supporters who are involved with the school. These supporters may help us in a variety of ways. They may donate directly to our general operating fund, which gives us the greatest flexibility in meeting our mission. They might also donate needed equipment or offer services or connections that would benefit the school. They might also refer us to potential corporate sponsors, recommend future students, or link us to passionate teachers and volunteers. We need:
Multi-year giving
Cash donations to the general operating fund
Cash donations to our scholarship programs
Outdoor equipment donations
Accounting services
Truck/vehicles
