AVS Changed our Lives for the Better

A Grateful Founder Thirty Years On

It’s been thirty years since Tammy and I first dreamed of a liberty-focused school for young people to grow up in a small community surrounded by caring role models. I am grateful that the core values of our school have remained the same all these years, and grateful for how my own children and dozens of other alumni have blossomed into responsible, contributing members of our American society. 

Growing up in a small community offers unique advantages that contribute both to personal development and social cohesion. In a conversation, my daughter Ellie referred to her growing up at Alpine Valley School as a “lifestyle.” What did my children learn in their AVS years? Beyond knowledge and skills, they both have a strong sense of belonging to their families and their respective communities. Their experiences at AVS strengthened their commitment to the importance of community because they internalized the sense that living as free people in community is a choice. 

Tam and I wanted our children to grow up in a school community with caring adults who were not their parents. While it is true that I myself was always on staff, Ellie and Ethan were also surrounded by a dozen other adult staff members—some of whom knew them for 12 years, all of whom took an active interest in their well-being. What other schools can claim to have staff members know students throughout their entire upbringing?

As members of a self-governing community, my children learned early on that they were not passive recipients of a prepackaged and one-size-fits-all education, but could have a significant impact on their lives and their school alike. Both of them proposed, discussed, and enforced rules, and both took on significant leadership roles throughout their school careers. Being part of community decision-making leads to understanding that your voice matters and that contributing to community discussions not only benefits the group but also enhances your own autonomy, self-advocacy, and efficacy.

Finally, I am also grateful to the many people who provided financial assistance to the school over the last three decades. Operating a nonprofit school is a tremendous challenge, one that would frankly have been impossible without the generosity of friends, family and associates. Today I am asking you to contribute if you can: if you contribute using this page, I will personally match up to $1,000 of donations made here. 

Thank you for your love and support through the years.