Peter Burchell is founder and principal of Mat-Su Alternative School in Wasilla whose enrollment has grown from five students to 115 in four and a half years. Mat-Su Alternative School enlists the services of private business and public agencies in order to provide academic and vocational skills to "at-risk" students. Under Mr. Burchell's leadership, a number of resources have become available to the students including a food bank, clothing bank, extended school hours, volunteer tutors, an open entry and open exit policy, and most important, a supportive and knowledgeable staff. This model school has been so successful, it has been replicated in four other school districts within the state of Alaska. "My job is to acquire the resources to make real success for our students possible," Mr. Burchell says.
1971 Portland State University, B.A.
