Eric Heil is originally from the Napa Valley in northern California. He studied Spanish language and culture for one year at the University of Navarre, in Spain, and then he completed his B.A. in biology at the University of Dallas. In 2001, he joined Teach for America and taught middle-school math and science in the Bronx for two years. He was the Robert G. Engel Mammalogy Fellow at the Bronx Zoo before moving to Washington DC to work for the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. At the National Zoo, Eric investigated the nutritional ecology of the California sea otter. He has taught in the lower school since 2005 with one year off for a sabbatical. During his year off, he attained the AMI diploma in Elementary Montessori education and an M.Ed. from Loyola University Maryland. Eric leads sessions of the Rock Climbing Club, the Cavalier Skate Club, the Cavalry MTB Club, and the Master Builders Club (LEGO).  He also coaches the Climbing Team and co-leads the Mountaineers Club.