A Heights lifer and the third of five Naegeles to graduate from The Heights, Elias first pursued his love of all things wild in Wyoming after graduating from the University of Virginia. After guiding snowmobile and four-wheeler trips in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Elias returned east, where he taught at The Avalon School while consulting for a start-up school outside Boston, Mass. He then pivoted from consultant into founding faculty member at Sparhawk Academy, where he wore many administrative hats, ranging from orchestrating the school’s House system to launching the precursor to the school’s annual fund. From there, Elias returned to Wyoming, where he met his beautiful wife and worked in Development for Jackson Hole Classical Academy and, later, in Admissions at Wyoming Catholic College, which saw a 50% enrollment jump during his tenure.

While continuing to consult for schools, Elias moonlights in the summer as the Director of Heights Frontiers. This outdoor adventure program takes middle and upper school students into the wild hinterlands of the United States. If not readily available, he has likely ditched the pre-packaged life of suburbia for the open road and another adventure with his young family and trusty Irish Setter, Rosie.