Elizabeth Zehl

Zehl (who goes by her last name) finds joy in supporting children’s intellectual and emotional development. She believes deeply in the importance of nurturing young people’s individuality and sense of belonging.

She grew up in the Washington, D.C. area, where she was allowed to ride the Metro alone from a young age. This freedom sparked a passion for exploring the world on foot and reading maps, people, and environments. Zehl loves that her role at FernLeaf allows her to travel around the school and experience the entire K-12 community. 

She is a 2011 graduate of Randolph College, where she studied sociology, English, art history, and American culture. Upon graduating, she spent two years designing newspapers in Virginia. Working next to a five-story printing press was a dream come true, but she craved more movement and interaction.

Zehl relocated to Asheville in 2014 and spent the next decade providing in-home care for children of different ages as well as older adults. In this capacity, she gained experience homeschooling, planning enrichment, researching health strategies, assisting with home birth, and building relationships with families. 

In her free time, Zehl reads, writes, takes photographs, and savors meandering conversations with loved ones. She enjoys art of all kinds and has a special fondness for old objects, soul music, and Star Trek.