SELS was founded by group of local parents and residents that desire to see an alternative public education option in Truckee. The goal was to complement the current educational model in the community and provide an alternative option for students and teachers. The founders were diverse group of volunteers that were organized and highly motivated to turning a grass-roots effort into a reality. They were, and continue to be, committed to bringing a progressive and successful educational experience to the Tahoe Truckee community.

The founders group consisted of:

Elizabeth Bell, Kim Bradley, Anna Demm,  Kerri Flaherty, Carolyn Gallagher, Dana Mudd, Jill Penwarden, Alison Schwedner, Erica Stein, Angelica Stone, Melissa Williams, Jen Wilkin, SunMie Won, and Cristina Wooley .