Our Team - The Black Mountain Academy

Black Mountain Academy is a small boarding school for boys grades 9-12 that feels like home and is specifically designed to support the individualized needs of students with learning differences and social and executive function deficits. We teach our students transferable skills in the areas of emotional regulation, executive function, and daily living with a dynamic, comprehensive approach that enriches the learning experience.

All
Leadership Team
Academic Team
Clinical Team
Residential Team
Medical Team
Operations Team

Dave Rollins, MAT

Academic Director
Brandon Moffitt, LCMHC

Executive Director / Co-Founder
Becca Jefferies

Admissions Director
Jim Johnston, MA, LMFT

Clinical Director
Karyn Kaminski, MSW, LCSW, LCAS

Program Director
Adam Hill

Program Manager
Maddy Wolfenbarger

Lead Coach
Maryanne Miller

Adjunct Social Studies & English Teacher
Michelle McCoy, SPHR

Operations Director
Dr. Gregory Narron

Psychiatrist
Matt Wood, LCSW-A

Therapist
Gabby Ritter, MS, MMT, LMFT-A, MT-BC

Therapist
Ryan Bachrach, MSW, LCSW

Therapist
Dayna Guido, MSW, LCSW

Clinical Supervisor
Cortney Pauly, MS, SLP-CCC

Speech Language Pathologist
Fielding Russell

Social Studies Teacher
Jon Allen

Program Manager
Patricia Kayser

Spanish & Music Teacher
Steven Mucciarone

Wellness & Culinary Coordinator
Lucas Ferry

Assistant Program Director
Michelle Young, RMA

Medical Manager
Brandon Parker

English Teacher
Chris Payne

Math Teacher
Charles Freeland

Ceramics/Art Teacher
Cat Dismukes

Academic Support Coordinator
Sarah Schlotterbeck

Lead Residential Coach
Amber Zollner

Family Services Coordinator
Lenna Bucy

Life Skills Coordinator
Zack Paben

Senior Residential Coach
Diane Kemp

Senior Residential Coach
Colby Monaghan

Lead Coach
Kristina Williams

Assistant Operations Director
Robert Major

Logistics and Facilities Manager

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Dave Rollins, MAT

Academic Director

Dave originally hails from the Buckeye State (Ohio), but he has made his home with his wife and two daughters here in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Dave has over a decade of experience as an educator and is dedicated to providing transformative educational experiences to students with complex learning differences. Dave earned holds a BS in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, A M.A.T in Education from Western Oregon University, and a post-graduate certification in Special Education from Concordia University. Prior to taking on the role of Academic Director at Black Mountain Academy, Dave worked as the the director of education for a local wilderness program. He has many years of experience also working as a special education case manager and classroom teacher. When Dave is not in the classroom working hands-on with our students, He enjoys spending time with his family, tending to his flock of chickens, or hiking and biking in the North Carolina backcountry.

Brandon Moffitt, LCMHC

Executive Director / Co-Founder

Brandon enjoys working directly with our Leadership Team to implement and fulfill the vision of Black Mountain Academy. The Leadership Team strives to be collaborative and to learn from one another as we meet the needs and achieve the goals of our students and families. As a person who loves to perpetually learn, Brandon works with our team to examine meaningful ways for Black Mountain Academy to continue to grow and evolve to best serve our students, families, and local community.
Brandon has over 15 years of experience as a therapist working with adolescents and their families in residential settings and wilderness therapy. During his tenure in wilderness, he developed and ran a very successful program providing treatment for boys with neurodevelopmental and learning differences.

Prior to becoming a therapist, Brandon spent time as a math and science teacher in the public schools and a guide on adventure trips for adolescents. He loves being a dad, trail running, camping, fly fishing, woodworking, cooking, and generally being outdoors.

Becca Jefferies

Admissions Director

Becca brings to Black Mountain Academy 17 years of experience working in therapeutic schools and programs. Throughout her career, Becca has dedicated herself to working with families and adolescents to promote healthy living, both emotionally and physically.

As a native of Western North Carolina, Becca enjoys all of the outdoor activities that our beautiful area has to offer, including hiking, paddle boarding, gardening, and spending time with her daughter.

Jim Johnston, MA, LMFT

Clinical Director

Jim brings over 15 years of experience providing clinical care to adolescents and their families in multiple settings including private practice, community-based interventions, therapeutic wilderness programs, and as a primary therapist at two boarding schools. Jim’s professional passion is to help clients develop a sense of resiliency, self-efficacy, and resourcefulness at school, home, and in the community. Jim brings experience, warmth, and commitment to our students as he joins the clinical team at Black Mountain Academy. He has extensive experience working with families and individual with autism. As a parent of a child with autism, Jim has a special interest in assisting individuals and families in navigating the challenges autism presents as well as capitalizing on the strengths our students inherently possess. In his free time, Jim enjoys time with his family, fly fishing, camping, and travel.

Karyn Kaminski, MSW, LCSW, LCAS

Program Director

Karyn was born and raised in Beavercreek, Ohio but has lived and worked around the country. Karyn joins us with over 16 years of experience in wilderness and residential therapy as well as educational consulting experience. She graduated from The University of Georgia with a Masters in Social Work and a certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling and currently holds dual licenses in clinical social work and as a clinical addiction specialist. She received her BS in Journalism at Northwestern University and still proudly calls herself a Wildcat.

When Karyn was asked about what drew her to Black Mountain Academy, she stated that during her experience as an educational consultant she could see that the staff members at Black Mountain believed in what they were doing and had passion that is critical for students to get the therapy they deserve. When asked about why Karyn joined this kind of work, she stated “I really believe in building up a person’s capacity and have faith that the boys are capable. I think one of my skills is learning what someone is interested in, and helping them pursue that task, while also helping them learn real-life skills.”

In her free team, Karyn can be found hiking, reading, spending time with her husband going on last-minute adventures, or enjoying a good play! Karyn is also a huge college football fan and enjoys rooting for the minor league baseball team, the Asheville Tourists.

Adam Hill

Program Manager

Adam joins us originally from just a few hours west of Black Mountain in Tennessee. Adam graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Adam has spent over 10 years working directly with young men and women who have been struggling with engaging in the community.

When asked about why Adam made the decision to join the Black Mountain team he says “Having a conversation with Brandon prior to the school opening and hearing about the program that he would be opening, alongside our shared passion for helping others, led to through the doors. It has always been rewarding to share the excitement in learning with our students and I continue to learn every day from the young men at Black Mountain Academy.”

On the rare occasion that Adam isn’t on campus working with our guys on some executive functioning challenge they are facing, he can be found enjoying spending time with his 3 kids. Adam is also an avid runner, and created a 65 + Mile Race that is run locally every year by himself and a number of ultra-marathon runners! Adam has also thru-hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in his younger days!

Maddy Wolfenbarger

Lead Coach

Maddy was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and moved to the western North Carolina area to obtain a B.A. in Environmental Humanities at Davidson College. Her degree fueled her passion to share the community and skills students can build while connecting to their relationship with the environment. Over the past four years, Maddy has worked at Talisman Summer Programs as a counselor, program manager, and, most recently, the Assistant Camp Director. Maddy was drawn to Black Mountain Academy due to its encompassing core values and commitment to playing and working with students side by side. From her experience, the most rewarding part of the field is the ability to watch and promote growth in each student over time as they work towards their goals. When she’s not playing games or going on adventures with the BMA students, she is typically hiking to gorgeous waterfalls and overlooks, paddle boarding, or cooking vegan food. She also secretly fosters a love for the arts, has acted in 16 shows, and is a classically trained singer with a focus in opera.

Maryanne Miller

Adjunct Social Studies & English Teacher

Maryanne Miller hails from Brooklyn, New York (and yes…she is a Yankee’s fan!). With her she brings over 22 years of experience as an educator to her role at Black Mountain Academy. Maryanne attended the New School for Social Research in New York City and San Diego State University, where she earned a B.A. in philosophy and Religious Studies. Maryanne later earned her teaching degree from Chapman University. With a strong belief that all students are capable of learning and succeeding when provided with the right support and a team of individuals who care, Maryanne has immersed herself in the world of dyslexia. While living in the United Kingdom, Maryanne earned a certificate in dyslexia education from the Dyslexia Institute in London. When asked what she enjoys most about teaching at BMA, she states, “I enjoy the small classroom sizes! It allows me to get to know the student as a learner and as a whole person.”

Maryanne is a phenomenal cook and addition to teaching English Language Arts and Social Studies, Maryanne is also the advisor for the Baking Club at Black Mountain Academy. Outside of the classroom (and the kitchen), Maryanne enjoys reading, photography, and traveling with her husband and their rescue dog, Danea.

Michelle McCoy, SPHR

Operations Director

Michelle is very excited to join Black Mountain Academy as Operations and Administration Director. Michelle began working in Behavioral Health programs seven years ago as a Wilderness Field Guide where she witnessed the power of every individual to grow and change. She has spent the past five years working in the areas of human resources, finance, and operations. She has successfully helped facilitate the acquisition of two, three-year CARF accreditations.

Michelle holds a MFA in Theatre from Louisiana State University. She also holds a certificate as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from the HR Certification Institute.

In her spare time, Michelle can be found enjoying the beautiful mountains with her amazing husband and son.

Dr. Gregory Narron

Psychiatrist

Dr. Narron believes that mental health is the key to true health. Though he began his medical training in general surgery, he ultimately decided upon psychiatry. Dr. Narron is trained in adult and child psychiatry. He finds that treating children and adults allows for a deeper developmental perspective about how symptoms present over a lifetime.

In his 20 year career in Asheville, Dr. Narron has been involved in systems of care in his community. He has served as medical director of a start-up adolescent hospital program, as a board member of a start-up private school, and as a psychiatric consultant to non-profit organizations. He is currently serving as the psychiatric consultant to several private boarding schools, therapeutic boarding schools, therapeutic residential communities and a wilderness therapy program for adolescents. He uses a systems approach whether providing individual care or organizational consultation.

About Dr. Narron:
-Medical degree, East Carolina University School of Medicine, (Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society).
-Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
-Residency Training
-General Surgery, Penn State University Hospital, (3 years)
-General Psychiatry, University of Virginia Health System (2 years)
-Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, University of North Carolina Health Care (2 years)
-Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Matt Wood, LCSW-A

Therapist

Matt is originally from Houston, Texas and spent 8 years in Portland, Oregon before calling North Carolina home. Matt completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Houston, where he double majored in Psychology and Anthropology. He also holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State University. Matt is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate who is practiced in community mental health and crisis response. Matt has experience in hospital settings and specialized training in behavioral and physical health integration. He is passionate about working with youth-aged individuals with diverse neurological needs. Matt is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor and is well versed in speaking to families about how young people experience mental health symptoms.

Matt’s therapeutic approach is typically focused on assisting individuals with developing emotional intelligence and confidence in understanding their internal processes. He works to help people understand all the complex and dynamic emotions that influence behavior. His approach is strength-based, understanding that individuals are experts on themselves. Matt utilizes aspects of cognitive behavioral intervention with a focus on increasing mindful awareness. This includes providing tangible coping skills that assist in improving day-to-day functioning.

When he’s not counseling others, Matt enjoys exploring Asheville and the beautiful outdoors with his canine companion by his side. He’s also passionate about traveling and has backpacked all over Japan, South East Asia, and India.

Gabby Ritter, MS, MMT, LMFT-A, MT-BC

Therapist

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate
Board Certified Music Therapist

Gabby was born and raised in Alabama. Before moving to Western North Carolina, she had spent her years post-graduate school in the Baltimore/DC area. Gabby is an Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board-Certified Music Therapist. She completed her undergraduate degree in Music Therapy at The University of Alabama, her graduate degree in Music Therapy at Georgia College and State University, and her graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling at Capella University. Gabby is also currently completing the final requirements for registration as a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) provider. Gabby has worked the last 16 years with children, adolescents, and adults on the autism spectrum as well as individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, Alzheimer’s/dementia, and those with other learning and cognition disorders such as ADHD. She works from a strengths-based approach and strongly believes every person holds the potential to improve their lives if provided with the tools and support they need.

Gabby has presented on her work within the special education setting at regional and national conferences and spoke to the National Department of Special Education on behalf of the National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel on the importance and need for individualized, interest-based and creative learning supports for those with neurodivergent learning needs. Gabby also published an article in a peer-reviewed journal on Music Therapy and the IEP Process within special education, based upon her work from her master’s thesis.

When not at work, Gabby enjoys hiking, running, and camping with her two hounds. She plays piano and guitar daily and enjoys teaching music to the young people in her life. Gabby also loves live music events and is an avid reader, known to be reading 2-3 books at the same time.

Ryan Bachrach, MSW, LCSW

Therapist

Ryan was born in Chicago, Illinois, but is now happy to call Asheville home. He received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio. Ryan later earned his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Ryan received specialized training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Additionally, Ryan holds a certificate in Organizational Leadership in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice and the Wharton School of Business.

Prior to becoming a therapist, Ryan worked as a field instructor at a local wilderness therapy program for five years under the close guidance of Black Mountain Academy founder, Brandon Moffitt. Brandon states that, “Ryan brings a calm demeanor with him to his work, and it helps people feel comfortable around him– this is particularly helpful with our students at Black Mountain Academy who struggle to emotionally regulate. One of Ryan’s biggest skillsets is taking complicated tasks and situations and explaining them in ways that are simplified and less stressful. I have seen Ryan’s ability to problem solve and think creatively. More specifically for our students who struggle with social pragmatics, Ryan has a very effective way of explaining social skills and giving constructive feedback in honest and non-threatening ways.”

When not working with students, Ryan enjoys spending time hiking, camping, and backpacking. He has hiked to the top of Mt. Kosciuszko, which is the highest point in Australia. With a great appreciation for nature, Ryan has also visited over 20 National Parks and hopes to continue adding to that number in the years to come.

Dayna Guido, MSW, LCSW

Clinical Supervisor

A lifelong passion for working with at-risk children, adolescents and families began in 1979 when Dayna graduated with a BA from Valparaiso University. She returned to school to earn her MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1984. Dayna was fortunate to be in Chicago at the heart of the family systems movement, enabling her to work and be trained by many of the masters in the field.

Since entering the field over 35 years ago, Dayna has always maintained a clinical and programmatic relationship to at-risk youth and their families in an array of jobs and settings. Her positions have included individual and group residential care, individual, group and family therapist, clinical and administrative supervisor, trainer, and developer of clinical departments of therapists and interns.

Following her dreams to live in the mountains, she moved to Asheville, NC where she continued working with at-risk populations as a Clinical Director and Administrator for residential group homes and foster care. During this time she designed the program and opened a Runaway Shelter for Runaway and Homeless Youth.

After 15 years working for agencies, Dayna decided she could best use her skills as a clinician by going into full-time private practice, specializing in the at-risk population in out-of-home placements. This quickly led to contracts providing clinical supervision to various residential, foster care, and community mental health agencies in Western NC, providing individual and family therapy in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, psychiatric assessments in a local hospital ER,family therapy in a partial psychiatric hospital program, and more recently clinical supervision for wilderness therapy programs. Working with TEACCH in the late 1990’s, she added the specialty of Autism Spectrum Disorders to her practice.

Expanding on her vast experience of training professionals, in 1997 Dayna began teaching for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work as a Clinical Instructor in the Mountain Area Distance Education MSW Program. Currently, she is teaching at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville in the Counseling Program and East Tennessee State University in the MSW Program in Asheville. She develops and provides training nationwide on a variety of clinical topics such as clinical supervision, ethics, autism spectrum disorders, therapy with adolescents, play therapy, and expressive arts. Recently she authored a book with her husband, The Parental Tool Box.

Dayna’s passion in her work draws from her love of life. This expresses itself in her organic gardening, hiking, bookmaking, and mixed media quilting.

Cortney Pauly, MS, SLP-CCC

Speech Language Pathologist

Cortney discovered her love of language and communication while living in Thailand where she worked as a sociolinguistic researcher for 5 years. Following her stint abroad, Cortney returned to the U.S. and earned a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Western Carolina University. Cortney is licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Here at Black Mountain Academy, Cortney works with students to improve their communication skills in several key areas, including improving speech fluency and social pragmatics. When asked why students at Black Mountain Academy benefit from speech therapy, Courtney states, “Communication is all about understanding what others mean and expressing your own ideas. If you have misunderstandings, don’t always get why others do/say things, or have trouble getting your message across, then speech therapy can help! Just like learning how to play a new video game, you may need instruction and practice to get better and master your skills. Depending on students’ needs, we set measurable and attainable goals, and work week by week to achieve those goals. We celebrate successes and find new ways to apply our learning to real life.”

When not working with students at Black Mountain Academy, Cortney enjoys hiking in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with her dog Jiggy and spending time with family.

Fielding Russell

Social Studies Teacher

Fielding was born in Japan and raised in a family of educators. He grew up crisscrossing the Pacific before settling in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains as a teenager. Fielding attended Appalachian State University, graduating with a B.A. in Global Studies. Soon after, he was introduced to the world of wilderness therapy. The opportunity to serve others while being immersed in nature proved too alluring, and Fielding went on to spend the next two years honing his backpacking and therapeutic skills. It was a desire to apply these same skills in a new context that first brought him to Black Mountain Academy as a residential coach in 2016.

After a transformative year at BMA, Fielding decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps and teach abroad. He moved to Taiwan, where he spent the next four years building his confidence in the classroom and exploring the country’s many mountains and cultures. He returned to western North Carolina in early 2022, determined to find meaningful work that would allow him to meld all of his passions and talents together. It was this determination that led him back to Black Mountain Academy.

Fielding brings a wealth of knowledge about the world into his work with our students. Outside the classroom, he is most excited when encouraging students to pursue their own interests, especially their creative and artistic ones. “Goofy,” “enthusiastic,” and “a bit crazy but I like it,” are ways that Fielding has been described in the classroom, and he takes these as high compliments. In his free time, he enjoys putting his hands on rocks and his feet on pedals. He once rode his bicycle from sea level to 12,000 ft in less than six hours. He does not recommend it.

Jon Allen

Program Manager

We are thrilled to welcome Jon Allen to the role of Program Manager. Jon brings to Black Mountain Academy multiple years of programming experience with children and adolescents. He has experience safely facilitating ropes course initiatives and other valuable team-building activities. Jon also enjoys sharing his passion for illustration and creativity with students through the creation of role-playing games and comic books.

Jon has trained and worked with many different teams across his career. He has his Master’s of Fine Art in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Jon shared, “I am drawn to Black Mountain Academy because it’s an opportunity to be a part of a unique and important community, help further ignite creative thinking in that community, and fuel my own creativity.”

We are really excited to have Jon bring his talent, passion, and creativity to Black Mountain Academy.

Patricia Kayser

Spanish & Music Teacher

Patricia was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador and moved to Miami, FL when she was 15 years old and her youngest brother was diagnosed with autism. A few years later Patricia discovered that her brother loved music so she founded an organization called Autism and Music to help individuals on the spectrum through musical interaction. She graduated from FIU (Florida International University) with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts Studies and a minor in Online Marketing. Patricia is very passionate about working with individuals in the spectrum and her dream is to one day open the “AnM Sanctuary” to offer music, art, yoga and other activities for adults with special capabilities. When not at work, Patricia is enjoying her two daughters doing outdoor activities, or also playing music with her world music band “Palmardelu”.

Steven Mucciarone

Wellness & Culinary Coordinator

Steven brings a passion and background in culinary skills and wellness to our team as our Wellness & Culinary Coordinator. After growing up in Virginia, Steven earned an Associates in Culinary Arts from Stratford University in Falls Church VA, as well as a Yoga Teaching Certification from Ra Ma Institute in New York. In his role, he supports our students by running our gym program, helping students plan their wellness and hygiene routines, teaches students cooking skills and prepares weeknight dinner on our main campus. One of his biggest responsibilities is to encourage healthy eating and expand our students’ food and physical interests, which Steven excels at through his relationships with the students. Steven began at Black Mountain Academy as a residential coach after previously spending over a decade working in restaurants and bakeries as an artisanal bread baker, pastry cook, and vegetarian sous chef. Little did he know when he was 18 that he would be teaching cooking to young people when he was an assistant Culinary Instructor for a summer camp called “Summer in the Arts” and was teaching middle school-aged kids cooking skills! Steven notes this has been a passion for most of his life, and his passion shows.

Steven was initially drawn to Black Mountain Academy because he wanted a shift in career paths and sought to be of service to diverse populations. He notes, “when I first started, the level of care at the school was illuminated for me, and I wanted to help be a part of that.” In his current position, Steven says, “I like teaching the kids skills in the kitchen that they may not learn otherwise and expanding their creativity. I look forward to working with the students in the kitchen and getting to know each of them as individuals. I like the process of building rapport with our students and extending the invitation for them to try new things, such as yoga, or foods that they may not normally try out. It’s always exciting to see the process of growth, and I like to help accelerate that for them.”

When Steven is not at work he enjoys spending time with his 13-year-old cat, Gus, creating illustration art, spending time outdoors swimming and exploring the special environment of WNC, and playing music. He also has an extensive collection of tea leaves and clay tea wear and starts every morning off drinking at least seven cups of tea!

Lucas Ferry

Assistant Program Director

Lucas is from the colonial town, Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to become a therapist given his ongoing passion for working with youth.

Prior to becoming the Assistant Program Director, Lucas served as a Lead Residential Coach, Wellness Coordinator, and Program Manager at Black Mountain Academy. Before joining our team, Lucas was a master-level field instructor at a local therapeutic wilderness program. During his time in the field, Lucas honed his ability to balance the art of holding space for students as they learned to process and communicate their feelings while also holding appropriate boundaries.

At Black Mountain Academy, Lucas is well known for his ability to form relationships with our students through fun and impactful weekly programming as well as fun adventures like skiing or camping. When asked how he relates so easily to them, he states, “As a student, I struggled in school for many years. Classes were hard and socializing was even harder. Like many of our students, I needed some extra avenues in order to find my way. By the end of high school – especially by the end of college, I had achieved honors in my education but most importantly had led an active social life. The reason for this success is the fact that I pushed past my comfort zone and made healthy routines. I want to do the same with our BMA students.”

When not adventuring around the Asheville area with the students, Lucas enjoys spending time trail running throughout the beautiful backcountry, working out, reading a good book, or exploring new hobbies with friends – many of which he then shares with our students and staff.

Michelle Young, RMA

Medical Manager

Michelle brings over 25 years of medical experience to Black Mountain Academy. She has worked in direct patient care for many of those years with a focus on pediatric and adolescents. Along with years of experience, Michelle is a Registered Medical Assistant with many certificates under that umbrella that include everything from phlebotomy to early childhood development. Michelle homeschooled her son from kindergarten to 12th-grade graduation. Therefore, she has both the knowledge and humor to sift through a medical need vs. a break from school.

Michelle loves helping others and enjoys watching our students grow in their knowledge of how to take care of and advocate for themselves from a medical perspective. It brings a smile to her face to help ensure that students, staff, and parents have what they need on a daily basis.

When not at Black Mountain Academy Michelle enjoys being with her husband, son, and furry family members. She volunteers with several local programs and enjoys teaching others about health and well being as well as overcoming obstacles life may put in your way. A mountain girl born and raised, it doesn’t take but one conversation with her to pick up on her love for the beach and anything that sparkles.

Brandon Parker

English Teacher

Brandon Parker was born in Kona, Hawaii though he considers himself to be a calm, cool, and collected Californian as that’s where he was raised. Brandon holds a B.A. in Communication Studies with a minor in Writing from Point Loma Nazarene University. A passion for educating and storytelling has led Brandon around the globe as he brings with him both experience in travel writing as well as teaching English in Madrid, Spain.

Before coming to BMA, Brandon spent time working at a local wilderness therapy program, where he found a new appreciation for the therapeutic side of education. Brandon particularly enjoys the small, student-centered classroom approach BMA provides as it allows him ample time to work with students individually and ensure they obtain the reading comprehension and writing skills they need to be successful in the future.

When not in the classroom, you can find Brandon partaking in some sort of outdoor recreation, physically enduring, or thrill-seeking activity. No matter the clime or place, if it offers adventure and beauty you can find Brandon there as he strives to experience the vast variety and richness life has to offer.

Chris Payne

Math Teacher

Coming Soon

Charles Freeland

Ceramics/Art Teacher

Coming soon!

Cat Dismukes

Academic Support Coordinator

Cat hails from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and holds a Bachelor’s in Strategic Communications with minors in Creative and Professional Writing. Prior to her current role as Academic Support Coordinator, Cat discovered the great outdoors by thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. This adventure drove a commitment to living in and enjoying our natural surroundings. Cat then worked for two years as a wilderness therapy guide. She is now pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. When asked what she likes about her role at Black Mountain Academy, Cat states, “I like the opportunity to help students during the school day as I identify with not enjoying school. I like helping facilitate their growth and mindset.” When Cat is not at work, you can find her backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and playing card games!

Sarah Schlotterbeck

Lead Residential Coach

Bio coming soon…

Amber Zollner

Family Services Coordinator

Prior to joining the team at Black Mountain Academy, Amber supported clients at a substance abuse recovery facility. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she graduated Cum Laude. To her new role as Family Services Coordinator, Amber brings multiple years of customer service experience as well as her wonderful attitude and attention to detail.

Outside of work, Amber can often be found trail running, hiking, and swimming with her partner and her dog Loosha. Amber is also trilingual, speaking German, Dutch, and English, having spent time in both Germany and Switzerland as a child!

Lenna Bucy

Life Skills Coordinator

Lenna, our self proclaimed and student nicknamed grandmother, joins our team with 35 years of early childhood education. She graduated from Western Carolina University with a Masters degree in early childhood education and has taught at a number of public schools across North Carolina. Lenna also has spent ten years of her retirement working the front desk at our local YMCA.

When asked why she was drawn to Black Mountain Academy, Lenna said “being an educator for so long has taught me that I enjoy working with students who have unique educational experiences. I also had the opportunity to befriend one of BMA’s first students at the YMCA and the rest is history”.

In her spare time, Lenna enjoys working in her flower garden, taking care of their year-old granddaughter and weaving baskets. Lenna spends her evening with her husband, on the phone with her twin daughters, and watching after her two dogs and cats while feeding the neighborhood raccoon family nightly!

Zack Paben

Senior Residential Coach

Zackary Paben has been empowering adolescents and adults as a mental health and recovery professional for almost 30 years. He has worked in a range of settings including wilderness, residential, educational, and community-based programs. As the co-founder and CEO of the nonprofit More Heart Than Scars, he empowers people to affirm that they are more than their visible and invisible wounds and or diagnosis. More Heart Than Scars’ mission is a quest for faith, love, hope, and heart, achieved by overcoming obstacles together and encouraging others to live boldly. Working with Spartan Race, Zackary leads adaptive athletes towards opportunities that build teamwork, interdependence, and resilience for future growth in their lives. Spartan Race has become the perfect vehicle for More Heart Than Scars to provide team building for both corporations, and/or students on the Autism spectrum.

Zack is a Senior Residential Coach and enjoys providing direct care to the students in order to form trusting relationships that are often forged in the mud and echoed in ongoing adventures. He leads Obstacle Course Racing events and other wilderness experiences. As a former Outward Bound instructor, he continues to work to uphold those values and skills. He enjoys archery and watching their koi fish swim in circles in the backyard of his mountain farmhouse with his partner.

Diane Kemp

Senior Residential Coach

Dianne has had the pleasure of calling the Black Mountain community her home her entire life. Dianne has an extensive background in criminal justice, spending over 25 years working on with adjudicated youth and with our local sheriff’s department. Dianne has also spent 25 years working with special needs children in a local group home.

When asked about why Dianne enjoys working at BMA she says, “I have always loved working with children and have spent my entire life working with them. I have had the privilege of working with young men and women from many different backgrounds and I have enjoyed being able to learn where our students come from”.

Dianne is a self-proclaimed workaholic. When she isn’t working with our boys or working at a local special needs group home, she enjoys spending time with her two beautiful granddaughters.

Colby Monaghan

Lead Coach

Colby joins the Lead Coach team after more than four years with Black Mountain Academy as a Residential Coach. Originally hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Colby moved to North Carolina in 2007. He received his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Montreat College, which is right around the corner from Black Mountain! Colby has also had the privilege of taking professional classes in team-building facilitation, which he is able to use with our students every day. Colby has spent the last ten years of his life working with youth across Western North Carolina, including at the YMCA and serving as a Youth Development Specialist with Goodwill Industries.

When asked what he enjoys about working at Black Mountain, Colby shares, “I enjoy being able to be creative and not have limits on ways of coaching our students that one may have in a traditional classroom or camp environment. I like being able to learn something new every day and influence these students to grow and accomplish great things”. After over four years of working diligently with both students and staff at Black Mountain Academy, Colby has stepped into the lead coach position with enthusiasm and an innate ability to positively affect all of those around him.

When not at work, Colby can often be found enjoying a local swimming hole or relaxing in a hammock around a campsite. Colby spends most of his time with his wife and two dogs. Colby has also climbed an active volcano in Iceland!

Kristina Williams

Assistant Operations Director

Kristina is very excited to be a part of the Black Mountain Academy team as Assistant Operations Director. Prior to joining the team at Black Mountain Academy, she worked for 13 years supporting the operations of therapeutic programs. She has done everything from finance, to human resources, to assisting with accreditations.

In her spare time, Kristina can be found creating concoctions with essential oils, crafting, and enjoying the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with her magnificent wife, dog & cat.

Robert Major

Logistics and Facilities Manager

Coming soon!

Contact Us Today to Begin the Admission Process

Accreditations &
Associations

Contact Us

Contact Us Today to Begin the Admission Process

Accreditations & Associations

Contact Us

Accreditations &
Associations