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Meet the Staff

About Meet the Staff

Shepherd’s Hill Academy is blessed with some of the most selfless and dedicated team members available to the body of Christ.

Each member plays a crucial role in ensuring that all of your teen’s needs are properly met 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each team member meets our strict standards and qualifications and completes a background check to ensure your family’s peace of mind while your child is enrolled at Shepherd’s Hill Academy.

Our team members deeply desire to help teens in crisis. Without their willingness to serve and listen to the voice of the Lord, Shepherd’s Hill Academy would not be nearly as effective as it is in helping troubled teens transform into productive God-honoring young men and women.

Meet the Team

Administrative Team
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Shepherd’s Hill Academy is blessed with a wonderful and highly skilled administrative team. From enrollment to graduation, our administrative team is here to serve you and your teen. Our administrative team not only guides you through the admissions process, but also performs the responsibility for much of the daily care and watchful oversight of team members who ensure a safe and secure authoritative environment is consistently available for your child.

We are currently hiring for Administrative Staff

trace embry

Trace Embry

Founder/Executive Director

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Trace Embry

Founder/Executive Director
trace embry

Trace and Beth Embry have a heart and a passion for the parents and youth of today’s culture. Trace and Beth began their married life in the Chicago area in 1980. Along with being entrepreneurs and prominent business owners, Trace served as a Police Officer in their hometown after graduating the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1978. Trace and Beth felt the Lord’s prompting to full-time ministry and attended college at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA, and pursued other extensive training to prepare them for working with troubled teens. Trace is also the Host of the License to Parent radio program.

Shepherd’s Hill Academy was founded in 1994. The Embrys live on campus and minister and counsel each resident, along with a large professional staff. Trace and Beth have five children of their own and six grandchildren.

Beth embry

Beth Embry

Founder/Director of Admissions

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Beth Embry

Founder/Director of Admissions
Beth embry

Trace and Beth Embry have a heart and a passion for the parents and youth of today’s culture. Trace and Beth began their married life in the Chicago area in 1980. Trace and Beth felt the Lord’s prompting to full-time ministry and attended college and extensive training to prepare them for working with troubled teens.

Shepherd’s Hill Academy was founded in 1994. The Embrys live on campus and minister and counsel each resident, along with a large professional staff. Trace and Beth have five children of their own and six grandchildren.

Allison Wallace

Allison Wallace

Director of Program Development

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Allison Wallace

Director of Program Development
Allison Wallace

Allison studied Counseling Psychology and Developmental Psychology at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.

Teens and residential care have been a part of Allison’s life since she was a young girl. Growing up within the culture of SHA, she has been immersed in the journey from crisis to restoration. Allison fell in love with the story of redemption and the hope that it can bring to an individual.

Allison has been a part of Residential Care for her entire adult life, holding the position of Girls Wilderness Program Supervisor from 2006 to 2013. She now works as the Director of Program Development. Working in residential care is not a job to Allison, but a passion. Allison explains that she is “extremely blessed for each day God allows me to be apart of the work at SHA.”

Allison loves sports, animals, and the outdoors. She especially loves running, participating in 3 half marathons with more to come! Fall is her absolute favorite season, as Georgia is particularly beautiful (especially for a run) this time of year. Allison also enjoys spending time with her family. Allison, along with her husband Joshua, together they have the privilege of working side by side at Shepherd’s Hill Academy. Allison says, “It’s been an awesome experience sharing this with him.” Together they have a beautiful little girl, Lilliana.

Joshua Wallace

Joshua Wallace

Director of Operations

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Joshua Wallace

Director of Operations
Joshua Wallace

Joshua pursued Youth Pastoral Studies at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA. He is also a certified instructor for Handle with Care Crisis Intervention and has been trained in Wilderness First Aid and water safety through Red Cross.

He has been working with troubled youth since 2005. Initially, he served at a summer youth camp, and then as a Residential Team member at SHA. He currently serves as Director of Operations and uses his organizational and strategic planning skills for administrative purposes at Shepherd’s Hill Academy.

Joshua’s passion is for the wayward youth of this culture. Seeing how the negative influences of this culture have impacted our nation’s youth, his hope is that God can use him in the ministry to re-establish a biblical worldview in the hearts and minds of the youth in America.

He and his wife enjoy competitive sports and outdoor activities. Joshua also loves to gain knowledge in Christian apologetics and other worldviews through reading and studying.

Nathaniel ether

Nathaniel David Ether

Director of Policy Development and Interim Director of Human Resources

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Nathaniel David Ether

Director of Policy Development and Interim Director of Human Resources
Nathaniel ether

Nathaniel graduated from Crown College in Saint Bonifacius, MN. He has a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and Christian Studies. He also has a minor in Counseling and a second minor in Psychology.

Nathaniel has been serving youth since 2003. He has enjoyed working with youth since he was a teen himself. He has been involved in Boys Brigade (assistant to the rangers on trips), vacation Bible school (teacher assistant, teacher, and assistant director of VBS), a missions trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (team member), Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child and Tsunami Relief), Feed My Starving Children, Source Ministries, as an English teacher at an English camp in North-East Germany, and as a youth worker in several different youth groups (Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church and First Alliance Church). It has always been one of his passions to work with youth, and he desires to positively impact the lives of the teens we serve. It is also his desire that he may grow in his own faith from these experiences. His passion for teens is to see them live free of destructive lifestyles.

Nathaniel has served SHA in several different capacities over the years: Boys Wilderness Team Member, Boys Wilderness Supervisor, Boys Teacher’s Aide, Content and Social Media Strategist, and now the primary Instructor for certifying SHA staff in First Aid/CPR/AED with the American Red Cross.

Nathaniel is a single father and has one daughter, Elena, who was born in 2014. He enjoys sports, swimming, camping, the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, and most of all, spending time with his daughter. He also enjoys learning about other cultures, world religions, worldviews, and languages. Learn more about Nate.

cody hurd

Cody Hurd

Food Services

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Cody Hurd

Food Services
cody hurd

Cody has served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves for five years. As a member of the Armed Forces, he served as a cook and a small team leader. Cody attends Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA studying the Pastoral Ministries Leadership program.

He has previous experience working with youth by serving at vacation Bible school. He also worked for five years with youth, particularly pre-teens and younger, through various major retail programs.

Cody’s strong desire to work with and help the youth of today stems from his own childhood experiences. He claims he could have benefited from a program like Shepherd’s Hill Academy when he was growing up. Today, he will say it is a call from God to help those who have difficulties and to guide them, like God has guided him, to seek a better life.

Cody is an avid reader and loves to read almost anything within his reach. He does enjoy an occasional computer game, and he works out regularly with his wife.

Academic/Education Team
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Our academic team members are not only filled with the talent and passion to teach troubled teenagers. They are also filled with the Spirit of God, and this is their calling. From our principal to our teachers and teacher’s aides, our academic team helps teens from all walks and challenges of life come to appreciate and enjoy learning. Our fully-accredited junior and senior high school provides your troubled teen with the classes he or she needs to successfully graduate high school. In addition, our faculty is committed to helping your teen improve an underachieved Grade Point Average (GPA) without compromising his or her educational integrity. With a 5:1 student to staff ratio, your teen receives individualized attention and a quality education from educators who really care about his or her future.

We are currently hiring for Academic/Education Staff

Amy laird

Amy Laird

Principal

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Amy Laird

Principal
Amy laird

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Education with certification in History, English, and Science from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She is also certified through Niyelo as an Adventure-Based Counselor, Ropes Course Facilitator, First Aid, CPR, and Crisis Intervention through Handle with Care (HWC).

She has worked with the students of SHA since 2001. Her prayer is that, as young people are healed by the love and truth of Christ, they will continue to witness and be a light to the world into which they return.

Amy feels a dual calling on her life to be both teacher and minister to struggling teens. Her deepest aspiration is to model Christ because of the gratitude she has towards Him for the work He has done in her life. She desires to be a witness through her words and the way she lives her own life. She believes that SHA serves a unique purpose in this day and hour and is grateful to be a part of it. It is gratifying for Amy to witness the many young lives she sees at SHA changed through Christ.

Amy and her husband Jeremiah enjoy mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking. Amy also plays the hand drum in the worship team at her church.

Jeremiah Hudson

Jeremiah Hudson

Lead Teacher

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Jeremiah Hudson

Lead Teacher
Jeremiah Hudson

Jeremiah graduated high school through the Interior Distance Education of Alaska (I.D.E.A.). Thereafter, he attended the Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna, AK, for two years. Currently, he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Bible and Theology at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.

At the young age of twelve, Jeremiah heard God calling him to work in youth ministry. While growing up, he was very active in his youth group and involved in coordinating events. Jeremiah served the youth at Solid Rock Bible Camp in Soldotna, AK for three years as a counselor and lifeguard. He currently serves guiding kids at the student out-reach weekly youth program at Oscar Mike’s nonprofit ice cream shop in Toccoa, GA.

Jeremiah believes that it is important for teenagers to have strong role models that are rooted in God’s truth in their life. It is his desire to develop healthy relationships with teens in order to mentor them and to make a lasting impression upon future generations.

Jeremiah enjoys being outside surrounded by nature, along with hiking, camping, and skiing. He loves to learn new things and to teach others. He also plays the guitar and trumpet.

Donald brown

Donald Brown

English Teacher

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Donald Brown

English Teacher
Donald brown

Donald received a bachelor’s degree in English, with a concentration in Literature, from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.

Donald has a heart for working with young people. He has worked with youth at the various churches he has attended since 2007. It is Donald’s desire to not only prepare his students for college by teaching them to become better readers and writers but to help them become better, more mature individuals as well. Primarily, he wants to show them the love of Christ, and be an example of Christian maturity in their lives.

Donald is married and has three children. He is an avid reader and film buff. He also does a bit of creative writing from time to time. He enjoys playing tennis, listening to music, and follows the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball and the Atlanta Falcons football teams.

frank Moore

Frank Moore

Boy's Primary Teacher's Aide

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Frank Moore

Boy's Primary Teacher's Aide
frank Moore

Frank has been working with youth since 2014. It’s Frank’s mission to serve and honor God. He wants to serve God and has followed His path to Shepherd’s Hill Academy to continue working with the teens of this generation.

Frank has one son and one daughter: Frank Moore II (son) and Candace (daughter).

He enjoys mixed martial arts. He also enjoys coaching and has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

James Moore

James Moore

Math and Science Teacher

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James Moore

Math and Science Teacher
James Moore

James was blessed to attend Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA for three years before completing his bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, FL. He received an Education Endorsement from St. Petersburg College, in St. Petersburg, FL. James also earned a Master of Education degree in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education.

James has always felt a heart of concern for teens and all kids. He has been a children’s church volunteer since middle school. He worked for both Pioneer Clubs and Young Life for seven years each. In between each of those, he served as a youth pastor. James loves that God makes the body of Christ to contain many different gifts. The verse I Corinthians 7:17 is a verse he reflects on and shares with others because he believes we are often aspiring to be someone else and we fail to see the wonderful person God made us.

James has been married to his wife Kris for 26 years. He refers to her as a Proverbs 31 woman. He also has three daughters Josie, Kalli, Kasie. They do a lot together as a family and they love and enjoy: the outdoors, waterfalls, hiking, reading, old movies, making things, fixing things, playing games, making pizza, campfires, bugs, the library, roller skating, their 3 cats and 4 reptiles, Fixer Upper, American Girl dolls (any dolls), Legos, the fall season, Christian music, Hobby Lobby, Family time, and of course their Church Family.

Therapeutic Team
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Though everything we do at Shepherd’s Hill Academy is designed for therapeutic value, our therapeutic team is dedicated specifically to reaching your teen’s individual goals in order to contribute to the transformation of his or her life. Our team works with your family from your child’s enrollment to his or her graduation and aftercare plan.

Always working under the umbrella of scriptural authority, our team works hand-in-hand in developing a strategic therapeutic plan that serves not only your teen’s needs, but your family’s needs as well. In addition, they facilitate individual and family sessions for the adolescent sessions designed to promote healing, while building your teen’s relationship with both your family and Christ.

We are currently hiring for Therapeutic Staff

Elise thrift

Elise Thrift, LPC

Clinical Director

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Elise Thrift, LPC

Clinical Director
Elise thrift

Elise Thrift, LPC is the Clinical Director for Shepherd’s Hill Academy. She oversees the direction of the therapeutic team to provide excellent care for the individual therapeutic needs of the client and support for families.

Prior to this role, Elise obtained her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a dual focus in both Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA.

Elise began working with children and teens in a nonprofit agency specializing in play therapy. She has received training in sand tray therapy as well as art therapy interventions to utilize with clients in the individual setting. Elise began working at SHA in 2016 as a Girls Primary Therapist. In her work at SHA, Elise has helped many teens navigate the issues of parental divorce, grief, attachment, anxiety, depression, self-harm, abuse, emotional regulation, substance abuse, impulse control, interpersonal relationships, college and career planning, and adjustment.

Elise strongly believes that God has placed a calling on her life to help bring healing and hope to those who are hurting. Elise takes a Client-Centered Approach to individuals to provide unconditional positive regard and empathy. This, in turn, is often a catalyst for clients to explore how their past behaviors contribute to their current functioning. Much like Christ’s model of relationship, Elise strives to lovingly guide teens towards wisdom and emotional health. Elise also utilizes other empirically sound interventions such as CBT, psychodynamic, and DB informed interventions to use with both clients and their families.

Elise is happily married to her college sweetheart Zach. They are blessed with two children. She enjoys spending quality time with them on their small family farm.

Aimee temple

Aimee Temple

Family Relations Coordinator

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Aimee Temple

Family Relations Coordinator
Aimee temple

Aimee has a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling & Psychology from Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA. Her near-future plans include pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) at Liberty University.

She has a heart for helping teens and their families. Aimee worked as a Direct Care staff member in the Girls Residential Program of Shepherd’s Hill Academy from 2016-2018. In her role as Family Relations Coordinator, her goal is to offer support, relationships, and tools to parents to make effective and lasting changes in their home.

Aimee wants to serve families in crisis because she came from such a spiritually sound, disciplined, and loving family. She feels God has called her to use what she has learned growing up to spread the message of hope and encouragement to families in need.

Aimee is recently (2020) married to her husband Josh. She enjoys crafting, being outdoors, snorkeling, and being at the beach.

buddy prow

Buddy Prow, LPC

Boys Therapeutic Counselor

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Buddy Prow, LPC

Boys Therapeutic Counselor
buddy prow

Buddy has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC. He received his master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Currently (2016), he is pursuing a master’s degree in Theology at Liberty University. At the same time, he is pursuing his Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) certifications.

Buddy has many years of experience working with children and families. For six years he served as a Youth Pastor at Lexington Baptist Church in Lexington, GA. For 10 years, he was a foster parent. He also served as a placement case manager for the Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) in Barrow County, GA.

His previous positions working with adults with addictions have led him to proactively reach the teens of our culture to teach them preventive methods for addictive behaviors. It is Buddy’s desire to share his personal parenting point of view as a hurting parent of a once troubled teen himself. He wants to help families reunite in a healthy manner for love and support and to show them there is always hope in the unknown times of parenting a teen.

Buddy is married. He has 10 children he calls “mine.” Of these 10 children, he has five biological daughters, two adoptive sons, two step-sons, and one foster daughter. When he is not occupied helping others, being a husband and a father, or studying, Buddy enjoys hunting and golfing.

dawn williams

Dawn Williams

Equine Program Manager

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Dawn Williams

Equine Program Manager
dawn williams

Dawn, originally from Newfane, NY, moved to Northeast Georgia as a young child and calls Georgia her home. She was fortunate to be introduced to horsemanship at the age of 15, and it has been a part of her life ever since. She ventured out into other industries but found herself constantly being drawn back into working with horses. Dawn will say she finally took all the hints God was showing her and knew working with horses was His calling for her life.

Dawn’s 30+ years of professional horsemanship is a blend of all the wonderful teachers (horses and humans) that she has had over the years along with the natural abilities and gifts God has instilled in her. Relationship-based horsemanship is, as the name implies, about the relationship between the horses and the people. Dawn’s diverse expertise is in various areas from training young horses to teaching people safe enjoyable horse-handling skills. These things led her to expand her knowledge into the therapeutic side of how horses can help us overcome many of our own personal issues.

Dawn thoroughly enjoys helping both horses and people overcome challenges together as friends rather than in a servant and master relationship. Understanding the interaction between equine and humans, Dawn also serves as a professional equine riding instructor and therapy horse trainer. She doesn’t just “whisper,” she listens.

Jordan parson

Jordan Parson, LAPC, NCC

Girls Primary Therapist

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Jordan Parson, LAPC, NCC

Girls Primary Therapist
Jordan parson

Jordan is a graduate from the University of North Georgia with a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Jordan is currently pursuing her Licensed Professional Counselor Certification in the state of Georgia but is a National Certified Counselor through the NBCC.

Jordan has experience working in a Community Counseling Center working with individuals of all ages but developed a passion for working with adolescents. Living a Christian lifestyle began at a very young age, and she still enjoys learning more about Christianity in church and her family bible studies. She believes God has called her to spread love and hope.

Jordan comes from a very large family and has enjoyed growing up on her family’s farm. She spends a lot of her time outside; either gardening, hiking, or spending time with family and friends. When she cannot be outside, she spends her free time in the kitchen because she loves to cook and bake. Jordan is very excited to be part of the therapeutic team at Shepherd’s Hill Academy.

lexie London

Lexy London Wood, LPN

School Nurse

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Lexy London Wood, LPN

School Nurse
lexie London

Lexie has a Licensed Practical Nursing degree from Tri-County Technical College in Easley, SC. She is working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing online through Excelsior College of Albany, NY. She is certified in First Aid and CPR. She was a Nurse Hero Nominee in 2019.

Lexie shares that she has always had a calling to be a nurse. While in High School she participated in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program offered at her school. More specifically, she knows the Lord has called her to be a positive, Christ-like influence in the lives of our youth. She believes the culture has so many negative influences and temptations on kids and she wants to help show them their purpose in life. Her heart has a special place for helping the hurting and lost people in society. She accredits this desire, and the person she is today, to the people who poured into her and never gave up on her when she was young.

Growing up, Lexie volunteered in Sunday school, VBS, and children’s church. As she became older, she taught the children’s group at her church and was the interim treasurer. For several years she was a part of Learning, Education, and Discipleship (L.E.A.D.) Ministries. The L.E.A.D. ministry weaved together Christian discipleship, progressive horsemanship, and spiritual leadership to help lead young people to the Lord.

Lexie lives on a 30-acre farm where she gets to be outside tending to lots of animals, including horses which she also rides and teaches equine lessons. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors, spur of the moment road trips, and relaxing on the lake with friends.

Hayley walker

Haley Walker

Profile Manger

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Haley Walker

Profile Manger
Hayley walker

Haley is currently enrolled at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She has always had a passion for learning and applying new knowledge to every aspect of her life.

Haley coached a kid’s soccer team for two years, where she combined her love for children and her love of soccer. She really enjoyed forming relationships with the players, teaching them about the sport while instilling confidence, and having the chance to lead short weekly devotionals after practice. Haley was also a live-in nanny and the sole caregiver for three young girls whose dad worked as a contractor overseas. She has always loved children, so nannying comes very natural to her.

Haley is thrilled at the opportunity to work with the students at Shepherd’s Hill Academy because she remembers, appreciates, and loves the adolescent years. She respects that each student will enter our program with their own experiences, strengths, challenges, and personality, and is excited to help them learn how to use all of these things to live out the plan God has for their lives. She is also looking forward to guiding them as they learn and develop wonderful, new skills that they can apply to their lives outside of Shepherd’s Hill.

Haley lives in Toccoa, GA with her husband, Garrett, and their wonderful pets. She loves cooking, gardening, reading, sports, and frequenting farmer’s markets and antique stores with her husband and family.

Boys Residential Team
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The Shepherd’s Hill Academy boys residential team is comprised of men who have a passion for serving troubled or struggling teens in crisis. On a 24/7 basis, our boys residential team ensures your son’s therapeutic needs are met. In addition, each member is thoroughly trained to provide a safe environment that cultivates your teen boy’s academic, emotional, physical, and spiritual development.

Each team member undergoes an intense 30-day training period that meets the Georgia state required employment process. Only upon meeting all requirements, including a thorough background and criminal history check, can an individual join the Shepherd’s Hill Academy team. All residential staff members are required to be trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI).

Assuring the greatest degree of care and attention in the industry, Shepherd’s Hill Academy uncompromisingly upholds a maximum 5:1 student to staff ratio. This means your child will not be out of sight of a boys residential team member at any point during his stay in the Therapeutic Outdoor Program.

We are currently hiring for Boys Residential Staff

drew embry

Drew Embry

Boys Wilderness Program Director

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Drew Embry

Boys Wilderness Program Director
drew embry

Drew holds certifications in Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI), CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard, and First Aid with the American Red Cross. He was previously trained and certified in Wilderness First Responder through the Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI).

Drew has a passion for serving the youth of this nation. He sees that many teens have given up hope on living according to biblical principles. Drew works alongside the teens at Shepherd’s Hill Academy to offer them hope in the possibility of living out those principles in a practical way.

Drew enjoys sports, swimming, and NASCAR racing.

Caleb brown

Caleb Brown

Residential Coordinator

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Caleb Brown

Residential Coordinator
Caleb brown

Caleb received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Otterbein University in Westerville, OH, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. He is a worship leader at Revive Church, along with serving in Celebrate Recovery at The Pointe Church. He has former experience working with a Christian-based men’s recovery home.

At age 27, Caleb turned his life over to Christ to serve His Kingdom by helping others who are broken and in need of help. The Lord laid it on Caleb’s heart to work with this generation of young people to help impact their lives in a positive way. It is Caleb’s desire to share his own experiences to teach our youth to reach their full potential through a healthy relationship with Christ.

Caleb and his wife Hilary have a one-year-old daughter, Willow, and enjoy spending time as a family and playing music together.

Tyler Taylor

Tyler Taylor

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Tyler Taylor

Tyler Taylor

Tyler has completed his bachelor’s degree in General Studies at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. Tyler has been working with youth since 2008. He began working at Shepherd’s Hill Academy in 2013.

In Tyler’s own teenage years, he had the guidance and mentorship of three very godly men. At the time, he did not appreciate the time and effort that they poured into his life to shape him into the person he is today. Now that he is grown up and can look back at it, he has seen that they sacrificed a lot of time that they didn’t need to and for no real reason other than that they wanted to instill good qualities in him. This, along with the fact that he has always had a desire to work with youth, has convinced him that it is his responsibility to give the coming generation the guidance that he had growing up.

Tyler has been married to his wife Lane since August 11, 2012. He enjoys spending time outdoors, camping, and working on cars.

Hayden Snowden

Hayden Snowden

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Hayden Snowden

Hayden Snowden

Hayden is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.

He spent two summers working with his church, and others, through VBS programs. He has also spent the past three years as a youth wrestling coach. He has two younger brothers who are a constant reminder of how to live his life daily so that those who are following him have a good example.

Hayden shares, “In my late teenage years, I was lost in life. I had not yet committed my life to Christ and refused to listen to the plans God had for my life, so after high school, I quickly bogged down because I did not know what to do with my life. It was with strong role models who taught me how to commit my life to Christ that I began listening to God’s directions for me, following His plans laid before me. Now I want to return the favor and provide young men who are likewise lost in life a path to God and teach them that He is the only one who truly knows what is best for you and will never lead you astray. I want to be a strong role model in their lives that they can look up to during hard times in their lives.”

He enjoys all activities in the outdoors. He also likes reading, sports, and especially working with youth athletes.

Christopher ivester

Christopher Ivester

Project Manager

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Christopher Ivester

Project Manager
Christopher ivester

Christopher is currently studying for an associate degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Georgia Technical College. He plans to continue his studies by transferring to Kennesaw State University to receive a bachelor’s. He served in the United States Marine Corps for four years.

Christopher shared his leadership ability by serving as a mentor to junior Marines for two years. He has a strong desire to work alongside teens to help improve their lives, the lives of their families, and their community. He knows that the experience of working with and helping teens will also enrich his own life.

Christopher is married and has two children. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and really anything outside. His motto is: “I can’t wait to get know and help the people I meet.”

Girls Residential Team
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Our girls residential team consists of godly women who are passionately committed to serving troubled or struggling teen girls in crisis. The Shepherd’s Hill Academy girls residential team provides safe around-the-clock care for your daughter’s daily needs, including her academic, emotional, physical and spiritual development.

Every Shepherd’s Hill Academy team member must meet all the employment requirements, including a thorough background and criminal history check as set forth by the state of Georgia. All residential staff members are required to be trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI).

In addition, each member undergoes an intense 30-day training period. Assuring the greatest degree of care and attention in the industry, Shepherd’s Hill Academy uncompromisingly upholds a maximum 5:1 student to staff ratio. This means your teen daughter is not out of sight of a girls residential team member at any point during her stay in the Therapeutic Outdoor Program.

We are currently hiring for Girls Residential Staff

speir

Brittany Spier

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Brittany Spier

speir

Brittany is currently going to Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. She is seeking a bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She has received a media production certificate from MediaLight in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

She has worked with the youth group at her home church since 2015. Over the years, she has worked as a small group leader for all high school ages at the church.

From Brittany: “I have a passion for helping teens. I believe that the teenage years are some of the most important years because they are learning about themselves and God while trying to juggle their personal struggles. When I was a teenager, I had mentors that poured into me that helped make me the person I am today, and I want to do the same for the teenagers at Shepherd’s Hill Academy.”

Fun Fact: Brittany traveled to Thailand when she graduated high school in 2015 to participate in a media program that prepared people to be media missionaries. She also traveled to Roatan, Honduras in 2017 to participate in a discipleship program while doing missionary work. She enjoys hiking and grabbing coffee with close friends. She also tries to paint and draw when she has free time.

lamey

Britney Lamey

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Britney Lamey

lamey

Britney attends Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA where she is pursuing an associate’s degree in Biology. She is doing well academically. Her first year in college she was on the Dean’s list and holds a 3.6 GPA.

Britney was a youth coordinator for two years at her home church, Beulah Missionary Baptist Church, in Miami, FL. Her mother died when she was six-years-old. She grew up in the church with her father and 11 siblings.

Today, she lives with her father and a few of her siblings. Britney says: “All my life, my heart lies with helping young individuals grow. I never had that while growing up. So, I want to make sure I am able to serve the youth of today and lead them down the right path and ensure they get the care that I didn’t when I was growing up. I have always been eager to share the love of God through my actions and that is something I genuinely want others to experience.”

In her spare time, Britney enjoys reading books that teach her life lessons. She loves singing, dancing and doing sports. She has a love for science and likes doing the research that goes with it.

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Grace Clayton

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Grace Clayton

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Grace is a student at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA. She is studying Secondary English Education.

Her experience with youth includes; volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club since 2018. Grace describes her desire to work with youth as recited in 1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Grace says, “Since I was a child, the Lord has laid teaching on my heart, specifically to teenagers. In a world of sin and technology, our teenagers face a large quantity of temptations. It’s my aspiration to allow teens to see their own potential. I want to love, care, and teach them about having good attitudes, developing integrity, and most importantly, the love and abundant care we receive from Jesus Christ.”

Fun Facts: Grace serves on the Student Government as Administrative Specialist at Toccoa Falls College! She enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading and camping.

Marketing Team
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The Shepherd’s Hill Academy marketing team works to further the mission and the message of our ministry through traditional and digital marketing channels. The department strives to meet parents in crisis with Shepherd’s Hill Academy’s message of hope and healing, offering an opportunity for true healing for their child(ren) and family. The marketing department also works with donors and partners to further enhance the program, offering students and parents the best possible experience as they seek success for their child.

We are currently hiring for Marketing Staff

Terri Ross

Terri Ross

Marketing and Research Coordinator

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Terri Ross

Marketing and Research Coordinator
Terri Ross

Terri holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Management from National American University–NAU. She also has an associate degree in Business Administration from Central New Mexico Community College–CNM (formally Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute–TVI).

She has a versatile business administrative background. Her previous experience includes working for major corporations in the convenience store and Department of Defense contracting industries.

Terri truly has a heart for ministry. She joined Shepherd’s Hill Academy to help with the administrative and marketing efforts. She loves to serve and witness the process of young people breaking free from addictions and negative behaviors as they learn who they are in Christ. She enjoys modeling Christ to the students and offers words of encouragement to them as she observes their transformation throughout their stay at Shepherd’s Hill Academy.

Outside of serving at Shepherd’s Hill Academy, she enjoys group Bible studies, family, gardening, skiing, camping, hiking, fishing, reading, and movies.

Joshua

Josh Temple

Advancement Coordinator

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Josh Temple

Advancement Coordinator
Joshua

Josh received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.

Josh has experience giving young people guidance and direction by working at summer youth camps within various churches.

Josh personally knows the pain and trials of growing up without a godly Christian father in his life. It was through church functions, such as summer camps and vacation Bible school, that he was introduced to positive Christian male role models that showed him what being a godly man was all about. Josh wants to be that same type of role model for any young man that has never had any sort of positive influence in his life.

In Josh’s free time, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming, and anything to do with the great outdoors.

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Join the Team

We’re always on the lookout for passionate and qualified individuals to join our team at Shepherd’s Hill Academy. To inquire about current openings, or to submit your application online, click here. We look forward to hearing from you and weloming you to the SHA staff family!

Find out more about what SHA can do for you and your family.

(706) 703-4188

Shepherd’s Hill Academy

2200 Price Road

Martin, Georgia 30557

(706) 779-5766

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