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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
Show Staff

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 the Host of the License to Parent radio program, and the Author of the book “The Miracles of Shepherd’s Hill – An Extraordinary Odyssey of Divine Interventions.”

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 eight grandchildren.

Beth embry

Beth Embry

Founder/Administrative Director

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Beth Embry

Founder/Administrative Director
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 eight grandchildren.

Allison Wallace

Allison Wallace

Director of Programs & Admissions

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Allison Wallace

Director of Programs & Admissions
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.

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.

Caleb Trice

IT Director

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Caleb Trice

IT Director

Caleb graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Ministry Leadership from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA.

He has worked with youth by serving at the youth ministries of Revive Church in Cornelia, GA for three years. Caleb enjoys giving to others to help improve their life situations. He claims he was once a troubled teenager who began to take those issues into his adulthood. He gives the Lord all the credit for “doing big things” in his life. He knows the Lord will use him to reach other troubled teens before they become adults.

Caleb is married with three children, two daughters and one boy.

In his spare time, Caleb loves music and playing the guitar. He collects and loves everything that goes along with guitars.

Buddy Prow, LPC, ASDCS, CMAC

Lead Therapeutic Counselor

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Buddy Prow, LPC, ASDCS, CMAC

Lead Therapeutic Counselor

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. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in Theology at Liberty University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS), and a Certified Master Addiction Counselor (CMAC).

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. He currently serves on the board of the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA).

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.

Nathaniel-Ether

Nathaniel Ether

Director of Policy Development

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Nathaniel Ether

Director of Policy Development
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, Assistant Director of Operations, Interim Director of Human Resources, and now Director of Policy Development.

Nathaniel is married to his wife Jacklyn. Together Nathaniel and his wife have 5 children, 4 girls and 1 boy. He enjoys sports, swimming, camping, the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, and most of all, spending time with his family. He also enjoys learning about other cultures, world religions, worldviews, and languages.

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.

Kerry Coggins

Administrative Manager

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Kerry Coggins

Administrative Manager

Kerry has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, with a minor in Accounting, from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.

She has three adult children of her own, whom she homeschooled from grades K-12. She loved being able to spend this valuable and quality time with her children as they were growing. Kerry applied to work at Shepherds Hill Academy because she desires to be a part of a ministry that cares so deeply about helping hurting teens and their families. She has come to really enjoy her administrative work here.

In her free time, Kerry enjoys hanging out with her family, playing games together, completing puzzles, reading, and working outside in her yard.

Admissions Team
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The Admissions Team will help you start your journey toward healing by providing you with the guidance and advice you need to enroll your child. They act as a liaison between all other team members to best serve you. They also provide valuable resources to families seeking help for their child.

We are currently hiring for Admissions Staff

Allison Wallace

Allison Wallace

Director of Programs & Admissions

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Allison Wallace

Director of Programs & Admissions
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.

Alica Chapman

Alica Chapman

Admissions Coordinator

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Alica Chapman

Admissions Coordinator
Alica Chapman

Hailing from Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC, Alica studied Business Management and Accounting. Alicia brings an incredible depth of knowledge to the Shepherd’s Hill Admissions Team as the Admissions Coordinator. Alicia believes that teens are the future and that the work at Shepherd’s Hill is key in teaching them the Word of God so that they can apply it within their lives and spread His Word.

Alicia has been a long-time staple at her church, serving as an integral part of her VBS team since 2003. When she is not at Shepherd’s Hill working in the Admissions office, you can find Alicia hiking, camping, fishing, and spending time with family. She loves dachshunds and is the momma of two fur babies.

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

Principal

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Amy Laird

Principal

Amy has been a part of the Shepherd’s Hill Academy Team for over 20 years and she currently serves as the Principal for the team. She brings a multi-faceted portfolio of experience and education to the campus, which includes a bachelor’s degree in Teacher Education from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA, and a master’s degree in Leadership Education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. Her education has a focus on English and history for middle grades and on high school science. Amy kicked off her career at Shepherd’s Hill as a weekend counselor before shifting to the Academics Team.

Amy’s passion for youth comes from her own struggles and transformation journey as a teenager. It was through God’s working in her life during that season that seeded the call and compassion towards struggling teens today. Looking out to today’s youth, Amy feels that they are more vulnerable now than ever before due to the harmful influences in the world around them. The life-destroying threats are digitized, politicized, user-friendly, and all-pervasive, she feels. She is thankful for the Shepherd’s Hill families — moms, dads, uncles, aunts, grandparents, churches —that are willing to stand in the gap and say enough! These are the families that she wants to serve and the young people she wants to teach, support, and equip as they find their way back home.

Amy is married with one child. She enjoys outdoor recreation, reading, learning, snorkeling, and raising a wild-hearted little girl who loves adventure as much as she does. Most of all, Amy loves Jesus!

Jeremiah Hudson

Lead Teacher

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Jeremiah Hudson

Lead Teacher

Jeremiah is the Lead Teacher and Math Teacher at Shepherd’s Hill Academy. He has worked at Shepherd’s Hill since 2018; starting on the Direct Care Staff before switching to the Academics Team. Prior to his time at Shepherd’s Hill, he worked with youth starting in 2013, honing his skills in a variety of settings including camps and youth groups.

Jeremiah brings an incredible suite of educational achievements to the Shepherd’s Hill Team which includes a provisional teaching license through Georgia Accreditation Commission and a bachelor’s degree in General Studies. He is currently working on his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership at Toccoa Falls College, in Toccoa Falls, GA, with plans to transition to a Master’s in Law program at Regent University.

In his years at Shepherd’s Hill, he has been convinced that the students there are good kids who made some poor decisions, but are in need of love and a second chance. Jeremiah is fueled to help teens due to his personal experiences in his youth. He was shaken in his late teens about his faith and was reliant on strong role models in his life to lead him back to truth. In the same way, he is passionate about helping teens to establish their identities and give them confidence through a biblical truth. 

Jeremiah has been married to his wife, Alexa, since 2019. The couple has a daughter, Rylie, and a son, Rogan, along with their two dogs. He enjoys grilling, playing guitar, and spending time with family and friends. He grew up in Alaska and moved to Georgia in 2017, carrying a love for outdoor activities along with him. 

Daniel-Estep

Daniel Estep

Academic Manager & Res. Direct Care

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Daniel Estep

Academic Manager & Res. Direct Care
Daniel-Estep

Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Middle Georgia University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health and Trauma Concealing at Walden University. Before his time at Shepherd’s Hill, Daniel was working with youth in wilderness camps for four years and then worked in the mental health and addiction treatment field for five.

Daniel points out that sometimes teens don’t have the best support system to help them along the way — maybe they fell into the wrong social crowd or perhaps an overtaxed single parent can’t give them the time they need. Other times, parents are dealing with their own issues or stressful dynamics between them and their child. These can make it more difficult and complicated to be supportive and attuned. He loves being a guide for teens during this formative stage of life.

Daniel enjoys helping them develop skills such as boundaries, goal setting, appropriate self-expression, and emotional self-regulation. “I work collaboratively and communicate with a sense of humor and pragmatism that may be refreshing for teens. I also provide a unique perspective for teens by helping them see multiple sides of situations they find themselves in. Whether real or imagined, I help them overcome their limitations and I work very hard to challenge teens’ assumptions. My goal is to help teens develop a greater sense of self-worth, resilience, and a lifetime of potential. Most importantly, I want to earn their trust. Feeling understood, seen, and respected by an adult can be a tremendously validating and stabilizing force in their lives.”

For personal time, Daniel enjoys art and reading. He loves exploring outside, doing activities such as camping, hiking, and fishing.

David-Venega

David Venenga

Biblical Studies Teacher

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David Venenga

Biblical Studies Teacher
David-Venega

David holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA. His certifications include Security+ Certification from CompTIA, and he is a Cyber Transport Technician from the USAF.

David is passionate about presenting the Word of God as it was intended to be understood — a real story for real life. David believes it is essential that an education in the stories and letters of the Bible be communicated to teens, not as a series of “be nice” lectures, but as an open and serious invitation from a Father Who knows us, our situation, our faults and failures, and is still willing to give His life for us.

David has been married since 2008 and has two sons, two daughters, two house cats, and a beautiful Chinese Crested dog. When David is not working at Shepherd’s Hill Academy, you can find him hiking, camping, reading, enjoying music, watching cheesy 80’s movies, and above all, spending time with his family.

Donald Brown

English Teacher

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Donald Brown

English Teacher

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.

Carly Camejo

History Teacher

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Carly Camejo

History Teacher

Mrs. Camejo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. She is presently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching. Her work experience centers on helping families in crisis beginning with her role as a victim’s advocate at Forsyth County Family Haven, where she founded a GED program and library.  She transitioned her career to special education in 2018 and began to teach students with learning exceptionalities. 

As a neurodivergent teenager, she spent most of her public school career consciously managing behaviors and striving to learn in an environment not built for someone with specific learning needs. This inspired her to create a classroom culture which meets the emotional and learning needs of each student on her roster. This includes teaching social skills and etiquette, while also encouraging individuality and leadership. 

Carly’s primary hobby is her cats, of which she has three. In her free time she reads, hikes, and teaches English to Speakers of Other Languages. 

James Moore

Math and Science Teacher

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James Moore

Math and Science Teacher

James has a strong background of education; he holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He received an Education Endorsement from St. Petersburg College, in St. Petersburg, FL. He also holds a Master of Arts in Education degree in Science Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education.

James first stepped into the youth arena as a young person, volunteering in Children’s Church at just 12 years old. He was the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) President at his high school and began volunteering for Young Life youth camp in 1993 where he still donates time today. In 2005, James served as a youth pastor. He draws on the words of Jesus that say “the Kingdom of God belongs to children” – pointing out that though “teens” refers to 13+ years old, there really is nothing miraculous that happens when that milestone is reached. James holds to the mindset that we progress from innocence to experiences that change us and he prays that he will make a difference helping students navigate and thrive every day of their lives.

James is married to his wife Kris Moore. They have three daughters — Josie, Kalli, and Kasie. Some of his favorite pastimes are having family time outdoors on the lake and in waterfalls, as well as teaching them how to build and fix things. James also serves at church and enjoys sports, volleyball, surfing, music, and studying Genesis.

Frank Moore

Boys Primary Teacher's Aide & Res. Direct Care

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Frank Moore

Boys Primary Teacher's Aide & Res. Direct Care

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.

Brittany Spier

Girls Primary Teachers Aide

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Brittany Spier

Girls Primary Teachers Aide

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.

Byron Kennedy

Boys Teachers Aide & Res. Direct Care

New Bio Coming Soon
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Byron Kennedy

Boys Teachers Aide & Res. Direct Care

Selah Brubacher

Girls Teachers Aide

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Selah Brubacher

Girls Teachers Aide

Selah and her family moved to Georgia in 2022 from Florida; where she worked as a barista at a coffee shop and as a nanny for a local family. Her experience working with children comes from years of experience in helping to care for young and pre-teen children as a nanny, a guide at a Bible School, and a counselor at her local Vacation Bible School.

Selah is the oldest of ten children in her family and feels working with the teens at Shepherd’s Hill was truly a calling from the Lord. Selah says that after coming to her faith in Jesus in 2018, her goal and focus for work and life in general is to be a vessel for others to see Jesus through so that they can start their own faith journey. Selah is excited to help the girls at SHA find their true worth in Christ and to help them in a similar way that a few women helped her in her teenage years.

In her free time, Selah enjoys being outside, anything health and fitness-related, singing, playing and listening to music, hiking, traveling, reading the Bible, and spending time with friends and family.

Sustainable Development Team
Show Staff

Our Sustainable Development team has a passion to leverage agriculture to integrate real life teachable moments and character lessons.

We are currently hiring for Sustainable Development Staff

Steve Brubacher

Sustainable Development Manager

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Steve Brubacher

Sustainable Development Manager

Steve and his family moved from Sarasota, FL in 2022 where Steve had been managing a custom metalwork business for 20 years. He and his family decided that they really wanted to invest their time into something more impactful; fulfilling God’s plan for their lives. The answer to this prayer was SHA, which had an opening for a Sustainable Development Manager. This seemed like the perfect fit, as Steve and his family had prayerfully been investing many hours throughout the recent years into learning about and practicing sustainable farming.

Steve’s love for sustainable farming started 13 years ago when he and his family took care of some friend’s milking goats while they were out of town, and they have been learning, practicing, and encouraging others to pursue sustainable farming/living ever since. This includes milking goats, raising chickens for eggs, beekeeping for local and natural honey, learning how to amend soil for growing, and designing aquaponic systems to grow fish and vegetables together. In turn, Steve and his family have learned to enjoy the gifts God offers us in nature and to turn away from screens in order to nurture relationships with the Lord and people.

Steve looks forward to what the Lord has in store for himself and his family as they grow and develop, along with the students he instructs, in God’s perfect ways of farming with sustainability. He also brings 25 years of construction experience and is helping SHA with new building projects and maintenance needs. Steve says he really enjoys teaching the students about a “good work ethic” (doing all things as unto the Lord) and believes God is eagerly waiting for us to be amazed at how intricate His design is, as we learn more about His system and what our part is in it all.

Chris Ivester

Christopher Ivester

Project Manager

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Christopher Ivester

Project Manager
Chris 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.”

Therapeutic Team
Show Staff

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

Buddy Prow, LPC, ASDCS, CMAC

Lead Therapeutic Counselor

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Buddy Prow, LPC, ASDCS, CMAC

Lead Therapeutic Counselor

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. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in Theology at Liberty University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS), and a Certified Master Addiction Counselor (CMAC).

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. He currently serves on the board of the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA).

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.

Lindsey Populorum, LAPC

Girls Therapist

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Lindsey Populorum, LAPC

Girls Therapist

Lindsey is a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor and has a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Brenau University.

Lindsey knew at a young age that she wanted to help people. Throughout undergraduate, Lindsey changed majors several times trying to find her passion. After graduating, Lindsey followed a message from God and went back to school to become a counselor.

In her calling as a counselor, Lindsey is passionate about helping her clients become the best version of themselves by utilizing several modalities and interventions within her counseling approaches. Lindsey strives to find what works for each of her clients and to help them every step of the way.

Outside of being a counselor, Lindsey loves her tuxedo cat and enjoys painting, being outside and finding new hiking trails, and spending time with her friends and church family.

Mattilyn Moss, LMSW

Girls Therapist

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Mattilyn Moss, LMSW

Girls Therapist

Matty is a Licensed Master Social Worker with valuable experience working with adolescents. Matty attended the University of Tennessee where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in social work. She then moved on to Jacksonville State University where she earned her Master’s degree in social work. 

Matty’s passion for the adolescent population began at a young age when she developed the dream to work specifically with human trafficking victims. Since then, Matty has worked disaster relief with the American Red Cross, has led student counseling services with university level students and with high school children as a public school-based therapist. Throughout Matty’s career, she found that progress of her clients would consistently reach a certain point before plateauing. This led Matty to realize that she could not fully help a child without utilizing the word of God so that the child’s soul and mind may heal together. Matty’s ultimate goal when working with a child is to merge evidence-based practice with teaching the meaning of faith and how to lay problems down at the feet of the Lord.

As an individual, Matty is a high-energy encourager who loves animals of all shapes and sizes. Matty enjoys sporting events, specifically softball, and staying active. Matty loves all of God’s creation deeply and feels most connected to Him in nature.

Michaela Height, MA

Girls Therapist

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Michaela Height, MA

Girls Therapist

Michaela was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania to complete her Master’s of Science in Counseling degree from Clarks Summit University, which gave her the opportunity to earn her degree through a biblical lens. Completing her field experience in Scranton, Michaela found herself enjoying and exploring different counseling career options for over 5 years.

Michaela worked with people of all ages in private practice, but mostly spent her time helping adolescents at her church, working as a therapist at an alternative school, and working within the homes of broken families. She soon found her passion for adolescents and families. 

She is excited to see how God will continue to use her here in Georgia. She is humbled by His plan for her life and is amazed by the opportunities she has been given to pour into people’s lives. When Michaela has free time, she loves to spend time with her siblings who she has helped raise, being creative in the kitchen, exploring locally and seeing new things, staying active, and traveling whenever she gets the chance. 

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.

Lexie Woody, LPN

School Nurse

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Lexie Woody, LPN

School Nurse

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.

Boys Residential Team
Show Staff

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

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.

Drew Embry

Drew Embry

Residential Program Manager

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Drew Embry

Residential Program Manager
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.

Chris Ivester

Christopher Ivester

Project Manager

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Christopher Ivester

Project Manager
Chris 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.”

Tyler Taylor

Tyler Taylor

Residential Direct Care

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Tyler Taylor

Residential Direct Care
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.

Daniel-Estep

Daniel Estep

Academic Manager & Res. Direct Care

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Daniel Estep

Academic Manager & Res. Direct Care
Daniel-Estep

Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Middle Georgia University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health and Trauma Concealing at Walden University. Before his time at Shepherd’s Hill, Daniel was working with youth in wilderness camps for four years and then worked in the mental health and addiction treatment field for five.

Daniel points out that sometimes teens don’t have the best support system to help them along the way — maybe they fell into the wrong social crowd or perhaps an overtaxed single parent can’t give them the time they need. Other times, parents are dealing with their own issues or stressful dynamics between them and their child. These can make it more difficult and complicated to be supportive and attuned. He loves being a guide for teens during this formative stage of life.

Daniel enjoys helping them develop skills such as boundaries, goal setting, appropriate self-expression, and emotional self-regulation. “I work collaboratively and communicate with a sense of humor and pragmatism that may be refreshing for teens. I also provide a unique perspective for teens by helping them see multiple sides of situations they find themselves in. Whether real or imagined, I help them overcome their limitations and I work very hard to challenge teens’ assumptions. My goal is to help teens develop a greater sense of self-worth, resilience, and a lifetime of potential. Most importantly, I want to earn their trust. Feeling understood, seen, and respected by an adult can be a tremendously validating and stabilizing force in their lives.”

For personal time, Daniel enjoys art and reading. He loves exploring outside, doing activities such as camping, hiking, and fishing.

Frank Moore

Boys Primary Teacher's Aide & Res. Direct Care

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Frank Moore

Boys Primary Teacher's Aide & Res. Direct Care

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.

Byron Kennedy

Boys Teachers Aide & Res. Direct Care

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Byron Kennedy

Boys Teachers Aide & Res. Direct Care

Nathaniel Dunlap

Residential Direct Care

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Nathaniel Dunlap

Residential Direct Care

Nathaniel has an Associates degree in Visual Arts from Coastal Carolina Community College and completed several courses in Art Education at Appalachian State University.

Prior to his time at SHA, Nathaniel spent several years working with kids and teens in a classroom setting and working as a camp counselor at summer camps. After years of working as a camp counselor, Nathaniel realized that he wanted to take a bigger step in the direction of working with children full-time. He decided that at this time in his life, rather than continuing on to become a teacher, he desires to be a full-time mentor to the teens at SHA. Being a mentor is something that Nathaniel has been training for throughout the past few years and working at Shepherd’s Hill gives him the opportunity to have a positive impact on the kids who need it most.

In his free time, Nathaniel enjoys creating art, weightlifting, hiking, and sports.

Brennan Nicholson

Residential Direct Care

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Brennan Nicholson

Residential Direct Care

Brennan is currently attending North Georgia Technical College in pursuit of an A.S. in General Studies. He will begin his education on Photovoltaic Systems this spring and is excited about the opportunity to continue learning.

Brennan has years of experience working with children as a supervisor and a youth coach. He spends a lot of time actively working with his younger brother, and other kids his age, being a mentor and sports coach. Brennan has a strong desire to help change the lives of teens in a positive way, as he was raised by a single mother and had a challenging childhood. He hopes that with God’s love, he can show the teens at Shepherd’s Hill the same love and guidance that saved his own life.

In his free time, Brennan loves participating in and watching sports, spending time with family, being outdoors and being around animals.

Jonathan Wight

Residential Direct Care

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Jonathan Wight

Residential Direct Care

Jonathan received a diploma in Psychology from the IAP Career College and has been a member of Georgia’s Army National Guard for 15 years.

Jonathan graduated from a military school for troubled youth when he was 15 years old, so he understands the need for good guidance, positive discipline, and mentorship in the lives of teens.

He has three children of his own between the ages of five and 16, which has prepared him well for his role in working with the teens we serve. He believes that understanding the emotions, needs, and challenges of children is very important to being able to help them and to see positive change.

Dave Lamey

Residential Direct Care

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Dave Lamey

Residential Direct Care

Dave’s professional experience is most recently in equipment operations. However, his experience working with children is through his extensive family experience. He has a daughter, younger siblings, and nieces and nephews, who he has helped care for since they were babies.

Dave is excited to be a part of the work we do at Shepherd’s Hill because he hopes to help teach the boys we serve the difference between right and wrong, help them navigate the challenges of adolescence, and teach them how to grow into good men. He prays that each boy who leaves our program is guided by the Lord and shows true positive change when they return home to their families.

In his free time, Dave enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing soccer.

Girls Residential Team
Show Staff

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

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.

Britney Linton

Girls Program Manager

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Britney Linton

Girls Program Manager

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.

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.

Amanda-Venega

Amanda Venenga

Res. Direct Care Shift Supervisor

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Amanda Venenga

Res. Direct Care Shift Supervisor
Amanda-Venega

Amanda graduated from Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa Falls, GA in 2013 with an associate degree in Arts and Sciences. She attended both campuses of North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) School of Nursing for general studies. Her past youth experience includes co-teaching with her husband at Toccoa Christian Church, and being foster parents from 2013 to 2015 with both the Alabama and Georgia Sheriff Youth Homes.

Growing up had its difficult moments for Amanda as she bounced in and out of foster care due to abusive and neglectful parents, eventually leading to permanent placement in a group home at the age of 13. Defying the odds, Amanda graduated with honors and distinction which she attributes to the tough love, care, and support from her house parents and her mentors. Instead of being another statistic, Amanda reaped success. In the same way she was encouraged, she wants to be a positive and encouraging influence in the lives of teens who need it the most — especially for the ones who need the extra tough love and understanding just like she did.

Amanda and her husband David have been married since 2008. Together they have three children with the fourth on the way: Alex, Amberly, Elias, and Eliana. Some of Amanda’s hobbies include fishing, camping, caving, white water rafting, swimming, hiking/trail riding, spending time with animals (except spiders), photography, and mostly being a mom and watching her babies grow. Her favorite place on Earth is the beach.

Amanda’s favorite verse is 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee. For My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ most gladly therefore would I rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ shall rest upon me.”

Kalyn Pedigo

Residential Direct Care

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Kalyn Pedigo

Residential Direct Care

Kalyn considers herself a “lifelong learner,” and has studied finance and nursing. She is currently pursuing a degree in psychology and nonverbal communication. Kalyn believes that people should never stop learning and instills this message into our teens at SHA as well.

For her entire life, Kalyn’s mother was a foster parent, so she was always around other children and understands the challenges many of today’s teens face. Kalyn loves working with the girls at Shepherd’s Hill and thinks it is very rewarding to help them realize and unlock their potential and foster a positive mindset. She says that the students at SHA bring a lot of joy to her life.

In her free time, Kalyn enjoys reading, cooking, and running.

Ashton Rafala

Residential Direct Care

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Ashton Rafala

Residential Direct Care

Ashton Rafala has worked with youth most of her life. Beginning in 2012, Ashton launched her passion for youth at her church’s nursery and continued on this path as a young adult working at Peanut Patch Daycare.

Ashton serves as direct care staff on the girl’s residential team. Ashton feels called to the mission and philosophy of Shepherd’s Hill Academy having also struggled with mental health and self worth during her teen years. Drawing from these relatable experiences, she works to connect with the students at Shepherd’s Hill and helps them see things from a new point of view. Ashton is a certified Lifeguard and carries certifications in both CPR and first aid.

In her spare time, you can find Ashton hiking, camping, studying geology, or singing karaoke.

hannah-timms

Hannah Timms

Residential Direct Care

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Hannah Timms

Residential Direct Care
hannah-timms

Hannah currently attends North Georgia Technical College in pursuit of a degree in Nursing. She also has a diploma in Medical Assisting.

She has always worked with children or teenagers in some capacity. Hannah was the nursery director at a church in Lula, GA while being in high school before she stepped down to focus on helping teens. In addition to this, she taught Sunday school to elementary and middle school girls and volunteered at a Christian camp for a week each summer since she was in 8th grade.

As a teen, Hannah struggled with bipolar depression and since working through her own struggles, she has felt God calling her to work with teens in order to help them grow spiritually and emotionally. She wants each of the teens we serve to know that she loves them and is rooting for their success, and more importantly, God loves them.

In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, painting, music, anything crafty, being outdoors, theater, learning about the Jewish side of her family, and taking her dog to the dog park.

Thiana Daniels

Residential Direct Care

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Thiana Daniels

Residential Direct Care

Thiania has a degree in Hospitality and worked in the hotel industry for five years. She is very excited to begin working toward a degree in Counseling in the near future.

Thiania was a nanny before coming to work at Shepherd’s Hill Academy, and this, along with raising her beautiful daughter, is what developed her passion for working with children. She considers working with teens a rewarding job and feels blessed to be a part of their growth. She believes that every child deserves a chance at a wonderful life, regardless of their current situation.

She is excited and trusts that the Lord brought her here to be a part of this ministry. In her free time, Thiania enjoys listening to music, reading, and cooking.

Jessica Trice

Residential Direct Care

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Jessica Trice

Residential Direct Care

Jessica hopes to start school in the near future to become a lactation consultant, as she is very passionate about the emotional connection and health benefits that breastfeeding provides. She is a mother of four children and has been a stay-at-home-mom for the past seven years. She didn’t expect to re-enter the work force so soon, but has a heart for families, mom’s in particular, who are breaking the cycles of their own upbringing to be more healthy overall and to parent with intention.

Jessica’s experience as a mother has been her preparation and inspiration for working with the teens at Shepherd’s Hill and she loves the girls we serve. She has worked with youth at church, and while she usually gravitates toward the younger kids, working with teens has been a rewarding challenge.

Jessica recognizes that the preteen/teen years are a time of growth and transformation for both children and their parents – giving guidance and direction, along with setting boundaries, is not always easy! Jessica knows these years are important and is honored to be part of that for these students.

In her free time, Jessica like to listen to audiobooks and play relaxing video games.

Marketing Team
Show Staff

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

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.

Terri Ross

Marketing and Research Coordinator

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Terri Ross

Marketing and Research Coordinator

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.

shepherds hill academy team

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

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Shepherd’s Hill Academy

2200 Price Road

Martin, Georgia 30557

(706) 779-5766

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