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Meet the Staff at Stone Mountain Private School for Boys
Susan Hardy, M.Ed.
Executive Director
Susan Hardy graduated with a M. Ed in Special Education from Vanderbilt University in 1989. She has a passion for teaching children with special needs. This path has led her to the rewarding world of adolescent treatment where she has been a teacher, a director of education, and, for the past ten years, an executive director.
Jake Weld, M. Ed.
Academic Director
Jake has his B.S. in History from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., as well as Minors in Experiential Education and Philosophy & Religion. He received his teaching credential from Eastern Oregon University in 2003 and later completed a Masters in Education in 2009. Jake has worked in wilderness, experiential, therapeutic, conventional, and residential educational settings for over fifteen years, and has taught a wide variety of skills and ages. Jake's experience with Aspen reaches back to 2000, when he served as the Wilderness Director for The NorthStar Center, in Bend, OR. Later he served as the Dean of Academics for an independent boarding school in Northern California, and returned to Aspen as the Academic Director for Talisman Programs for the 2009/2010 school year. Jake has taught and traveled throughout Central and South America and Egypt, and enjoys fishing, hiking with his dog Everett, snowboarding, and sailing.
Shannon Wheat
Admissions Director
In 2001, Shannon began her work with youth at risk as an instructor at SUWS of the Carolinas, a therapeutic wilderness program, where she worked both in the field and as their Graduation Coordinator. In the Spring of 2003, Mrs. Wheat began working as a Senior Instructor for Stone Mountain School, followed by a position as a Field Supervisor. Shannon is a graduate of Appalachian State University, and has been with Stone Mountain's admissions department since 2007. Shannon's favorite pastime is spending time with her family and their two dogs. She also enjoys whitewater kayaking, hiking, snowboarding and making jewelry.
Leigh Uhlenkott, MS, LPC, NCC, LMHC
Clinical Director
Leigh has a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling; she is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and is Nationally Certified. She is originally from San Diego, Ca and attended undergrad at Carroll College in Helena, MT She received her graduate degree at Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Much of her professional experience before working at SMS has been spent working with troubled youth in a variety of settings. All of which include therapeutic wilderness, a Hospital and several School settings.
Leigh spent the last 5 years working with adolescent boys 13-18 in a wilderness setting (SUWS of the Carolinas) providing assessment and counseling. She also worked for 5 years in the Broward School System counseling Severely Emotionally Disturbed children K-12th grade. She also was contracted to perform Substance abuse groups for Memorial hospital with adults and adolescents. Leigh has also worked with victims of Domestic Violence. In Leigh's spare time she enjoys exploring Asheville's culture, cooking, reading, and spending time with her two adorable dogs, Colby and Cody.