Jackie graduated from Western Kentucky University with a dual certification in both Regular and Special Education. After teaching for 15 years, she started working in the non-profit sector. Jackie felt that God sent her out to learn about non-profit organizations and fundraising and when the time was right, He pointed her to where she could combine her passion for people with IDD and her experience in grant writing and fundraising to the perfect match at Possibility Place.

Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education from Tennessee Tech University. She then went on to pursue Graphic Design at TCAT Murfreesboro. There she obtained her Multimedia Designer Diploma. Lauren has always had a heart for serving the special needs community. She is grateful that she gets the chance to do so while using her media skills. When Lauren is not working she loves spending time with family and her dog Otis.

Harley has a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and worked as a self-contained classroom teacher for 5 years. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in Recreational Therapy and became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She has many years of experience working with individuals with special needs, as her younger brother has a chromosomal disorder. She is a huge advocate for inclusion, sharing the love of Christ, and empowering families and caregivers. Harley enjoys spending time with her family, camping, reading and the Nashville Predators.

Scarlett has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Education from MTSU. She has many years of experience working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as direct care staff, in management and support coordination. Scarlett believes in kindness as a core value and serving others is a fundamental calling. Scarlett enjoys spending time with her family, reading and trips to the mountains.

Susan feels incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to work with the students at Possibility Place. Susan has lived in Middle Tennessee all her life and graduated from Nashville State Community College with an Associate of Science degree. She worked many years as a Special Education Assistant with Rutherford County Schools and finds it very rewarding helping students achieve their goals. Susan is very active in her church and enjoys camping, gardening and spending time with family.

Katie Vehr is a Murfreesboro native; she graduated from Riverdale High School and earned her bachelor and masters degrees in education from Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her ESL endorsement from Trevecca University. Katie is excited to be returning to education after taking a two and a half year break and working in Ethics and Compliance for an international healthcare company. She previously taught for 8.5 years in Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County. Katie and her fiancé, Michael, live in Murfreesboro with their son (Haynes), two dogs (Artemis and Nyx), and a cat (Pepper). They enjoy lifting weights, walking the dogs, and spending time with friends and family. A fun fact about Katie is that she is a fifth generation educator in the Rutherford County area.

Jessie is our program assistant.

Amanda earned her doctorate in Family Sciences from the University of Kentucky and she completed her training in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Louisville. She minored in Special Education during her graduate studies at MTSU and she minored in Early Intervention for her undergraduate degree at Clemson University. She has been involved with the special needs community since kindergarten when her teacher noticed that she had a great connection with their classroom “buddy” with cerebral palsy. She has volunteered with Sibshops and on the special needs ministry at her church. She was an in-home therapist for children and teenagers with an autism spectrum disorder. She also served as a camp counselor for adults and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Amanda has a heart for healing the family. She has been in the mental health field since 2006 and believes that with the right interventions and connections, we can walk towards more love, better health, and thriving! She is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist and has additional training in Emotionally Focused Therapy. She has completed Level II training for the Murray Method, a trauma-focused model for creating wholeness. Amanda is thrilled to be a part of Possibility Place as she facilitates group therapy.

Kevin attended MTSU and earned his bachelor's degree in General Science with a minor in Secondary Education. He then went on to earn a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Lipscomb University and a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University. As a former high school science teacher of 15 years, Kevin has worked with students with special needs in a variety of capacities in Rutherford County. He now is a co-founder and counselor at Anchor Creek Counseling where he specializes in couples counseling and trauma-informed counseling using the Murray Method. Kevin holds a temporary license to practice Marriage and Family Therapy in Tennessee and is under the supervision of Jenna Hazlewood, LMFT. He currently serves at LifePoint Church in Smyrna with his wife and two sons. Kevin enjoys cooking, camping, traveling, and live music!