MEET THE TEAM

executive director
Jackie Miller
Jackie graduated from Western Kentucky University with a dual certification in both Regular and Special Education. After teaching for 15 years, she transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where she gained 10 years of leadership experience in nonprofit management. Jackie felt called by God to learn the ins and outs of nonprofit organizations and fundraising, trusting that when the time was right, He would guide her to the perfect opportunity to combine her passion for serving individuals with IDD and her expertise in grant writing and development. In April 2023, Jackie joined Possibility Place as Development Director, where she spent two years building relationships, securing grants, and driving the organization’s mission forward. In February 2025, she became Executive Director of Possibility Place, embracing the role with a deep commitment to empowering adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and leading the organization into its next chapter.

program director
Harley Hillis
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.

assistant program director
Scarlet Smith
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.

Life Enrichment, Current Events, & Self-Advocacy program Leader
Susan Wagoner
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.

Math & Life Skills program leader
Katie Neely
Katie Neely 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 husband, 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.

Vocational & Social Skills program leader
Sara Bingham
Sara graduated from MTSU with a Bachelors of Science in Child Development and Family Studies. She furthered her education by becoming a BCABA. Sara's career has been dedicated to supporting learners of all abilities and ages. Some of her strengths include patience, kindness, and meeting each learner where they are to help them succeed. Sara and her husband are raising a boy and two girls. Her spare time is spent at the archery range or football field.

media & event coordinator
Lauren Margetjak
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.

program assistant
Jessie Chewning
Jessie feels blessed to join the Possibility Place family as one of our Program Assistants. Jessie has a heart for serving others and seeing everyone reach their highest potential. After spending many years in corporate customer relations, Jessie is excited to use her skills to help Possibility Place grow and shine. She and her husband are raising two young boys. In her spare time you can find her gardening, planning family trips, and trying new recipes.

program assistant
Julia Piel
Julia Piel was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. She graduated in Information Technology from the Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Smyrna Campus. Julia is actively involved in Scouting BSA, where she earned the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout and served in troop leadership roles with three scouting organizations in the Middle Tennessee area. Known for her kindness, caring nature, and enthusiasm, she enjoys helping others achieve their goals. For the past ten years, she has been involved in infant, children’s, special needs, and middle school, and high school ministries at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. In her free time, Julia enjoys spending time with friends, participating in Bible study, going on mission trips, and engaging in outdoor activities. She is excited to be a part of the team at Possibilities Place.

Mental health counselor
Kevin Vaughn, M.A.MFT, M.Ed.
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!

Mental Health Counselor
Madison Grissom, M.A.
Madison grew up right here in Murfreesboro and is a proud Riverdale High School graduate. She studied Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Mississippi before earning her Master's in clinical mental health counseling from Belmont University. She's currently working toward becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist. Working with individuals with special needs has always been close to Madison's heart. Some of her favorite memories come from her summers volunteering at Camp Barnabas, a special camp for children and adults with disabilities. During high school, she spent time as an aide in the special education department, where she loved connecting with her peers. Throughout college, Madison continued supporting the special needs community by helping at local events and providing care for adults with disabilities. These days, Madison works as a mental health counselor at Branches and social media manager. When she's not at work, you can find her and her husband serving at Christ Church Nashville, taking walks outdoors, baking something delicious, dancing, or planning her next adventure.

therapist
Amanda Myers, PhD, LMFT
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.

transportation
Maxx Dickenson
Maxx, a Blackman High School alumnus, keeps our team moving! As a key part of our transportation operations, he's dedicated to getting Pals where they need to be. When he's not on the road, Maxx practices Lens Neurofeedback Therapy, demonstrating his passion for both precision and helping others.