HEAD OF SCHOOL

With a rich and varied background in education, law, and nonprofit leadership, Gallagher brings a deep commitment to experiential, values-driven learning to her role as Head of School at Mountain Sun Community School. A native of Arkansas, she earned her B.A. in Chemistry from Hendrix College before going on to earn her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. Her professional path has taken her across the country—from Washington, DC, to Oregon, to Western North Carolina—working in both legal and educational settings.

Gallagher’s passion for education was shaped early on through her work as a summer camp director in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and later through her work with a national civic education nonprofit supporting young people and educators in strengthening democracy. Most recently, she served as Director of Development at Headwaters School in Austin, Texas, where she championed community-centered programming and experiential learning.

Joining Mountain Sun feels like a return to her roots and a true alignment of values—connection to nature, joyful inquiry, and community-centered education. Gallagher is thrilled to be part of this special community alongside her corgi, Frida, who is always ready to make new friends. When not at school, she enjoys baking, swimming, listening to podcasts (and Harry Styles), and soaking up the beauty of the mountains she calls home.

DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & UPPER SCHOOL COORDINATOR

Becky earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Loyola College of Maryland in 2000 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Appalachian State University in 1997. In conjunction with her M.Ed, she received her Montessori Elementary diploma from Association Montessori Internationale for ages 6 -12. Becky has been working in Montessori classrooms since 1998, having started out as an assistant in a primary classroom. After her training, she worked as a lead teacher in Montessori schools in Santa Cruz, California, and Bowie, Maryland. She has been a lead teacher at Mountain Sun since it opened in 2008 and started as Director of Learning in 2021. Complementing her classroom experience, she has also completed Positive Discipline for the Classroom training with Jane Nelsen and is certified to teach Parenting the Positive Discipline Way. Becky started as an Instructional Guide for the Center for Guided Montessori Studies in 2023, where she teaches aspiring elementary teachers as they gain Montessori certification. Becky lives in Brevard with her son, Judson who is a student at MSCS.

LEARNING SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Raised in a small Texas town, Brigid earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from University of Texas. She holds a North Carolina state teaching license for K-6 and earned her Montessori teaching certificate for ages 6-9 years. Brigid has many years of classroom experience having been a lead teacher in both pre-school and elementary school. She found Brevard through her love of summer camps. Her camp experience ranges from camper to Assistant Director including most positions in between. She is currently studying for her master's degree in Special Education with a focus on Gifted, Creative, and Innovative Education. She lives in town with her family and enjoys being outside whenever possible. Brigid combines her love of children with her love of learning and teaching to co-create a rich and welcoming learning environment.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY LIFE

Nick has worn many hats in the Mountain Sun Community in the last fourteen years, and was honored for ten years as a teacher in the spring of 2024. So far, he has served on the board, taught middle school math and science, and has found his niche as the Primary Assistant in the Otter Class, the Outdoor Education teacher, and the Training Specialist for the school. After fifteen years of experience working with families in crisis, his passion for supporting parents in creating loving, authentic, and nurturing homes can be experienced in his training sessions. You may hear him say enthusiastically, “I love conflict!” because, as someone who has taught conflict resolution for over 20 years, he believes conflict can be a catalyst for personal growth and more authentic relationships.

Nick is an avid outdoor adventurer, and lived in a tent or tarp for the greater part of 10 years. He worked as a river guide (Gauley and New Rivers for 8 seasons), mountain bike guide, climbing guide, and worked with families and children in crisis in wilderness settings. Because of his experience in the outdoors, he is always willing to help plan adventures in WNC and elsewhere, especially if it involves mountain biking, trail running, or whitewater. Nick and his wife, Melissa, have three children: MSCS graduates, Huck and Addie, and current MSCS student, Oscar.

OFFICE MANAGER

Susanne grew up in Florida, and while she still loves the beach and ocean air, was attracted to the western NC mountains after she became involved in a camp and retreat center in Highlands during high school. Throughout her college years (Susanne earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Western Carolina University) and then the next several, Susanne lived and worked at the center in Highlands, spending much time working in Youth and Outdoor Adventure programming-exploring and leading trips along the trails, cliffs, and rivers of the national forests in the area. She eventually moved into the finance and management departments and spent the next many years gaining valuable knowledge and experience of the business and administrative workings of a non-profit organization. Susanne and her family moved to Brevard in 2012 and she joined the Mountain Sun staff in 2014.

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

We are excited to welcome Kayla Leed McEwen back to Mountain Sun Community School as our Communications Coordinator. Kayla is no stranger to our school, having dedicated seven years to our community before taking a three-year hiatus to launch her own business, Kayla Leed Creative. With over a decade of experience in marketing for nonprofits, Kayla brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of how to effectively engage and communicate with our school community.

Kayla is passionate about crafting compelling narratives and fostering meaningful connections between the school, parents, and students. Her creative vision and strategic approach will play a key role in enhancing our communications and keeping everyone informed and engaged.

Outside of her professional life, Kayla is a devoted mother to her two daughters, Hali and Isla, and a loving pet parent to her two dogs, Bodhi and Zoey. She shares her life with her husband, Callum, and together they enjoy exploring new places and making lasting memories. Kayla’s love for paddling, traveling to the ocean, and gardening adds a vibrant touch to her personal life, reflecting her adventurous spirit and appreciation for nature.

ALL SCHOOL ASSISTANT

Laura is a passionate educator and comes to Mountain Sun with over two decades of experience in environmental and nature-based education in and out of the classroom. Most recently, she was an assistant teacher at Red Fox Community School in Vermont where she previously served as a classroom volunteer and a founding board member, working with teachers and other local families to establish a new school rooted in the Progressive Education model. Laura has a BS in Environmental Studies from Lesley University's Audubon Expedition Institute. Laura's diverse teaching experience includes running a nature day camp for elementary students, starting a forest preschool collective with local families, leading a crew of teenagers to raise sheep and vegetables on an organic farm, and homeschooling her own children on a cross-country road trip. Laura's family is thrilled to find a school home for their three children at Mountain Sun. When Laura is not at school she enjoys growing food and flowers, hiking, crafting, swimming and playing outside with her family on the Eagle’s Nest campus where they reside.

OWL LEAD TEACHER

Tracy holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Clemson University and has worked in many different educational settings. Tracy began her work as a behavioral therapist for children with autism and also taught 4th grade in a traditional classroom. While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tracy became involved in the field of parent education, working as a teacher at a parent participation nursery school and facilitating parenting workshops. Tracy was first introduced to Montessori education when her older son began Kindergarten at a public Montessori school. She instantly fell in love with the hands-on materials, freedom of movement, respect for the child and the environment, and the desire to promote peace in the classroom and beyond. She spent three years as an assistant at Heartwoood Montessori School in Cary, NC and is excited to continue her Montessori journey at Mountain Sun. She has completed a graduate certificate in Family Life Education and Coaching from NC State to pursue her passion of supporting young children and their families. When she is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two sons or curling up with a good book. And if you chat with her long enough, she will probably tell you of her adventures of living in Amman, Jordan, homeschooling and traveling the country for 7 months, or her dreams about her next travel destination.

OWL ASSISTANT TEACHER

Lisa Moussalli grew up near Philadelphia. She earned her BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and holds a Montessori Early Childhood Assistant Teacher Credential from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies. She worked in a service-learning program in the Peruvian Andes, an early childhood literacy organization in Pittsburgh, and an anti-poverty nonprofit in New York City before shifting gears for several years to help run her family’s farm and homeschool her children. Lisa, her husband, Ali, and their two children moved to Transylvania County in 2018. Before joining the staff at Mountain Sun, Lisa supported young children and their families throughout the county in her work as a community playgroups facilitator at the Family Place, was part of GetSet Transylvania’s Early Education Committee, and served on the Mountain Sun Board of Trustees. She is passionate about supporting parents and other primary caregivers in understanding and meeting their children’s attachment needs as a facilitator in the Circle of Security parenting program. She also co-chairs the Mountain Sun Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. She is a lover of books, forests, cities, coffee, and slowing down.

CHIPMUNK LEAD TEACHER

Morgan has always known that she wanted to be a teacher. She counts herself lucky to have taught a variety of grades, in several types of schools, both in the US and in rural Thailand where she spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University where she fell in love with both the mountains of western North Carolina and her husband Daniel. Together, they live with their two sons in a house surrounded by trees.

She enjoys creating beautiful things for people, eating cheese, cooking for her family, taking photographs, making items out of wood, working outside with her husband and watching her boys grow. She feels fortunate to have her family all together, every day, at a school that is so full of love.

LOWER ELEMENTARY (CHIPMUNK) ASSISTANT TEACHER

Originally from Georgia, Jessie has a B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies. She also holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, with a focus on refugee immigration policy inspired by her intern work with the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta, Georgia. Jessie has worked with international students at Kennesaw State University’s Intensive English Program, has taught English as a Second Language at the technical college level, and more recently served as a tutor at the Writing Center at AB Tech and bookseller at Highland Books here in Brevard.

In her free time, she loves finding new waterfalls to explore, getting lost in a good book, hiking with her family for as long as her two kids are willing, and traveling.

LOWER ELEMENTARY (ACORN) LEAD TEACHER

Jeff was born and raised in Southern California, where he received a BS in Communications from California State University, Los Angeles. Although highly successful as an executive in the television industry, he made a dramatic career change to pursue his true calling, teaching. Upon receiving his teaching credential from Chapman University, Jeff has taught for over two decades in California, Maryland, and North Carolina. A colleague once said, “Jeff cares for each child’s development as a learner and community member. Students connect and respond to him. It cannot be overstated how important it has been for boys and girls to have had a strong male presence in the elementary classroom.” Jeff is very excited to be a member of the Mountain Sun community.

He and his wife Maureen fell in love with the Brevard area after vacationing here for a number of years, so they decided to make the mountains of Western North Carolina their home. They are the proud parents of two adult sons, Hayden and Matthew. In addition to teaching, Jeff loves reading, fly fishing, paddleboarding, chocolate chip cookies, and all things baseball (especially the Dodgers!).

LOWER ELEMENTARY (ACORN) ASSISTANT TEACHER

Originally from Louisville, KY, Naomi has long felt at home in the mountains of WNC having spent many summers visiting her grandparents in the region. She fell in love with Brevard after discovering Rockbrook Camp, where she has spent the last two summers as an Assistant Director, and before that as the Weaving Specialist and a cabin counselor. She holds a B.A. in Comedy Writing & Performing from Columbia College Chicago.

In Louisville, Naomi spent three years with the after school program for elementary students at Walden School, six years as a volunteer and teacher for children’s weaving classes at The Little Loomhouse, and two years as an AmeriCorps Vista at Louisville Girls Leadership, building the program curriculum and facilitating student development sessions. Naomi brings a variety of skills and interests, including a love for improv, folk music, arts, and advocacy. She is a volunteer at the library, and a member of the Brevard Jewish Community. Naomi finds joy in searching for and identifying wildflowers, reading with a cup of tea, exploring new places, learning about history and pop culture through podcasts, playing music, and nature photography. Naomi is thrilled to be joining the Mountain Sun community and excited for the year to come!

UPPER ELEMENTARY (RACCOON) LEAD TEACHER

Formerly the owner of Highland Books, Amanda and her family recently moved back to Brevard after some time in Atlanta. Amanda received her degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State and taught for 4 years in 3rd and 5th grades. Amanda has also been a Girl Scout leader for 7 years, leading trips and coordinating events. Amanda was an active volunteer at MSCS when her daughter Josie attended Pre-K in the Owl Class. She is extremely excited to educate children in an experiential learning environment.

UPPER ELEMENTARY (RACCOON) ASSISTANT TEACHER

Allison graduated from Guilford College with B.A. in Environmental Studies and Religious Studies in 2006. After graduation she worked for several years as an outdoor educator for Haw River State Park in the Piedmont of NC. While working with students from K-8th in an all outdoor setting she furthered her teaching skills by attaining an NC Middle Grades Science Teaching License in 2010. She has worked for several years as a middle school science teacher in Guilford County, and as a Nature Play facilitator at the NC Carolina Zoo before moving to WNC in 2013. She and her husband moved to WNC to be in the mountains and start a family. After having two kids, Allison went back to work as a preschool teacher and worked two years as a teacher assistant for Pisgah Collective, an all outdoor Montessouri inspired program that teaches 18 months-6 year olds. Allison loves to spend time with her kids hiking, running, biking and generally exploring our beautiful backyard mountains. Outside of raising her family and teaching, Allison is an avid gardener and is slowly transforming her yard to a native plant haven for pollinators, and let's be real, rabbits.

UPPER ELEMENTARY (MONARCH) LEAD TEACHER

Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Management from Appalachian State. She has long dedicated herself to her professional development in the visual arts with a special emphasis on ceramics. She has taught pottery classes for years at the Carwile-Dodson studio at MudDabbers Pottery in Brevard as well as directed the art program at Eagle’s Nest Camp. In addition to working with children in the arts, she has years of experience in outdoor education, having worked with several environmental and outdoor education programs leading backpacking, caving, and climbing trips. She is also certified as a Wilderness First Responder. She lives in Brevard with her husband, Rob, and their two daughters, Cedar Ann (MSCS class of ’14) and Lillian (MSCS class of ‘21).

UPPER ELEMENTARY (MONARCH) ASSISTANT TEACHER

Sal’s path to Mountain Sun has been shaped and driven by a love of community. Sal grew up in Atlanta as the oldest of four kids - with a front yard that was always full of afterschool soccer and neighbors stopping to chat. Sal then studied at Brown University, where much of their most meaningful education came from figuring out how to live and create with others. After graduating, Sal worked at Lead for America, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering the next generation of leaders to serve their own communities. Sal then moved to DC to work at ICF (which really doesn’t stand for anything!), doing transportation planning for government agencies and learning how an individual’s community influences their access to resources. While in DC, Sal began to jump into local community organizations and saw once again the power and joy of face-to-face connection. This led them to spend a summer working at Eagle’s Nest Camp in Brevard, where they had spent many previous summers as a camper and counselor, and then a school year working at the Outdoor Academy. Sal is so excited to work in the Monarch class this year and to join the Mountain Sun community! In their free time, Sal loves playing guitar, rock climbing, and exploring Pisgah Forest.

MIDDLE SCHOOL (COYOTE) LEAD TEACHER

Growing up in Wisconsin's spring creeks and forests, Nicholas has lived in Western North Carolina since 2013. An Alumnus of Brevard Senior High School, he studied Outdoor Education at Appalachian State University where he was a founding member of the Mountaineer's Timbersports team. Again, he finds himself in the comforting mountains near Brevard, NC where he enjoys fishing, hiking, painting, and board games. Now leading the Coyote class, Nicholas is currently working with The Center for Guided Montessori Studies to get his Montessori Secondary Education Certification. When not with the Coyotes you'll find him on the river or up the mountain enjoying all the natural world has to offer.

SPANISH & YOGA TEACHER

Clare Desmelik teaches Spanish, as well as Yoga and Mindfulness. She values the importance of starting language learning at an early age, as she, herself began taking Spanish in Kindergarten. While at the University of Georgia, she enjoyed studying abroad in Costa Rica and Spain, and after graduating she continued traveling to other Spanish speaking countries in Central America. The immersion was where she realized that all of the practice truly paid off. While working with the hispanic population at the Teton Literacy Program, she realized she wanted to become a teacher. Clare moved back to Asheville and attended UNCA, where she earned a degree in Spanish, and a NC Teaching Certificate for Spanish in K-12. She has been teaching Spanish in Brevard since 2007.

Clare is also enthusiastic about yoga and mindfulness. She has been teaching yoga since 2016 around Brevard and Asheville and believes in the power of the pause, as well as the benefits of taking deep breaths and a deep stretch. She threads mindfulness tools into lessons to help ground, center and calm students.

Clare is married to a regional singer-songwriter and they have two boys. Their family is personally affected by childhood brain cancer, leading their drive to be advocates for this disease. They find reprieve and joy in sports, being in nature, and playing with their golden retriever. She is honored to be able to teach two of her passions in the beautiful setting of Mountain Sun Community School.

MUSIC TEACHER & FACILITIES MANAGER

Rick joined Mountain Sun Community School in 2008 as the first Early Morning Care parent volunteer. Since then, he has held many roles at Mountain Sun, including facilities coordinator, board member, music teacher, fundraiser, and general person around to help. Rick is very happy to reprise his role as Music Teacher for all the students (pre-K through 8th grade), and also as Facilities Manager. He was a founding member of the West Virginia University Classical Guitar Ensemble while studying Jazz and Classical Guitar with Scott Elliot at WVU, and plays guitar, ukulele, piano and a few other instruments. Rick loves playing and singing and learning with youth of all ages. He is also glad to be of use to the community and model taking care of our school as the Facilities Manager. A proud parent to four Mountain Sun Community School graduates (Stro and Mary Ella Hastings, Rynn and Izzie Clark), Rick is married to Tina Leonard, a founding teacher at the school and current School Support Specialist. They have a couple of dogs, Betty and Charlie.

ART TEACHER

Majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Art History, Nicole has always dreamed of becoming an art instructor. She brings a wealth of knowledge in both the fine arts as well as the mission and ethos of Mountain Sun. Nicole is a native of Charleston, SC. A goldsmith by profession, she followed her passion for many years working with antique and vintage jewelry. She has been an avid volunteer with years of experience on boards tackling various needs from community assistance to clean water conservation, and she also served on the MSCS board. Nicole has been fortunate enough to travel extensively, but landed in the Brevard area about nine years ago and has at last settled down with her family and grown roots. Nicole and her husband Mike live in Pisgah Forest with their three children: Nicholas, Zoe, and Xan.