Emily Barnes | Executive Director

Emily currently serves as the Assistant Principal at Liberty Creek Middle School in Gallatin, TN. Being the inaugural Assistant Principal, helping to open LCMS in 2022, she is no stranger to starting amazing things from the ground up. She has previously served as the Assistant Principal at Ridgeview Elementary School and as the Student Services Coordinator in Dunlap, IL.

After her younger cousin Addison's cancer diagnosis in 2nd grade, and having had received several intensive rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, Addison's life and future plans were greatly altered. Now a senior in high school, employment options for individuals like Addison and adults with intellectual disabilities are still significantly limited.

As an Assistant Principal for several years, Emily has sat through hundreds of IEP meetings. After listening to many families anxious about the future of their children after their public education ends, and noticing how many families struggled to know what questions to ask in meetings or were unaware of resources, she became determined to do something about it.

Emily and her husband, Mike, reside in Hendersonville, TN with their two children, Elliott (6) and Scottie (4).

Our Board of Directors

  • Marci Butler

    EL Teacher | Sumner County Schools

    Marci is a dedicated educator with a passion for supporting students and families, especially those with unique needs. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University and a Bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside.

    Marci moved to Hendersonville in 2003, where she chose to stay home and raise her three children: Blake (21), Bree (19), and Ben (15). Blake is currently a senior at Washington University, Bree is in an adult special needs class at Station Camp High School, and Ben is a freshman at Merrol Hyde Magnet. Marci has been married to Bruce Butler for 22 years, who currently serves as an Attorney General of the state of Tennessee.

    Her journey as an educator began in 2007 when she started as an early interventionist for the state of Tennessee. During this time, she had the privilege of working with families in Sumner County, focusing on infants with Down syndrome. Marci found immense joy in helping parents navigate life with a child with special needs and cherished her role as a supportive cheerleader for these families.

    In 2018, Marci returned to teaching as an EL (English Learner) teacher for Sumner County Schools, where she advocates for her students' success in all academic areas. Her dedication to teaching and empowering her students is unwavering, and she is deeply committed to seeing them thrive.

    Outside of the classroom, Marci enjoys crafting and spending quality time with her family and friends. Her love for education, advocacy, and making a difference in her community is at the heart of everything she does.

  • Andrew Andreotta

    Financial Advisor | Compass Advisory Group

    Andrew has lived in Nashville, Tennessee for 17 years, where he has built a practice serving people and businesses all cross the nation in the complexities of business and estate planning.

    Andrew resides in Hendersonville, TN with his bride, Allison, and his three daughters, Bonnie, Audrey, and Libby. He is an active member at Long Hollow Baptist Church. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, pickleball, the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Braves.

  • Megan Mims

    Special Education Teacher | Sumner County Schools

    Megan graduated from MTSU in 2012 with her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education: Comprehensive. She is currently working towards her Masters degree in Administration and Supervision.

    Megan currently serves as a Special Education Interventionist at Liberty Creek Middle School. Previous work experience includes 9 years as a CDC teacher at White House Middle School and one year as a CDC teacher at Station Camp Elementary.

    She resides in Hendersonville, TN with her husband, Malik, and two daughters Maisley and Molly.

  • Kyle Craighead

    Executive Director of Education | Ecsell Sports

    Kyle currently serves as the Executive Director of Education with Ecsell Sports. Always motivated to help students have the best possible school experience, he worked for 15 years in public education as a science teacher, basketball coach, athletic director, and school and district administrator. Kyle also teaches graduate classes centered on leadership, coaching, and organizational structures with Lipscomb University. He is passionate about connecting people and especially enjoys watching friends reach their goals.

    Kyle is a native of Nashville, TN, and he currently lives there with his wife, Elizabeth, their daughter, Anna, and their dog and cat.

  • Kelly Baker

    Special Ed. Supervisor | Sumner County Schools

    Kelly Baker is a National Board Certified Teacher with 15 years of experience across the full spectrum of special education services. She holds a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University, a Master of Arts in School Guidance Counseling from Spalding University, and a Bachelor of Science in K-12 Education with a focus on Mild/Moderate Special Education from the University of Dayton. Kelly has taught served in Kentucky, Washington D.C., Illinois, and Tennessee, and she is currently serving as a Special Education Supervisor supporting schools across Sumner County Schools. She lives in Cottontown, Tennessee, with her husband, Matt Baker, and their four children.

  • Lexie Walden

    Teacher | Sumner County Schools

    Lexie currently serves as a teacher at Liberty Creek Middle School where she also leads the Student Experience Team and Project Wolfpack community service project. Lexie graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in Elementary Education and English. She also graduated from Auburn University with her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

    Lexie is an active member at Northfield Church where she volunteers by leading a middle school girls’ small group. Additionally, Lexi annually volunteers at The Tim Tebow’s Foundation, Night to Shine, an amazing event hosted by local churches around the world.