Staff and Faculty

Thank you for your interest in the Catamount School. Please explore our web site and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Operated by Western Carolina University in partnership with Jackson County Schools, The Catamount School is located on the campus of Smoky Mountain High School.

Our application process will open in the Spring. You can follow our school on Facebook and Instagram at thecatmountschool.

I can be reached at alunsford@wcu.edu and 828.331.1775

 

Thank you for your interest in the Catamount School. Please explore our web site and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Operated by Western Carolina University in partnership with Jackson County Schools, The Catamount School is located on the campus of Smoky Mountain High School.

Our application process will open in the Spring. You can follow our school on Facebook and Instagram at thecatmountschool.

I can be reached at kkruebel@wcu.edu or 828.227.3306

I can be reached at akarup@wcu.edu

I can be reached at tlbarron@wcu.edu

I am a native to Florida, but have spent the majority of my life nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I graduated from Western Carolina University with my bachelor's degree in Middle Grades Education in 2010 and plan to return soon to pursue my Master's degree. I am going into my eighth year of teaching, having spent the last seven in Cashiers, NC teaching at Summit Charter School.
I spend the majority of my time with my family. My husband, Zach, and I share our lives with our two children, Everette and Adelyn and our two puppies, Piper and Bo. We enjoy swimming, going on adventures, make-believing, and watching movies. Great moments spent with great people is what brings me joy in life!
Being a history teaching is something I am very passionate about, as well as working alongside middle school students in the classroom. This year is going to be an exciting one!

I can be reached at abroyhill@wcu.edu

I was born and raised in Tupper Lake, New York in the heart of the Adirondack Park. I attended Worcester State College in Worcester, MA, completing my Bachelor of Arts in History in 2008. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I was fortunate to work in Residential Treatment Facilities and it was during this time that I realized my passion for working with youth, especially those needing intensive interventions, and providing educational supports and services through compassion and care, enabling people to live valued and meaningful lives.

After graduating from college, I returned to NY and earned a Master of Arts in Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam College. In 2011, I moved to Sylva and accepted an EC teaching position working for Jackson County Public Schools where I spent 11 years teaching. I have been honored twice as Jackson Community School’s Teacher of the Year and received Jackson County’s Exceptional Children’s Teacher of the Year. In 2019, I earned my National Board Certification, and I just completed my 2^nd Master’s degree in Executive Leadership Studies through Gardner-Webb University.

I live with my significant other, Daniel, whom is an avid fly-fisherman and guide. We spend a significant amount of time outdoors enjoying hobbies such as hiking, rafting, swimming, fishing and camping. We own an oar raft and spend most of our time on the water. I also have a love for travel and attending concerts. I am a huge Syracuse Orange basketball fan!

I can be reached at lbutton@wcu.edu

I was born near Boston MA and went to college at UMass Amherst, where I studied Natural Resources Conservation and Physical Anthropology. I was already teaching-- working at nature camps and for the State Parks. I have always loved sharing nature and science with other people! My first job was as a teacher/naturalist at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, where I fell deeply in love with the damp, rich, diverse Smokies. I did some environmental education, then flew off to Madagascar for almost a year to study lemurs. I lived in a tent and worked for a guy who has now developed a conservation project there. When I returned, I went to The University of Texas at Austin to study primate ecology and evolution. It was awesome. It was there I decided I didn't want to teach college, but I really wanted to continue teaching younger folks! I got a GK-12 fellowship and worked with teachers in Austin, but I was dreaming of the green mountains to the east. Finally, I moved back to the Smokies. I taught middle school science at Cullowhee Valley School for 10 years and loved it. During that time I also married Rene, who is a chimney sweep, and had two boys, Whalen (9) and Jackson (5). I needed a new challenge three years ago, so I moved to Smoky Mountain High and taught biology, wildlife, and earth science, which was fantastic. When I had the opportunity to return to middle school, though, I jumped. I am especially looking forward to investigating nature, gardening, and asking more questions than we can answer. I'm so excited to work with the dedicated staff and families at The Catamount School- we are going on a wonderful adventure together.

I can be reached at agclapp@wcu.edu

I’m a native of Cullowhee, and an alumna of WCU, where I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish, and my Master’s in Public Affairs. While at WCU, my language studies took me to study in Valparaíso, Chile, where I further developed a passion for language, the arts, and teaching as a university student and volunteer in Chilean schools.
For ten years, I’ve enjoyed teaching dance and theatre to students of all ages in both the public school and private studio settings. . I continue to teach at Triple Threat Performing Arts Academy in Sylva, and have taught and worked as a choreographer for Smoky Mountain High School, Fairview Elementary School, and Cherokee Central Schools.
In my free time, I enjoy dancing, hiking, reading, and planning my next big adventure! I love to travel, but I’m always eager to return home to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina!
I am so excited to begin an amazing year at The Catamount School! I look forward to meeting each of our students and exploring their interests, engaging their creativity, and empowering their expression through TCS’ arts and enrichment activities!

I can be reached at klelders@wcu.edu

I can be reached at mrector@wcu.edu

 

You can always reach him at: phillipsa@wcu.edu

I can be reached at kmcalister@wcu.edu

I can be reached at statham@wcu.edu