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Meet Our Team

Leadership Team

  • Dr. John Singleton
    Dr. John Singleton
    CEO, Owner
  • Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
    Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
    Executive Clinical Director
  • Erin Cantalini
    Erin Cantalini
    Director of Transition
  • Talina McKinney
    Talina McKinney
    Academic Director
  • Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
    Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
    Assistant Clinical Director
  • Sally Clay
    Sally Clay
    CFO
  • James Holcomb
    James Holcomb
    Director of Operations and Human Resources
  • Rick D. Pollard, Ph.D.
    Rick D. Pollard, Ph.D.
    Director of Business Development

Clinical Team

  • Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
    Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
    Executive Clinical Director
  • Erin Cantalini
    Erin Cantalini
    Director of Transition
  • Stuart Worley, M.A, NCC, LPC
    Stuart Worley, M.A, NCC, LPC
    Primary Therapist & Research Specialist
  • Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
    Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
    Assistant Clinical Director
  • Jennifer Zeisz, Ph.D.
    Jennifer Zeisz, Ph.D.
    Consulting Psychologist
  • Dr. Asif Choudhary
    Dr. Asif Choudhary
    Consulting Psychiatrist

Academic Team

  • Talina McKinney
    Talina McKinney
    Academic Director
  • Patrick Alexander, MSCIN
    Patrick Alexander, MSCIN
    Teacher
  • Tim Duncan
    Tim Duncan
    STEAM Teacher
  • Jason Karwacki
    Jason Karwacki
    Teacher Assistant
  • Justin Langston
    Justin Langston
    Teacher Assistant

Residential Team

  • Kory Byrd
    Kory Byrd
    Weekday Residential Manager
  • Mack Freeman
    Mack Freeman
    Weekend Residential Manager
  • Rachel Langston
    Rachel Langston
    Logistics Coordinator

Operations

  • James Holcomb
    James Holcomb
    Director of Operations and Human Resources

Whetstone’s Animals

  • Sarah The Donkey
    Sarah The Donkey
  • Susie Q the Pig
    Susie Q the Pig
  • George The Cat
    George The Cat
  • Forest the Alpaca
    Forest the Alpaca
  • Fatty The Chicken
    Fatty The Chicken

Whetstone Academy Staff Training & Competency

Whetstone Academy’s advanced training program for staff is unparalleled in the industry.

Being a CARF Accredited Institution, Whetstone Academy, per CARF Standards of Care, offers over 120 hours of mandatory staff training. These trainings include: CPR/First Aid, trauma informed care techniques, suicide prevention and assessment, blood borne pathogens, appropriate boundaries, driver safety, and client services to name only a few.

Whetstone Academy provides a certified Life Guard when boys are swimming or participating in water related activities.

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®)

TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI® is connection.

 

This training is specifically designed to meet the complex needs of children who have experienced adversity, early harm, stress, and/or trauma. Because of their histories, it is often difficult for these children to trust the loving adults in their lives, which often results in perplexing behaviors. This training offers practical tools for parents, caregivers, teachers, or anyone who works with children, to see the “whole child” in their care and help that child reach his highest potential.

 

Because of their histories, children who have experienced trauma have changes in their bodies, brains, behaviors, and belief systems. While a variety of parenting strategies may be successful in typical circumstances, children with histories of harm need caregiving that meets their unique needs and addresses the whole child. That said, we’ve found that any child benefits from a nurturing, trusting relationship with a safe adult.

 

Learn more about TBRI® Here.

The Clinical First Responder™ (CFR)

At least one member of each shift at Whetstone is trained as a CFR. This course trains lead staff to recognize a wide variety of psychological issues, to communicate in clinical language with clinicians, and to de-escalate emotional crises to prevent critical incidents. In addition to increasing their skill level, staff feel supported, empowered, and prepared—ingredients which improve their effectiveness with our clients.

The Clinical First Responder™ training helps lead staff become better equipped to handle day to day treatment issues and to respond appropriately to the inevitable crises that occur on the job. The end result is a more competent and confident staff and a more effective and professional program.

The Clinical First Responder™ is based on the medical First Responder model: A medical first responder is not a doctor but may be working in a setting where medical needs and emergencies must be treated. Likewise, a Clinical First Responder™ is not a psychologist but is operating in an environment where psychological issues and crises demand a response. The Clinical First Responder™ will train non-clinicians to competently assist in the care and treatment of clients with psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues. The goal of the course is to prepare Whetstone lead staff to respond decisively and appropriately to the needs of our clients before expert assistance becomes available.

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) by Cornell University

Every Whetstone employee is trained in The Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training program for child and youth care staff. TCI presents a crisis prevention and intervention model designed to teach staff how to help children learn constructive ways to handle crisis.

The ability of our entire organization to respond effectively to children and young people in crisis situations is critical in establishing not only a safe environment, but also one that promotes growth and development. The skills, knowledge, and professional judgment of our staff in responding to crises are critical factors in helping young people learn constructive and adaptive ways to deal with frustration, failure, anger, rejection, hurt, and depression.

The DRACO GROUP – Emergency and Active Shooter Training

It is sad, but recent violent events have woken the nation to the fact that any school can be a target and Whetstone is not an exception. Therefore, the Leadership Team hired The DRACO GROUP to introduce security design and training in order to increase the security of Whetstone Academy with a 9-step proven system.

  • EVERYBODY CAN DO SOMETHING
  • TRAINING & PRACTICE
  • FIELD ANALYSIS PRINCIPLES
  • INDICATORS
  • SECURITY DESIGN
  • RINGS OF RESPONSE TO HUMAN THREAT
  • COORDINATION WITH COLLEAGUES
  • EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
  • SURVIVING A TRAGIC EVENT

Whetstone staff learned that an intellectual understanding alone, will produce complete failure during an emergency. Training is the key. Training is a physical and physiological process by which you produce muscle memory to act quickly and effectively during emergencies. You should conduct effective training, based on actual results (not theory), to make the staff the most valuable component of our security system, which the Whetstone Team utilizes.

The Community Resiliency Model 

Community Resiliency Model®

Whetstone Academy uses The Community Resiliency Model® (CRM) to train community members to not only help themselves but to help others within their wider social network. The primary focus of this skills-based, stabilization program is to re-set the natural balance of the nervous system.

CRM®’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-focused” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach.

CRM® Skills Trainings

The Community Resiliency Model® (CRM) Skills Trainings introduces participants to six wellness skills. CRM® Skills Trainings help create “trauma-informed” and “resiliency-informed” individuals and communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased using this skills-based approach.

The two fundamental goals of CRM® are to help adults and children learn to track their own nervous systems in order to bring the body, mind and spirit back into greater balance, and to encourage people to pass the skills along to family, friends and their wider community.  CRM® can be used as self-care for those community members who are the front-line workers, responding to crisis situations.

ABA publishes the Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Whetstone Academy.

To link to the Machine-Readable Files, please click on the URL provided: transparency.abadmin.com

Dr. John Singleton
CEO, Owner

Owner & Ceo

Dr. John Singleton has 33 years of experience working in education and 17 years of experience in therapeutic school leadership. John’s extensive education experience is steeped in life-changing results and award-winning programs.

John plays several vital roles in the Treatment Industry. He serves as President of NATSAP, the Therapeutic Industries national professional organization. John also serves on the board of Trustees for the IECA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of IECA. Further, John is the Founder and President of the Board of GEMS, which is a non-profit organization & conference. Finally, he serves on the board of directors for the Whetstone Family Foundation.

In early 2000, John’s strong belief in multisensory learning and an individualized approach to education guided him from public school administration into the Program Director role at Stone Mountain School, a therapeutic wilderness boarding school in Black Mountain, NC. A few years later, he used his knowledge and management experience to help establish New Leaf Academy of North Carolina, an all girls’ therapeutic boarding school. By 2006, he became the Executive Director of Cedars Academy in Delaware, a program for Autism Spectrum Disorder students; a role he continued for four years before serving as President and Head of School at Brandon Hall in Atlanta. During his six years at Brandon Hall, he was instrumental in overseeing the school’s 700% growth in student enrollment, facility development and creation of a 21st Century technology enriched learning model. Finally, before he purchased Whetstone in 2016, he was the Director of Business Development at Trails Carolina, a therapeutic wilderness program in Western North Carolina.

John has presented nationally and is published on the subject of Educational Leadership and learning differences. His most recent presentations include: GEMS 2019, NATSAP 2018, CASE-NAIS National Conference Pre-Conference Advancement Master Class, January 2013, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), Philadelphia, PA, May 2011 and Texas A&M University – Southwest Teaching and Learning Conference in 2010.

He has attended Harvard Graduate School of Education – Independent Schools Institute. He has also furthered his studies at Yale Child Study Center in 2008; Minds and Hearts Clinic, Tony Attwood, Ph.D. in 2007; and The Medical University of South Carolina, Russell Barkley, Ph.D. in 2006.

John received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education from Gardner-Webb University and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2010 from the University of Phoenix. His research was focused on the topic of Educational Leadership and working with students on the Autism Spectrum.

In his spare time, John enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with his family and dogs.

Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
Executive Clinical Director

Justin Cantalini earned his Master’s degree in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling from Appalachian State University in 2013. He also holds Graduate Certificates in Expressive Arts Therapy and Addictions
Counseling. He has worked in the mental health field since 2006 in various roles, including a wilderness field guide, primary therapist, parent coach, and previous Clinical Director for Whetstone.

He is passionate about helping individuals and families heal and find a renewed sense of meaning and connection. He believes authenticity and compassion are the active ingredients in creating and sustaining healthy change and healthy relationships with ourselves and others. He wants to ensure that Whetstone Academy is where students are immersed in a rich learning environment and where students and families are seen for their strengths.

“I want to ensure that while our students and families are working through their challenges, that they also have a sense of fun and curiosity while they are doing it; that it is meaningful for them. I want each family that comes to Whetstone to leave with greater resilience and to feel connected.”

Erin Cantalini
Director of Transition

Erin received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in Body-Centered Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy and Addictions Counseling from ASU in 2012. Her career has ranged from working in wilderness therapy as a field staff, primary therapist, and family therapist, as well as working in residential programs as a therapist, Neurofeedback practitioner and Co-Clinical Director. She has an extensive history of working with youth and their families struggling with challenges such as: ASD,
Attachment, AD/HD, and Mood Disorders. She also specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ populations. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching football, camping and paddle boarding!

Talina McKinney
Academic Director

Talina McKinney

Talina is a native to the Oconee area. She attended Anderson University in Anderson SC where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. She also has a Master’s Degree in Human Services with a cognate in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University. In addition, Talina is  certified as a Board Certified Human Service Practitioner.
Talina has 18 years experience working with children and their families. Her experience has included positions as a Primary Counselor, Admissions Coordinator, Program Director as well as the Director of Transition and Alumni Services. In addition, Talina has six years experience working with victims of sexual assault.
Her compassion and commitment for others can be seen through her interactions with the boys and their families. Her dedication to helping families can also be seen in her longevity as she recently celebrated her 9 year anniversary with Whetstone Academy. Talina enjoys working with families because in her words “There is nothing more rewarding then getting to see a family’s success.”
Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
Assistant Clinical Director

Andreya is a licensed independent social worker. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a focus on rural communities in 2013 and a Masters of Social Work in 2014, both from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She has been working in the field of social work since 2013 in a variety of settings, and has been a therapist since 2017. Andreya worked with youth and their families in outpatient mental health and the public school settings in Montana prior to joining the team at Whetstone Academy.

Andreya believes in cultivating students’ interests and engaging in play to build relationships with kids and work towards goals. She often uses games, student-led projects, and other activities in therapy. She believes strongly that spending time in nature can be healing, and is excited to work at the beautiful Whetstone campus and explore the surrounding area.

In her spare time, Andreya enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Jarred. She also likes to spend time knitting, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Sally Clay
CFO

Sally Clay

Sally is a founding staff member of Whetstone Academy. She has been the Business Manager for Whetstone Academy since it opened in 2011.  A strong advocate for helping children obtain the services they need in an educational environment, she was drawn to work for a place like Whetstone Academy where she could offer her years of experience in accounting.  Sally is also a member of several other school committees, as well as a local Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader.  A native of South Carolina, she currently lives in Mountain Rest with her husband and three children.

James Holcomb
Director of Operations and Human Resources
Rick D. Pollard, Ph.D.
Director of Business Development

Rick began his work in the therapeutic industry in 2004 and brought his extensive and varied experience to be our Director of Business Development. From 2021-2022 Rick served as the Executive Director of our sister academy, Maple Hall. He was employed as a retail District Leader for 16 years before starting his life-changing career in schools.

In 2004, he began with the inaugural team of New Leaf Academy of NC, an all-girls therapeutic boarding school that he helped lead for over five years. He continued his career in therapeutic education as he led admissions teams for wilderness programs, assisting families with placements for various diagnoses. For three years, he was Assistant Head of School at Brandon Hall School, an independent boarding school in Atlanta, GA. For six years, Rick considered it a privilege to lead a team at a residential treatment program that brought so much positive change and healing to the lives of adolescents and their families prior to arriving at Whetstone Academy.

Rick was a board member of NATSAP from 2018 until 2021 and is Vice President of the GEMS conference. Rick received his M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Mercer University. His research topic focused on the topic of Educational Leadership and working with students on the gender spectrum.

In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of activities including kayaking, hiking, singing and painting. He loves his daily walks and time with his family and Yorkshire terrier daughters, Katy and BeBe.

Justin Cantalini, MA, LCMHC
Executive Clinical Director

Justin Cantalini earned his Master’s degree in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling from Appalachian State University in 2013. He also holds Graduate Certificates in Expressive Arts Therapy and Addictions
Counseling. He has worked in the mental health field since 2006 in various roles, including a wilderness field guide, primary therapist, parent coach, and previous Clinical Director for Whetstone.

He is passionate about helping individuals and families heal and find a renewed sense of meaning and connection. He believes authenticity and compassion are the active ingredients in creating and sustaining healthy change and healthy relationships with ourselves and others. He wants to ensure that Whetstone Academy is where students are immersed in a rich learning environment and where students and families are seen for their strengths.

“I want to ensure that while our students and families are working through their challenges, that they also have a sense of fun and curiosity while they are doing it; that it is meaningful for them. I want each family that comes to Whetstone to leave with greater resilience and to feel connected.”

Erin Cantalini
Director of Transition

Erin received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in Body-Centered Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy and Addictions Counseling from ASU in 2012. Her career has ranged from working in wilderness therapy as a field staff, primary therapist, and family therapist, as well as working in residential programs as a therapist, Neurofeedback practitioner and Co-Clinical Director. She has an extensive history of working with youth and their families struggling with challenges such as: ASD,
Attachment, AD/HD, and Mood Disorders. She also specializes in working with LGBTQIA+ populations. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching football, camping and paddle boarding!

Stuart Worley, M.A, NCC, LPC
Primary Therapist & Research Specialist

Primary Therapist

Stuart is originally from Charlotte North Carolina, and obtained her bachelors at The University of North Carolina at Asheville where she double majored in psychology and political science. Post undergrad, she moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she received her Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling at The Citadel.

Her clinical experience has been working with college students at College of Charleston Counseling at the Substance Abuse Center and working intensively with families at Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center.

Stuart’s passion for working with children is fueled by the kids themselves. To Stuart, working with kids of all ages is a breath of fresh air.  While she considers herself a true city gal, she’s been involved in outdoor recreation for 6 years throughout the Lake Lure and Charleston, S.C areas. Stuart places a significant value in fresh air and “disconnecting” from the distractions of the modern world. Her favorite outdoor activities include rock climbing, hiking and canoeing. She is also an avid Jenga player and challenges anyone to join her in a game.

Her dog, Cookie, has also joined the Whetstone dog pack. You can find her being Stuart’s little shadow or tanning in the sun. Cookie loves giving kisses and getting cuddled – be careful she will steal any ball you have and your heart!

Andreya Taylor, LISW-CP
Assistant Clinical Director

Andreya is a licensed independent social worker. She earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a focus on rural communities in 2013 and a Masters of Social Work in 2014, both from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She has been working in the field of social work since 2013 in a variety of settings, and has been a therapist since 2017. Andreya worked with youth and their families in outpatient mental health and the public school settings in Montana prior to joining the team at Whetstone Academy.

Andreya believes in cultivating students’ interests and engaging in play to build relationships with kids and work towards goals. She often uses games, student-led projects, and other activities in therapy. She believes strongly that spending time in nature can be healing, and is excited to work at the beautiful Whetstone campus and explore the surrounding area.

In her spare time, Andreya enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, Jarred. She also likes to spend time knitting, cooking, reading, and traveling.

Jennifer Zeisz, Ph.D.
Consulting Psychologist
Dr. Asif Choudhary
Consulting Psychiatrist

Asif Choudhary, MD, is our consulting psychiatrist, and he works with our students throughout their stay at Whetstone Academy.

Dr. Choudhary founded Advanced Psychiatry in Marietta, Georgia, to offer mental health services grounded in compassion and excellence in patient care. He believes in the importance of forming meaningful connections and wants to inspire hope in the community through individualized, dignified, and accessible care.

Combining holistic and evidence-based psychiatry, Dr. Choudhary incorporates lifestyle and medical issues into personalized mental health treatment plans. His goal is always to help each client reach their full potential. Dr. Choudhary earned his medical degree at St. Matthews University. He completed his psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. During his advanced training, he served as chief fellow. Dr. Choudhary is an active member of the American Psychiatric Association.

After completing his fellowship training, Dr. Choudhary worked in inpatient, outpatient, and telepsychiatry settings. He also has experience in consultation-liaison psychiatry, providing care for patients with psychiatric and general medical conditions. In addition to private practice, Dr. Choudhary has years of experience treating patients of all ages. He has trained in an autism center, the juvenile justice system, and multiple school settings.

Dr. Choudhary has written articles, such as Diagnosing Anxiety and Depression in Teens, published in Atlanta Medicine. He has also been featured on television, informing viewers about a breakthrough treatment for ADHD. When he is not busy being Dr. Choudhary, he is just Asif — a fan of skiing, mindless action movies, and traveling. Except for a few brief detours during his medical career, he has lived in Georgia his entire life.

Talina McKinney
Academic Director

Talina McKinney

Talina is a native to the Oconee area. She attended Anderson University in Anderson SC where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. She also has a Master’s Degree in Human Services with a cognate in Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University. In addition, Talina is  certified as a Board Certified Human Service Practitioner.
Talina has 18 years experience working with children and their families. Her experience has included positions as a Primary Counselor, Admissions Coordinator, Program Director as well as the Director of Transition and Alumni Services. In addition, Talina has six years experience working with victims of sexual assault.
Her compassion and commitment for others can be seen through her interactions with the boys and their families. Her dedication to helping families can also be seen in her longevity as she recently celebrated her 9 year anniversary with Whetstone Academy. Talina enjoys working with families because in her words “There is nothing more rewarding then getting to see a family’s success.”
Patrick Alexander, MSCIN
Teacher

I am married with two daughters and two granddaughters.  I have an Associate degree in Science from Tri-County Technical College and a Bachelor’s in Arts in Psychology. I am a graduate of Palmetto Military Academy where I earned a commission.  I am also a graduate of the United States Army Chemical School.  I graduated from medical school at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Jalisco Mexico in 2005 with a medical diploma/ Bachelors’s in Science.

I lived in Mexico for just over 15 years, which is where I met my wife.  I am multicultured, and mainly speak Spanish at home  I got into education while living in Mexico, and completed teacher training in 2016.  I come from a large school in Guadalajara where I taught Biology and Physics for over three years.  I am currently working on my Masters of Science in curriculum and instruction. For enjoyment, I like to swim, lift weights, and play the piano.

Tim Duncan
STEAM Teacher
Jason Karwacki
Teacher Assistant

Bio coming soon.

Justin Langston
Teacher Assistant

Bio coming soon.

Kory Byrd
Weekday Residential Manager

Bio coming soon.

Mack Freeman
Weekend Residential Manager

Bio coming soon.

Rachel Langston
Logistics Coordinator
James Holcomb
Director of Operations and Human Resources
Sarah The Donkey

Sarah is our oldest animal at Whetstone. By most guesses, she was probably born around 1998. Sarah is exceptionally good with helping students work on social skills and non-verbal communications. She also enjoys eating fruits and vegetables and hanging out with her Alpaca friends.

Susie Q the Pig

Sussie Q is one of our two potbelly pigs. Her best friend is Kenny G, they are actually siblings!

George The Cat

George is our Farm Cat. Though she helps take care of small rodents like mice on the farm, George the cat is REALLY good at give the boys cuddles.

Forest the Alpaca

Forest is one of our two alpacas. Forest other alpaca friend’s name is Cabo. We have to be sure to give these two haircuts in the summer because all of their wool sure can get warm!

Fatty The Chicken

Fatty is one of our many chickens at Whetstone. We have many varieties of birds including, chickens, guinea fowl, pigeons, ducks, geese, and peacocks.