Jen Watkins | Executive Director

Jen Watkins has worked at Evergreen since 2006, beginning as an Academic Support teacher before transitioning to Associate Director of middle school in 2016, and into her current role as Executive Director in 2023.

She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and lived in several different states before settling in Asheville. After graduating from Furman University, she began her career as a classroom teacher before joining the Evergreen community. Her children both graduated from Evergreen and she cherishes her experience as an Evergreen parent for many years. She is an avid soccer player, runner, paddleboarder, and hiker, and loves working with children and families to make Evergreen such a special place to grow and learn.

TJ Toothman | Board Chair & Parent

TJ earned a B.S. degree in Physics from the United States Air Force Academy and an MBA from Arizona State University. He served in the Air Force as a Logistics Officer. He has a background in manufacturing, logistics and quality operations and business management. TJ is the father of two Evergreen students. He spends his recreational time playing soccer, riding bikes, tinkering in the garage, and exploring in the woods with his family.

Susanne Sichta | Vice Chair & Parent

Susanne is an appellate attorney with The Sichta Firm LLC, focused on criminal justice advocacy. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Writing from Northland College, and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law. Her work has resulted in the reversal of death sentences, corrections of illegal sentences, and sentence reductions. In her down time, Susanne enjoys reading, tending to her gardens, and exploring the outdoors with her husband/law partner, Rick, and their two young daughters.

Rick Brown | Board Treasurer & Parent

Rick has lived in Asheville since 2006. He has worked with youth in residential treatment, foster care, and also taught high school mathematics locally for 10 years. He is now a Certified Financial Planner working for a fee-only financial planning firm. His two children have been part of the EverAfter Program and Evergreen Summer Adventures. He loves the culture, music, and outdoor opportunities that our mountain community offers.

Jill Overholt | Parent

Jill is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Programs department at Warren Wilson College. She earned her PhD and MS from Indiana University, and has lived in Asheville since 2013. In addition to her years in higher education, Jill has worked as an instructor and course director for the Colorado Outward Bound School, and in a variety of summer camp, outdoor education and ropes course facilitation settings. She is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer, having served as an environmental educator in the Republic of Armenia. She is passionate about facilitating connection with the natural world, and has co-authored two books on the subject. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and biking with her young daughter and husband, cooking, gardening, reading and knitting.

Dr. Heather Laine Talley | Community Member

Heather spends her days mothering, writing, and working for change as a teacher, coach, and consultant. For the past twenty years, she has worked in philanthropy, higher education, and community-based organizations. Her work and presence are guided by systems thinking, a commitment to shifting power and redistributing resources in the service of equity, and building cultures of deep belonging. Heather is the co-chair of the 21st Century Philanthropy committee for the WNC Health Equity Coalition and has served on the Boards of Youth Outright and Western Carolinians for Criminal Justice. She first moved to Asheville in 1998 to attend UNCA where she completed a B.A. in sociology, followed by a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. Heather lives in East Asheville with her spouse and little one, where they hike often, throw kitchen dance parties, and share meals with their chosen family.

Jeannie Curtis | Parent

Jeannie has a BS from Virginia Tech and an MEd from Marymount University. She is a teacher and professional development consultant. After teaching in the Bay Area and at Evergreen, she has been working with teachers and administrators to strengthen math instruction in elementary schools across the nation.

Taylor Delhagen | Parent

Taylor started his teaching journey back in 2006 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn with Teach For America. After his two-year commitment, Delhagen was hooked and decided to stay in the classroom. Over the next decade, he helped open two charter schools in Brooklyn based on the pillars of restorative practices and the liberal arts. In 2013, Taylor took a year away from the classroom to dig into a Fulbright research fellowship in India focused on uncovering the single story in history curriculum. Today he is a Professor of Practice and History Methods at The Relay Graduate School of Education. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education where his studies are focused on leadership, equity, and the internationalization of higher education. While not teaching, he is searching for running trails or roads to cycle with his partner, Tiffany, and sons, Rumi (an Evergreen student) and Rivers.

Nichole Onash | Parent

Nichole is a psychiatry Physician Assistant who brings experience responding to the specific needs of children with autism, ADHD, and mental health challenges. In a previous career, she taught American Sign Language to preschool children. Nichole is a parent of two, including one Evergreen student. Nichole earned her Bachelor of Science in biology and Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Florida. She moved to Asheville in 2009 to be closer to family. She spent most of her professional career working with underserved populations, including school-based health clinics. Currently, she works at Appalachian Counseling and Psychological Services, providing psychiatric medication management to the community.

Carrie Pusey| Faculty

Carrie received a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.Ed in Counseling from Carson-Newman College. She has worked as an educator for 15 years and has taught environmental education in the Great Smoky Mountains, 5th-8th grades at Triad Academy in Winston-Salem, NC, and has been a part of the Evergreen faculty for 9 years. In her free time she enjoys traveling, adventuring outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Susan Thompson | Faculty

Susan Thompson has a master’s degree in Theatre Arts Education and Communication as well as K-6 Elementary teaching license. She has been teaching second grade at Evergreen since 2009. Susan has in non-profit administration and education for over 30 years.  She is a proud parent of an Evergreen Alumni, and currently serves as a faculty member of the Evergreen Board of Directors. In her free time, Susan loves to be active outside, be with family and friends, and make large pots of soup.

Emily Wright-Moore | Parent

Emily is a design researcher and the co-founder of Bloom Works, a Public Benefit LLC, where she focuses on improving access to foster care and early childhood services for traditionally underserved families. Emily also volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem in Buncombe County. She moved to Asheville in 2018 from the Bay Area and lives with her family in West Asheville.

Rob Durr | Parent

Rob completed a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Southwest semester program during college that solidified strong values in experiential education, environmentalism, and social responsibility. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver and then completed his post-doctoral training at Northwestern University, where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Faculty member. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Health Services Provider (HSP) in the state of North Carolina and is the principal owner of Carolina Psychological Assessment Center. Rob currently specializes in psychological assessment, autism assessment, emotional intelligence, mindfulness-based executive coaching, and leadership development. He is also the President of the Western North Carolina Psychological Association (WNCPA). He and his wife Lauren have three daughters at Evergreen, and he spends his free time in nature, going to concerts, and having backyard bonfires.

Keilayn Tate | Alum

Keilayn Tate is an Everlaster who graduated in 2016, and was a recipient of the Zoe Cole Weiss Spirit of Evergreen Award. She recently graduated from Howard University with a BBA in Business Management, and has begun her career at Google in HR. Keilayn is very passionate about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and hopes to bring her knowledge to the board. In her spare time, Keilayn loves exploring with her dog Finley, trying new food spots, and reading. 

Isaac Rowles | Parent

Isaac is a CPA working in assurance service with DMJPS PLLC. At DMJPS he works with a variety of industries including hospitality, manufacturing, construction, real estate development, and non-profit.  He moved to Asheville in 2010 to complete a BS in accounting at UNC Asheville. Prior to becoming an accountant, Isaac worked as a professional chef for over 12 years across the east coast, starting his cooking career with a degree in Professional Cooking and Baking from Baltimore International College. Isaac is a member of the Board of Directors for Homeward Bound of WNC whose mission is to prevent and end homelessness in our community through permanent housing and support. He is also assistant treasurer at the Hatch Innovation hub and advisory board member for the UNCA Department of Management and Accountancy.  In his free time, Isaac enjoys cycling, cooking, baking, camping, and spending time with his wife and two kids.