Our Team

W. Allen Clark, Ed.D., Administrative Director
(423) 618-9959

Allen began working at Trousdale School in 2011. He has campus, transportation, and education oversight. Allen has a MBA from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an Educational Specialist degree and an Educational Doctorate degree from Lee University, and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. In 1987, Allen received his Eagle Scout rank. His favorite jobs at Trousdale School are analyzing the student assessment data and teaching science class. Allen is an elected member of the NAPSEC Board of Directors.

Allen has two children – Maeve and Spencer. In his free time, he enjoys working outside, watching Tennessee Vols football, and going to the beach.

Anna Munford, Vocational Coordinator

Anna joined Trousdale School in September of 2017 as the Administrative Coordinator.  Anna transitioned to Vocational Coordinator in 2019.  As Vocational Coordinator, Anna oversees the Trousdale School supported job sites, both facility- and community-based.  Additionally, she works with the vocational team to initiate and maintain relationships with potential and current employers, to facilitate training on job sites, and to develop vocational goals and objectives.

Anna moved from St. Louis, Missouri in 2010 to attend Lee University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree. Anna also holds a master's degree from Pentecostal Theological Seminary. Anna enjoys supporting students in their jobs as a job coach. She also enjoys working on the school show every year.

She currently lives in Cleveland with her husband, David along with his family. In her spare time, Anna enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, sports, and traveling.

Becca Brnik, Community Coordinator

Becca Brnik (burn-nick) began working at Trousdale School in July of 2021.  She develops community outreach, helps with administrative tasks, fundraising and long-term strategic planning.    

She has a background in grant writing/management, funds development, non-profit management, as well as teaching in early childhood education and working with children and parents with mental health challenges.  Becca also has a daughter with extra special needs who was born with a rare genetic syndrome.

Prior to being at part of Trousdale School, she worked as the Grant Supervisor for Bradley County Schools where she wrote and managed several large federal and state grants and worked as part of the team to advance the PIE Innovation Center.   

Becca is from Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.  She has lived in Cleveland, Tennessee for more than 15 years with her son, Hayden and daughter, Annabelle.  She enjoys painting, home decorating/organization, traveling to new places, and their fur babies: Lucas, the cat and Lottie Joy, their dog.  

Candace Miller, Teacher

Candace began working at Trousdale School in 2022 as a reading teacher. She completed her bachelor’s degree in special education for grades K-12, at Lee University, in 2017 and her masters in curriculum and instruction with a focus in leadership, through Liberty University, in 2021. For five years, Candace taught middle school special education at Cleveland Middle School working where she received a Teacher of Year award from her colleagues and administration in 2021. Candace taught in a self-contained classroom working with data collection, behavior, and life skills and then transitioned to teaching reading intervention for students with learning disabilities. 

Candace is married to Kyle Miller! Candace loves to find sunsets, disciple young women, embroider, and watch The Office. Kyle runs his own coffee roasting business that supports world missions, Sojos Coffee. Together, they love to hike, kayak, host friends, and travel the world with a missional mindset.

Jim Whetmore, IT Coordinator

Jim began at Trousdale School in 2012. He is responsible for the implementation, monitoring and maintenance of the IT systems. He teaches the technology classes and is a job coach. He also assists in writing, math, correspondence, art, and vocational lab. Jim has a degree in Applied Technology, a Black Belt in the Wadō-ryū Karate and an Archery Field Instructor Level 2 certification from the NFAA. Before working at the Trousdale School, Jim spent ten years working at Camp Lookout.

Jim lives in Harrison, Tennessee, with his wife, Cherelle, and their three children, Nelly, Wendy, and Finn. In his free time, Jim enjoys reading with his children, playing games on his computer, and cooking out in the backyard with his family.

Leah Wilson, Teacher

Leah joined Trousdale School in the fall of 2012 and taught Fitness, Physical Education, and Reading. She was at Trousdale School for nine years and returned after taking two years off to be with her children. Her youngest is now in kindergarten, so she is excited to be back working at Trousdale School part-time.

Leah received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Physical Education and Wellness and her teaching license to teach Physical Education and Health k-12 from Tennessee Tech University. Leah was a personal trainer and a part-time Reading Interventionist before coming to work at Trousdale School. Leah was born and raised in Cleveland, TN. She now lives in Ooltewah with her husband, Tim, and two daughters, Averie and Emery. In her spare time, Leah dances at Massari-Wood Ballet Studio, and after much training to get back on pointe shoes, she was recently invited to be a part of the Civic Ballet Training Company. Leah danced ballet for over 15 years and was on the dance team at Tennessee Tech University. Leah and her husband, Tim, enjoy watching their girls play soccer, ballet, gymnastics, and piano. She also enjoys a good camping trip and traveling.

Martin Cox, Facilities Manager

Martin joined Trousdale School in 2015. As the Facilities Manager, he is responsible for maintenance and minor building projects for campus buildings and grounds. He works with the Administrative Director to ensure all maintenance schedules for essential and emergency services are up to date and compliant with relevant standards. Martin coordinates the maintenance of vehicles and reports usage of motor vehicles in accordance with guidelines. Also, he maintains and ensures that all registrations and insurance in relation to service vehicles are kept up to date and within the service policy.

He was born and raised in Chattanooga. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.S. degree in business with a major in finance. His background includes being a commodities futures broker in Chicago for ten years while working at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Martin and his wife Dellene have two daughters - Kelly (former Trousdale School Intern) and Rachel. In his spare time, he enjoys working in the yard and watching Tennessee Vols football.

Sarah Bradley, Specialized Instructor

Sarah holds a B.F.A in Studio Art from Belmont University and an M.A. in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah taught art at Trousdale School for over a decade before her family relocated for her husband to pastor a church. Sarah now assists Trousdale School with communications and enjoys teaching a virtual drawing class each week. 

Sarah lives in Kentucky with her husband and three children. She enjoys growing and making things.

Shannon Hart Clark, Executive Director
(423) 364-4237

Shannon has served as the Executive Director of Trousdale School since 2008. She grew up in Cleveland, graduated from the University of Alabama, and earned her CPA license while working in Chattanooga. Before Trousdale School, Shannon had extensive nonprofit leadership experience and training at the state and national level through the Junior League of Chattanooga, where she served as the organization’s President. She was employed in healthcare and public accounting for over fifteen years; she has recently achieved the Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional designation. Shannon loves the smiles she finds among students and staff! She also enjoys her role in creating, supporting, and maintaining this learning environment.

NCASES is the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services, and Shannon has been a Commissioner since 2020 and Site Reviewer since 2018.

Shannon has two children, Maeve and Spencer. She enjoys her book clubs, hiking with friends, traveling near and far, live music, and spending time with friends.

Stephanie Royer Hales, Lead Teacher

Stephanie is our Lead Teacher and began teaching at Trousdale School in June 2010. She teaches several classes and collaborates with other staff, families, and community resources regarding the school’s curriculum, scheduling, assessment, and Individualized Life Plans (ILPs).  Stephanie completed her B.S. in Exceptional Education (K-12) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and M.Ed. at Lincoln Memorial University with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction.  Stephanie taught for four years in the Hamilton County School system teaching academic, life, and vocational skills on both the middle and high school levels in a self-contained classroom setting. 

At the age of 16, Stephanie began working at Camp Lookout, a United Methodist summer camp in Rising Fawn, GA. It was during this time that Stephanie first had the opportunity to work with individuals with intellectual disabilities.  She was amazed to see the excitement, beauty, and joy of the world through their eyes despite the challenges they faced. Those individuals instilled a desire to continue work with that population, and she pursued her degree in special education.  Little did she know, ten years later many of those same individuals would be the very students she now has the opportunity to work with at Trousdale School. 

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys reading, crafting, going to musicals, hiking, and spending time with her family, friends, and pupster Kendall. 

Tim Baldwin, Specialized Instructor

Tim Baldwin began working at Trousdale School in February 2022 after moving from Sonora, California. He enjoys teaching various topics including Social Studies, Science, and Art, and he assists the vocational team. Before joining Trousdale School, Tim worked as the Assistant Director of a program for adults with developmental disabilities serving over 100 clients. His experience there included teaching, vocational training, and event coordination.

Before his time in special education, Tim traveled about on a river cruise, lived in New Orleans, received his B.A. in Fine Art from California State University with an emphasis in sculpture, and worked in the special effects industry. Tim lives in Chattanooga with his girlfriend, Caroline, and their cat, Mr. Fuzzy Pants. When he is not working, he enjoys reading, writing, playing games, going hiking, and making things.