Meet Our Team

Caitlin Ensley is the Senior Director of Education and Outreach, responsible for the 16-county East Tennessee region including Knoxville. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work with concentrations in child welfare and organizational leadership. Caitlin has worked for MHAET since 2014. Her favorite parts of the job are educating youth, decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and practicing self care. She is also passionate about creating a workplace environment focused on wellness. She lives in Knoxville with her partner, Spencer, their two sons, Oliver and Elliott, and their two kittens Luna and Matilda, and dog, Jackson.  

Sarah Miranda is the Southeast Regional Coordinator, responsible for the 10 counties in the Southeast region of Tennessee. She has Bachelors Degrees in Global Development Studies and Psychology from Mercer University. Sarah’s passionate about working at MHAET because she wants to promote and educate on the importance of mental health and early intervention. Sarah most enjoys building a strong community network, and hearing the stories from students that she gets to teach. She lives in Chattanooga with her husband, Nate, their son Asher and their two dogs, Brodie and Bella. Sarah practices self-care daily through fitness and quality time spent outdoors with her family.

Casey Caudill is the Northeast Regional Coordinator for MHAET, and she is responsible for the 8 counties in the Northeast. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Civic Innovation and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, both from Emory & Henry College. She enjoys promoting self care, educating youth, and making connections within the Northeast TN community. She lives in Mount Carmel, TN with her husband, Jake and their 2 kids, Acadia and Elias. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, kayaking, playing board games, and traveling to new places.

Mental Health Educators

Jacqueline is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She has a background in teaching mindfulness-based stress reduction and trauma-informed movement. Jacqueline is passionate about holistic mental health and the importance of empowering our youth through mental health education and skill building. Through MHAET she hopes to increase awareness and share information about mental health and wellness with students of East Tennessee

Jennifer is an East TN native, raising her two young boys. Jennifer received her Bachelor’s from Carson-Newman in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and is now pursuing her Master’s in School Counseling K-12 with Capella University. Jennifer is passionate about helping children and adolescents understand their mental health to build resilience. She is grateful for the opportunity to connect with youth through curriculum delivery. In addition to her academic pursuits, Jennifer is a published author of adolescent poetry and has coached competitive cheer for 10 years. Her diverse experiences have shaped her dedication to supporting young people in their mental health journey!

Keith is a Mental Health Educator for the Northeast Region. Keith received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in addition to earning his teaching certification from Milligan College, Tennessee. Keith completed a very successful and gratifying career as a classroom teacher for the Johnson City School System. He then extended his professional leadership skills by serving as a TEAM evaluator for Johnson City Schools and as a Supervisor of Student Teachers and Interns for Milligan University. As a Mental Health Educator, Keith is now enabled to combine his lifelong passion for teaching with his deep desire to increase awareness of mental health issues while promoting mental wellness. Keith lives in Watauga, Tennessee with his wife Janet and his beloved dog, Gus. He has two adult children and one adult grandson. Keith Hertzog is an accomplished photographer who especially enjoys nature and wildlife photography. Keith, Janet and Gus enjoy being outdoors. They can often be found exploring the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee in their RV camper.

Kelly comes to MHA with over ten years of experience in 1:1, small group coaching, speaking, writing and workplace wellness programs. She’s thrilled to be able to use her experience to help youth in the Southeast so that they have the self-care and coping skills she wishes she would have been taught when she was younger. Kelly and her wife are empty nesters, built their own country home, love to hike and dream of starting a second family… of chickens and maybe a goat. 

Laila is a graduate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology. Laila is passionate about improving mental health outcomes in youth. She believes in the power of education to break stigma surrounding mental health. When she is not working with the Mental Health Association, she is working on other initiatives in community wellness, such as food justice and affordable utility access. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, puzzles, spending time with family and friends (and of course, her cat, Juni).

Neil is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Capella University with a master’s degree in sport psychology. Whether it’s in his work as a mental performance consultant, coach, men’s group facilitator, or mental health educator, he has found value in creating space for vulnerability, connection, and acceptance. He believes that combined with awareness, education is a key step to building a more resilient and mentally healthy world. Aside from teaching or coaching, one of the main ways in which Neil enjoys his time and improves his mental health is through trail running or spending time in nature. He lives in Chattanooga with his wife Krystal, and two dogs, Hazel and Prue.

Stacy Ballentine obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in families as well as her teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Stacy has a wide range of experience working with youth, families in crisis and non-profit organizations. Stacy’s passion for mental health awareness arose as she was in the school system and saw a tangible need for a deeper understanding of mental health for students. Stacy is passionate about bringing more resources to rural Tennessee to promote mental wellness and healthy coping strategies. She believes the combination of awareness, education and practical skills are key to building strong foundations for youth. Originally from California and New Jersey, Stacy lives with her husband and four young children in Middle Tennessee.