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.  

Jay Clark is the Southeast Regional Director, responsible for the 10 counties in the Southeast region of Tennessee. Jay received a Bachelor’s of Science with a major in Psychology, concentrating in cognitive psychology and social sciences. Jay is passionate about mental health advocacy and raising awareness, which is how he found his way into this field. Jay loves the community this position offers and how rewarding the work really is. He brings experience from serving as educator for MHAET before transitioning to this role. Jay believes in the power of early mental health education and intervention for youth, and also support and training for willing parents and professionals. Jay loves comic books, collects vinyl records, and is currently learning to skateboard! At home, he spends his time with his partner Mya and 2 precious cats named Sterling and Goose.

Casey Caudill is the Northeast Regional Directo 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

Cyndi is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, holding bachelor’s degrees in both Psychology and Sociology. An East Tennessee native, she is passionate about promoting positive mental health and improving the overall wellness of youth in her community. Cyndi is committed to guiding students on their mental health journeys by increasing awareness, encouraging advocacy, and promoting self-care practices. A passionate traveler and published author, Cyndi spends her free time writing, playing pickleball, and creating lasting memories with her husband, three daughters, and extended family and friends.

Elise has a bachelor’s degree in public health and loves working with children. Her passion is to empower kids to make healthy choices for both their physical and mental health. She and her husband are foster parents have 5 teenage sons who keep them busy! Elise speaks Spanish, and through her multicultural household, she has learned about the stigma around mental health in central American cultures and wants to change it. Elise enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling to new places.

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

Janet Hertzog is a Mental Health Educator in Northeast Tennessee. She is a Dean’s List graduate of Milligan College with a B.S. in Elementary Education; certified in grades 1-8 with a minor in Sociology. She earned National Board Certification and enjoyed 25 years as a classroom teacher with 7 years’ experience as an interpreter for deaf students. She is happy to be serving students once again in the role of Mental Health Educator. Janet is married to the wonderful and talented Keith Hertzog. She has two adult children and one adult grandson. She enjoys sewing, reading, walking in area parks and trails, and traveling to places near and far with her husband of 47 years and their feisty dog Gus.

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. 

Kendall is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work, with the ultimate aspiration of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She has a strong desire to provide therapy to at-risk youth and is passionate about young people and their mental health—always wanting them to reach their fullest potential. Eccentric and creative, Kendall approaches life with a unique perspective that she hopes to share with her future clients. She lives in Knoxville with her partner, Tyler, and their two dogs, Vinny & Nero. She loves reading, crafting, thrifting, and tending to her many indoor plants.

Kristen is currently attending the University of Tennessee pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with the honors, research-focused concentration, and a minor in Child and Family Studies. She is passionate about research in the field of mental health and the discovery of new treatments, and plans to obtain a doctorate in Clinical Psychology following graduation. Post-graduation, Kristen plans to continue her work with children and their families in the context of trauma and co-occurring mental health conditions, specifically in military families. When not teaching or attending personal classes, she enjoys frequent trips to the mountains, photography, reading, and exercising. Kristen has two precious cats named Delta and Echo, whom she adores spending time with.

Meg worked as a middle school counselor in Chattanooga, TN after receiving a Master’s in School and Guidance Counseling from New York University. As a Mental Health Educator through MHAET, she enjoys connecting with more students, faculty, and parents throughout southeastern Tennessee. When she isn’t visiting schools, Meg creates illustrations, combining her love of art with mental health advocacy. She spends her free time at the library, practicing yoga, and thrifting. Meg lives with her husband and their rambunctious puppy, Lefty.

Peter Goodacre has lived in Knoxville, TN for the past 10 years and has absolutely loved it. He has an extensive background in youth development – in both group and one on one coaching. He has also been a member of the Army National Guard for 4 years now, and is pursuing his undergrad of Sports Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His passion for martial arts helped lead him in to his love and dedication for helping our next generation grow. Peter believes that everyone’s story matters, and it’s our job to support each other as a community. He loves to do/teach martial arts and ride his motorcycle in his free time. Peter is hoping to provide support and guidance to our youth, and to show them that they are never alone. He is excited to be with MHAET, and is looking forward to all the change this community can provide!