Faculty and Staff

Jo Cullen

Executive Director

Jo is from England and moved to America in 2008 when her husband was relocated with Eastman. She graduated from the University of York, England, with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Education. She completed a post grad in Elementary Education and went on to teach in elementary schools in England for 16 years. She became a school principal there in 2002. During this time, her younger son was diagnosed with autism. She completed a post graduate certificate in Aspergers Syndrome at the University of Sheffield, and also underwent TEACCH training with Professor Gary Mesibov.  She is a 2020 graduate of the Vanderbilt Consortium LEND program (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopment Disabilities). This was a year-long program focusing on interprofessional approaches to working with children with disabilities and their families.

Jo is the Executive Director of Jeremiah School, responsible for all operations for the school, as well as raising awareness of the school within the community. She is passionate about sharing her knowledge, and regularly speaks to groups and businesses to increase their understanding and acceptance of those who are neurodiverse.

She lives in Johnson City with her younger son, who works at The Jeremiah Café, and enjoys travelling back to England each year to visit her elder son.

Gina Habit

Principal

Shaunah Scott

Counselor, LCSW

Shaunah Scott is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with a deep passion for supporting neurodivergent youth and those healing from trauma. A native of East Tennessee, Shaunah earned her Master of Social Work from East Tennessee State University in 2010 and brings over 15 years of clinical experience across a wide range of settings, including inpatient psychiatric treatment, outpatient therapy, residential treatment, hospital case management, and transitional living services.  Before joining Jeremiah School she was a counselor at the ETSU Counseling Center and taught courses in the social work department.

Shaunah holds certifications in both autism and ADHD, and she integrates a neuroaffirming, trauma-informed approach into all of her work. Her therapy style is creative, compassionate, person centered, and rooted in evidence-based practices including  adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),  adapted Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), desensitization strategies, and teaching practical tools for emotion regulation, body based awareness, and stress management.  She aims to help students explore and understand their own unique ways of thinking, feeling, and experiencing the world, while also building curiosity and compassion for how others may experience things differently. She incorporates tools like Spoon Theory to help clients understand energy and pacing, and she prioritizes sensory-informed care to meet the unique needs of each individual.

Shaunah’s greatest joy is meeting students where they are, walking alongside them as they grow in self-worth, emotional resilience, and identity.Whether using the sandtray, mindfulness, tapping, nervous system education, movement-based regulation, or expressive arts, Shaunah tailors therapy to support the whole person. She works closely with families to build understanding, improve communication, and foster environments where students can thrive. At the heart of her work is a commitment to helping students discover who they are, embrace their strengths, and learn to advocate for their needs with confidence.  She is thrilled to be part of the leadership team at Jeremiah School.

Outside of her counseling work, Shaunah is a passionate foodie who loves trying new dishes and being creative in the kitchen. She enjoys reading, learning,  and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Bethany Sweeney

Classroom Teacher

Bethany Sweeney is joined the Jeremiah School during 2023-24 school year as a classroom teacher.

Bethany Sweeney is a Florida native that recently moved to the Johnson City area. This is not her first time living here though. She earned a Bachelors of Art in Studio Art from Milligan College in 2001, and also played soccer there. After graduating and moving back to Florida, she earned a Masters of Art in Teaching, specializing in Exceptional Student Education, from the University of South Florida. She then taught for 8 years in a public Florida high school, teaching art to special education students. Most recently, she taught art at a private Christian school in Florida for 12 years.

Dana Miller

Classroom Teacher

Ms. Dana Miller joined Jeremiah School for the 2021-2022 school year as an enrichment teacher and became a classroom teacher for the 2022-2023 school year.

Dana is a mid-western native but has lived in East Tennessee for almost 30 years. She has worked with children in diverse roles, both in schools and in churches, for decades. She has a special education degree from Wayne State in Nebraska and a Biblical Studies degree from Hope International University in California.

Dana and husband, Jeff, have 2 grown daughters and 5 grandchildren. In her free time, she likes gardening, hiking the local trails and spending as much time as possible with her family.

Dana is very excited to join the Jeremiah School team! She appreciates the positive, student-centered environment and is looking forward to working with students to help them realize their unique gifts and abilities.

Sarah Melton

Classroom Teacher

Sarah Melton joined Jeremiah School family during the 22-23 school year as a classroom teacher, and helped with the opening of Jeremiah Cafe during the fall of 24-25.

Gaby Cardona

Teacher Assistant

Gaby Cardona is joining the Jeremiah School staff for the 2025-2026 school year as a Teacher Assistant.

Susan Carleton

Classroom Teacher

Susan Carleton is joining the Jeremiah School staff for the 2024-2025 school year as a Classroom Teacher

Susan first came to Jeremiah School as a grateful parent, when her daughter Aedammair enrolled and fell in love with her new school.  So when the opportunity came to join Jeremiah School as a teacher assistant in February 2024, she was excited to come on board. In July, she joined the staff as a classroom teacher on the Lacy Street side of school.

Before coming to Tennessee, Susan taught in Title I public middle schools near Orlando, and earned her Master’s degree in Literacy Education at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. She now lives in Johnson City with her two youngest children, Fergus and Aedammair, who both work at the Jeremiah Cafe.

Shelley Rudis

Teacher’s Assistant

Shelley joined the Jeremiah School staff during the 2025-2026 school year.

Ms. Shelley was born and raised in southern New Jersey and moved to East Tennessee in 2010 after graduating from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte. After working in restaurants and hotels for many years, Shelley began working in RTI and the after school program in Carter County. For the past three years, she worked in the medically fragile classroom serving children with a wide range of abilities and needs.

Outside of the classroom, Shelley is deeply passionate about cooking and food, in general. She also has a background in musical theater in addition to playing sports. Her favorite thing in the world is being anywhere with her husband (Bruce) and their three children (Colyn, Brook, and Derek).

Shelley is thrilled to be a part of the Jeremiah School family and looks forward to helping the students flourish.

Kaylie Crain

Teacher’s Assistant

Gracie Green

Teacher Assistant

Will Beach

Teacher Assistant