Who We Are

Admin Team

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Natasha Adwaters

Natasha Adwaters
Executive Director
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Hannah Anderson Rhodes

Hannah Anderson Rhodes
Director of Operations
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Patrick Curry

Patrick Curry
Data & Grants Compliance Officer
he/him
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Matt Freeman

Matt Freeman
Business Operations Coordinator
he/they
email

Natalie Williams
Resource Development Coordinator
email

Student Support Specialists

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Nicole Hix

Nicole Hix
Student Supports Manager
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Jill Bulmash

Jill Bulmash
Student Support Specialist - Hall Fletcher Elementary
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Zack Jones

Zack Jones
Student Support Specialist - Emma Elementary
he/him
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Amber Clayton

Amber Clayton
Student Support Specialist - Eblen Intermediate
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Keara Sommer-Grohens

Keara Sommer-Grohens
Student Support Specialist - Claxton Elementary
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Maria Delegarza

Maria Delegarza
Student Support Specialist - Johnston Elementary
she/her
email

Children First / Communities In School of Buncombe County Staff Photo of Perry Hutchens

Perry Hutchens
Student Support Specialist - Oakley Elementary
email

Vacant
Student Support Specialist - Estes Elementary
Want to join the team?

Afterschool & Summer Enrichment

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Gabbi Santander

Gabbi Santander
Afterschool and Summer Enrichment Program Manager
they/them
email

Jessica Davidson
Learning Center Site Lead - Pisgah View
email

Troy Rothman
Learning Center Site Lead - Woodbridge
email

T. Bates
Learning Center Assistant
email

Chasity Irby
Extended Learning Assistant
email

Rae Monahan
Extended Learning Assistant
email

Community Supports

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Mary Cozens

Mary Cozens
Director of Community Supports
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Alvena Landrum

Alvena Landrum
Family Engagement & Community Supports Coordinator
she/her
email

Project POWER - Americorps

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Ashley Campbell Dexter

Ashley Campbell Dexter
Project POWER Americorps Director
she/her
email

Children First/Communities in Schools Staff Photo of Cat Saunders

Cat Saunders
Project POWER Americorps Program Coordinator
she/her
email

Board of Directors | Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Machelle Cathey - President - Western Carolina University

Lee Anne Mangone - President Elect - University of North Carolina Asheville 

Carla Trull  - Treasurer - First Citizens Bank 

Adarrell Gadsden - Secretary - Loyola Marymount University 

Dr. Patrick Bahls  - Past President - Savannah College of Art and Design 

Jackie Discherl - Mosaic Realty 

Martha Habegger 

Kathleen Hargrove - Robert & Stevens, P.A. 

Jamie Johnson - Buncombe County Schools 

Mike Knepshield - Home Trust Bank 

Jean Lawler - Community Volunteer 

Thomas Priester - Housing Authority of the City of Asheville 

Kim Robinson - Asheville City Schools 

Anya Robyak - Buncombe Partnership for Children 

Anna Gillespie  - Ex-Officio - Campbell Shatley PLLC 

Three kids walking away from the camera outside of an apartment building, with arms around eachother

Want to be a part of the team?