 |
 |
Leadership
Summit’s leadership and administrative team is composed of dedicated individuals who bring more than 100 years of combined experience to the operation of the program. Most of this experience has been in outdoor programs specifically designed for struggling teenagers. This team includes:
- Christopher Mays, Executive Director – Chris co-founded Summit Achievement after 26 years experience in adventure-based programs with a variety of organizations. Coupled with his experience as Captain of sail training ships, years of managing Outward Bound programs and his tenure as director of innovative programs for the most challenging court-referred teen cases, his background provides him with unique insight into results-oriented programs.
- Will White, Clinical Director – Co-founder of Summit Achievement, Will supervises and trains faculty as well as providing counseling to students in the program. He has spent the last 20 years working in clinical settings, as well as consulting to boarding schools. Will holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is licensed as a Clinical Social Worker and as a drug and alcohol counselor.
- Adam Tsapis, Admissions Director – Co-founder of Summit Achievement, Adam works closely with the applicant families, handling program inquiries and scheduling of students. Adam holds a Bachelors degree from the University of California at Berkeley, is a former captain of tall sailing ships, and has 18 years experience working with adolescents.
| |
 |
|
"I am writing to thank everyone at Summit for the time I shared with them this summer as it dug me out of a deep hole I really could never have gotten out of myself… Since returning home I have gotten involved with many activities, one's I would never have considered last year."
|
|
|
|
- Margie Lannon, Program Director – Margie directs program operations and has worked with youth for the last 20 years in therapeutic wilderness programs. Her experience includes working with youth in such diverse programs as wagon trains and tall sailing ships. She holds a Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
| |  | |
- Tracy Tryder, Co-Director of Admissions – Tracy has over 20 years of residential experience in both the boarding school and therapeutic program environments. Her experience includes administrative roles in admissions, guidance and residential life. As a parent of young adults, Tracy can empathize with the unique challanges of parenting adolescents in today's society. Tracy holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Southern Maine.
| |  | |
- Chris Hayward, Program Coordinator – Chris plans and supervises the expedition activities. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from St. Joseph College and has over 9 years experience in outdoor therapy. As a registered guide in the State of Maine, Chris maintains a high level of technical skills including a Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician certification. In addition, he is certified by the American Mountain Guides Association in top-rope climbing site management.
| |  | |
- Jennifer Conley, Academic Director – Jen graduated from Framingham State College majoring Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. She is currently completing her Master degree in Leadership & Policy in Education at Wheelock College, Boston, MA. Her experience includes teaching high school math, counseling at a short term treatment center for adolescent girls, and teaching and curriculum development for incarcerated youth. Jen is the mother of two and has been in education since 1999
| |  | | |
Clinical Staff
|
- Clinical Director: Will White MSW, LCSW, LADAC
Years at Summit: Eleven
Masters Degree: Clinical Social Work,
Denver University
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
Married father of two sons
| |  | |
- Darrell Fraize MEd, LADAC
Years at Summit: Three
Masters in Education: Counselor Education,
Plymouth State University
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
Married father of one daughter and one son
| |  | | |
|
- Andy Derstine, MSW, LCSW
Years at Summit: One
Masters Degree: Social Work,
Boston College
Bachelor of Arts: in Psychology,
Muhlenberg College
Married father of one son and one daughter
| |  |
|
Professional and Direct Care Staff
An extraordinarily talented and experienced group of direct-care staff, therapists, teachers, medical doctor, nurse and service providers work alongside the administrative team in shaping and delivering the Summit program.
Our clinicians hold a minimum of a master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work or a related field and have expertise in substance abuse counseling, family systems, adoption issues, disruptive behaviors, and the issues of adolescence.
Academic staff have a degree in Education and/or extensive teaching experience, along with a wealth of experience working with students from a variety of backgrounds. Focused on viewing students from a strengths-based perspective, our teaching staff is skilled in working with students who have learning disabilities or different learning styles.
The guides (direct care staff) all have a minimum of a Bachelor degree typically in a field related to the program, i.e., Psychology, Sociology, Outdoor Education and Leadership, Recreation, Education, Communication Studies, Outdoor Recreation, etc. In addition to their college education, most of these staff also have extensive personal experience or professional training in adventure activities. The guides/direct care staff are required to hold an approved first aid/medical certification, including either First Aid and CPR, Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Outdoor Emergency Care, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT).
| |
|
|
