Clay Days
The Clay Days Board
Charlie Johnson, OTR/L
Chairman of the Board
Charlie started working with Clay White in 2010 as his P.E. Assistant at The Schenck School (Clay started their P.E. program). Shortly after that, he began working in Clay’s outdoor adventure/hiking programs, summer camp, and “Social Club” for neurodivergent teens. Clay mentored Charlie in the art and science of therapeutic outdoor interventions and even let Charlie build his OT clinic in his backyard. Clay generously taught Charlie how to install zip lines and build everything from sandboxes to treehouses. Largely because of Clay’s influence and selflessness, Charlie has been an independent occupational therapist since 2014 and an accomplished playground designer and builder since 2016. He currently has a practice in Sandy Springs where he works in outdoor education and OT for schools and families in the Atlanta area. Charlie has done his best to re-invent and continue many facets of Clay’s previous programs since his passing, but believes that Clay Days is something different and truly special... a gift to Atlanta children and families that honors Clay’s generosity and kind spirit.
Lisa Chapman
Chairwoman of the Board
Lisa Chapman is the mother of three beautiful children, one of whom was diagnosed with high functioning Autism at the age of two. Her journey with his diagnosis led her to Clay White who helped empower her son with the skills and confidence to help him succeed. Clay also helped the Chapmans find Hess academy, which has been a supportive school environment where her son is thriving. Lisa feels strongly that Clay White’s work with her son will have a lifelong impact on his life. Lisa has over 20 years of experience in sales and owns a private business in Atlanta. She proudly sits on the Clay Days board in order to help continue the critical work of helping neurodivergent children in the Atlanta area flourish.
Kristen Hess, PhD
Executive Director
Kristen has been in the field of education for over 30 years. Kristen has worked in special and general education classrooms spanning early intervention, preschool, elementary, middle and high school, and college. She is committed to training teachers and furthering the field of education. Kristen started working with Clay White shortly after founding Hess Academy, a nonprofit school in Decatur, GA. Clay provided weekly outdoor educational experiences like hiking or ropes course challenges. At Hess Academy, these days became affectionately termed “Clay Days.” “There are colleagues that make such a profound and personal impact on you, their influence stays with you forever. Clay White was one of those people,” says Dr. Kristen Hess. Clay demonstrated how important movement and outdoor activities are for the overall learning and development of children. His untimely passing summer 2022 left a huge hole in our hearts and our community. While no one can ever truly fill Clay’s shoes, we will do our best to continue providing these learning opportunities for the kids who were so well served by Clay and his programming.
Scott Meach
Director
Scott is the dad of two amazing kids, including one blessed with neurodivergence. He is an entrepreneur and executive with 20 years of not-for-profit leadership experience. His son’s diagnoses (ADHD, Anxiety and Sensory Processing Disorder) have made it hard to succeed in group experiences – until his family met Clay White, whose adaptive approach to therapy and skilled team of professionals changed their lives. In addition to serving on the Clay Days board, Scott also serves on the Principals Advisory Council for his children’s school in Dunwoody.
