Teen Staff Academy

The Teen Staff Academy has been designed to meet the needs of staff who want to either start or build a stronger foundation for their work with teens.

The key focus of Teen Staff Academy is learning and discussing the core principles of three important YMCA programs – Achievers, Leaders’ Club and Youth and Government.

What to expect:

A new and improved YMCA training at the historic YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly!
Hear from teens currently in our three signature YMCA programs!
Three workshop blocks designed to either introduce or dive deeper into specific teen programs
Networking and accountability opportunities with Y Professionals
Nuts and Bolts of working with teens from risk management to philanthropy!

Teen Staff Academy is an invaluable resource for staff at any level of teen work!

Academy Fundamentals:

Academy Work Sessions engage the entire Conference Group in big picture topics important to ALL teen programs and will also include two special panel discussions!
- Monday Evening Welcome Session – Welcome to Teen Staff Academy with an exciting panel of TEENS currently engaged in our three signature programs!
- Tuesday Morning Session – Holistic review to risk management in teen work including child protection, trip and travel, facility hazards, and more.
- Tuesday Afternoon Session – Human Resource focus that includes how to hire, train and supervise staff that work with teens AND how to hire, train and supervise TEENS as staff members.
- Wednesday Morning Session – Philanthropy two ways – raising morning for teen work as well as engaging teens in philanthropy efforts. This panel will also include a CEO panel discussion.

Workshop Blocks – Conferees will participate in three workshops to introduce Y Teen Programs OR dive even deeper to strengthen your current programming.
Evening Activities + Mixers – The Teen Staff Academy is more than just hard work! Meeting Y Staff from across the Movement offers peer-to-peer learning, idea sharing and leadership opportunities.
- Tuesday Evening – Square/Contra Dance with live music.

Monday, November 9 – Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Register today to focus on your ongoing leadership development at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. The deadline to register for Teen Staff Academy is October 26, 2026.

Reach out to Greg Hall with questions at [email protected] today!

Meet the Committee

James Farnsworth
YMCA of the North

James serves as Senior Program Director for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice as well as a member of the Council of the Youth and Government Program Alliance (YGPA). He’s an alum of Youth in Government, Model United Nations, and the Conference on National Affairs. After graduating and continuing to stay involved as a volunteer, he truly never anticipated “being on the other side” as staff for these programs that changed his life. Since August of 2023, he’s been serving in a multi-faceted staff capacity growing and utilizing skills in event planning, youth engagement, communications, program development, and more. Outside of the Y, James is in his fifth year of service as an elected member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and enjoys checking out new restaurants, walking, and socializing.

Greg Hall
YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly

Greg Hall has served teens for his entire career. Starting his career in Kentucky, Greg has been a part of the Atlanta, Charlotte, Winston Salem, and Cincinnati YMCA’s. He also served the Y movement as a senior consultant for the Redwoods Group before assuming his current role as Vice President of Mission Impact at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly.

Jonathan Ponce
YMCA of West Central Florida

Jonathan serves as the Association Teen Programs Coordinator for the YMCA of West Central Florida. His journey with the YMCA began as a teen in the Leaders’ Club at the Lakeland Family YMCA, and he now brings over a decade of experience across a variety of roles. In his current position, Jonathan supports teams of teens as they lead, develop, and implement leadership programming rooted in connection, service, and proactive decision-making. Driven by a passion for empowering young people, he is committed to helping teens discover their potential, build meaningful peer connections, and develop the skills they need to succeed.

Lindsey Pullum, Ph.D.
YMCA of the Triangle

Originally from Wilmington, NC, Lindsey supports teens across North Carolina and, specifically, the Triangle as the Association Director of Teen Programs and Experiences. Her Y story begins with Youth and Government in high school and serving as college staff. Volunteering at the Y set her up for a career in Student Affairs at NC State University, Indiana University, and Georgetown University. She returned to the Y in 2022 and helped develop the District of Columbia’s Youth and Government’s program and teen programming in the DMV. Now she serves the teens of NC and the teen directors who create memorable experiences in service, leadership, and mental health. She enjoys riding bikes, hiking, live music, and good coffee.

Bernie Rapp
YMCA of Greater Charlotte

Bernie serves as the Association Manger of Teen Experience within the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, primarily supporting Leaders’ Club, Youth & Government and Jr. Leaders’. In this current role, he has the privilege of leading and developing the leaders of teen programming striving to give teens and staff a strong experience. Now in his 18^th year of his YMCA career and 21^st year connected to Leaders’ Club, he has seen a thing or two as teen programming adjusts to the current times. Throughout it all though, leadership development has remained at the core.

When not at the Y Bernie loves to spend time outdoors whenever possible. From Ultimate Frisbee to kayaking & mountain biking!

Monteil Weeks
YMCA of the Metro Atlanta

Monteil D. Weeks serves as the Executive Director of the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA and represents the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta Inc. as a Group Vice President. In her current role, she also leads the Boys and Young Men of Color, Young Men Thriving and GRACE initiative for the Atlanta Y Association. With over 35+ years of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, she has a proven track record including supporting 4 additional YMCA facilities, expanding youth development programs, increasing community engagement and creating strong membership and fundraising strategies.

Monteil’s YMCA career began in 1990 as a tutoring instructor with the AmeriCorps volunteer program at the historic Downtown YMCA originally located on Luckie Street. Over the past 36 years, Monteil has assisted in the development, new construction, and expansion of 4 YMCAs in the Metro Atlanta Association.

Some of her key accomplishments include helping to develop the first formal “welfare to work” adult training program for the City of Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) at the Arthur Blank Family YMCA (formerly Centennial Place Family YMCA). In addition, Monteil helped to open the Centennial Place, East Lake Family and the Villages at Carver Family YMCAs which are in redeveloped Atlanta Housing mixed income neighborhoods.

Deeply passionate about the Atlanta community, Monteil is a 1990 graduate of Spelman College and is originally from Brooklyn, New York. She is a member of the Atlanta NAACP, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Directors for the Jamie Foxx Learn Through Laughter Foundation (LTL) and the Leadership Preparatory Academy.

Leah Willig
YMCA of Metro Atlanta

Originally from Kansas and now calling Georgia home, Leah serves teens across Metro Atlanta as the Director of Teen Programs for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. With 12 years of experience in youth development and the past year and a half at the Y, she is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities and experiences that empower teens to discover their passions, build confidence, and prepare for their future. She partners with branches across the association to expand leadership, career readiness, and life-enrichment opportunities that leave a lasting impact on Atlanta’s youth. Outside of work, Leah is a self-proclaimed foodie, sneakerhead, and caffeinated mama who rarely misses a sporting event and is always on the hunt for her next great meal or cup of coffee.