Whetstone Academy

Lawsuits

• J.P. et al. v. Singleton Investment Properties LLC, Whetstone Academy LLC, Dr. John Lee Singleton Jr. (D.S.C. 8:25-cv-00318), complaint 2025 | In progress | United States District Court District of South Carolina Anderson Division | 8:25-cv-00318-BHH Names this facility

  Outcome: A Confidentiality/Protective Order was entered, indicating the parties stipulated certain discovery material as confidential. On October 23, 2026, the court entered an order on a motion for extension of time.

  Plaintiffs filed a civil complaint against the operators and owners of a therapeutic boarding school alleging negligence, gross negligence, and premises liability. The minor plaintiff, a resident at the facility, experienced abuse, neglect, and exploitation while under the supervision of defendants' staff between September 2024 and November 2024. The complaint alleges that defendants failed to exercise reasonable care in the hiring, training, and supervision of employees, despite prior knowledge of mistreatment and safety risks at the facility.

Incidents on record

1. Incident

   HEAL classifies Whetstone Academy as a Suspected Abusive program; survivors report punitive punishments, emotional abuse and attack therapy.source

News coverage

• 

  FOX Carolina May 6, 2025 Lawsuit

  Lawsuit: Upstate boarding school failed to protect resident from sexual assault

  A federal lawsuit alleges that Whetstone Academy in Oconee County, SC, failed to protect a 14-year-old resident from sexual assault by another student in 2024. The boy’s family claims he was subjected to prolonged outdoor confinement, inadequate supervision, and regressive trauma symptoms. The facility denies responsibility.

Staff

Administration

• Sharon Stricker

  Head of School (2011, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cherokee Creek Boys School Clinical Director, Program Director, 2006-2020

• Bryan Tomes

  Cofounder, business director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Academic Director, 2006
  • Glen Willow Academy Academic Director, Head of School, 2011-2025
  • New Leaf Academy NC Academic Director, before 2011
  • Asheville Academy for Girls Executive Director, 2012-2025
  • Equinox RTC Director of Business Development and Founding Partner, Founder, 2016-2025
  • Magnolia Mill School Academic Director and Operations Director, Founder, before 2016
  • Lake House Academy Academic Director, 2010-2021

Notable staff

• Jeremy Nunnelley

  Clinical Director (2012)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cherokee Creek Boys School Primary Counselor, 2003
  • Pacific Quest Therapist, 2015
  • Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness Therapist, 2017
  • Trails Carolina Staff, before 2012

• John L. Singleton

  Owner and CEOsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Aspen Education Group Staff
  • Brandon Hall School President/Head of School
  • Trails Carolina Director of Business Development
  • Pathway Family Center Board Member
  • Maple Hall Academy Owner/CEO, Founder, CEO and Owner
  • Stone Mountain School Program Director, Academic Director
  • New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Staff, before 2009
  • Cedars Academy Executive Director, 2007-2009
  • NATSAP board of directors

• Shawn Ziluck

  Co-Founder and former Program Coordinatorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cherokee Creek Boys School Counseling Department Manager (2010)

• Justin Cantalini

  Clinical Directorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • SUWS of the Carolinas Former Field Instructor

• James Holcomb

  Directorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cherokee Creek Boys School Teacher, 2008-2020

• Todd W. Singer

  Advisory Board Chair (2013)source

• Chass Armstrong

  Director of Business Developmentsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Family Help & Wellness Digital Marketing Manager, 2015
  • Maple Hall Academy Director of Business Development

• Matt Kiefer

  Therapistsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Capstone Treatment Center Night Staff
  • Mount Pleasant Academy Program director

• Sally Clay

  CFOsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Maple Hall Academy CFO

Staff

Notable staff

• John Singleton

  Former Founder, CEO, and Ownersource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Aspen Education Group Staff
  • Brandon Hall School President/Head of School
  • Trails Carolina Director of Business Development
  • Whetstone Academy Owner/CEO, Owner and CEO
  • Pathway Family Center Board Member
  • Stone Mountain School Program Director, Academic Director
  • New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Staff, before 2009
  • Cedars Academy Executive Director, 2007-2009
  • NATSAP board of directors

• Rick Pollard

  Former Executive Directorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Operations Director, 2005
  • Aspen Education Group Regional Director of Admissions, 2010
  • Magnolia Mill School Executive Director, 2015-2021

• Pascale Couturier

  Former Admissions Directorsource

• Joe D'Urso

  Former Program Directorsource

• Tabitha Sayler Pack

  Former Clinical Directorsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Asheville Academy for Girls Therapist and Transition and Alumni Coordinator, 2016
  • Lake House Academy Residential Coach/Counseling Intern, 2014
  • an unnamed residential facility in Pennsylvania with both adults and children

• Chass Armstrong

  Former Director of Business Developmentsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Family Help & Wellness Digital Marketing Manager, 2015
  • Whetstone Academy Director of Business Development

• Josh Prince

  Former Therapist (2021, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • New Vision Wilderness Therapy Logistics Coordinator, 2019
  • SUWS of the Carolinas Field Instructor

• Sally Clay

  Former CFOsource

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Whetstone Academy CFO

• Tonia Vinecombe

  Former Therapist and Transitions Directorsource