Meet the Team

Amanda McKay (Amma Joy) is a passionate educator and the founder of Amma Mountain Academy who brings over a decade of experience working with children. Since 2015, she has served as a certified educator, focusing on personalized educational experiences for her students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies K-8 with a K-6 TN Endorsement. Additionally, she holds a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education with a 6-12 TN Endorsement in English Language Arts. Amanda strives to inspire curiosity and a love for learning in every student. She believes in the power of personalized education, where each child’s unique strengths and interests guide their journey. She is dedicated to nurturing the intellectual, emotional, and social development of her students through innovative holistic educational practices at her microschool in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

When Amanda is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her three daughters and her husband. As a family they enjoy camping, hiking, paddle boarding, and spending family nights playing board games. The family also owns a unique musical instrument shop in Gatlinburg where they create, build, and sell single string, cigar box bullet banjos.