Pine Mountain Settlement Selects

New Executive Director

The Board of Trustees of the Pine Mountain Settlement School is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Brashear as the new Executive Director of the school following an extensive search.  Jason has been associated with the school since 2021; first as program coordinator and most recently as interim director.  Over the past months he has proven himself to be the leader we need to continue Pine Mountain’s great traditions while ensuring that the school is a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for all our guests and visitors.

 A native of southeastern Kentucky who grew up in Perry County, Brashear holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education from the University of Kentucky and a masters of business administration from the University of Phoenix. He brings to his work at Pine Mountain a variety of experiences in both public and nonprofit education including work as a 4-H extension agent, as a farm to table coordinator for the Community Farm Alliance, as an agriculture teacher in the Perry County Schools. and as Foodways Director at Hindman Settlement School. He is married and with his wife and two daughters has raised and shown Boer goats across the nation.

Board Chair James Greene stated that as Interim Director Brashear has shown a marked ability to think strategically and creatively resulting in the school advancing in many areas rather than siting still during the interim.  “He has performed his duties as Interim Director with a high degree of professionalism and tact. As a native Appalachian, Jason has a deep understanding of and appreciation for Appalachian culture and people which is coupled with an understanding and commitment to the inclusive settlement principles on which Pine Mountain was founded. The Board stands fully behind Jason having complete confidence that he will lead Pine Mountain to new heights.”

In accepting the position, Brashear stated, “It is my esteemed honor to transition into the role of Executive Director of this historic institution; since arriving on campus in 2021, the spirit of this place has permeated my soul. The work and mission of the school resonate strongly with not only my personal interests but also my professional experiences. As I ponder on the rural settlement movement, I am drawn to the notion that the settlement school should act as a bridge between communities. We have many communities that call Pine Mountain home, and it is our job to bring them together, find common interests, and unite groups regardless of their differences. Undoubtedly, Pine Mountain Settlement School is a special place, and I look forward to elevating our mission, broadening our reach, and ensuring that we hold true to the values set forth by our founders by remaining a place that is committed to serving all people with quality, place-based education in the arts, agriculture, and environmental education.”

Established in 1913 by Katherine Pettit and Ethel de Long with support from local resident William Creech, Pine Mountain began as a boarding school for mountain youth of all ages and served as a social center for the immediate community.  In the 1930s and 1940s  it operated as a boarding high school with an innovative thematic  curriculum. In the 1950s and 1960s, in collaboration with Harlan County Public Schools and Berea College, it provided an enriched elementary school program for Harlan County students from the north side of  Pine Mountain. In 1972 it transitioned to providing environmental education for all ages.  Its current mission is defined as “enriching lives and connecting people through Appalachian place-based education.”   This includes environmental education, agriculture and sustainability, Appalachian culture and heritage, and community development and recreation.   A National Historic landmark whose campus was designed by pioneering architect Mary Rockwell Hook,, the school is also home to the James E. Bickford State Nature Preserve and offers a variety of programs for students of all ages.  For more information, visit the school’s website at http://www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com  or its Facebook page.