NATALIE WILLIAMS, HEADMASTER

Mrs. Williams is an almost native of Phoenix, relocating to Arizona from Missouri prior to starting elementary school.  She graduated from Arizona State University with a double major in Philosophy and Journalism.  Upon graduating from ASU, she attended Vanderbilt University where she received her Doctor of Jurisprudence. Mrs. Williams has a diverse leadership background and has served on the leadership team of a national education company, opening multiple schools serving more than 7,500 students.  She has also served as the Vice President of Business Strategies and Technology Innovation for a local non-profit. Her professional experience, educational background and leadership philosophy combined with the wealth of diversity within the Teleos staff will provide an exceptional learning environment for Teleos students.

KEVIN TOPPER, ASSISTANT HEADMASTER

Mr. Topper was born and raised near Baltimore, Maryland.   He attended Loyola College in Baltimore and began a career with the U.S. Treasury while earning an M.A. in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis.  At St. John’s College and the University of Maryland he also studied Latin and Greek.  Over the past fifteen years, Mr. Topper has taught Latin and humanities at Northfield School in Wichita Kansas, Glenelg Country School in Maryland and Paul Public Charter School in Washington, DC.  He started and was the director of a school for gifted athletes at the JTCC School outside of Washington, DC.   Mr. Topper moved to Arizona in 2006 to work for Great Hearts Academies and teach Humane Letters and Latin at Chandler Preparatory Academy.  Subsequently he became a master teacher, Academic Dean, and Curriculum Consultant for GHA.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Glendale Preparatory Academy.   During the summer of 2010 he spent two weeks in Amman, Jordan with The Touchstones Discussion Program training teachers in discussion dynamics.

KARYN MERCADO, DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SERVICES

Mrs. Mercado grew up in the Midwest, where she attended Knox College, graduating with a double major in Music and Modern Languages. After receiving her Master’s degree in Spanish Linguistics from Arizona State University, she began her professional career as a teacher at Tempe Preparatory Academy. While at Tempe Prep, she taught 9th and 10th grade Spanish and Music, as well as directing the choirs. She also served as Master Teacher of Modern Languages for five years and was invited to join the Board of Directors at Veritas Preparatory Academy, where she continues to serve. Upon discovering a passion for working in school leadership, she went to work at Great Hearts’ third Academy, Mesa Preparatory Academy, where she served as founding Headmaster. Mrs. Mercado joined the Teleos Preparatory Academy leadership team in January, 2009, and she is honored to be able to bring the Great Hearts’ vision of a classical liberal arts education in a public school setting to the students and families of downtown Phoenix.

TIM WYPISZYNSKI, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Mr. Wypiszynski grew up in Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He graduated in 2003, with a major in Economics and a minor in Political Science.  After working in the business world for a year, Mr. Wypiszynski moved to Haiti where he volunteered as a house parent for students who moved to Port-Au-Prince from the country side in order to attend school.  He then moved to Phoenix and taught in the Roosevelt School District for three years as a Teach For America corps member and alumni.  Mr. Wypiszynski then worked for Teach For America as a Program Director before joining the Teleos team in 2009.  He has earned his Masters of Education – School Counseling from Northern Arizona University and is excited to serve as the Director of Student Achievement and School Counselor at Teleos Preparatory Academy.  

JEROME JOSEPH, DEAN OF STUDENTS

LORENZO BRONSON, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR