Meredith Stolte is honored to serve as High Point Academy’s Executive Director.  She has been in education for over 21 years, as a teacher, instructional coach, school leadership coach, and district leader. Meredith earned her bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College, her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, and her Administration and Supervision certification from The College of Notre Dame. Meredith is passionate about applying what she has learned from schools all over the country to create a learning environment that is joyful, engaging, and truly prepares them to be leaders, both now and in the future.  She believes there is genius that lies in every student, and school should be a place where students utilize their strengths to learn, build their confidence to try new things they could become amazing at, and learn the power and importance of positive relationships.  When she is not at school, Meredith enjoys being outside, hiking with her family and reading.

Elise Topliss is a Policy and Performance Manager with the State of Colorado, Office of Economic Security. Elise earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services – High Risk Youth from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. Elise is passionate about education and ensuring all children have access to safe and quality schooling, which includes minimizing the nutritional disparities among varying populations. Additionally, Elise is committed to ensuring professionals in the education field have resources and supports to be effective in their chosen field as well as have job satisfaction. Elise and her husband Jesse are the proud parents of two High Point Academy students.

Devaki Parma is a Director of Wi-Fi Product for Charter Communications. She earned her degree in Economics from Spelman College and her International M.B.A from the University of Denver. Devaki’s passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion causes has led her to mentor women in the technology industry.

Devaki has lived in the High Point community for 4 years with her husband, Robert and their children, one of which attends High Point Academy. In their free time, Devaki and her family enjoy camping, traveling – near and far, and exploring museums.

Hi!  I’m Mrs. Barnett and I am so excited to be starting my fourth year with High Point Academy.  I will be serving as the K-2 Assistant Principal this year.  I am beginning my eighteenth year in education, serving in a variety of roles over the years supporting primarily K-5th grades.  I taught first grade, was a literacy interventionist and coach and was an MTSS Coordinator as well. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two children.  Things I love include reading, hiking, kayaking, family game nights, music, playing bag toss, Just Dance, camping, and eating Crumbl Cookies. At HPA, I am charged with supporting teachers in providing a high quality education in which each student can grow and thrive through coaching, leading professional development and continuous learning alongside our amazing staff.  Please contact me with any questions about your child’s academic progress toward meeting their grade level standards, our curriculum, assessment results, your student’s standards-based report card as well as any concerns regarding academic intervention, just to name a few.  I am looking forward to connecting with you this year.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Christina Castro is the Director of Annual Giving at Kent Denver School. Prior to her work in fundraising and philanthropy, she spent the greater part of her career working in public and charter schools in both Aurora and Denver as a college counselor, founding school administrator, and operations support manager for autonomous schools. Christina cares deeply about educational equity and authentically engaging and working alongside families and school communities to achieve the best possible outcomes for students. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration and Minor in Mandarin from the University of Denver. She and her husband have lived in the High Point community for several years and are thrilled to finally be parents of a High Point Academy student.

Greetings! I am excited to be joining the High Point Academy team as the Assistant Principal of grades 3-5. I have been in education for over a decade and a half, working in all settings and positions. In conjunction with working within an educational setting, I absolutely love working as a community advocate to ensure that education is equitable for all, and progressing to meet the needs of students, and families. I am committed to cultivating a joyous, safe, and engaging academic learning environment. I’m an avid learner that centers much of my life on relationships, and reaching for the impossible. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, and friends, traveling, exercising and dancing.  I’m originally from a small town, Fort Dodge in Iowa. One of my favorite titles is  being a Momtie (Mommy + Auntie) to my beautiful, ever growing niece. I am enjoying relearning Spanish, and American Sign Language with the hopes of being a fluent speaker soon. Last but not least, I am obsessed with the 4s: soup, smoothies, sushi, and salads. I am honored and look forward to working with your child (ren), and you to ensure that their growth is happening inside and outside of the classroom.

Tramaine Duncan is High Point Academy’s Middle School Assistant Principal! 2023 marks his first year at HPA. Previously, he has served as para educator, recreation coordinator for adjudicated youth, juvenile pretrial release case manager, 8^th grade social studies teacher, middle school math teacher, and a high school Dean of Students. Tramaine earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences with a Minor in Mathematics and Africana Studies from the University of Northern Colorado in 2013. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in educational leadership from Colorado State University as well as his Principal Certification for grades K-12. In addition to being an Assistant Principal, Tramaine serves as one of the seven Directors on the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education. In his spare time, Tramaine enjoys spending time with his wife and five children. He also considers himself to be a chef and/or grill master!

Jennifer García Rosendo is a Colorado native with over 20 years experience supporting families with young children. She is currently the Family Engagement Manager at Early Learning Ventures, an organization dedicated to increasing access to high quality early educational experiences for all children and families. She has a Bachelors in Psychology from Adams State University and a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Denver.   Jennifer is passionate about ensuring that children and the adults who care for them have strong support systems that enable them to thrive. Jennifer and her husband Simon are the proud parents of a 2^nd grader at HPA.

I am thrilled to introduce myself as the Equity and Family Service Coordinator for this year. With 15 years of experience as an educator, including nearly a decade at HPA, I bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to my role.

One of my core values is advocacy. I am a strong advocate for staff, scholars, and families, and I strive to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. Through an equitable lens, I work tirelessly to promote fairness, inclusivity, and justice in all aspects of education.

Equity and inclusion are at the heart of my work. I am dedicated to playing a major role in fostering a foundation of love for learning among scholars. My goal is to empower them, providing a safe space for growth and understanding. I firmly believe in the power of teachable moments, strategic planning, and collaborative relationships to drive positive change and create a nurturing learning environment. I am excited to embark on this journey, working hand in hand with staff, scholars, and families to build a community that values diversity, embraces inclusivity, and celebrates the achievements of every individual.

When I’m not loving on your kiddos, you can catch me spending time with my husband and 6 children, crafting, or cooking with an emphasis on eating!

Jessica Newsome joined the High Point Academy (HPA) family as the Middle School Assistant Principal for the 2021-2022 school year. She is now in her newly elevated position as the Director of Learning Support Systems. Prior to joining the HPA family, she had experience as an Administrative Teacher on Special Assignment, Special Education Department Coordinator, Interventionist, Special Education Affective Needs Teacher, and Early Childhood Educator. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development from Langston University and her Master of Education degree in Special Education: Cross Categorical from Grand Canyon University. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Christian Ministry at Grand Canyon University. Prior to beginning her doctoral studies, Jessica had the opportunity to attend the University of Denver’s Organizational Leadership and Policy Studies program which allowed her to attain her principal license after its completion. While her educational endeavors are special to her, nothing can top her greatest accomplishment to date: becoming a licensed and ordained preacher. Outside of participating in ministry activities, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and friends, singing, collecting t-shirts, and being able to easily sport sneakers and stilettos.

Hello! I’m Steven Roland Jr and it’s a blessing to be here serving as the K-5th grade Dean. I’m passionate about making  a positive impact on the community, being a role model for our students, and modeling how to show up as your best self daily. I have a 7 year old daughter and a beautiful fiance that I will soon marry in October. Family is extremely important to me although the majority of my family is in Kansas City, Missouri which is where I was born. I’ve worked with youth for over 15 years in a variety of ways in afterschool programs, 4th/6th grade teacher, and most recently as the Restorative Justice Coordinator. Throughout my journey I’ve had the opportunity to support families in a positive way building authentic relationships and collaborating to create steps to support them. I’m your go to person when it comes to behaviors, questions or concerns on student interactions, discipline, and any behavior concerns, and school wide culture. Please reach out if there’s anything you ever need!

Theo Shaw serves as Director of Equity and Community Partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools. Theo earned his Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Education degree from Xavier University, an Academic and Intellectually Gifted Licensure from Duke University, and is scheduled to earn his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver next spring. Theo joins us with diverse personal experiences and a commitment to equitable outcomes for every student.

Theo got married in the summer of 2022 to his wife, Crystal. They have two boys, thirteen and eight.

Milton Whipple is honored to serve in his first year as Director of Operations at HPA! He previously served as Director of Operations at a different school. Milton has worked in schools, group/foster homes, homeless shelters, and detention centers. This allows him to meet everyone where they are in life and deeply understand the importance of children and youth.

Milton received his bachelor’s degree in child and family development from Georgia Southern University in 2013 and master’s degree in leadership from Grand Canyon University in May of 2023. Milton is currently enrolled at Colorado State University- Pueblo to receive his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership.

Outside of work Milton enjoys being outdoors (fishing, hiking, ATVing, etc.), traveling, writing, reading, and cooking. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Milton with concerns, needs, or simply to introduce yourself!