Christopher Burner '80, Head of School

Head of School Christopher Burner has been a loyal supporter of WRA for more than 30 years. He holds his bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College and master's degrees from Dartmouth College and Harvard University. At WRA, he has served in the Deans Office, as a Latin teacher, as Dean of Faculty & Administration and as Director of Admission and Financial Aid. Mr. Burner has coached football, wrestling and lacrosse as well. Mr. Burner, his wife, Alison and their children, Matthew and Abigail, reside in Pierce House.

Kathryn Mueller, Assistant Head of School

A graduate of the University of Michigan and Idaho State University, Mrs. Mueller has held positions at secondary and post-secondary institutions. Mrs. Mueller joined WRA in 2003; in 2007, she assumed the post of Mathematics Department Chair, served as the Dean of Faculty and now serves as the Assistant Head of School. Mrs. Mueller and her husband, Brad '78, live in faculty housing on College Street with their sons, Kurt '09 and Jacob.

Mark LaFontaine, Assistant Head of School for Advancement

A graduate of Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield, Mich., LaFontaine earned a bachelor’s degree from Rollins College and a law degree from Creighton University. He has a long career in development, working most recently as Associate Dean of Development for Yale Law School. While at Yale, he also served as Associate Director of Major Gifts and Director of Yale College’s Annual Giving Programs. Mr. LaFontaine and his wife, Darlene, and their three children, Sam, Lucy and Danny, will reside in Hudson.

Anne Sheppard, Dean of Admission & Financial Aid

Mrs. Sheppard came to WRA from The Latin School of Chicago where she was director of admissions and financial aid. Mrs. Sheppard holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Boston College and a master of education from Harvard University. Anne is an active member of the Secondary School Admission Test Board's Professional Development Committee. Anne lives on campus with her husband, Gabriel, and children, Anna and Joseph.

John Tortelli, Chief Financial Officer

A BSBA graduate of John Carroll University and Certified Public Accountant in Ohio, Mr. Tortelli came to WRA after working twelve years with the Swagelok Company in Solon, Ohio as an accountant. Since his arrival, Mr. Tortelli has been responsible for financial and operating activities. In addition, he has served as the Junior Varsity Boys Basketball coach. Mr. Tortelli lives in Valley View, Ohio, with his wife, Bonnie, and their five children: Angela, Mark '06, Daniel, Alison and Adam '13.

Nancy Hovan, Director of Development

Appointed Director of Development in 2011, Mrs. Hovan manages campaign planning and development operations. Mrs. Hovan came to WRA from Cheshire Academy (CT) and has held leadership positions in development at The Hill School (PA), and Greenwich Catholic School (CT).  Mrs. Hovan holds a bachelor's degree from Notre Dame College and a master's degree from Villanova University. She lives in Hudson with her husband, Ron, a mathematics teacher in the Upper School at Hathaway Brown, and their two daughters, Brooke and Megan.

Michael Morris, Dean of Academics

Mr. Morris came to WRA from Vail Mountain School in Colorado, where he taught English and served in various academic leadership positions. He holds a B.A. in English and Psychology from Williams College and a M.A. in Independent School Leadership from Columbia University's Klingenstein Center. In addition to leading the academic program at WRA, Mr. Morris serves as the English Department Chair and teaches a ninth grade class. As an educator and advisor, Mr. Morris believes in challenging students to dedicate themselves to a rich array of intellectual, athletic, extracurricular and communal activities. Mr. Morris lives on campus with his wife, Charry, and their two children, Beckett and Maddox.

Herb Haller '85, Director of Athletics & Afternoon Programs

A graduate of WRA, Mr. Haller has taught German, Senior Thesis, worked in Admission and served on numerous school committees. He is head coach of the boys varsity soccer team and has been named Coach of the Year through several leagues. Mr. Haller is also a recipient of the prestigious Ron Pinsenschaum Award for exemplifying the ideas of sportsmanship, integrity, development of character and positive values on the field. He lives just off campus in Hudson with his wife, Margaret '86, and their two children, Brigitta and Kurt '15.

Justin Zimmerman, Dean of Student Life

Before coming to WRA, Mr. Zimmerman was a science teacher and hockey and lacrosse coach at the Culver Academies. While there, he developed a ninth grade science class that integrated related topics in biology, chemistry and physics. At WRA, Mr. Zimmerman serves as Dean of Student Life and teaches Environmental Science. He holds the Roush/Wayburn Chair in Environmental Studies, and in 2007, he received the Keener Prize. As an administrator and educator, Mr. Zimmerman strives to provide developmentally appropriate challenges that build confidence and inspire students to learn, grow and dream. In his spare time, Mr. Zimmerman enjoys biking, canoeing and traveling with his family. He and his wife, Aimee, live on campus with their two children, John Michael and Bridget, and the family golden retriever, Abby.

Jeffrey Neill, Director of College Counseling

Before coming to WRA in 2012, Mr. Neill served in the College Counseling Office at Northfield Mount Hermon in Massachusetts. An alumnus of NMH, Mr. Neill holds degrees from Bowdoin College and the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. In his time at NMH and at the Salisbury School in Connecticut before that, he has held positions as a college counselor, English teacher, admissions counselor, dorm parent, girls soccer coach and boys lacrosse coach, among a variety of others. Jeff, his wife Annie, and family will reside in the David Hudson House.