Leadership

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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

—Nelson Mandela

Leaders must possess courage and humility to run a successful organization.

They must also be effective communicators, outstanding strategic planners and visionary thinkers, but most of all they must have exceptional ethical standards.

Fortunately, Wonderland Inc. and the Wonder Works Campaign are led by individuals who possess all of these qualities—and then some. They come from different walks of life and industries and use their varied experience to ensure the continued success of Wonderland Inc. students.

Beatrice Mayes Founder

Beatrice Mayes
Founder

Christopher Mayes
CEO and Superintendent

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Terrance Watts
Chief Financial Officer

Dedra Johnson
Chief Academic Officer

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Allonna Snipes
Senior Director of Development

Wonderland Inc.
Board of Directors

  • Joseph Greenberg, Chair

  • Robert Caine

  • Billy Gilbert

  • Dr. Almitra Berry-Jones

  • Dorothy Roberts

  • Caroline Oliver

 

Wonderland Inc.
Advisory Committee

  • Charles Blain
    President of Urban Reform

  • Ben Melson
    Director of Public Policy at Greater Houston Partnership

  • Christina Pipkin
    Education Success Manager at Mind Research Institute

  • Cully Platt
    Managing Director of Bank of America Private Bank

  • Beverly Barrett
    Assistant Professor of International Economics at University of St. Thomas

  • Eric Glenn
    President of TxLobbyAssist

  • Dustin Cox
    Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Salient Strategies

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“My experience with Wonderland has been a true blessing. The administrators and staff have also made me feel supported and heard. The front office staff is most kind and always put forth their best efforts to provide a resolve to concerns or answer questions. Most importantly my children love their teachers and are excited about attending school.”

— parent of a Beatrice Mayes Institute student

Christopher D. Mayes

In addition to being the Wonderland Inc. CEO and Superintendent and second-generation education leader, Mr. Mayes is also currently the associate pastor of Berean Faith Community Baptist Church, board president of Men with Divine Purpose, board Vice President of the Houston Community Center for the Performing and Visual Arts and board member of World Hope International.

Prior to his leadership role at Wonderland, Mr. Mayes worked at NASA as Power Resource Officer and flight controller for the International Space Station, completing nearly 10 missions and serving as one of the lead engineers for the second-most complicated missions of Station construction.

As a man of faith, through his affiliation with his church and World Hope International, Mr. Mayes traveled to South Africa and Kenya to teach inside maximum-security prisons and at various pastor conferences while helping to feed hundreds throughout the two countries.

He holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Prairie View A&M University, Microsoft Certified System Engineer Certification from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at Southern Methodist University and a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mr. Mayes is graced to be married to Mrs. Isha Mayes; together they parent two beautiful daughters, Bethany and Christian.