Leadership Team

Lead Pastor of Vertical Church

Pastor Will Bonds

Will Bonds, a Texas native, is the founding lead pastor and president of the Vertical Church, one of the fastest growing nondenominational Christian churches in San Antonio. An anointed and ordained pastor and teacher, he has a heart for serving families and has over 30 years of experience in ministry and ministry operations. Vertical Kids is his vision.

From 2010 to 2016, Pastor Will worked as a Language Arts Teacher at Nimitz Middle School located within the North East Independent School District, a designated Title I school. During his time there, he was nominated for Teacher of the Year two years in a row by his principal and peers and was a part of a collaborative team of teachers that aimed to close the educational gaps of at-risk students who had fallen behind.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Bachelor of Business, Marketing Concentration, University of Texas San Antonio

Master of Christian Ministry, Wayland Baptist University

Master of Divinity, Wayland Baptist University

Pursuing Doctorate of Ministry in Advanced Biblical Preaching, Biola University

CERTIFICATIONS

Alternative Teacher Certification (2010), Content Areas: Generalist 4-8, Special Education K-12,

English as a Second Language (ESL) 4-8

Chief of Staff of Vertical Church

Pastor Dione Bedell

Dione Bedell currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Vertical Church in San Antonio, Texas.

For over 20 years, her passion has been helping people of all ages achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals. Her work experience is very broad and diverse in nature having served as an administrator in secondary and post-secondary education, social services, and nonprofit administration.

In 2007, Dione worked in conjunction with the Circle of Care Center for Families and the Alabama Department of Human Resources to develop and facilitate four-week employment preparation courses for low-income/unemployed individuals receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Two years later, this program was recognized as one of the most successful programs in the Tri-city area.

In 2010, she was invited to relocate to San Antonio to join the leadership team responsible for opening UIW Preparatory Online High School; the very first online high school of its kind in the city that included AP and dual credit options. In 2011, she received a special commendation for exemplary parent and student evaluations from the AdvancED Accreditation Review Committee. In 2013, she became a part-time adjunct faculty member teaching high school and undergraduate computer literacy and business management courses. Between 2017 and 2021, she was promoted three times moving up to the role of Director of Student Success and Title IX Deputy for the School of Professional Studies.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Bachelor of Business Administration, Information Systems, University of the Incarnate Word

Master of Business Administration, Troy University

Post-Graduate Certification, Information Systems Management, DeVry University

Certified Coach, EdPuzzle Learning

Executive Director

Pastor Tiffany Willis

Tiffany Willis currently serves as the Executive Director of Vertical Kids Early Learning Academy.

For nearly 11 years, Tiffany's focus has been serving children and their families with compassion, care, and precision. Her work experience includes AVANCE San Antonio, Bexar County Juvenile Probation Office, Family Service Association, and the Department of Child Protective Services.

Since 2014, she quickly moved up the ranks within AVANCESan Antonio, moving from a Child Development Teacher to Center Director (2015), Coordinator of Educational Services (2018), and her last role as Inclusion Manager. This is attributed to her ability to ensure compliance with program requirements such as the Head Start Performance Standards, State Licensing Regulations, Texas Rising Star, NAEYC, and ISP/PP, exemplary services to children and their families, staff supervision, coaching, and training.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Associate of Liberal Arts, Northwest Vista College

Bachelor of Social Work, Minor in Psychology, Our Lady of the Lake University

Master of Social Work, Concentration in Children & Families, Our Lady of the Lake University

CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING

CLASS Certified Observer for Infants, Toddlers, and Pre-K, Violence Intervention and

Prevention Certificate Level I (2012), Early Childhood Skills and Competency, (2012) Discipline

Strategies: Effect of Trauma on Children (2012). Received multiple certificates/training in the

areas of Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Curriculum Fidelity, Disabilities, Health

and Nutrition, Social and Emotional/Behavioral Health (Conscious Discipline), and

Trauma-Informed Care