Staff
Tom Tillapaugh, President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 720.299.3420 Tom Tillapaugh is the founder and administrator of the Denver Street School System and President of the StreetSchool Network™. An educator with a heart for the inner-city, he has spent more than twenty years sharing the Street School Model. During that time, he has not only offered hundreds of Denver’s inner-city kids a second chance to earn their diplomas, but has helped to start Street Schools all over the nation. In the summer of 1996, Tillapaugh saw a decade long dream come true as the organization held its first annual conference in Seattle, WA. Tom received his Master’s from Oral Roberts University and was awarded an honorary doctorate from American Pathways University in 2008. He continues to pursue a doctoral degree in school administration from the University of Denver. Tillapaugh has been a frequent speaker and guest at White House summits and policy briefings on the drop-out epidemic. In Colorado, he served on congressman Bob Bepreauz’s Education Committee, has been nominated to Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who among American Teachers and received the Teacher Who Makes A Difference Award from Newscenter 4 and The Rocky Mountain News. Additionally the Street School Movement has been featured in Education Week, Newsweek, Philanthropy Journal and the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Education Innovator. Tom is married to Yvonne Tillapaugh and they have four children: Cherie, Rebecca, Rick and Neil. They also have four beautiful grandchildren: Joseph, Savannah, Hayden, and Hailey. Dwayne Hawkins, Director of Networking and Strategic Initiatives This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 720.280.030 Dwayne Hawkins is a native of Omaha, Nebraska where he has spent the majority of his life. He is a graduate of Northwest High School in Omaha and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska with a double major in Management and Organizational Leadership and Biblical Studies. He also holds a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Educational Ministries and is an ordained Baptist minister. Dwayne has had extensive experience in several ministry related areas including positions in the local church and Adjunct Professor of Bible at Grace University. Dwayne joined the staff at the Omaha Street School in 1999 where he served in various capacities including Chaplain, Principal, Student Support, and Superintendent. Currently Dwayne serves StreetSchool Network as the Director of Networking and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, he maintains the network resource bank, coordinates common school improvement initiatives, assists in the improvement process and accreditation, and works on the Infusionomics economic literacy program. Laurel Christensen, Director of School Services This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 720.425.1642 Laurel serves as the Director of School Development for the StreetSchool Network™. In this position, she coordinates all network schools on their improvement processes and accreditation as well as working on the Infusionomics economic literacy program. After graduating from Trinity Western University with a degree in History, Laurel went to work in the corporate world in human resources and then started a family. She went on to complete her teacher certification at Calvin College and taught high school for 10 years in a school devoted to serving the needs of diverse students. While teaching she went on to earn her master’s in education from Grand Valley State University. Laurel’s parents both grew up in the Netherlands during the German occupation. Her father left school and home at the age of 13 to join the merchant marines. He later immigrated to Canada, where he met her recently immigrated mother. Her parents moved to Michigan when her father bought an existing store and developed it into a major retailer and importer of Dutch products supplying markets around the country. It was her work with Potters House Christian School and her parent’s commitment to hard work, education, and her father’s entrepreneurial nature that inspired her passion for helping disadvantaged students succeed. Kacy Leyba, RenWeb Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 303-860-1702 ext. 154 Kacy Leyba is currently serving as the national RenWeb Director for the StreetSchool Network. A Colorado Native and 2008 graduate of the Denver Street School, Kacy works out of the main office of the StreetSchool Network in Denver and has a passion for working with At-Risk youth. She is currently in the Teacher Education Program at Metropolitan State University of Denver and has a degree in English Education. When Kacy isn't running around the Street Schools she loves to mountain bike and read up on current educational happenings.
