Staff

Tom Tillapaugh, President
TomT@StreetSchoolNetwork.org 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.

Wendy Piersee, Executive Vice President/Co-founder
WendyP@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.299.0474
Wendy Piersee, Executive Vice President of StreetSchool Network™, earned her B.A. from Colorado Christian University in Business Management where she graduated with honors and was recognized with two of CCU’s top three awards; the Outstanding Christian Service Award and the Outstanding Student in Professional Studies Award.

She joined the staff of Denver Street School in January of 1996 as the Director of Development and found her niche using her business skills to develop the Street School concept while partnering with interested donors to triple organizational capacity.

She has been integral to launching the national Street School Movement and appreciates both the educational and spiritual answers that member schools bring to the table for drop-out prevention and recovery.

From her fundraising experiences, she authored a book, The Practical Guide to Ministry Fundraising to assist member schools and other urban outreach programs.  Many organizations now recommend the book  and have hosted seminars delivered by Piersee.

Wendy serves on the board of American Pathways University and resides in Manchester, NH with her husband and three children.

Todd Goble, Vice President of Education 
ToddG@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.280.0194
Todd Goble, Vice President of Education, has been involved with alternative high school education since 1974, when he helped start and teach in a school for potential drop-outs that continued for 26 years in the Berea, Ohio area. Todd graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA with a B.A. in English, and an M.A. in Education. 

Following teaching in the Berea City School District, Todd was the Minister of Christian Education for six years at Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village, Ohio. He worked in business as a senior account executive in employee benefits for New England Life and as a group pension specialist for CIGNA.  He returned to education as a teacher at an at-risk high school, was an assistant high school principal, a principal of an at-risk high school, and a principal at a career-technical high school. He was certified as a public school superintendent in Ohio, and started work on a Ph.D. in Urban Education at Cleveland State University.

Moving to Colorado in 2001, Todd was involved at Pikes Peak Academy, an alternative Christian high school for at risk students in Colorado Springs, as a teacher, principal, and executive director before joining the StreetSchool Network™ staff as the Vice President of Education.  Todd has been instrumental in the network’s efforts to accredit its member schools and integrate economic literacy into the curriculum.

Dwayne Hawkins, National Manager of College/Career Access and Transition DwayneH@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.280.0302
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 as the Manager of College/Career Access and Transition and the Manager of Economic Literacy for the StreetSchool Network™.

He resides in Omaha with his wife and two boys.

Marybeth Leavell, Director of College/Career Access & Transition
mbleavell@bellsouth.net or 404.784.4586
Marybeth Leavell was born and raised in Colorado where she lived until moving to Georgia in 2001.  She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1979 and from the University of Northern Colorado in 1981 with a Master’s degree in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Counseling.

Following 18 years in healthcare counseling and administration, she joined the Denver Street School as a teacher and counselor.  Two years later, she and her husband felt called to start a Street School in Atlanta, Georgia; soon after, Forest Park Street School was established with 15 students.  Since that time, the school has graduated more than 250 high-risk youth with an accredited diploma.

Most recently, she has expanded her role with the StreetSchool Network™ as the Director of College/Career Access & Transition.  The primary focus is to assist other Street Schools in creating a college going culture that increases student success through structured transition planning before and after graduation.

She has been married to Mark for 22 years, who joined her fulltime in the Street School work 6 years ago.  They have two sons, Alan and John, and are especially proud of their 5 grandchildren, Brianna, Keegan, Callie, Elijah and Gabriel.

Katie McArthur, Director of Academic Support and Compliance
KatieM@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.299.3684
In 1994, Katie McArthur fueled her passion for multi-cultural ministry by studying practical theology at Christ for the Nations Institute and participating in numerous worldwide missions trips. She volunteered with various inner-city and educational organizations in the Dallas area before moving to Denver, Colorado in 1996 where she joined the teaching faculty of the Denver Street School and enjoyed teaching for six years.

In 2002 Katie joined the staff of the StreetSchool Network™. With a secondary teaching license and Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy in Education from the University of Denver, Katie serves as the Director of Academic Support and Compliance. She seeks to assist schools in their academic research and development and provide resources of best teaching practices for working with at-risk youth.  Her Spanish fluency has always been a significant asset to the Street School Movement.

 She is blessed to reside in Colorado with her husband Andrew and their children.

Angela Noteboom, Finance and Project Manager
AngieN@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.299.1473
Angie grew up living in Indiana prior to accepting a position with the StreetSchool Network™ and moving to Denver in July 2002.

Angie attended Anderson University for two years and then went on to graduate from Ball State University with degrees in Political Science and Religious Studies. While in college, Angie spent three years working with Youth for Christ at the local high schools and helped lead weekly club meetings. She also served an internship at Youth for Christ’s national office and helped to plan its SuperConference on Youth Evangelism.

Angie keeps the StreetSchool Network™ running smoothly as she manages the financial aspects of operations, plans the annual conference,  and serves as the communication hub for the staff and member schools.

Angie enjoys going to the mountains on the weekends with her husband Matt and dog Tristen for backpacking, hiking, camping, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Megan Shulke, Finance and HR Coordinator
MeganS@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720-231-0110
Megan grew up on a farm in Washington State and accepted Christ into her life at a young age.  She has long been interested in being involved in non-profit organizations and ministries that ultimately work toward an eternal goal. 

StreetSchool Network™ is an organization Megan feels she can truly believe in and is uplifted by the work God is doing through Street Schools nationwide.

A 2008 graduate of Colorado Christian University, Megan has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.  While a student at CCU, Megan was involved in several mission trips and outreach ministries, and served as a Residential Hall Assistant to 35 of her peers.

As the Finance and HR coordinator, Megan works behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the StreetSchool Network™ and looks forward to more opportunities to get to know and work with the students.

Steve Smith, CFO/CIO
SteveS@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 303.916.1517 
Steve graduated from Denver University in 1977 with a degree in Accounting and earned his CPA Certificate in Colorado in 1979 while with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. From there he joined Hamilton Brothers Oil in the International Division and developed comprehensive management reporting and project cost tracking for the one billion dollar worldwide operations.

After participating in two Ironman World Championship Triathlons in Hawaii, Steve helped create Triathlon Sports International, an international sports marketing company and creators of the “Rainbow Bread” Ironkids Triathlons, which was then sold and rebranded “Sara Lee” Ironkids. Original sponsorships were with the NFL and the Walt Disney Company.  After the sale of the Ironkids franchise, he helped develop one of the first and most successful construction estimating and corporate management software systems with proprietary estimating software, Great Plains Accounting, now Microsoft Business Accounting Systems.

He then worked with RBI Inc. and McBroom Company Inc. in the  land and water remediation, construction, and real estate development industries for 10 years, during which he created two patents for municipal water treatment and remediation systems. Steve founded SmithTech Services, LLC in 1997 which specializes in business intelligence systems for high growth companies.

In 1994, he met with Tom Tillapaugh, joined the Board of the Denver Street School and was soon overcome with Christ’s calling to serve urban youth.  In 1997 the National Association of Street Schools was launched by Tom Tillapaugh, Wendy Piersee and Reuben Mayes.  In 2008, Steve became CFO/CIO of StreetSchool Network™. He thanks Christ Jesus for giving him the passion, strength, and courage to pursue this great life-adventure and journey called the StreetSchool Network™, with the world’s greatest teachers, staff, students, and fellow laborers.

Steve has served on the following non-profit boards over the last 20 years: Colorado Triathlon Club, Greenwood Community Church Elder, Highline Community Church Elder, Mile High United Way Character Development, Save Our Youth, the Denver Street School, and StreetSchool Network™.  Steve is blessed to reside in Littleton, Colorado with his bride of 24 years, Lisa.  They have two wonderful young adult daughters, Dana and Jordan.

Stephanie Stewart, Marketing and Development Coordinator
StephanieS@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.935.6742
As Marketing & Development Coordinator for the StreetSchool Network™, Stephanie Stewart ‘s objective is to create awareness by raising financial support for the Street School Movement.

Stephanie is originally from Pueblo, Colorado but moved to Lakewood, Colorado to attend college. She attended Colorado Christian University where she studied Business Administration with emphases in Marketing, Management, and Biblical Studies as well as Vocal Music. She was awarded CCU Marketing Student of the Year in 2008.

Stewart is excited to be a part of the StreetSchool Network™ and is sure to bring her strong relationship-building and communication skills to the table. She is passionate about helping young students realize their potential andfeels empowered by being a part of the solution for struggling at-risk youth.

Kara Vandas, Director of Education
KaraV@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.301.7376
Kara started her career in education at the Denver Street School, where she taught health and life sciences, art, and business.  She then took a position with Edison Schools, Inc., teaching reading and science at the middle school level.  Kara was then promoted to Edison’s professional development team, where she trained teachers in establishing an effective learning environment, developing positive teacher-student relationships, and in best practices for teaching science.

As Kara continued working with Edison Schools, Inc., she began researching, developing, and offering teacher trainings in the areas of learning, the adolescent brain, and how to best meet the needs of middle and high school students.  Over the past several years, Kara worked as an education consultant through her company, Adolescence in Mindgiving professional development and working on special projects for a variety of companies, schools, universities, and organizations.

She returned to the Street School Network™ with the goal of supporting teachers and schools in reaching and educating at-risk youth.  She earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wyoming in biology and later added a master’s degree in Teaching & Learning from Regis University.  Her master’s thesis focus was adolescent brain development.

Kara lives in Castle Rock, CO with her husband and son.

Rachael Walsh, Administrative Assistant
RachaelW@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.425.1639
Rachael was born and raised in Northern California surrounded by majestic redwood trees, banana slugs, and the spectacular rugged coastline.  Rachael left the beauty of her small hometown of Fortuna to attend LIFE Pacific College in San Dimas, CA where she earned her B.A. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Pastoral Ministry and Youth Ministry.

After graduation in 2005, Rachael moved to Santa Cruz, CA to participate in an internship at a local church where she learned more about ministry and God’s heart for His people.  She has had an active role in youth ministry, serving as a high school youth leader,  small group leader for high school girls, and helping facilitate the church’s youth missions program.

Rachael moved to Denver in August of 2008 to begin her graduate studies at Denver Seminary where she is pursuing her M.A. Leadership degree.  Rachael comes to the StreetSchool Network™ staff with a heart for young people to see them changed, transformed, and to recognize their fullest potential through Christ.  She serves as the Executive Assistant to Todd Goble, as well as the rest of the StreetSchool Network™ staff in various administrative capacities.

Dr. Bush White, National Director of Data & School Performance
Bushrodw@StreetSchoolNetwork.org or 720.979.3559
Dr. Bush White is working as the Director of Data for the Streetschool Network. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years and an administrator for eleven. He then left the school level and worked at the Colorado Department of Education for four years. During his time at the Department he worked to help school districts implement the Teacher Quality provision of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). He published the document for implementing the Highly Qualified teacher provision of the NCLB and developed a data collection process for the state of Colorado. This data was used to report the number and the percent of teachers who met the Highly Qualified Teacher provision of NCLB. He was called on by the USDOE to share how Colorado developed their data collection process using the existing systems. Dr. White also worked as the Assistant Dean of Education at Colorado Christian University for a year and half where he led the Education Department developing and working with adults who were called to teach in public schools. He still works with CCU teaching classes and supervising student teachers