The TPAAK Board of Directors is the governing body for the Academy. Their regular public meeting is the second Wednesday of every month at 4pm in the school's Board room. Additional meetings are occasionally scheduled and all meeting agendas are posted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting on the outside of the CAO’s door in the front lobby and at the front door to the school. Meeting dates and times are subject to change with notice.
The Board’s role is that of governance, policy, oversight and strategic planning. TPAAK has contracted with Mosaica Education, Inc. for general management of the school and its curriculum design.
TPAAK Founder - (Not a member of the board)
Annette W. Riesel of Fort Collins is the founder of T.R. Paul Academy of Arts and Knowledge. Since 1998, she has co-founded two K-8 charter schools and an early-college charter high school in addition to TPAAK. She also served at an inner city Denver charter school, where she was principal during its start-up year. Prior to founding TPAAK, she worked with a leading nonprofit organization that assisted with charter school development.
When she first moved to Colorado in 1974, Ms. Riesel taught in a private K-12 boarding school for 6-1/2 years for at-risk children. In addition, she taught at Aims Community College for 3-1/2 years. As part of a career shift, she became publisher of a community newspaper group serving the Front Range for 17 years before re-entering education as a charter school developer.
TPAAK Board of Directors
Merinda Bennett (President) is a native to Loveland, CO. Earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from CU-Boulder. She is the construction manager for City of Loveland, Parks and Recreation Department. She is also involved in continuing her father’s tax service business. Her two children have attended TPAAK since 2006. Her hobbies are quilting, scrapbooking and learning to fly fish with her husband.
She can be reached at jmjrbennett@msn.com
Matt Strauch has worked on over 75 regional theatrical productions. He has served on the boards of the American Association of Community Theatre, Arts for Colorado, City of Fort Collins Youth Advisory Board, Colorado Citizens for Culture and he was State Captain of Arts Advocacy for Americans for the Arts. Matt is also the full-time General Manager of Bas Bleu Theatre Company in Old Town Fort Collins, the largest producing non-profit theatre in the region. Matt holds a certificate in arts management from the University of Massachusetts.
He can be reached at matt@basbleu.org
Jennifer Gorski
Dennis Clark (Secretary) is a parent of two children, both go to TPAAK. One of his children has been at TPAAK since the very beginning. He has degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and works at Hach Company in Loveland. His hobbies are Robotics and remote controlled everything.
He can be reached at dlc AT frii DOT com
Lara Kelleher (Vice President) is the parent of three children at TPAAK. Two of her children have attended TPAAK for the last three years and her youngest son will be in the TPAAK preschool in March. Ms. Kelleher holds a degree in English Literature with a minor in Political Science from Colorado State University. Ms. Kelleher is active at TPAAK, volunteering and serving on the Board. She enjoys reading, writing, and cooking, and is currently developing a line of specialty gourmet products.
She can be reached at kelleher33@lpbroadband.net
