POWER Zone Principals

Tom Payne

Tom Payne holds a master's degree in education and education leadership from Texas State University and has more than 13 years of experience as a school administrator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, including 6 years as a principal. He has enjoyed multiple assignments in the state of Texas, most recently serving as Administrative Officer with the Department of Defense's Alconbury Elementary/Middle High School in Huntingdon, England.

Contact
Email: thomas.payne@d49.org

Dr. Corey Defelice

Greetings! My name is Corey DeFelice. I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to serve as the newest principal of Skyview Middle School.

I am a native of Colorado Springs, having attended Falcon Elementary, Falcon Middle School, and eventually graduating from Palmer High School in 1999. My journey took me to Texas where I have spent my career in public education. In my 17 years, I have taught third, fourth, and fifth grade. I have been an academic assessment and data specialist, and I have been an assistant principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. For the past two years I served as the principal of Ridgeview Elementary School. 

I have a B.A. in History from the University of Northern Colorado, a M.Ed. in Counseling with a Principal’s Certificate from the University of Houston-Victoria, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.

I have a wonderful wife, Itziar, who is a school counselor, and three amazing children, ages 15, 10, and 5. In our free time we love to travel and play Super Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch. I love baseball and hockey, and am really looking forward to being back in Colorado and getting back on the slopes.

Contact
Email: corey.defelice@d49.org 
Phone: 719-495-5566

Amy Zweifel

I am honored to be serving the wonderful Academy for Literacy, Learning & Innovation Excellence family as the principal, and I'm looking forward to building collaborative partnerships with the ALLIES community. I hold a bachelor's degree in Language Arts Education, and have also received two master's degrees in Special Education and Educational Leadership. I have over 15 years of experience in education and educational leadership. The majority of this time has been in Special Education, interventions, and language arts. I have most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Vista Ridge High School right here in the D49 POWER Zone.

I have an amazing husband, Dan, and we have two awesome children, ages 10 and 7. As a family, we love to travel to new places, discover new recipes to try at home, and spend time outdoors in beautiful Colorado! I love to cheer my kids on at hockey and golf, and we attend sporting events as much as we can.

Thank you for welcoming me into the ALLIES community!

Contact
Email: amy.zweifel@d49.org 
Phone: 719-494-8850

Pam Holloman

Hello and Welcome to Inspiration View Elementary School!

I am extremely honored to continue the role of principal and serve our Inspiration View Elementary School community. 

We have an amazing team of teachers, wonderful students, and supportive and involved families. I look forward to getting to know even more of you and deepening our school-to-home partnership.

District 49 has been my home for over 20 years; first as a parent of students in the district and then as an employee serving students, teachers, and school communities. I began my career in education as a crossing guard and absolutely loved ensuring that all the students who crossed at my corner were kept safe. Every role in a building is critical in ensuring a successful school.

Walking alongside and supporting our IVES teachers, students, and families is my passion! Before coming to IVES, I served as an academic dean for one year and as an instructional coach for three years. Previously, I taught at both the elementary and secondary levels. During this time, I was able to gain valuable experience through teaching at an International Baccalaureate(IB) School as well as a school that focused on personalized learning for all students. These are skills that have supported me in serving at IVES and encouraging our students to discover their individual passions and talents.

Inspiration View’s commitment to arts integration is close to my heart. Before teaching in the public school setting, I was a private and group piano teacher. My thesis for my graduate degree was on integrating the arts into the regular classroom. I have seen firsthand the positive impact the arts can have in the life of a child.  Watching our students grow through exploring their passions, experiencing learning through creativity and collaboration, and making lasting connections to their learning through the various art forms is absolutely amazing!

Once again, we look forward to partnering with all our families. Thank you for giving us the privilege of teaching your children at Inspiration View Elementary School. 

Sincerely,
Pam Holloman

Contact
Email: pamela.holloman@d49.org 
Phone: 719-495-5300

Kris Levi

I am thrilled to be the returning principal here at Odyssey Elementary!  I look forward to fulfilling our school’s Mission and Vision to help our students truly shine.

This will be my 22nd year in education, and I am fortunate that all of them have been right here in District 49.  I began my career as a fifth grade teacher and was lucky to help open Springs Ranch Elementary School for its first year.  During my eleven years, I was a fifth grade teacher, first grade teacher, second grade teacher, Technology Specialist, and third grade teacher.  For the next five years, I was a Technology Specialist at Meridian Ranch Elementary, where I taught kindergarten through fifth grade students computer and 21st Century Skills.  Then, I was a part of the team that opened Bennett Ranch Elementary School, and I served in an administrative role at that location for four years.  This will be my second year at Odyssey Elementary, and I love our Comet Community!

With all of these roles across different locations, I have come to truly appreciate the journey that our students make in the elementary setting, the commitment that drives elementary staff to help students in their first stages of schooling, and the possibilities that can be fulfilled as a positive hub for our neighborhood.  As a Leader in Me school, I look forward to working with students and adults alike to grow the leadership potential for all individuals at Odyssey.

Not only do I live in the Power Zone, but my wife teaches in the Power Zone while my son attends a Power Zone school.  This is our home.  When not at school, we enjoy spending time outdoors and appreciating all the opportunities offered in the Colorado Springs area.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns, and I’d be happy to work alongside you.  We all play a valuable part in the Odyssey Elementary team!

Contact
Email: kristopher.levi@d49.org 
Phone: 719-494-8622

Georganna Rapaport

Georganna Rapaport announced as the new principal for RVES for the 2025-26 school year.

Georganna Rapaport brings 13 years of dedicated experience in education, along with a strong background in communication and leadership. She began her professional journey as a marketing manager in the financial services industry, where she developed a deep appreciation for strategic communication and relationship-building.

Her passion for teaching took root when she transitioned into education as an elementary classroom teacher in the Lewis-Palmer School District. It was there that her love for learning and student growth truly flourished. Georganna later served as a Teacher on Special Assignment in Academy District 20, supporting educators and leaders at the district level. In this role, she refined her expertise in professional development, instructional coaching, and data-driven decision-making.

Most recently, she served as the Coordinator for Literacy Performance in District 49. In this position, she led the district’s Primary Literacy Initiative and managed implementation of all READ Act requirements, championing early literacy for students across the district.

Mrs. Rapaport is excited to continue the tradition of excellence at Ridgeview Elementary School. She was drawn to Ridgeview for its strong record of academic achievement and its deep commitment to fostering meaningful relationships with students.

She prides herself on being a relational leader who values strong, authentic connections with students, staff, and families. She believes that effective partnerships between school and home are essential to every child’s academic success and social-emotional development. At the core of her leadership is a dedication to building a welcoming, inclusive, and collaborative school culture.

Mrs. Rapaport has been married for 27 years to her husband, Darren, a retired Army officer. Together, they have two children—Brennan (22) and Hayden (19)—and a spirited golden retriever named Quincy. Outside of work, she enjoys early morning workouts, reading, and hiking the beautiful trails of Colorado.

Paul Austin

As a family that has successfully homeschooled three children (two girls and one boy), I can assure you that homeschooling is not only possible, but also incredibly rewarding. Ignore any doubts or skepticism from others; your choice to homeschool is a commendable one.

Through the homeschool community, we discovered a huge resource for FREE! Our family could participate in an enrichment program that supported our families desire to homeschool our kids.  By providing our child(ren) one day each week to socialize, learn, and laugh with others, along with educators covering topics/curriculum that are challenging or needed special materials, and most importantly:  our child(ren) received encouragement from other homeschoolers and families, which proved to be invaluable.

We're thrilled to hear that you, too, believe there has to be a better way to educate your child(ren)…homeschooling is that way!

While homeschooling presents its challenges, the flexibility it offers allows you to take breaks when needed, celebrate growth and progress, and discover that learning can occur anyplace, anytime. You know your child(ren) better than anyone, and it's this insight that lets you tailor their education and learning to what works best for them. Homeschooling means you can determine the influences on your child(ren’s) education, aligning their learning with your family's values, beliefs, and priorities. Homeschooling is a powerful way to preserve what matters most to your family.

We at FHP are here to support you in creating a supportive and comfortable learning environment through enrichment, in order to meet your child(ren’s) educational needs. Let’s partner together in this fulfilling journey of homeschooling.

Contact 
Email: paul.austin@d49.org
Phone: 719-494-8985