School & Community Navigators

Tiara Weaver – School & Community Navigator, North City

Tiara is a St. Louis native. She grew up, was educated, and now lives in St. Louis City. She is passionate about building relationships and serving others. Tiara has 5 years of classroom experience as well as administrative leadership. She brings to Navigate a rich and dynamic work history and desire to improve the community around her.

Darius Washington – School & Community Navigator, South City

Darius Derrell Washington graduated from Harris-Stowe State University with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing.

During his Harris-Stowe career, Darius was involved in his community through Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and The Village Mentorship program. He is a Kansas City native who strongly desires to improve the community. A passage from the poem “Don’t Quit” defines him as a person.

“Success is failure turned inside out, The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit – It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”

“I am excited to serve you all as your South City Navigator.”

Samantha Pipkin – School & Community Navigator, Early Childhood Education

For the last 14 years Samantha has served children, families, and teachers. She has taught and led early childhood facilities in best practices. Her focus has been on ensuring the whole child’s needs are met and creating collaboration with teachers and families. She holds a Bachelors in Psychology, as well as a Master of Teaching degree from Columbia College. Samantha is a lifelong learner and is currently working toward a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of UMSL.

Board Members

Danny Lewin – Board Vice President, Navigate STL Schools

Danny Lewin currently serves on the Board of Directors at Navigate STL Schools and is a Partner, and Vice President of Business Operations at Object Computing, Inc. Danny was born in Saint Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri before moving to South Florida and earning an MBA from Florida Atlantic University. He began his career working as the Community Relations Coordinator for the Miami Dolphins from 2003 – 2007. While working for the Dolphins, he managed the team’s community outreach efforts as well as the Miami Dolphins Foundation fundraising efforts.

Eventually, Danny returned to Saint Louis and joined Object Computing, Inc. (OCI); a technology consulting firm. Through his time at OCI, he has played many roles including Recruiter, Recruiting Manager, Project Manager, Director of PMO, and Director of Operations.

Throughout his career, Danny has been active in the non profit community. He served as the President of the Board of Directors at Lift for Life Gym from 2008 – 2019 and continues to serve on the Advisory Board. He has also been part of other organizations such as the St. Louis Sports Commission Associates, CATCH 84 Foundation, and FOCUS St. Louis.

Calvin Dantley – Board Secretary, Navigate STL Schools

Calvin Dantley specializes in providing engaging and effective learning and development support for companies. He designs interactive online courses and other resources tailored to educate employees across all organizational levels, delivering impactful corporate training solutions. 

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Calvin has called the St. Louis metro area home for over a decade. With nearly 20 years of experience in sales training and management, he leverages skills such as questioning and active listening to connect deeply with subject matter experts. Beyond his professional endeavors, Calvin serves as a youth sports coach, mentoring and inspiring kids in his community to explore opportunities beyond sports, utilizing their skills both on and off the field.  

John Henry – Board Treasurer, Navigate STL Schools

John Henry is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with a robust background in financial controls, risk management, and compliance. With expertise in developing and implementing internal controls, conducting audits, and managing financial operations, he brings strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of financial risk mitigation.

His professional experience includes roles at prominent organizations such as Wells Fargo, Nestle, and the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. In his current position as a Financial Control Analyst he supervises control testing, performs risk assessments, and ensures compliance with both internal and external regulations. His prior role as an Internal Auditor further honed his ability to identify discrepancies, assess internal controls, and recommend corrective actions to improve organizational efficiency and profitability. Additionally, his experience as an auditor in the public sector provided him with a solid foundation in government auditing, regulatory compliance, and data analysis.

John Henry’s dedication to precision, attention to detail, and ability to communicate audit results effectively make him a valuable candidate for the Treasury position at Navigate STL. His comprehensive understanding of financial processes and ability to identify risks and create mitigation plans aligns well with the goals of ensuring sound financial stewardship within the organization.

Christopher Geden

I like to believe that I’m an outcome-based leader who tries to understand and help the youth, families, and communities in which we serve. Through engagement, whether it be at the Tower Grove Farmer’s Market or at a recreation center.

Dr. Courtney Belfor

Dr. Courtney Belfor is a distinguished educator with over ten years of
experience. Her lifelong dedication to student achievement is what makes her
an iconic symbol in education.

“I consider it an honor and privilege to work with children and their families.
My mission is to inspire, encourage, and assist all children in reaching their
full academic potential. Most emphatically, it is my personal belief that this is
done through a team effort comprised of family, school, and community. This
is the path that will enable us to support today’s youth.”

Dr. Belfor’s dedication to the impact theory, equity, excellence, and inclusion
in our schools is what sets her apart from others. This desire is consumed by
her thought that “students will make their own positive and lasting impact in
our world.”

Dr. Belfor earned her BS in Business Administration from Southern Illinois
University Edwardsville (SIUE), MA in School and Professional Counseling
from Lindenwood University, MA in Education Administration from
Lindenwood University, and an Ed.D in Educational Leadership from
Maryville University. She currently serves as a Guidance Counselor in Saint
Louis Public Schools.