MEET TYLER
Tyler Curtis is a candidate for the Emporia City Commission. He has been serving as a City Commissioner since August of 2024, fulfilling the remainder of the late Danny Giefer’s term of office.
Tyler’s connection to Emporia started in 1998 when he was a student at Emporia State University. He was active in fraternity life, service organizations, and student government. His fraternity also did volunteer work for Emporia Main Street, which is where he met “Main Street Mary” and developed a deep appreciation for downtown Emporia.
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in secondary education (English and social sciences), Tyler taught middle school and high school English for the Topeka Seaman school district. He earned a masters degree in educational administration from ESU in 2004 and served as a principal in Atchison before returning to Emporia in 2010. Tyler worked in alumni relations, government relations, corporate and foundation relations, and donor relations during his 11-year career at ESU. Since 2021, he has served as Chief Development Officer for the Kansas Methodist Foundation.
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Over the last 15 years, Tyler has been active in the community on various boards:
- Emporia Enterprises, 2021-2025
- Emporia Granada Theatre, 2011-17
- Emporia Main Street, 2010-16; president of the board, 2013-15
- First United Methodist Church, 2010-present; past church council chair and current lay leader
- Government Matters Committee (Emporia Chamber of Commerce), 2010-2021
- Leadership Emporia (Emporia Chamber of Commerce), 2010 class; committee member and presenter
- Lyon County State Bank, 2021-present
- Site Council, Emporia Middle School, 2022-present
- SOS, 2020-present; chairperson of the board 2024-present
- Transient Guest Tax Advisory Board, 2025-present
- USD 253, District Advisory Council, 2023-present
Tyler has been recognized locally with the Advocate of the Year award from ESU in 2023 and the University Service Citation award in 2024. He was named SOS Volunteer of the Year in 2024 and both he and his wife were named Advocates of the Year for CrossWinds in 2023.
Tyler and Melanie have been married for 22 years and are proud to call Emporia home. Melanie also has a bachelors and masters degree from ESU. Melanie is a career educator with almost 25 years of experience. Tyler and Melanie served as co-chairs for the FUMC Aspire to Excel capital campaign and co-chairs of CrossWind’s Breaking Ground, Breaking Stigma capital campaign.
The two have raised their daughters, Allison and Caroline, here in Emporia. Allison graduates from EHS in 2025 and Caroline will be a sophomore at EHS during the 2025-26 school year.