Meet Our Team

Kaiwen Chen

Teacher

Director

As a Centre Director, Kaiwen leads the amazing teaching team at Sylvan of West Edmonton, as well as overseeing the operations of the centre. Kaiwen is passionate about helping students achieve their maximum potential, encouraging a growth mindset, and having fun. Kaiwen received a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from the University of Alberta in 2022, and has been working with Sylvan Learning since January 2024.

Elaine Mabutol

Teacher

Elaine is a passionate teacher who specializes in teaching reading and writing, and loves working on literacy skills with students with learning disabilities. She has been teaching in classrooms and 1-on-1 since 2016, and is currently pursuing a diploma in Disability Studies. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction books and writing snail mail to friends.

Nilay Patel

Tutor

Nilay is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering at the University of Alberta, building upon his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from India. Nilay also has a minor in Mechanical Engineering. Passionate about teaching, Nilay joined Sylvan in January 2024. With a solid foundation in engineering math and science principles, Nilay seamlessly integrates his academic expertise into his role at Sylvan, where he tutors students in math and science. Outside of academia, Nilay enjoys reading books and playing volleyball.

Alexia Ochavo

Tutor

Alexia has worked with Sylvan since 2023 at the West Edmonton and Leduc locations. She is passionate about working with various age groups in Sciences, Math and English. However, Alexia finds the greatest joy in seeing students grow and succeed in learning new things. When not at Sylvan, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Athabasca University with a major in biological sciences and a minor in psychology, and outside of academia, you will find her playing with her dogs, reading and spending time with loved ones.

Julia Pacholik

Teacher

Meet Julia, a passionate educator and nursing student on her way to becoming a Registered Nurse, with the goal of specializing as a neurosurgical Nurse Practitioner. Having faced academic challenges in her youth, Julia is committed to helping her students reach their dreams, just as her inspiring teachers did for her. She works with learners of all ages and backgrounds. She is particularly experienced with those with diverse needs, including autism and learning disabilities. In her free time, you can find Julia with her nose in a book, crocheting, or caring for animals on her family’s farm. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering a nurturing environment where each student can thrive. Julia is dedicated to inspiring her students, igniting their curiosity, and guiding them toward success.

Hope is an experienced classroom teacher, and has also been helping students achieve success at Sylvan since 2022.

Nima Shahsavari

Tutor

Nima is an M.Sc. graduate from UofA in Chemical Engineering. He has a deep interest in math and science combined with teaching. As an individual who has experienced difficulties in some of his subjects at school, he knows what it feels like when you don’t know the answer to a problem. Nima’s goal at Sylvan Learning is to help students and to enable them to get the automaticity in solving their problems.

Radwit Zaman

Tutor

As a fourth-year psychology student minoring in political science at the University of Alberta, Radwit brings a well-rounded approach to tutoring at Sylvan. With a passion for educating and experience working with children of various ages, he specializes in guiding students through English, Math, and Science. His extensive background in volunteering and working with students translates thoroughly into his role at Sylvan, where he aims to foster an appreciation for learning in every student. Outside the classroom, Radwit enjoys staying active, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Inspired from an early age to be an English teacher, Cole has recently been accepted into the University of Alberta’s Post Secondary Education Program where she will major in English and minor in creative writing. Having been faced with different learning challenges in her youth, Cole understands what it feels like to struggle with academic success. Her goals are to inspire in her students a love for learning, a passion for literature, and a sense of confidence in their studies. Outside of school and teaching, you might find Cole watching films or attending different literary events around the city.

“Education is the Kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” — Socrates