Meet the Vancouver - Kerrisdale team

The Sylvan Learning Centre in Vancouver is operated by Patbar Management Ltd. Barbara Kennedy, the President of Patbar Management, also serves as the Executive Director of Sylvan Learning in Vancouver. She has been with Sylvan Learning since 1986 and brings a wealth of experience to this role, having worked closely with Sylvan families of all ages, from all across Vancouver, to discover the joy of learning. "I'm a strong believer in the Sylvan programs because I've seen first-hand how a personal approach can help children to strengthen their academic skills, inspire confidence, and most importantly, develop a lifelong love of learning," Barbara explains. She grew up in Vancouver and graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce.

Brenda graduated from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Education degree; she majored in Math and Social Studies. She started her teaching career as a Teacher-on-Call for the Vancouver School Board, but decided to explore other careers in education. Brenda has been working at Sylvan for several years; first as an instructor and program manager, and since 2008, as a Director of Education. With her years of experience at Sylvan Learning, Brenda has watched many children, including her own, overcome learning challenges and achieve their educational goals. Brenda enjoys collaborating with parents and students to develop learning plans that inspire them and help them develop the skills and abilities to be more confident in school. Brenda can be reached at kerrisdale@sylvanvancouver.ca to discuss your child(ren)'s learning goals!

Roman graduated from Far Eastern Federal University in 2015 with a Master of Arts in Regional Studies. He started his teaching career in 2016 as an English and IELTS instructor, working with students in different countries and helping them develop their language skills and achieve their academic goals. He enjoys identifying students’ individual learning needs and finding effective ways to help them build confidence and make progress. He joined Sylvan Learning in the summer of 2026 as an Assistant Director and looks forward to working with students and families to make learning a positive and rewarding experience. He especially enjoys helping students overcome learning challenges, develop strong academic skills, and achieve success at school. Roman can be reached at kerrisdale@sylvanvancouver.ca to discuss your child(ren)’s learning goals!