Meet Our Team

Daneka

Center Director

Director

Daneka is the Center Director at Sylvan Learning Centers of Alaska and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology and Genetics from Purdue University. She is an experienced educational professional that previously held the position of Special Education Resource Teacher in Florida. She is currently working towards her Master’s degree in Special Education but still takes the time to enjoy spending time with her son.

Cody

Assistant Director

Director

Cody graduated from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Art Education. He was an English teacher in Shanghai and Beijing and taught Art in elementary, middle, and high schools within Detroit. In his free time, Cody enjoys playing harmonica, shaping clay, and spending time with Mable and Freya – his cat and dog.

Jennifer

Executive Director

Director

Jennifer has been a director with the Sylvan Learning Center since 2005. She has a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University. After graduating college she attended the FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Florida where she attained her commercial multi-engine instrument flight ratings. As a Certified Flight Instructor she trained pilots for the SwissAir Flight School and was a Check Airman, where she evaluated students on checkrides for issuance of flight licenses.

Jacquline obtained her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from U.A.A. & Juris Doctorate from the City University at Queens College Law School. She worked in Bucharest, Romania, and New York City for many years.  Her philosophy is: reading creates a portal to the world we share. She enjoys fly fishing, jazz piano, photographing wildlife, trekking with Mr. Pepper, an Alaskan Malamute, and Ms. Remy, a trail savvy French herding dog.

Anne

Instructor

Anne graduated from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania with a B.S. in French. She received a Reading Specialist Certificate endorsement in K-12 from Pennsylvania State University. First she taught French and Reading for 7 ½ years in Pennsylvania, then 25 years for the Anchorage School District for Middle School French and Reading. She is currently a special education teacher’s aide for the Anchorage School District and has at been a tutor at Sylvan Learning Center of Anchorage since 2010 where she teaches several subjects including Math, Reading, Writing, Beginning Reading and Study Skills.

PaHoua

Instructor

PaHoua graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, then went on to earn a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin Madison. After her PhD she earned an Education Endorsement in Chemistry from Edgewood College. PaHoua started working for the Anchorage School District as a Chemistry teacher in 1999, she still works for ASD but now works in the ELL program at Bartlett High School. PaHoua has been a math and science tutor with Sylvan Learning Center of Anchorage since 1999.

Ric

Instructor

Ric has lived in Alaska for 49 years. He graduated from U.A.A. obtaining his Bachelor of Education with a Minor in History. Ric taught for 26 years at Birchwood ABC in Chugiak. He was awarded the BP Teacher of Excellence, nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, featured in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers publication, and given the Chugiak Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Award. His hobbies include mountain hiking, woodworking, and DIY home projects.

Maggie

Instructor

Maggie loves working with Sylvan students! She is a lifelong Alaskan – born in Maine, but raised in Homer. She received a Bachelor in Psychology from U.A.A. and a teaching certificate from the University of West Florida. She is certified by the State of Alaska in grades K-6 and truly loves teaching all ages, while learning something new from students every day as well. In her spare time, she takes Alaskan adventures with family and friends, and most importantly her dog Bo.

Kayla

Instructor

Kayla graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Inclusive Education with a Minor in Math.  She taught second grade in public and private school settings in North Dakota. She was a tutor for Sylvan in North Dakota and then moved to Alaska. She is skilled in diamond painting, enjoys hiking, watching culinary shows, and is kept busy at home with her playful cats.

Bonnie

Instructor

Bonnie graduated from Sonoma State University in the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies with a Bachelor of Arts.  She was a teacher for 26 years in the Anchorage School District and upon retiring received the Lifetime Teaching Certificate. In 2024, she began teaching for Sylvan in Anchorage, Alaska. In her free time, she quilts, trail runs, hikes, enjoys skiing, spending quality time with family, friends, and her big fluffy Alaskan Malamute named Kiska.

Maria

Instructor

Maria earned her degree in Communication Design, majoring in Photography. She was born and raised in Venezuela. In her youth, Maria sang for The National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestra and Choir in Venezuela from 6 to 21 years of age. Impressively, Maria is trilingual as she is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. She has worked with non- profits to document community initiatives in very economically depressed areas. She has also volunteered at the Anchorage Museum. Her hobbies include learning about history and listening to quirky podcasts.