Meet Our Team

Michaela

Director of Education

Director

Michaela is our Senior Director of Education, and she has been with Sylvan for over a decade. She brings a holistic approach, with a background as a therapist and life coach. Michaela has a Masters in Educational Psychology, Counseling and she is a Board Certified Life Coach. Michaela loves seeing students grow in not only academic skills, but in confidence. In her free time, Michaela is a Girl Scout troop leader and she loves making collage art.

Vanessa

Academic Progress Manager

Director

As an Education Director, Vanessa oversees the educational integrity of our programs and meets with parents to share progress. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The thing Vanessa loves most about working at Sylvan is working closely with families and children to build confidence, independence, and a love of learning. When Vanessa isn’t at Sylvan, she enjoys dancing, making things, being in nature, and going on local adventures with the people she loves

Jeff

Instructor

When your student is with Jeff, you’ll know they’re receiving the very best tutoring. Jeff received his BA in Mathematics from Harvard and his JD from Stanford. At Sylvan, Jeff expertly instructs Math, Reading, Writing, Test Prep, and Homework Support. His teaching is driven by a passion to help students achieve their dreams and encourage them to never give up. While not at Sylvan, Jeff spends his time rock climbing, mastering chess, and playing an assortment of other games.

Kerry

Instructor

Kerry graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Conservation and Resource Studies. Through teaching, Kerry plants the seeds of confidence at her table, inspiring the next generation of scholars to reach higher in their pursuits. Her passion for teaching is renewed each day as she sees her students progress through the subjects, whether that is through our Reading or Math Program. When she’s not at Sylvan, she continues her quest to study mycology during her many hikes!

Madison

Admin

Madison has a BS in Health Science from Sacramento State University and wishes to pursue a career as an ultrasound technician. As administrator, Madison ensures all goes according to schedule and finds ways to make all children enjoy the learning process. More than this, Madison is one of our administrators, but also teaches our Beginning Reading and Mathematics program. Regardless of the subject, she reaches the bond between students that is both productive and enjoyable to all involved. When your student is with Madison, you know they’re in good hands. When she’s not at Sylvan, Madison gives back to the community and explores local businesses.

Afra

Admin

Afra graduated from Contra Costa College and is about to pursue their BS in Biochemical sciences! They are always seeking new knowledge and spreading this eagerness to their students. As one of our administrators, Afra ensures the students always learn far more than they expected, and go home with confidence in their pocket. Afra is also an avid painter, and a true movie connoisseur.

Gabriel

Director

Director

Gabriel has been with Sylvan for over 17 years. After obtaining his math degree from UC Davis, he briefly tutored at UC Berkeley before joining Sylvan in 2006. Gabriel started out as a math instructor, and now helps out with various administrative tasks within the company. When not at Sylvan, you can often find him taking photos, traveling, and keeping up with all the latest technology-based trends.

Diana

Instructor

Diana, a Reading and Writing tutor at Sylvan, received her BA in English from Lewis & Clark College, with a focus in poetry writing. Her love of creative literary forms, her certifications in proofreading and copy editing, and her background in holistic health education and Licensed Massage Therapy inform her enthusiastic and empathetic approach to tutoring. Whether she is supporting students’ mastery of phonics foundations, modeling the arts of clarity and style in composition, or guiding students to mine both texts and their innate curiosity when thinking critically, Diana loves witnessing students learn to ask for help, take risks, and build confident, lifelong relationships with learning. She has crossed four of the five major lines of latitude on motorcycle adventures up and down the North and South American continents, has lived on and stewarded one-hundred-year-old, historic wooden fishing boat, and passionately believes that we are always learning, even in the face of challenge. When not at Sylvan, she is writing lyrical memoirs, hiking, observing nature, and planning her next camping adventure.

Kobi

Instructor

Kobi earned his BA in Literature at Sarah Lawrence College, and received his MA in Classics from the University of Exeter. He uses the socratic method to inspire students to figure out answers and correct their own work. Kobi teaches Reading and Writing, and lower-level Math. He loves the ancient world, and enjoys going to museums and reading historical fiction. He also likes creative writing and recreational climbing.

Liset

Director

As our Center Director, Liset has guided parents and motivated students at Sylvan for over a decade. Liset’s primary motivation is to see every student achieve their goals and potential. Using her extensive background in tutoring and natural problem solving nature, Liset creates personalized recommendations for each student. Her passion for education and warm heart is felt by everyone who meets her. Liset has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. When she isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find Liset spending time with her family, including her new son!

Madison

Director

As Education Director, Madison oversees the educational integrity of our programs and meets with families to share student progress. Madison earned her degree in Elementary Education. Her favorite subject to teach is reading. She loves working with students because of the relationships that are built and they are a constant source of imagination. Her favorite thing about working at Sylvan is watching students build confidence and believe in themselves throughout their Sylvan journey. Outside of work, Madison loves to hike, read, and lounge with her cats.

Courtney

Instructor

Courtney attended San Francisco State University to pursue a BA in English with an emphasis in Education.

Courtney connects what the kids enjoy (video games, movies, music, etc.) to what we are learning. If they can see themselves or what they love represented in our work, they are more receptive to the work. She also builds relationships with the students to let them know she will always be in their corner.

Outside of Sylvan, Courtney loves to read, write, and bake. She go to comic conventions with friends as well as concerts! She also does taekwondo, which she has a black belt in!