Meet the El Cerrito team

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

Nic is a reading, writing, study skills and test prep instructor. Nic is extremely creative and dedicated. While Nic has many tutoring talents, he finds the greatest joy in our Academic Writing tutoring program. He studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz with a BA in American History and an MA in Education with Honors. When Nic isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find him reading books or binge watching Netflix.

Stephaney attended the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in education and has a Masters degree from Washington College. What she loves most about teaching students is: "I enjoy helping students learn and learning more about who they are. Through teaching, I can create a fun adventure where students are able to stretch to become the best versions of themselves. It's great to see students discover themselves and their true capabilities." Something she likes to do in her free time: "I like to read, do yoga and exercise. I also like long nature walks, traveling to new areas and making different types of foods."