Meet Our Team

Fran Dyer

Franchise Owner

Fran Dyer, owner of Sylvan Learning Center, has loved working in the Centers for the past 25 years. It has been a fabulously rewarding career meeting with parents, classroom teachers, and or course, the students. While Fran’s career in Public Education encompasses teaching students at the Junior High level, Sylvan has provided her the opportunity to work with students from Kindergarten through High School. Sylvan has an excellent program and provided success for students at every level. Fran has both a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters Degree.

Jim Dyer

Franchise Owner

Jim Dyer, owner of 9 Sylvan Learning Centers, spent 30 years in California Public Education. He taught high school for 8 years and was a Junior High Principal for 24 years. Jim has also taught Junior College classes in Speech and worked with Chapman University in the teacher credentialing department for the Inland Empire. In 2001 Jim began working extensively with the Sylvan Learning Centers. The best part of Sylvan for Jim is the same as it was working in Public Education….working with students and parents! Jim earned both his Bachelor of Arts and his Masters Degrees from Whittier College, Whittier, California.

Carli Ganet

Executive Director - Franchise Owner

Carli Ganet is the Executive Director and Co-Owner of the 11 Sylvan Learning Centers owned by Jim and Fran Dyer. Carli received her Bachelors of Arts and Teaching Credential at the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. Carli began her career with Sylvan as a student in the Rancho Cucamonga Sylvan Learning Center. She has been a Director of Education, Center Director and currently oversees the educational programs of Sylvan students as well as working with Directors and Parents. She loves working with Sylvan families!

Jodi True

Center Director

Director

Jodi True is a Pasadena, CA native and served as an Administrative Director for more than a decade. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and is a 20-year veteran of management in both institutional and commercial settings. Ms. True joined the Sylvan team back in 2017 as the Center Director for Hemet. She became very involved in the Hemet San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, member of Soroptimist International, and is the Chair for the Women in Business Network. Jodi is the mother of two daughters, and grandmother to one lucky girl. She enjoys spending as much time with family as possible.

Angela Palmer

Director of Education

Director

Angela has served as the Director of Education for Sylvan since November 2013. Angela earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English education from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee in 2007. Prior to joining the Sylvan family, Angela’s teaching experience included one year as a K-12 English teacher in El Salvador, Central America and five years teaching high school Spanish in Louisville, Georgia, in addition to extensive experience as a private writing and ACT preparation tutor. Angela loves working with families and teachers to see students of all ages thrive on Sylvan’s personalized learning program.

Rissa Potts

Tutor

Rissa has tutored at the Sylvan Learning Center in Hemet since 2007. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Cal State San Bernardino in Mathematics and enjoys working with students in all levels of math including Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Her hobbies are playing trivia games, reading, and solving math problems. One thing she loves about Sylvan is seeing how her students’ eyes light up when they finally understand a concept they had been struggling with “Oh, that’s how it works!” look and the confidence that comes with it

Amber Potts

Tutor

Amber has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Cal State San Bernardino.  She has been a tutor with the Sylvan Learning Center of Hemet since 2009 and specializes in reading.  Amber enjoys reading history books, rooting for the Lakers in the Spring, and the Miami Dolphins in the Fall.  Her favorite thing about Sylvan is seeing students go from struggling in school to knowing that they have the skills to succeed in school and in life!

Lisa White

Director of Business Development

Lisa White has worked for Sylvan Learning for close to 10 years as Director of Business Development. Prior, Lisa spent 19 years in the non profit/social services arena managing programs and services for high risk, disabled, and culturally diverse populations. Lisa earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Antioch University and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Pacific Southern University. Lisa has always been actively involved in her children’s school; serving as an E3 Foundation Board Member, PTA Board Member, and School Site Council Member at the Etiwanda School District. Lisa enjoys representing Sylvan throughout the community and actively engaging in networking events and business development groups. She feels that her career experience and passion for education helps to ensure that all students are afforded educational opportunities that foster growth and development. “ I am passionate about academic excellence and enjoy working in a vibrant student learning environment where students are supported and celebrated.”

Taryn Hartman

Director of Media Marketing

Taryn is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Human Resources.  As a former Center Director and Regional Director, Taryn comes to this position with a love for Sylvan Learning Centers.
Taryn is a mother to 4 handsome boys.  When not working you will find Taryn at the soccer fields or at the grocery store.

Angelina Bagstad

Tutor

Angelina has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, grew up in Hemet CA, and went to school in NY at Russell Sage College.  She has been tutoring at the Hemet Sylvan Learning Center since 2019 and loves it!  Angelina’s hobbies include hanging out with her family and friends.  Her favorite part about Sylvan is being able to teach students in a safe environment.

Allison Krickl

Tutor

Allison Krickl has been working at Sylvan for over a year and enjoys working with students one-on-one in a safe environment. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from California Baptist University. Allison has 4 years of experience as a high math teacher and loves to inspire her students through the beauty of math. Her favorite part of working at Sylvan is seeing her students grow in confidence as they make learning connections. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, watching anime, and going to Disneyland.

Katey Wright

Tutor

Katey has tutored at the Sylvan Learning Center in Hemet since November 2022. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and began teaching at Sylvan shortly after graduation! She enjoys working with students of all ages but especially loves focusing on phonics and refining their writing skills. Her favorite hobby is reading classic novels. The best part of working at Sylvan is watching the students’ confidence grow in all aspects as they begin to understand.

Sam Tringali

Tutor

Sam has been a member of the Sylvan team since March 2023. He holds three associate degrees, including an AA in Psychology, AA in Child and Adolescent Development, and an AA in Liberal Arts – Social and Behavioral Science. Currently, he is on track to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at California State University, San Bernardino by May 2024. Prior to joining Sylvan, Sam was a board-certified Behavioral Therapist. He has a strong passion for working with children, takes delight in teaching, and excels at helping kids grasp the material. Sam is a valuable asset to our team at Sylvan.

Braleanne, or “Ms. Bray,” as she is known by students, graduated with her Bachelors in Elementary education from Grand Canyon University in 2025 after obtaining an Associates Degree in Child Development and Education, Social and Behavioral Science, and Science. Bray has one year experience in tutoring and three years of experience doing small group teaching. She has worked with elementary students grades TK-5th for 3 years, going on 4.

Bray says, “What I love most about working at the Sylvan Learning Center in Hemet, is being given the opportunity to advance and strengthen my teaching and tutoring skills, as well as having the privilege of working with all age groups.”

Christian Cortez has worked at Sylvan of Hemet since December 2025.  He is a student at Mt. San Jacinto College, where he is pursuing a degree in mathematics.  Previous to Sylvan Learning Center of  Hemet, Christian was a peer tutor at Orange Vista Highschool and helped struggling peers in Algebra, Pre Calculus, and Calculus.  Christian has enjoyed his years of tutoring experience volunteering as a Linkcrew member for Orange Vista Highschool, serving the Val Verde Unified School District.  He enjoys teaching a variety of subject areas, including Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Pre Calculus, and Calculus 1 and 2.  In his free time, Christian enjoys playing baseball and softball, working out at the gym, and playing videogames.

Sabrina Hunter has worked at Sylvan of Hemet since October 2023. She is a graduate of University of California, Riverside, where she obtained a Bachelors degree in English. Sabrina has two years of tutoring experience working as an instructor for Sylvan Learning, serving the Hemet and San Jacinto school districts.  While at Sylvan, Sabrina has obtained an editing certification and has interned as a writer for an online news site. She enjoys teaching a variety of subject areas, including English and writing. In her free time, Sabrina enjoys reading, writing, and hanging out with friends.