Meet the Irvine team

Joe earned his Masters in Art Education and an emphasis in Educational Management at the University of Melbourne. He also holds a graduate degree in Education with a teaching certificate in English as a second/foreign language/ ESL Joe is passionate about helping students succeed academically and finds the greatest joy when families reach their goals.

Thomas Fallon brings over two decades of distinguished experience in education to his role as Center Director of Sylvan Learning Center and Class 101. Having taught thousands of students across more than twenty-five public, private, and charter school districts nationwide, his background spans roles including childcare provider, tutor, substitute teacher, teacher’s aide, department director, retired lead teacher, founding director of three successful companies and a private school. Through this extensive career, he has gained a clear understanding that education is entering a new season, one in which traditional systems must evolve to meet the needs of today’s learners. Mr. Fallon’s depth of experience has shaped his pedagogy and his unwavering commitment to student success. After retiring from the traditional classroom, he designed an innovative hybrid curriculum that blended online and in-person instruction while homeschooling his two children who have since claimed prestigious awards and full academic scholarships to their University of choice. “Sylvan Learning has a legacy of fostering academic excellence, and partnering with families to ensure every student is prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world. As Center Director I will work to ensure that every student is equipped with the support needed to develop into confident learners and future leaders.” -Thomas Fallon, Center Director

Brianne is a highly respected educational leader with more than 15 years of experience in education throughout Orange County. Her extensive background in elementary education, academic program development, and individualized instruction has made her a trusted leader in helping students reach their highest academic potential. Brianne earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Fullerton. She has experience as an elementary school teacher in the Tustin Unified School District, where she developed a strong foundation in classroom instruction, curriculum, student development, and differentiated learning. As Director of Education, Brianne serves as a key academic leader, overseeing the educational direction of Sylvan Learning Center of Irvine. Her role extends far beyond monitoring curriculum, she takes a highly detailed and individualized approach to understanding each student's academic needs. Brianne carefully oversees the development of personalized learning plans, ensuring that instruction is aligned with each student's current skill level, academic goals, areas of need, and opportunities for growth. She closely monitors student progress and works with the instructional team to ensure that lessons remain purposeful, appropriately challenging, and responsive to each student's development. By analyzing student performance and continually refining instructional plans, Brianne helps ensure that every student receives an educational experience designed specifically for them rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Brianne is passionate about creating an environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, develop confidence, and discover that they are capable of achieving more than they may have initially believed. She also works closely with teachers and staff to maintain high instructional standards and foster a positive, encouraging academic environment. Her combination of classroom experience, academic leadership, and more than a decade and a half of experience in supplemental education gives Brianne a unique perspective on student success. She is committed to making every detail of a student's educational plan intentional, measurable, and focused on meaningful academic growth. Outside of education, Brianne enjoys spending time with her family, discovering new restaurants, and reading.

As Class 101 Program Director, Daniel is responsible for overseeing program quality, managing the counseling team, and leading the overall operations of the college planning program to ensure impactful and personalized support for students. Daniel previously held the position of Center Director at Sylvan before transitioning into his current role as Class 101 Program Director. Daniel earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Riverside. Throughout his educational journey, he has discovered his passion for teaching and finds joy in helping others understand new concepts and building skills.

Shirlee Smith has taught at Sylvan for many years. She graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology, and from CSU Northridge with an MA in Deaf Education. She also currently holds two California teaching credentials - Multiple Subjects, and Communication Handicapped Specialist. She loves working with students of all ages. When she is not teaching, Shirlee enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and studying the violin.

Katie is new to Orange County and earned her M.A. in Education along with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Davis. When she’s not at Sylvan, she enjoys hiking, spending time at the beach, baking, knitting, and hanging out with her husband and their family.

Mr. Conor earned his Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a Master's in Teaching at the University of California, Irvine. As a teacher for nine years, he's passionate about a wide variety of subjects, including math, writing, and social science. In his free time, Mr. Conor enjoys hiking, going to the gym, reading, and spending time with his dog.

Marge earned her degree in English with minors in Education and French from Northern Illinois University. She has over 20 years' experience as a tutor and substitute teacher. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and acting in community theater.

Mr. Alex is a dedicated and passionate educator with a strong academic background in mathematics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and a Master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Mr. Alex has been teaching for six years, specializing in helping students build confidence and achieve success in math. His favorite subject is math, and he is committed to helping students flourish and discover their full potential. Mr. Alex is experienced in teaching a wide range of courses, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, Enhanced Math, and various college-level math courses. In his personal time, Mr. Alex enjoys playing video games, which helps him connect with students and keep learning fun and engaging.

Ms. Roberta earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with minors in Psychology and Art History from Canisius College in New York. She has over 15 years of experience as a teacher in the L.A. Unified School District and in private schools, and as a tutor for people of all ages. Roberta served as an editorial assistant for a major newspaper where she did research, writing, editing, and proofreading. She loves helping students analyze, learn, and gain confidence to achieve their own success!

Susan received her B.A degree in Elementary Education from the University of Michigan. She possesses a Multi-subject teaching credential. Passionate about education, she had taught elementary education for a little over 10 years. In her free time, Susan likes to read and do crossword puzzles.

An Orange County native, Laurie Parke earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Multiple Subject Credential from San Diego State University. She completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and California Administrative Services Credential from California State University - Fullerton. Laurie has worked as a teacher in the Orange Unified School District since 1997. Her instructional experience includes second, third, fourth and fifth grades. Laurie is a mentor teacher with various universities; CSUF, Chapman, Concordia, Biola, and the University of Phoenix. Laurie guides these graduate level students as they complete their multiple subjects credentials. Laurie lives in Anaheim with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. On weekends, Laurie likes to read books and work on puzzles with her family.

Angela brings an exceptional academic background and extensive teaching experience to the Sylvan Learning Center of Irvine team. Originally from San Francisco and Berkeley, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Spanish from the University of California, San Diego, combining an understanding of human development and learning with a strong foundation in language and communication. She further advanced her professional preparation by earning her teaching credential from San Francisco State University. Angela has an impressive 15 years of teaching experience at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), one of the region's premier academic and arts-focused schools. During her time at OCSA, she taught Spanish to students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, giving her extensive experience adapting instruction to different ages, academic levels, and learning needs. Her background in psychology, language education, and long-term classroom instruction allows Angela to bring a thoughtful and academically rigorous approach to teaching. She is passionate about helping students develop strong academic foundations, deepen their understanding of language, and gain the confidence they need to become successful lifelong learners.

Ms. Susan Romito brings an exceptional breadth of academic credentials, educational expertise, and instructional experience to the Sylvan Learning Center of Irvine team. Her extensive educational background reflects a deep commitment to academic achievement and to supporting students across diverse learning environments. Ms. Romito earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and holds a California Administrative Services Credential, demonstrating advanced preparation not only in classroom instruction but also in educational leadership and administration. Her teaching credentials include Single Subject Credentials in both Spanish and English, giving her a strong academic foundation in language, literacy, communication, and the humanities. Her expertise extends to diverse educational settings through her California Community College Credential in Basic Education/Ethnic Studies and her California Bilingual Cross-Cultural Specialist Credential for K–12. This combination of credentials provides Ms. Romito with a particularly comprehensive understanding of language development, bilingual education, cross-cultural learning, and the varied academic needs of students. With her extensive academic preparation and broad range of educational credentials, Ms. Romito is uniquely equipped to help students strengthen foundational skills while developing higher-level reading, writing, language, and critical-thinking abilities. She brings a knowledgeable, experienced, and student-centered approach to instruction, with a commitment to helping every learner build confidence and reach their highest academic potential.

Deirdre brings an exceptional academic background, extensive communication expertise, and more than four years of dedicated tutoring experience to the Sylvan Learning Center of Irvine team. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Cornell University, developing a strong foundation in analytical thinking, research, critical reading, and written communication. She later earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University, further preparing her to provide effective, well-rounded academic instruction. In addition to her educational background, Deirdre is an experienced and award-winning journalist with extensive expertise in writing, research, revision, editing, and proofreading. Her professional experience has given her a particularly strong command of written language, attention to detail, organization of ideas, and the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively. For more than four years, Deirdre has been a valued instructor at Sylvan Learning Center of Irvine, helping students strengthen their academic skills and develop greater confidence as learners. She brings together her rigorous academic preparation, professional writing expertise, and classroom experience to provide students with thoughtful, structured, and engaging instruction. Deirdre is passionate about helping students become stronger readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators. Her combination of academic excellence and real-world expertise makes her a tremendous resource for students working to reach their highest academic potential.

Cindy earned her bachelor’s degree in Child Development from California State University, Fullerton and her Masters degree in Educational Administration. She served as teacher, administrator and instructional teaching coach for 30 years with the Santa Ana Unified School District. She is a passionate educator and especially loves the teaching of reading. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, writing and learning new languages!

Paul Ali graduated from the University of Arizona, majoring in secondary education in English. After three years of teaching middle school in Austin, Texas, he entered the University of Texas master’s program, where he studied literature and creative writing. He returned to teaching in Los Angeles, California, where he taught English and intervention reading in the Los Angeles Unified School District for thirty years until he retired. He now spends his time writing novels and plays.

Jeyanthi earned her Bachelors of Science degree from University of Central England, as well as a Specialist Diploma in Teaching & Learning from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She previously worked as a Allied Educator in Singapore public schools where her primary role was to help enchance teaching and learning by providing specialized support and services to students in academic areas. Jeyanthi has enjoyed sharing her time and knowledge serving students and feels that it is the most fullfulling part of her life.

Siddharth Mehta brings a strong academic foundation and a genuine passion for helping students succeed. He began his teaching career during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he provided online instruction to students from diverse backgrounds. Through personalized academic support and meaningful connections, he helped students build confidence while fostering both their educational and personal growth. Following his online teaching experience, Siddharth served as a Substitute Teacher for the Los Alamitos Unified School District and the Long Beach Unified School District. In these roles, he worked with students across a wide range of grade levels and learning styles, creating engaging classroom environments that encouraged curiosity, critical thinking, and academic achievement. Siddharth earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a discipline that strengthened his analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. Although his degree is in Physics, his true academic passion lies in mathematics, where he enjoys approaching complex equations as engaging puzzles that challenge students to think logically and creatively. His enthusiasm for STEM education inspires students to develop confidence in their mathematical abilities while gaining a deeper understanding of scientific concepts. Beyond the classroom, Siddharth is dedicated to environmental sustainability and is actively involved in initiatives that promote a healthier, more sustainable future. He believes that education extends beyond academics and strives to inspire students to become thoughtful, responsible, and lifelong learners. Siddharth looks forward to partnering with families to help every student learn, grow, and reach their full potential in a safe, supportive, and positive learning environment.

Ms. Stacy is a new teacher with seven years of experience as a teacher's aid with students K-8. She received her Bachelor's in Liberal Studies at Cal State Fullerton. Ms. Stacy's favorite subjects are Social Studies and English, and she loves to sing, dance, rollerblade, and play the drums.

With 33 years of experience in K-5 education, Yvonne brings a deep background in elementary instruction to the Sylvan team. She holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and a BA in English Literature, along with a BCLAD certification and a supplementary authorization in Language Arts through 8th grade. Having spent a significant portion of her career teaching second grade, Yvonne has a particular interest in applying UFLI and phonics-based strategies to help students build a strong reading foundation. Her primary goal is to keep students motivated and confident as they reach their learning milestones. A lifelong learner with a global perspective, Yvonne is also fluent in Indonesian. Outside of the center, she enjoys staying active by hiking, riding her bike, and walking her dog.

Pamela Jenkins possesses a Doctorate degree in Education from Pepperdine University. Aside from Sylvan she teaches ESL at Santiago Canyon College. Pam enjoys reading, hiking and going to the theater in her spare time.