Meet Our Team

Jessica Agopian

Director

Jessica is the Center Director and Owner of Sylvan Learning of West Covina. She began her journey with Sylvan as a Center Director in Glendale, where she quickly discovered how fulfilling it was to support students and their families through education. After years of working with kids in various roles, she knew this was the path she was meant to follow. In 2023, Jessica took a leap and purchased the West Covina center, excited to build something meaningful for her local community.

She earned her degree in Business Management from Cal State Long Beach and grew up in the San Fernando Valley, where she still visits her parents most weekends.

Jessica is passionate about creating a space where students feel seen, supported, and confident. She believes that every child can succeed with the right guidance, patience, and encouragement.

Outside of Sylvan, you’ll find her learning new things, reading a good book, or spending time with her friends and family. She also loves traveling, iced coffee, and finding new ways to make learning fun for everyone who walks through the door.

Chelsea Moore

Director

Chelsea is the Director of Education at the West Covina center. She helps develop and implement learning strategies to help each student reach their academic potential and beyond. Chelsea received her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Cal State University, Los Angeles.

While in college, she worked as a private tutor for students of all ages. There she found her passion for working with children and loves watching them learn and grow. She also has a background in ABA Therapy and worked as a Registered Behavior Technician. Fun fact: Chelsea started off as a Sylvan instructor and worked her way up to the Director position!

When she isn’t at Sylvan, Chelsea likes to spend time with her family. She also enjoys film photography and reading new books. She really loves to travel and explore the outdoors with her husband and their two pups!

Julianna is a Program Manager and instructor at Sylvan. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing & English and has a strong literature background with a passion for reading fictional literary works.

At Sylvan, Julianna hopes to help kids enjoy reading and writing as much as she does. She plays a key role in supporting students at the center and also helps manage Sylvan’s after-school programs on local school campuses. She is passionate about inspiring students to find joy and confidence in both subjects. Her goal is to create a supportive and engaging learning environment where students feel confident to express themselves creatively and think critically about the texts they encounter.

During Julianna’s free time, she likes to play video games, read novels, and spend time with friends.

Joana Gomez

Joana was born in Los Angeles but later moved to Pico Rivera. Within the Los Angeles Unified School District, she developed a love for learning at a young age, which sparked her interest in becoming a teacher.

Joana is currently attending Cal State Los Angeles to complete her teaching credential. She has been working in education since 2014, gaining experience as an after-school program leader, an instructional aide, and a teacher assistant. Her passion and dedication to educating students drive her as she works toward finishing her credential.

When she’s not busy with school or work, Joana enjoys catching up on shows, reading, and taking walks. She also loves spending time with her loved ones.

Rosa has been a dedicated instructor at Sylvan for over 15 years. With a deep passion for English and writing, she brings both experience and enthusiasm to every session. She earned her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from California State University, Los Angeles.

Before joining Sylvan, Rosa worked as a substitute teacher for the Mountain View School District. She currently teaches high school English in the La Puente area, where she continues to make a positive impact on her students’ academic journeys.

Outside the classroom, Rosa enjoys reading, traveling, and watching movies. She’s a proud Los Angeles Dodgers fan and loves staying active by playing volleyball. In her downtime, she finds joy in strolling down Main Street, U.S.A., embracing the magic of simple moments.

Victoria Cardenas

Victoria Cardenas is a College Advisor who loves helping high school seniors explore their options and figure out what’s next after graduation. She discovered her passion for guiding students while supporting classmates on their own academic journeys, and she’s dedicated to ensuring every student feels confident and ready for the next step.

Victoria earned her degree in International Business and Language from the University of La Verne. She studied abroad in Barcelona in 2023 and has traveled to seven countries, experiences that shaped her love for different cultures and perspectives—and that inspired her approach to advising students.

When she’s not working with students, Victoria enjoys going on long walks, trying new foods, and spending time with her cat and dog. She’s curious, adventurous, and always looking for ways to make the college journey exciting, meaningful, and fun.

Lorissa Payne

Lorissa earned her Bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Secondary Education from Biola University and graduated from the Torrey Honors College. She also holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University and CLAD/CTEL certification through UCLA. With nearly ten years of experience in education, she is passionate about helping students strengthen their reading comprehension and writing skills while building confidence.

She believes every student has the ability to “change their stars” and succeed with the right support, encouragement, and mindset. Lorissa enjoys creating a learning environment where students feel capable, motivated, and proud of their progress.

Outside of education, she designs teacher resources, enjoys cosplay and comic conventions, visits theme parks, spends time at the beach, travels, and loves trying new foods. For her, every day is an adventure!

Catherine Gutierrez

Catherine is passionate about mathematics and ensures that every student has the opportunity to call themselves a mathematician. She understands the impact of mathematics in the world, no matter what field a career is in. Mathematics and learning involve making mistakes, and as such, Catherine has learned that confidence is a necessity in every step of the learning process. She works hard to instill a love for learning in all students, as her teachers did for her.

She is currently earning her degree in Pure Mathematics, which is essentially the “why” behind mathematics, at Cal Poly Pomona. She was an AVID Tutor at South Hills High School, as well as an after-school tutor at iPoly High School.

Aside from studying, Catherine likes to spend her time working on jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends, and keeping up with Marvel Comics news. She is also a fan of sci-fi novels, television, and movies.

Erin Gleeson

Erin is a Tutor of Sylvan Learning West Covina. She fell in love with the fulfillment of supporting students as an After School Program Leader in 2024. After building students’ confidence through Social Emotional Learning for two years, she noticed a need for genuine support in academics. The success she found with her students during homework hour proved that her guidance was needed in a committed, academic setting. She followed her path to Sylvan Learning in 2026 where she can grow along with her students, sharing success and fulfillment along the way.

Earning her place in the National Honors Society, Erin completed her Associate’s Degree in Radio, Film, & Television from Mt. SAC in 2024. She transferred to Cal State University of Fullerton and is set to graduate with her Class of 2027 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema & Television. When Erin is not tutoring at Sylvan or attending class at Cal State Fullerton, she works as a Film Instructor at Creator’s Road Studios in Covina, an inclusive studio for neurodivergent creators and autistic adults.

Erin finds absolute meaning in being the educational adult figure that every child needs in their life, but not every child has. She knows that every behavior serves to meet a need, and that every child deserves to be paid attention to, listened to, and supported in the unique way that they require. With dedicated time, patience, and support, every child has the potential to grow into success.

Erin’s passions and pastimes include jamming out to music, going to concerts, exploring all kinds of nature, enjoying time with family, friends, and her pets, and going to the movies! Erin is also a Director of Photography, Camera Operator, and a Writer. She collaborates frequently and consistently with the film community, creating films on most weekends.