Meet the Johnston & Des Moines team

Katie Ruby’s passion for education, leadership, and community impact has been the driving force behind her more than 11-year career with Sylvan Learning. Her journey began in the bustling “Sylvan Summer Season” in June 2015, as the Center Director of the Sylvan Learning Center of Ames, where over the course of three years she transformed the center to one of the top performing in the company before transferring to the Johnston location. Building on that success, Katie went on to serve more than eight years as the Center Director of the Sylvan Learning Center of Johnston — one of the largest Sylvan territories in both Iowa and the nation. During her tenure, she expanded operations, strengthened leadership initiatives, and helped thousands of students and families achieve academic growth and confidence. Katie grew into the role of Executive Director overseeing Community Outreach Division that helps serve our local community schools. Katie’s ability to build meaningful relationships with families, schools, staff, and community partners helped establish the Johnston center as one of the most successful territories within the Sylvan network nationwide. The measurable success achieved during these years serves as proof that hard work, consistency, and dedication produce tangible outcomes. From operational growth and enrollment expansion to large-scale partnerships and community outreach, Katie consistently translated vision into performance. Katie’s dedication to education extends far beyond Iowa. Her global perspective was shaped through international travel, business education, and volunteer work across multiple countries. She attended university in Marbella, Spain, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business with a focus in International Management. Her international professional experience includes working in Hong Kong and London, while also volunteering in educational development initiatives in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala, and other developing nations to support children and communities through education-focused outreach efforts. Throughout every stage of her career, one purpose has remained constant: helping students believe in themselves and helping families create brighter futures through education. Today, Katie’s renewed sense of passion is fueled by her strong belief in her experience, leadership abilities, and long-term vision for the future of the Johnston center. Her years of operational success, community engagement, and passion for student achievement have naturally led her to the next chapter — becoming an owner-operator of her very own Sylvan Learning Center. As she steps into ownership, her goal is not simply to maintain past success, but to elevate the Sylvan Learning Center of Johnston once again into a position of national leadership within supplemental education. Her mission is to build a center that transforms the lives of students, supporting families, empowering educators, and strengthening surrounding communities through educational excellence. Katie believes that when students are given confidence, support, and opportunity, entire communities are elevated alongside them.

Bree Koester is an accomplished educational leader with more than 15 years of experience in education, operations, leadership development, and organizational growth. As Co-Owner and Director of Education at Sylvan Learning of Johnston, Bree is dedicated to helping students build confidence, strengthen academic skills, and achieve lasting success while creating exceptional experiences for families and educators. Throughout her career with Sylvan Learning, Bree has led educational programming, enrollment strategy, instructional leadership, operational systems, and community outreach initiatives. She specializes in developing high-performing teams, improving operational efficiency, and implementing relationship-centered strategies that drive both student achievement and sustainable business growth. Her leadership philosophy combines educational excellence with compassionate service, ensuring every student receives personalized support while every family feels welcomed and valued. Bree's expertise extends across every aspect of learning center operations, including academic programming, family engagement, staffing, educator development, enrollment growth, and student retention. She has successfully led initiatives that improve educational outcomes while strengthening organizational performance through strategic planning, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership. Prior to franchise ownership, Bree served as Director of Education for Community Outreach, where she played an integral role in expanding Sylvan's reach within the community, building lasting partnerships with schools and families, and helping students unlock their full academic potential. Her passion for education is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the confidence to succeed, regardless of where they begin their learning journey. In addition to her work at Sylvan, Bree is Co-Founder of Elevada Worldwide LLC, where she has expanded her expertise in leadership development, organizational strategy, coaching, and community engagement. These experiences have strengthened her ability to build mission-driven organizations that create meaningful impact both inside and outside the classroom. Bree is currently completing her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership at Grand View University, with graduate studies focused on leadership, organizational culture, communication, strategic management, and operational effectiveness. She brings this advanced leadership perspective into every aspect of Sylvan Learning, continuously seeking innovative ways to enhance educational outcomes and organizational excellence. As Co-Owner of Sylvan Learning of Johnston, Bree is committed to expanding access to high-quality educational support, strengthening partnerships with schools and the community, and helping students develop the confidence, resilience, and skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Her vision is to continue building one of the nation's premier Sylvan Learning Centers—one that transforms lives through education, empowers families, and creates lasting impact throughout the community.

Tom is a teacher at Sylvan in Johnston. He enjoys seeing growth in his students and celebrating their successes along the way. He graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a BA in Leadership & Management. He went on to further schooling and graduated from the University of North Dakota with his JD and MBA. He also gained 3+ years of mentorship experience while attending the University of North Dakota. He currently heads the Fair Lending department for a regional bank based out of Fargo, ND. In his spare time, he loves to golf and write poetry.

Bob has been working at Sylvan for 10 years! He has taught in Iowa high schools for over 30 years, as an English teacher, the last 21 at Dallas Center-Grimes. He lives in Norwalk with his wife, Brenda, and their two youngest children. He also has two adult children!

Pete began his Sylvan tutoring experience in September of 2025. During the previous four years, Pete tutored math in Grand Marais MN through an Americorps program called MathCorps. Since retiring from agriculture in 2019, math has become Pete's passion. He has completed several online math courses, coached a Mathmasters team in Minnesota, and achieved a tutor certification through National Tutoring Association. Pete loves all things "outdoors". His trusty dog, Lucky, escorts him daily on the many wonderful hiking trails around Des Moines.