Meet Our Team

Ken has been in the education field since 1993. His passion for education dates back to tutoring kids in a Big Buddy program in the ‘80’s. “Once I saw the difference an individualized approach can have on a child’s learning, I knew I would work in education in some capacity!” After 20+ years with different tutoring organizations, Ken was attracted to Sylvan based on it’s reputation, people, results, and innovation. Ken’s primary motivation is helping parents support their child’s education, focusing on building the foundational skills needed for independent success. Ken bought the Lake Zurich and Schaumburg Sylvan locations in 2014 and is actively involved day-to-day as Regional Director. Ken’s undergraduate degree is from the University of Notre Dame, and he has a Masters from Harvard University.

I have been teaching students my entire life. I started as a high school German and English teacher, then did ESL teaching, and worked at a Community College helping people prepare to return to work after spending time at home. I received my Masters in Organizational Development, spending over 20 years in corporate Learning and Development field, teaching courses in leadership, communication and customer service. I retired and began tutoring at Sylvan in 2021. I especially enjoy working with Beginning Readers and seeing their excitement when they learn to read! When not teaching, I belong to Book Clubs and take advantage of Chicago theaters and concerts with my husband. I also enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren in the area..

Jill has been with Sylvan since 2004. She joined the Lake Zurich Sylvan team in 2019 after transferring from another location. Jill has been working in both our Schaumburg and Lake Zurich locations since 2023. As Regional Education Director, she oversees the educational integrity of our programs, meets with parents for conferences, and manages and trains our tutors. Jill holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Special Education.  She has experience in Elementary and Middle School settings. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Sylvan and a passion for providing top-notch programs to our students.  Jill’s favorite thing about working at Sylvan is watching her Sylvan students grow their academic self-confidence.

Jen has been involved in education for the past 21 years. She has worked as a substitute teacher, has taught fourth and sixth grades, and currently teaches reading to first graders. She has been working at Sylvan in Schaumburg, IL since 2006 and enjoys working with the students. Her greatest love is teaching and reading to her students. Her goal is to make learning fun for every student! When she is not at Sylvan she is playing with her pets, cooking, and/or singing. La La La!!

I have been teaching for about 10 years as a high school math teacher and teaching at Sylvan for about 8 years in total. I’ve always enjoyed the ability to teach a different age group than I normally do in my day-to-day career, as well as subjects that vary from mine. Working with students who experience success is very rewarding, and I always try to motivate those who need it in different ways. When not teaching, I enjoy watching all four major sports, collecting Transformers, trying new foods, and traveling to new places.

Tara is a science and math teacher with a gift for working with learners of all ages.  While Tara has many talents, she finds the greatest joy in teaching the sciences.  Tara holds multiple degrees in science and education.  When Tara isn’t at Sylvan you’ll find her enjoying time with family, friends, and her dog Coco.