Meet the Grand Forks team

Lanai earned her BA in English education and English Language Learners (ELL) endorsement from the University of North Dakota. In addition to teaching in Grand Forks public schools she has also taught English in Spain and South Korea. She has worked with students of all ages pre-K through adults but her primary focus has been middle school students. Besides regular English classes she also designed and taught special English camps which incorporated a wide range of subjects including science, history, art, and other STEAM based projects. Lanai is a lifelong learner who is always eager to explore new topics and learn. She has many interests and hobbies that keep her busy when not teaching including spending time with her family and friends.

Sarah El is a Biomedical Engineer graduated from one of the highest-ranking universities in Bangkok, Thailand. She utilizes her expertise and knowledge in high ranking and internationally recognized hospitals where she has designed patented parts for laser technologies used in optics, calibrated, maintained, designed new medical technologies for increasing patient autonomy. As the current Marketing and social media, she displays and elaborates the services for Sylvan Learning of Grand Forks using all Social Media platforms. Due to her engineering expertise like engineering optics: it’s all about finding the perfect angle to capture attention, project value, and illuminate a student's hidden potential. By blending technical precision with engaging storytelling, we connect families with the exact resources they need to thrive. On her down time, she is a mother to a beautiful young boy, travels, camping, photography and social media development.

My name is Angel Tra, and I am a Biology student at the University of North Dakota pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with plans to become a Physician Assistant. I have always been interested in healthcare and helping others, which has led me to gain experience through volunteering, healthcare shadowing, and becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant.. I have maintained a 3.8 GPA and have received academic scholarships for my achievements. Outside of school and work, I enjoy drawing, playing video games, and collecting Pokémon cards. One of my favorite games to play is Minecraft because I enjoy being creative and building things. I also enjoy collecting Pokémon cards and spending time looking through my collection. Drawing is another hobby I enjoy because it gives me a chance to be creative and relax. I also enjoy spending time with the people I care about and helping others whenever I can.

Jason is an undergraduate student who aims to grasp how the world functions through math and science principles, hoping to make concepts understandable for new learners. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with previous experience with the SAT, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus in high school. Jason is able to adapt to fit the needs of students and aims to form an understanding of each subject while making it enjoyable. Outside of the classroom, Jason enjoys biking, spending time outside and playing games with friends.

Ella is in her 3rd year of college at UND and will graduate with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Health Certificate in December 2026. She also has earned two Associate degrees and a Spanish II Certificate from Bismarck State College. She began being a Sylvan tutor in 2025 because she loved going to Sylvan every summer from ages 7-14. She wanted to give back to the program that helped her so much with academics. Ella finds it incredibly fulfilling to give individualized support to students who have, often times, given up on learning. Nothing beats the joy of seeing a student be successful at a subject that has been difficult for them. In her free time, she enjoys watching sitcoms and doing logic puzzles such as sudokus, ken kens, and crosswords.