Meet Our Team

Osvaldo Rivera

Tutor

Osvaldo is a retired NASA engineer with 41 years of experience in Aerospace propulsion research, where he served in various managerial positions and where he received numerous awards, including the NASA Exceptional Civil Service Award, and the Wings of Excellence Award from the Cleveland Federal Executive Board (FEB). Osvaldo is passionate about education with a gift for working with kids, which includes in the past, Boy Scouts as an Eagle Scout adult leader/advisor, and soccer coach  for North Royalton travel team, as well as over 40 years with tutoring the youth. Additionally, he made numerous career talks during National Engineering Weeks at Cleveland Public Schools, and served as a tutor with the Cleveland Project Search- a multi Federal Agency tutoring program sponsored by the Cleveland FEB and the Federal Government (1980s). He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico and University of Toledo, respectively, so he finds the greatest joy in math and science, as well as Spanish tutoring. When Osvaldo isn’t as Sylvan, you’ll find him enjoying the outdoors-hiking, backpacking, cycling, sailing, and yoga. Osvaldo also enjoys giving back to his community with many volunteering activities at the church where he attends and serves as a Sacristan, and brings the Eucharist to seniors at the Cardinal Court Assisted Living Community in Strongsville ,Ohio.

Sean Marek

Tutor

Sean has been tutoring for 16 years now, and it’s been an amazing journey for him. For the last three years, he has worked at Sylvan Learning, where he has sharpened his teaching skills and connected with a lot of great students. Sean attended Baldwin-Wallace College and double-majored in Economics and Philosophy, which gave him a unique mix of skills. He then continued his studies in Philosophy at Cleveland State University for graduate school. Teaching isn’t just Sean’s job; it’s his passion. The best part for him is seeing that moment when a student finally gets a tough concept and feels confident. When Sean is not working, he loves playing disc golf. It is fun way to stay active and relax, balancing out his academic side. Overall, Sean’s career as a tutor shows his dedication to education and helping students reach their potential. His academic background and personal interests have made him a well-rounded person, committed to making a positive impact on students’ lives.

Denise (Dee) Bonanni

Tutor/Primary Literacy Specialist

Hello! My name is Denise (Dee) Bonanni and I am a Sylvan Teacher and Primary Literacy Specialist. I recently retired from a 34-year teaching career in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, during which I taught 1st, 3rd, and 4th grades. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Kent State University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Marygrove College. In edition, I earned my Reading Endorsement, which was in compliance with the third grade reading guarantee. Working at Sylvan has allowed me to continue my passion for teaching, experience those ‘Aha” moments when students grasp a concept, and watch their excitement as they reach their goals. I am member if St. Colette’s parish. In my free time I love to read, swim, bake, and spend time with my family and friends.

Tanya Arbutina

Community Outreach Director

Hello! My name is Tanya Arbutina, and I am the Community Outreach Director here at Sylvan Learning. My journey with Sylvan started in March of 2024 as a Teacher (which I still get to teach at times, and I love it!). Teaching was a great experience for me, as I loved watching the students achieve their academic goals and gain confidence as they went through their individualized learning plans. I also enjoy being the Community Outreach Director; interacting with the community and getting share the all the positive aspects of Sylvan has been very rewarding! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master’s Degree in Higher Education-Speciality Student Affairs from Liberty University. In my spare time I enjoy being with family and friends, staying active in the community, and traveling.

Elizabeth Smith

Director of Education

Hello! My name is Elizabeth Smith, and I am the Director of Education for Sylvan Learning of Strongsville. I have recently moved here from Kansas, where I was a high school literature and composition teacher at a classical school (Cair Paravel Latin School) for over 20 years. I moved east to Ohio to be closer to family once my youngest child graduated. I have a degree in Secondary English Education from Purdue University. Sylvan has allowed me to continue to work with students on multiple levels, and I truly enjoy ensuring that your students’ educational program is helping them on their way to success. I have three daughters who are spread out across the United States and beyond- Minnesota, Washington D.C., and Cologne, Germany. I enjoy traveling, reading, and being with family.

Shannon Giallourakis

Director

Hello! My name is Shannon Giallourakis.  I’ve loved teaching since I was a teenager, volunteering to listen to children read. I received a BBS in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics in 2007, and I taught formally at a Classical Christian School near Knoxville, TN. Our family moved back to the Cleveland area, and we decided to homeschool our children. We enrolled in a local Classical Conversations Community, and I got involved as a leader. I found my passion in inspiring parents and kids to be lifelong learners. When I’m not teaching at Sylvan and CC,  I also enjoy volunteering at my local church’s children’s ministry, running, practicing jiu-jitsu, reading, singing, and being in nature.