Meet Our Team

Margaret is the Center Director at Sylvan Learning of Lawton. She has spent the past 6 years with Sylvan and has 7 years of experience in education, including a year and a half with the Department of the Army’s Child & Youth Services program. Her experience includes working both in and out of the classroom, giving her a unique perspective on supporting students and families.

What she enjoys most is helping families who are struggling to find the support they need. She loves seeing the relief families feel after their first conference and watching that relief return when they begin seeing their student’s progress. For her, one of the most rewarding parts is seeing the entire process unfold—from a student’s initial struggles to growing confidence and academic success.

Before joining Sylvan, Margaret began her career working in customer service and building relationships with families and customers, eventually moving into the Department of the Army’s Child & Youth Services program. After moving to Oklahoma, she joined Sylvan and has been part of the team ever since.

Her connection to the Lawton-Fort Sill community is personal. Her husband served 10 years in the U.S. Army, and after his service, their family chose to stay in the Lawton-Fort Sill area to continue advancing their careers, allow their children to put down roots, and become active members of the community. The military family experience is especially near and dear to her heart. Having built her own family and put down roots in the Lawton-Fort Sill community, she understands the unique journey military families experience. She hopes to be a welcoming resource for families who are passing through and for those who, like her family, choose to make this community home. Their family is also especially involved in the local sports community.

Outside of Sylvan, Margaret loves to read and listen to audiobooks, spend time with her family, go fishing, visit the wildlife refuge, watch her children play baseball and softball, and see just how long she can keep a plant alive! Much of her time is spent supporting her children and whatever activity is on their agenda.

She is especially proud of the work the Sylvan team does every day and the results they see with students and families. Her hope is that every family knows how much the Sylvan team genuinely cares about their child’s success.

Her advice to students: “We can do hard things. Believe in yourself no matter what and never forget all you are capable of.”

Susie attended Oklahoma State University and Cameron University and earned a BS degree in elementary education at CU. After a short tenure as a teacher, Susie has spent many years enjoying a career at Delta Air Lines. Susie teaches Yoga and strength classes at Cameron University, and she loves to cook.

Shellbie is a graduate of Eisenhower HS and Cameron University. She holds a BS degree in Early Childhood Education as well as a MS in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Shellbie teaches first grade at Geronimo Elementary School.

Mary Carney

Lead Teacher/Teacher

Mary graduated from Cameron University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Mary teaches for Lawton Virtual Academy. When she is not teaching, Mary enjoys reading and crocheting.

Laura Powell

Teacher

Laura is teaching in Anadarko, OK with a gift for working with kids.  While Laura has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in reading tutoring.  She completed high school in East Moline, IL and earned BA and MA degrees in English from Western Illinois University. She retired as a US Army Lieutenant Colonel.  When Laura isn’t at Sylvan of Lawton, you’ll find her crocheting, reading, or listening to country music.

Amy Rittenhouse

Teacher

Amy is a third grade teacher at Edison Elementary. While Amy has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in tutoring Math of all levels at Sylvan. When Amy isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her enjoying the fine arts.

Ty is an Eisenhower HS graduate (Go, Eagles!) Prior to beginning his teaching career, Ty worked as an award-winning reporter for the Lawton Constitution. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from USAO and a master’s degree in liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently an ELA teacher at Eisenhower High School. When Ty isn’t teaching, he enjoys reading, writing, hiking, traveling, cooking, fencing and archery.

Angela is from Mississippi and a graduate of Hamilton High School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She is currently the Director of Special Education in Bray-Doyle Public Schools. Angela is certified in Mild/Moderate and Severe/Profound Special Education and holds additional training and certifications in CPI, CPR, trauma-informed care, behavioral interventions, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). In her free time, Angela enjoys acting with Duncan Little Theater and going to the gym. She strongly believes that social and emotional well-being fosters a healthy foundation for learning.

Krishaunda brings 12 years of teaching experience to Sylvan Learning of Lawton, all with Lawton Public Schools. During her teaching career, she has taught 11th grade U.S. History and English 1, 2, and 4. She loves working with students and especially enjoys watching them grow as learners.

Krishaunda holds a Master’s degree in Education, a Bachelor’s degree in History, and an Associate’s degree in Social Science. She especially enjoys working with high school students, but also enjoys the opportunity to work with elementary students at Sylvan. One of her favorite parts of teaching is seeing the moment when a student finally understands something they have been struggling with and watching the confidence that grows as a result.

Outside of education, Krishaunda enjoys a variety of creative and relaxing hobbies. She sews, gardens, paints, reads, enjoys music, and visits art museums. She especially loves reading books and believes that continuing to learn and grow is important at every stage of life.

Krishaunda’s advice to students is: “Don’t give up, even Einstein had his struggles.” She is especially proud that she continues to learn and grow as a person, believing that you are never too old to learn something new.

Katie brings 28 years of experience in education to Sylvan Learning of Lawton. Throughout her career, she has taught students in a variety of communities, including Pennsylvania, remote villages in Alaska, a Native American reservation in Montana, and Oklahoma. She has called the Lawton community home for the past 17 years.

Katie specializes in elementary and middle school math and English Language Arts (ELA). She loves seeing the excitement on a student’s face when a new objective finally clicks and enjoys finding new approaches that make challenging concepts easier to understand.

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Teaching Computers, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She holds certifications in Elementary Education, Mid-Level English, Intermediate Math, Mid-Level Math for High School Credit, Mid-Level Social Studies, Elementary Principal, and Secondary Principal. She has also served as an Academic Team Coach.

Katie is actively involved in education beyond the classroom as the Vice President of Professional Educators of Lawton and a member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa teacher sorority.

Outside of education, Katie enjoys card making, traveling, reading, and crafting. She also has a fun collection of gnomes, moose, and miniature books!

Katie’s advice to students: “Trust the process. Continue showing up and putting in the work. Your diligence will pay off!”

Wendy Borden

Teacher

Wendy is a passionate and caring Special Education Teacher with 22 years of experience working with students of all abilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree along with two Master of Arts degrees in Reading and Autism, and is a Certified Reading Specialist and Autism Specialist. She loves building strong connections with her students and families and believes every child deserves to feel confident, supported, and successful. Outside of school, she enjoys watching documentaries, doing puzzles, and spending quality time with her friends and family.

Heather is a Special and Regular Education teacher serving middle and high school students. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Reading Education. Heather has been honored as Teacher of the Year at Geronimo High School twice. She is passionate about using hands-on learning to enhance student engagement and deepen understanding. Outside the classroom, Heather enjoys spending her time chasing her children to various sporting activities and supporting them from the sidelines.

Brittney brings 7 years of experience in education and nearly 20 years of working with children to Sylvan Learning of Lawton. She currently teaches with Epic Charter Schools and enjoys working with students of all ages, believing each age group brings something different to the learning experience.

Brittney earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child Development from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Mid-America Christian University (MACU). She is certified in elementary education, but her experience teaching students of all ages through Epic has given her a well-rounded approach to tutoring.

Before becoming a teacher, Brittney spent nearly two decades working in childcare and even owned her own childcare center. Her combination of education, teaching experience, and extensive background working with children allows her to connect with and support a wide range of learners.

One of Brittney’s favorite parts of tutoring is creating those “aha” moments when something finally clicks. She especially enjoys finding a different way to explain a concept when a student is struggling and breaking through a barrier that has been holding them back. She also appreciates that Sylvan students can work with different tutors and benefit from different teaching styles.

Brittney has a strong connection to the Lawton community through her husband, who serves as the football coach and athletic director at Lawton High School.

Outside of education, Brittney enjoys attending sporting events and reading when she has downtime. She is especially proud of her twin daughters, who are both at the top of their class and continuing their college education on softball and academic scholarships. She believes strongly that academics and athletics go hand in hand.

Brittney’s advice to students: “Never give up! Practice makes perfect. Every day that you learn something new is a win!”

Chrissa is currently attending Randall University, where she is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science. She enjoys building meaningful connections with students and brings a positive, encouraging energy to every learning environment. In her free time, Chrissa enjoys playing basketball and reading, helping her stay both active and engaged outside of the classroom.

Sarah brings nearly 20 years of experience in education to Sylvan Learning of Lawton. A Lawton native and 2001 graduate of Lawton High School, Sarah began her career as a nanny while in college before earning her Bachelor of Arts in English from Midwestern State University and later her Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Cameron University. She taught high school English in Texas before returning to Lawton, where she taught English at Eisenhower High School from 2008–2015. She currently teaches 8th grade English and Reading and high school electives at Douglass Learning Center.

At Sylvan, Sarah especially enjoys working with elementary and middle school students in reading and math. She loves the variety of working with younger students and, most of all, seeing the pride on a student’s face when they finally understand a challenging concept.

Sarah was named the 2023 Douglass Teacher of the Year and received the 2024 Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma Teacher of Today Award. She is passionate about helping students grow and creating a positive learning environment.

Outside of school, Sarah enjoys reading, traveling to Disney World, shopping, and cheering on her three boys at their baseball and soccer games. Fun fact: she started college as a pre-med student with plans to become an obstetrician before discovering her passion for education.

Sarah’s advice to students: “Slow down, ask questions, and keep trying! You’ll get there!”

Claudia brings 13 years of experience with Lawton Public Schools to Sylvan Learning of Lawton. She has lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, for most of her life and is proud to serve the community that helped shape her. A graduate of Lawton High School, Claudia earned her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Cameron University. She later earned a second Master’s degree in Elementary School Counseling from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Claudia spent 11 years as a classroom teacher before transitioning into school counseling. She recently completed her second year as a school counselor at Crosby Park Elementary, where she enjoys supporting students in their academic, social, and emotional growth. Her background in both classroom education and counseling gives her a well-rounded perspective when working with students and families.

At Sylvan, Claudia is excited to continue helping students learn and grow while bringing her years of educational experience to the team.

Outside of work, Claudia enjoys spending quality time with her children, watching movies together at home or at the theater, and watching the TV show Friends. She is excited to be part of the Sylvan team and looks forward to supporting students throughout their learning journey.