Meet Our Team

Lora O

Tutor

Lora is recently retired after 34 years with the Peters Township School District, where she taught grades 2-5 as a classroom teacher and provided gifted support and enrichment for grades K-3. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Principal Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, and her Master’s degree in Reading and Language Arts from Duquesne University. Currently, Lora serves as the Executive Director of the National State Teachers of the Year – Pennsylvania Chapter. In addition to her passion for teaching and learning, she enjoys traveling, swimming, scrapbooking, reading, shopping, and listening to country music.

Jessica K

Tutor

Jessica earned her M.Ed. and teaching certification from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2020, working for two years as a middle school math and science teacher. In 2022, she returned to Edinboro for her second M.Ed. in Special Education and has been a special education teacher ever since, currently at South Fayette. Jessica loves working at Sylvan because she enjoys the opportunity to work in small groups and one-on-one with students, helping them thrive academically.

Damian F

Tutor

Damian is a full-time Computer Science teacher at Provident Charter School. He has been with Sylvan for over a year, having moved here from Maryland. At Sylvan, he tutors a wide range of math students, covering everything from kindergarten math to SAT Math and Calculus. His diverse expertise makes him a valuable resource for students at all levels!

Patrick M

Tutor

Patrick earned his Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and Criminology from Virginia Tech. Although his background may not seem focused on math, he has been tutoring math from 6th grade to Algebra for the past three years. Patrick shares, “Sylvan offers me a different experience with tutoring than what I have done in schools, and I see students making more progress because of it.” He values the opportunity to work in small groups with motivated students, as it is invaluable to their growth and helps him build strong rapport with them

Lauren L

Tutor

Lauren has been in education for 13 years, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood from Clarion University and her M.Ed. as a Reading Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. She began her career as a Pre-K teacher for Head Start and Pre-K Counts Programs and is currently a Reading and Math Intervention Teacher for the AIU Non-Public School Program. Lauren loves working at Sylvan because she is passionate about making a difference and helping students achieve their goals. She enjoys the opportunity to work one-on-one and in small group settings, helping students build the confidence they need to succeed!

Brenda F

Tutor

Brenda is a full-time math teacher with over 25 years of experience. She has been with Sylvan for several years and loves working there because it allows her to see students grow and help them achieve their goals. Her dedication to student success makes her an invaluable member of the team!

Andrea M

Virtual Tutor

Andrea has been teaching for ten years and currently teaches 2nd grade in the school district where she grew up. She has experience teaching 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, both in Colorado and Pennsylvania. In addition to her teaching, Andrea has also coached swimming. She enjoys working at Sylvan because it enables her to support students outside of the classroom. Andrea loves discovering students’ interests and understanding their educational strengths and needs, and Sylvan allows her to use her skills to reach even more students on their academic journey.

Lesley M

Tutor

Lesley joins Sylvan Learning Center with extensive experience in education, particularly with young children. She has spent 19 years at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and 15 years at the Carnegie Science Center. In addition to directing a preschool program, she has taught grades K-3 and provided private tutoring. Lesley holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Chatham University and an Elementary Certification from the University of Pittsburgh. She is passionate about helping children build confidence and achieve success in school.

Gabby has been with Sylvan Learning since 2023. She manages scheduling and billing for families at both our Peters Township and Cranberry locations. You’ll also find her around the center assisting with assessments, marketing, events, and contests. Her dedication and versatility make her an invaluable part of our team!

David recently moved here from Seattle, where he worked at another Sylvan location. He has taught middle school math for several years and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. from Franciscan University. David enjoys helping students see the big picture in math and making the subject enjoyable for them.

Donna recently retired from the Baldwin School District after over 20 years as a high school math teacher, with prior experience in local districts such as Trinity and Canon-McMillan. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Youngstown University. Donna enjoys working with students to help them understand math in their own way, fostering a positive learning experience.

Katie has been with Sylvan for over two years, after moving from Indiana. She taught in Indiana for several years before starting her position at Keystone Oaks School District upon relocating to Pennsylvania. Katie received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She enjoys working with beginning readers and is passionate about fostering a love of reading in her students.