Meet Our Team

Amy Gardner

Executive Director / Franchisee

Executive Director and Franchisee of 7 locations, Amy Gardner currently leads the wonderful educational team for Sylvan of Greenville. After 20+ years in the telecom industry, Amy moved back from Alaska to purchase 3 existing Sylvan Learning locations. 4 locations have since been added to the Gardner Learning Centers franchise locations, each making a difference in the lives of so many families. Amy graduated from Lambuth University in Jackson, TN, with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in music. It’s a family business you will often see her children (Daniel, Callie & Caleb) in the center(s) helping out in some way or another.

Tanisha Jenkins Smith

Director of Education

As Director of Education, Tanisha works in conjunction with the Center Director to manage growth opportunities and execute off-site instruction and seminars for Sylvan of Greenville. A former teacher, Tanisha chose a career in the tutoring business because she wanted to be a part of helping students build skills needed to succeed in school. She studied at Valdosta State University. When Tanisha is not at Sylvan, you will find her reading or spending time with her family.

Melissa Deloach

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Director/Professor

Melissa Deloach joined the Sylvan team in May 2019. By day she’s the Director of the Scholar’s Academy for Spartanburg County, but in the evenings and on Sundays, she manages our college prep program, including SAT/ACT prep and College Reading Strategies. Melissa holds degrees from Clemson University and Converse College. When she isn’t helping teens prepare for college either here or at the Scholar’s Academy, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Judy Carhart

Director of Education

Judy is currently serving as the Director of Education. She brings her knowledge of teaching math for over twenty years. As she waited for her new home to be built in Simpsonville, she started working with Sylvan as a tutor in Anderson. In her spare time, she loves baking, cleaning and spending time with her family and grandkids.

Kat Clark

Director of Family Engagement

Kat’s background is in Early Childhood Education. She got a Bachelor of Science at Mount Saint Mary College in NY, with psychology and a teacher education program specializing in Learning Disabilities. She has helped with early intervention, tutoring, and was on the Greenville County’s Special Needs Board as well. Kat is a fun and enthusiastic tutor who truly loves helping kids overcome. When not at Sylvan, her hobbies include traveling, shopping, and watching Netflix Christmas movies. Most of all, she adores being mom to her two kids (ages 16 and 25), and their dog, Axel!

Karen Weinberg

LEAD TEACHER

Karen Weinberg holds South Carolina certifications in Early, Elementary, and Special Education. A graduate of Washington State University, Karen taught in Maine for several years before relocating with her family to South Carolina. Karen enjoys the beach and watching her sons play soccer.

Sara Beth Gilbert

LEAD TEACHER

Sara Beth Gilbert is a teacher in Greenville, SC with a gift for working with kids. While Sara Beth has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in reading. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Lander University and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Converse College. When Sara Beth isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her teaching first grade at Bethel Elementary School. She enjoys craft projects, reading, going to the beach, and watching baseball and football.

Betsy Paroby

Instructor

Betsy is a tutor at our Greenville location, and has long enjoyed working with Sylvan to help children strengthen skills in reading and math! She graduated with an Early Childhood Education degree, has a Bachelor of Science from Temple University, and when she isn’t working, Betsy enjoys fitness, animals, and reading!

Jim Stauner

Instructor

Jim served 32 years in the Air Force, including the Air National Guard. Jim’s teaching career started in Honduras, a remote mountainous village. While there, numerous Honduran Army personnel approached him to teach them English to better communicate with the US Military. He continued teaching wherever deployed! After Jim retired, he obtained his M.ED. from Concordia University and a BS degree in Geological Sciences from Bradly University. In his spare time, Jim enjoys the outdoors, his two dogs, Schnitzel & Piglet, and an African Grey parrot, Harpo.

Alias Spears

Instructor

Prior to working at Sylvan Learning Center, Alias worked as a learning coach with Connexus online AP Junior High School and High School.  Alias has a background in chemical and civil engineering as an engineering assistant and technician.  He is registered with the SCDHEC as a Radiation Safety Officer and as Erosion and Sediment Control Inspector.  He also has experience in IT Networking.  Alias graduated from Greenville Technical College and Clemson Univeristy.  He has enjoyed working at Sylvan.

Fallon Griffy

Instructor

Ms. Fallon is going into her 10th year of teaching.  7th of Lower Elementary Montessori at Boundary Street Elementary School in Newberry, SC.  She is also the Teacher of the Year for her school this year (2024-2025).  Prior to Boundary, she taught 5th and 6th grade Montessori.  She graduated from USC with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education.  She received her masters from Lander in Instructional Technology.  She also completed her National Boards in 2023.  Besides teaching, she loves painting, working out, and cuddling with her dog, Elsie!

Kirsten Griffie

Instructor

Kirsten is a graduate of Greer High School.  She is currently attending SCC where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Middle and High School Math.  Kirsten brings her expertise in Math to the middle schollers here at Sylvan.  Her hobbies include watching some of her favorite TV shows like Blue Blood, 911, and Once Upon a Time.  We are lucky to have her as a teacher here at Sylvan.

Morgan Sollenberger

Instructor

Morgan grew up in Concord, NC and went to Emory & Henry University where she gradeated with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and an M.Ed.  She has won three national championships and two reserve nation championships for IHSA and IDA (riding horses) while she was there.  She teachers ELA to eigth graders at Sevier Middle School in Greenville and in her spare time likes to ride horses, cook, and fix up things around her house.  When she’s not doing those things, she’s watching hockey!

William Buchheit

Instructor

William graduated from Rhodes College and earned his Master’s degree from the University of South Carolina.  For the better part of two decades, he worked as a journalist for newspapers in Upstate SC.  His comprehensive work on mental illness culminated in the publication of his first book in 2020, “The South Carolina State Hospital: Stories from Bull Street.”  From 2019-2022 he worked as an adjunct professor of English at Spartanburg Methodist College.  In addition to his journalistic accolades, William is an acclaimed wildlife photographer whose photos of the great white shark have been published by the Smithsonian, Fox News, and USA Today.  He enjoys fishing, concerts, sports, and traveling.

Dave Fourman

Instructor

Dave is an Air Force Veteran and worked in Financial Services before becoming a Social Studies Teacher over twenty years ago.  He has also worked as a substitute teacher, grades k-12, and currently teaches part-tim in Greenville County.  His education includes a B.A. in History from Colorado State, M.S. in Human Resources from Troy University, and a M.A. in Literacy/Reading from the University of Northern Colorado.  In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, golf, reading, hiking, and volunteering for the Humane Society and Dogs for Vets.

Thomas Hilker

Instructor

Thomas Hilker has been teaching for 11 years and this is my 12th year. He’s taught 5th grade for three years in Georgia. When he moved to South Carolina and he has taught at Oakview for 9 years. He previously 3rd grade for 6 years and now on he’s in his third year in 5th grade. Teaching has always been his passion and beyond the curriculum, he strives to instill resilience, creativity, and the confidence to embrace challenges

Natalie Wade

Instructor

Natalie is a double Clemson graduate, with her Bachelors and Master’s in architecture and a minor in music. When she is not tutoring math, she loves to design buildings, travel internationally, and loves to sing. She is involved with the worship team at, Taylors Baptist Church and serves in their student ministry. When she isn’t involved there, she also loves to draw, paint and spend time with her fiancé.

Andrea Vowles

Instructor

Andrea Vowles is a mother to two wonderful teenaged daughters. She recently moved here from Houston, TX; although she grew up in Michigan. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business, but her passion has always been education. Some of her hobbies include singing/karaoke, playing games, reading, and traveling.

Dr. Jeff French

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Professor

Dr. Jeff, as his Sylvan students call him, graduated from Furman University in 1995. He then held a variety of college-level roles as a graduate student, program coordinator, and instructor for the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College while also serving as a zookeeper at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. With a focus on genetics and ecology, Dr. French finished his graduate work in biology and currently serves as Chair of Biology and Assistant Dean of Science and Math at North Greenville University. In his “free time”, he enjoys preparing students for the SAT and ACT as a LIVE, online instructor for Sylvan.

Tracy Levi

SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Instructor

Tracy Levi holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree In civil engineering. For eleven years she served as a civil engineer in Florida, working primarily with stormwater management and water quality programs. Since moving to Asheville, she has enjoyed teaching Hebrew and Judaics to religious school students and teaching reading and math at Sylvan. She also teaches SAT/ACT math through our LIVE, online classes. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys the company of her two daughters and outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. She also has a passion for music and plays the keyboard in a local band.