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Great Teachers Inspire

Our tutors and staff in Murfreesboro consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Murfreesboro know how to engage and motivate each child in a personal way—building confidence and smiles, as well as skills and better scores. We selectively choose tutors who know local curriculum and can link Sylvan lessons to what’s being taught in school.

Get to know our tutors and staff in Murfreesboro!

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Murphy Thomas Jr.

Center Director

Murphy has been the Center Director / Owner of the Sylvan of Murfreesboro since 2021. He has a BS in Business from Birmingham Southern College and has been a business owner for over 25 years. When he is not at Sylvan, he enjoys camping and fishing.

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Amber Schmuhl

Director of Education

Amber oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of tutors in Murfreesboro. A former teacher in  Rutherford County Schools, she brings a wealth of knowledge to Sylvan of Murfreesboro. She graduated from MTSU with a B.S. in Anthropology and Criminal Justice and a Masters in Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Fun fact: She is a former Sylvan student. She attended classes in middle school and high school and has completed every program we offer. She is also a former Sylvan parent. All three of her girls have attended classes here as well.

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Karen Johnson

Instructor, Employee of the Month June 2015, December 2016, July 2017, April 2018, August 2019, July 2020, June 2021, April 2022, January 2023

Karen has been an instructor at Sylvan of Murfreesboro since 2012. She is from Memphis, TN. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Davidson College. At Sylvan of Murfreesboro, Karen tutors reading, math, study skills, advanced reading, ACT prep, and homework support. Additionally, she teaches STEM programs, including robotics, engineering, and math edge.  Karen is the primary instructor for classes with homeschool groups.  Her hobbies include sailing, gardening, swimming, reading, and doing math problems.

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Ann Hughes

Instructor, Employee of the Month November 2022, October 2023

Ann has taught at Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro since 2022.  She has a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Middle Tennessee State University.   Over the years, Ann has worked with children grades K-12.  She currently teaches reading and math at Sylvan.  When she is not teaching, Ann enjoys exercise, gardening, and healthy eating.

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Anita Smith

Instructor and Test Administrator, Employee of the Month July 2015, January 2016, June 2017, June 2018, November 2019, July 2022, October 2023

Anita Smith has been a tutor with Sylvan since 2014. Anita is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and is an alumnus of Middle Tennessee State University. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s and Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught for Rutherford County Schools until she retired in 2011. Anita tutors beginning reading, academic reading, and math. In her spare time, she likes to make greeting cards, restore antique lamp shades, read, walk, and do water aerobics.

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Morgan Gibson

Instructor and Test Administrator, Employee of the Month February 2015, October 2017, October 2018, December 2019, April 2020, November 2020, September 2021, June 2022

Morgan has been an Instructor at Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro since 2014.  Morgan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction.   Both of those degrees are from Middle Tennessee State University.  Morgan also has an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University. She currently teaches special education for Bedford County Schools.  At Sylvan, she teaches reading, math, study skills, writing, and homework support.  Outside of work, she enjoys reading, running, hiking, swimming, shopping, and spending time with her family.

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Gracie Grimes

Instructor, Employee of the Month March 2022

Gracie has been an instructor at Sylvan Learning Murfreesboro since 2021.  Gracie hails from Nolensville, TN.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Middle Tennessee State University.  She has worked for years as a science teacher for Rutherford County Schools. She also works therapeutically with children using horses.  Gracie teaches math, reading, and writing at Sylvan.  At home, she enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her dog and horse.

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David Hartful

Instructor

David Hartful became an instructor at Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro in 2023.  David is a Murfreesboro native.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Middle Tennessee State University.  David is a retired engineer who worked for 38 years at Arnold Engineering Development Complex.  Since then, he has worked as a substitute teacher for Rutherford County Schools.  He currently teaches math and reading at Sylvan Learning Murfreesboro.  When he is away from work, David enjoys writing and producing music for his company, Hartful Entertainment, as well as DJing and managing bands.  He also loves watching his grandchildren play softball.

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Jason Isaacs

Instructor, Employee of the Month July 2021, September 2022

Jason Isaacs has worked as an instructor at Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro since 2021.  He has many years of experience working at other Sylvan Learning Centers in Tennessee and Virginia.  Jason has a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Cedarville University.  He enjoys helping students learn.  At Sylvan, he teaches reading, writing, and math.  Outside of Sylvan, Jason enjoys cooking, reading, and being outdoors.

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Kalashya Colwell

Instructor, Employee of the Month January 2022, April 2023

Kalashya has worked as an instructor at Sylvan Learning Murfreesboro since 2021.  Kalashya is a native of Murfreesboro and has a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from Davidson College.  Kalashya has worked as an ESL tutor.  At Sylvan, she teaches reading, writing, math, and robotics.  She can also provide homework support for Spanish.  When Kalashya is away from work, she enjoys reading literary fiction and magical realism novels as well as gardening.

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Steve Luboniecki

Instructor, Employee of the Month January 2021, December 2021, August 2022

Steve began working at Sylvan of Murfreesboro in 2020.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University.  He has worked as an adjunct professor at Motlow State Community College and recently retired from teaching STEM at Smyrna High School.  Steve is currently an online adjunct professor of engineering, virtually teaching at Henan University, China   At Sylvan, he teaches reading, math, writing, study skills, homework support, and STEM.  Steve likes bicycling, photography, performing, and cooking.

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Pam Hagan

Instructor and Test Administrator, Employee of the Month September 2015, February 2016, May 2019, June 2020, May 2021, February 2023

Pam has been an Instructor and Test Administrator since 2013. She has a Doctorate in Education and Masters in Education Technology from the University of Hawaii Manoa. She also has an M.B.A. from Orlando College and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Tennessee State University. Pam previously worked at Sylvan of Albuquerque and Sylvan of Nashville. She recently taught 3rd grade in Lanai, Hawaii.   Pam teaches reading, math, and writing.  She is also a test administrator for all areas. In her spare time, Pam enjoys writing and traveling.

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Evan Johnson

Test Administrator, Employee of the Month May 2018, April 2019, September 2020, August 2021

Evan has worked at Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro since 2017.  Evan is originally from Columbus, Ohio.  He is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice with a minor in History from Middle Tennessee State University.  He enjoys working with children and has experience as a camp counselor and church youth worker.  He enjoys reading, sailing, and gaming.

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Matthew Trias

Instructor

Matthew joined us in 2023 after teaching at a Sylvan Learning Center in California. He holds a BS in Biology and has taught for 21 years in various schools. He currently teaches 5th and 6th grade math at a private school in Franklin. In his free time, he enjoys reading and writing short stories.

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Cherie Hammers

Instructor

Cherie joined Sylvan Learning of Murfreesboro as an instructor in June 2024. She received her BS degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University and and additional BS degree in Special Education with a specialization in learning disabilities. Her 10 years educational experience covered the spectrum from teaching at-risk preschoolers in a home-based program to teaching in the public school system before homeschooling her own children for 14 years. Cherie enjoys studying the Bible, reading, writing, hiking, camping, playing guitar and caring for her menagerie of rescued animals.

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Rita Randolph

Instructor

Rita joined Sylvan in 2023 and has a gift for working with kids. She earned her BS in Early Childhood Education at Brigham Young Univeristy and has taught in the classroom for 24 years.Her hobbies include spending time with her granddaughter, writing, going to movies and singing. Rita’s fun fact is that she has been to the top of the Empire State Building.

Start your child on the path to academic success today

Give us a call at (615) 900-2509 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.

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