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The People Behind the Progress

Meet the Harker Heights-Killeen team

Certified teachers, local school know-how, and a director who reviews every student’s plan personally. These are the people your child will high-five on the way in.

Say hi to

Our Teachers

Josh Saffron
Josh SaffronCenter Director

Josh is a graduate of the Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a degree in Bible & Theology. Currently pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Grand Canyon University, Josh is a strong believer that the future will always be brighter when we invest in it. With that in mind, he is an outgoing person who is passionate about working with children. In his spare time, Josh enjoys fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Christopher Ford
Christopher FordDirector of Education

Christopher is a graduate of West Coast Bible College and Seminary with a Bachelor of General Ministry as well as a current student of Temple College majoring in English. As a child he received tutoring from some memorable teachers and developed a strong desire to help people in any way he can; his passion for the two brought him here. In his free time Christopher enjoys watching movies with his family, writing poetry, working on cars and eating his wife’s culinary creations.

Carolina Flores
Carolina FloresCertified Teacher

Carolina feels most alive when she is helping students connect the dots between concepts in school. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor's in Sociology and finds joy in helping kids connect the dots in different subjects. When she’s not working with students, Carolina enjoys running, hiking, and cooking

Royal Hawthorne
Royal HawthorneCertified Teacher

Royal is a tutor at Sylvan Learning in Harker Heights who enjoys seeing students grow and she like to be a part of their success. Her favorite thing about working with students is the priceless look on their faces when they know they have done well. When she is not at Sylvan, Royal enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Tamara Thomas
Tamara ThomasCertified Teacher

Teaching has always been a passion for Tamara. When she began teaching, it was something that she quickly fell in love with. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a minor in psychology. With our students, she is very devoted, sincere, ambitious, honest, and very open-minded. Outside of teaching, she loves to travel, go hiking, and volunteer within her community.

Vanity Avery
Vanity AveryCertified Teacher

Vanity is a funny and witty teacher with a passion for making an impact on the lives of children. She is a graduate of Western Governor’s University and holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. When she is not teaching, Vanity enjoys traveling with her family.

Debbie Showalter
Debbie ShowalterCertified Teacher

Debbie is passionate about helping children learn and grow. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Psychology from Tarleton State University. Debbie is an optimistic, thoughtful, and humorous teacher with a passion for photography, family, and gardening.

Tanesha Williams
Tanesha WilliamsCertified Teacher

Tanesha graduated from Crown College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is certified in EC-6 and has taught for over 11 years. Her main goal is to help learners reach their full potential. Tanesha is a teacher who is very focused, patient, and dedicated to her students. Outside of teaching, she likes to read, shop, dance, and decorate.

Brianna Leblanc
Brianna LeblancCertified Mathematics Teacher

Brianna loves the “lightbulb” moments of education when kids can connect the dots. She graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications and holds certifications in elementary math, reading, and social studies. She is currently a science teacher and is working toward a master’s degree in teaching. In her free time, Brianna enjoys coloring and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Suzanne Ferguson
Suzanne FergusonCertified Teacher

Suzanne is an outstanding teacher who has an outgoing and bubbly personality. Her passion is to help struggling students succeed. She has a Master’s from Texas A & M, a Bachelor of Science from University of Phoenix, and an Associate’s in Psychology from Cameron University. She is EC-6 generalist, GT, and ESL certified. Outside of teaching she loves to read, attend baseball games, and relax with her children.

Lynn Grant
Lynn GrantCertified Teacher

Lynn Grant decided to become a teacher as she has always been interested in helping children. She has a Bachelor's degree in Government from Clark University and a Lifetime Elementary Education Certificate from St. Edwards University. She enjoys staying current with news events. She is very patient with the students and excels at teaching young readers.

Levona Hunter
Levona HunterCertified Teacher

Levona decided to become a teacher because she likes children and enjoys watching them learn. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harding University, and a Master's Degree in English from Arkansas State University, as well as an ESL certification from the University of Texas. She is certified to teach English, Reading, History, Language Arts, and ESL. In her free time, she enjoys reading and quilting.

Lyle Gier
Lyle GierCertified Teacher

Lyle is a soft-spoken person and a very good teacher. He has a way of earning the trust of students and values being able to teach kids. Lyle is a graduate of the University of North Texas where he holds a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master's Degree in Computer Educations and Cognitive Studies. Lyle prides himself on being a very honest person with good moral standards. In his free time, he likes to read.

Ann Kindleburg
Ann KindleburgCertified Teacher

Ann is a caring and witty teacher who is passionate about seeing students reach their full potential. With her decades of experience in both K-12 and adult education, she enjoys watching students of all ages engage with and master concepts. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time with her family and animals.

Come meet us in person

Stop by for a free Insight™ Assessment

You’ll meet the team, tour the center, and leave with a clear picture of your child’s strengths and gaps — whether or not you enroll.

or give us a call(254) 230-0278
Get an Insight™ Assessment
The free assessment covers a single subject.