Meet Our Team

Kristin C.

Center Director

As Center Director of Silverdale Sylvan, Kristin oversees the educational programs at the center and works with families to provide personalized learning programs for each student. Kristin holds a degree in Communications and Public Relations from Eastern Washington University. She’s a busy mom of three kids and two energetic dogs, and her husband proudly serves in the Navy. With over six years at Sylvan, she finds joy in helping families achieve their academic goals and building confidence in every student. Before joining Sylvan, she was the Communications Director for the Churchill County School District in Nevada. Education runs in the family, with both her mother and grandfather having served as teachers, principals, and superintendents in Washington State. When she’s not at Sylvan, you can find her cheering on her kids at soccer games, hitting the hiking trails, reading a good book, rooting for the Seahawks, or enjoying quality time with her family.

Gail Smith

Owner

Gail feels privileged to help lead an amazing team of educators and support staff along with her husband, Dave. A former Public Relations manager and Elementary Classroom Teacher, Gail finds great joy and fun in working with students and teachers. As the parent of two college athletes, she is excited about helping student-athletes realize their full academic potential and options for college and beyond. She holds a degree in Public Relations from WSU and went on to Seattle Pacific University for her K-8 teaching endorsement and Master’s work in Special Education. Gail has also served a 3-year term on the national Franchise Owner’s Association board for Sylvan Learning.

Dave Smith

Owner

Hailing from Fircrest, WA and a graduate of Wilson High School, Dave, along with his wife Gail, take great pride in owning and operating Sylvan of Silverdale, WA.  Holding a B.S. in Economics from Willamette University where he played football as an Academic All-American, Dave enjoys working in an industry that helps students succeed at every level. Dave has served on the boards of Boys & Girls Clubs, Greater Lakes Mental Health and the Sylvan Franchise Owner’s Association.  He has also enjoyed coaching middle school basketball over the years.

Rob Trostad

Instructor- Upper Level Math, SAT and ACT Prep (Math)

Able to leap over complicated Calculus formulas in a single bound, our popular math teacher, Rob, is kept busy at the Sylvan of Silverdale, WA!  Rob holds a Master’s of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Washington with a specialty in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an A.A. in Engineering from Olympic College in Bremerton. Rob enjoys helping students feel more confident about math and be successful at school.  When not at Sylvan, Rob can be found singing in a barbershop quartet, working on pipe organs, volunteering with Relay For Life and planning his next amazing trip somewhere!

Frannie G. grew up in Bremerton and later headed to Minnesota, where she earned her degree in Music Education and Piano Performance. She’s a proud mom of two and a grandmother to five! In her free time, Frannie enjoys getting lost in a good book, playing the piano, and whipping up delicious baked treats. She taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade right here in Bremerton and has also shared her love for music by giving piano and voice lessons for many years. Frannie has been part of the Sylvan family for seven years, and her absolute favorite moment is seeing the spark in her students’ eyes when they master something new!

Rachel M.

Instructor - Intermediate and High - Reading & Writing, Intermediate Math, SAT and ACT Prep (Reading and Writing)

Rachel and her family made the move from sunny San Diego to Kitsap County in the 1980’s when her dad took on an exciting role as an electrician with Combat Systems. While she spent years teaching writing at the college level, Rachel discovered her true passion is working with K-12 students—after all, they’re the future! At Sylvan, she teaches reading, writing, and even some math, always striving to make learning fun. Her sessions focus on tapping into each student’s strengths and boosting their confidence in tough or unfamiliar subjects. A fun fact about Rachel? She’s a huge sci-fi fan and has even had the thrill of meeting some of the genre’s legends, like David Tennant and Jeff Vandermeer!

Denise A.

Instructor- Early Literacy, Elementary Reading and Math

Denise began working at Sylvan for one simple reason: her love for teaching children. She was an elementary teacher in Central Kitsap for 31 years, and after retiring, she missed the joy, enthusiasm, and wonder that children bring to learning. She enjoys explaining, guiding, and inspiring learners of all ages and finds it incredibly rewarding to see a student’s eyes light up and their confidence soar as they grasp a new concept or skill.

A native of Bremerton, Denise is married and has an adult son who lives and works in Seattle. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing anecdotes, solving crossword puzzles, and walking her dog, Tiago. Her strengths in teaching include her organization, extensive experience, and patience. She also brings an encouraging nature, a sense of humor, and the ability to adapt to the unique needs of her students. Denise considers it a privilege to teach each child she works with.