Contact Information
| New Students: | (518) 869-6005 |
| Current Families: | (518) 381-9177 |
| Fax: | (518) 381-9175 |
| Monday: | By Appointment |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
| Friday: | Closed |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Sunday: | Closed |
Meet the Tutors
Our Sylvan trained and certified tutors are dedicated to your child’s success. Working together with you, we will:
- Pinpoint your child’s learning needs using the Sylvan Skills Assessment®
- Develop a personalized learning plan based on your child’s goals
- Offer unique insights about what will work for your child
- Teach each lesson the way your child learns best
- Build a relationship with your child to provide learning that’s fun, engaging and rewarding
Fern Hurley
Center Director
Fern oversees student services and center administration for the Clifton Park and the Schenectady/Niskayuna Sylvan Learning Centers. She knows the value of a high quality education and is committed to ensuring that each family has a positive experience at Sylvan. Fern earned her Bachelors from Niagara University and her Masters from New York University. She has over 15 years of experience serving children and families in Upstate NY and has been with Sylvan since 2005.
Alison Warren
Director of Education
Alison is responsible for overseeing each student’s academic progress at Sylvan. She earned a Bachelor’s in English and a Secondary Education Certification from SUNY Geneseo, a Master’s in 20th Century Literature from Goldsmiths College, University of London, and has been working for Sylvan since 2003. First as a teacher and now as Director of Education, her primary goal is to help students and their families realize how valuable education is and how fantastic it can feel to make your brain work for you.
Stephanie Mayer
Teacher
Our Lead Teacher, Stephanie holds her teaching Certification and Master’s in Childhood Education from SUNY Cortland after earning a Bachelor’s in Theatre with a minor in Psychology from SUNY Albany. Stephanie is a popular substitute teacher at a number of local districts, and also teaches music camps at the Capital Region Friendship Circle and 1st grade Sunday school. She’s been with Sylvan since 2008, but if you don’t see her here reveling in the “ah-ha!” moments of her students, you’ll find her out hiking with her K9 companion, Gracie.
Luda Borodulin
Teacher
Luda has over 25 years of teaching experience in both the United States and Russia. After teaching years of math, English as a second language, and managing a high school, Luda joined Sylvan in 1999. While in her free time she may be curled up with a mystery novel or just enjoying the company of her family, she loves the opportunities to be helpful to students at Sylvan. Her favorite moments are when her high school math students and their parents start to see a very tangible payoff: their math grades rising.
Carla Giovanniello
Teacher
Carla is our reigning SAT verbal teacher. In the outside world, her Bachelor’s in English and Masters in Secondary Education from SUNY Albany have served her well as the Outreach Coordinator of the Capital Region Friendship Circle and as a substitute teacher for BOCES. Working for Sylvan since 2010 though, Carla feels that teaching all the new students she works with here is wonderful. They inspire her to continually find and refine new teaching techniques and content, and she quickly forms close bonds with our students. Plus, they often have great suggestions for new reads from the Best-Seller list.
Lauren Free
Teacher
Lauren attended SUNY Plattsburgh for a dual teaching Certification and Bachelor’s in Early Childhood (birth – 2nd grade) and Childhood (1st-6th grade) Education. She graduates SUNY Albany this year with a Master’s in Literacy! She joined us in 2010 and loves Sylvan for the moments when students come in with smiles already on their faces because they’re excited to be here, or when she can see the lightbulb of understanding go on for them when they finally comprehend a skill they’ve struggled with. If she’s not with us, or in class, you’ll find her with her nose buried in a good sci-fi novel.
Katie Rubasky
Teacher
Katie is always around books: scrapbooking or reading, it makes a lot of sense to us that she holds a Master’s in Literacy from SUNY Albany. She got her Bachelor’s and teaching Certification in Elementary Education from the College of St. Rose. Katie joined us in 2009 and has been teaching reading for the past three years in the North Colonie school district. At Sylvan though, Katie enjoys the challenge of teaching multiple subjects to students of all ages. She says it keeps her on her toes.
Michelle Marshall
Teacher
We have been happy to have Michelle with us since 2010. Her Bachelor’s and teaching Certificate in Childhood Education from SUNY Oswego and her Master’s in Early Childhood Education from SUNY Buffalo make her a good resource of teaching strategies and technique. She loves how eager students are to learn. Michelle camps frequently, visits the beach as often as possible (with a good supply of non-fiction reads at her side), and is also a Kindergarten teacher for the Schenectady school district.
Angie Robinson
Teacher
Angie is a recent addition to our team, transferring to us from Sylvan Online in 2011. She holds a Bachelor’s and teaching Certification in Comprehensive Science from Youngstown State University as well as a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Nova Southeastern University. Angie is also working towards her School District Leader Certification from Canisius College and teaches physics for the Stillwater school district. At Sylvan, she finds it fun to see our students so excited and proud of learning new things, and they form an easy bond over her favorite hobby: playing video games.
Jessica Vollmer
Teacher
Jessica teaches 7th and 8th grade math in the Schenectady school district. Since joining us in 2010, she’s realized that Sylvan has an atmosphere that provides a more personal experience. Even if she’s teaching the same student as she did at school that day, the student seems less stressed out and is even entertaining here. Jessica also values her time bowling, playing softball, or playing with her new husband and dogs. She holds a Bachelor’s in Math with a Secondary Education Minor from St. John Fisher and a Master’s in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from SUNY Albany.
Andrea Gregory
Admissions Counselor
Andrea completed her Bachelors of Science at SUNY Oneonta and has a strong background in both customer service and tutoring. As Admissions Counselor, Andrea works with families new to Sylvan’s services and builds awareness of the programs offered at the local Sylvan Learning Centers.