Contact Information
| Phone: | (937) 898-6686 |
| Fax: | (937) 898-8573 |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Friday: | 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Sunday: | Closed |
Meet the Tutors
The tutors of Vandalia Sylvan Learning Center are all Sylvan trained and certified so that they can best address your child’s academic needs. Our tutors are dedicated to working closely with you and your child in order to help your child reach his or her goals. We start by pinpointing your child’s strengths and areas for improvement through the Sylvan Skills Assessment®. From there, our Vandalia Center staff develops a personalized learning plan for your child and offers unique insights about what methods will work best with your child. Ultimately, our tutors will build a relationship with your child and provide a fun, engaging, and rewarding learning environment. The Vandalia Sylvan Learning Center staff consists of highly experienced and established educational professionals who take great pride in their work with students who want to catch up, keep up, or get ahead.
Heather Shaffer
Director of Education
I graduated in 1993 with a B.S. in Education from Wright State University. I have been been an educator with Sylvan since 1996, first as a teacher, and now as a Director of Education. My primary roles are to manage the students' academic programs and communicate directly with parents. My personal motivation comes from helping and seeing our students achieve growth and confidence here at Sylvan. I enjoy working with our families from start to finish in their personalized programs, and will do whatever I can to help your parental goals and your child's needs be met!
Joe Conard
Territory and Center Director
I graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from Miami University in 1985 and a B.A. in Education from Ohio Dominican University in 1996. I have been a member of the Sylvan family since January of 2002. I enjoy all aspects of my challenging and rewarding position, from managing staff and marketing Sylvan in the community, to sitting down with parents and planning their child's Sylvan program. My goal is to ensure that I and our Vandalia staff do everything possible to provide a high quality of service that meets the academic needs of our parents and students. It has been my pleasure over the years to watch our students grow, achieve success and gain confidence through the Sylvan experience.
Debbie Kroeker
Academic Advisor
I am a 1993 Wright State University graduate with a B.S. in Education. I was a classroom teacher for several years and well understand the joys and challenges of the educational process. I absolutely love working with kids - it is the very best part of my job! As an academic advisor for Sylvan, I have the privilege of introducing families to the Sylvan advantage, and help them end the frustration and struggles they are dealing with, and get the best help possible - Sylvan!
Michelle Hedges
Instructor
I graduated from Urbana University with an Elementary Education degree. I am currently teaching in Darke and Miami County school districts. I have been working at Sylvan for over two years. I enjoy teaching and seeing the progress each student makes!
Emily Ely
Instructor
I grew up in a family of educators and was lucky to learn to value a good education early in my life. I graduated from The Ohio State University and am licensed to teach Grades 1 - 8. After my first child was born, I decided to stop teaching full-time so I could stay home with him. I began teaching at Sylvan in the evenings in order to continue to help students learn and achieve academic success. I enjoy the opportunity that Sylvan gives me to work with students of all ages - from kindergarten through adulthood. It is very rewarding to watch students evolve into successful and confident learners!
Tiffany Long
Instructor
I began my career at Sylvan in 1998. I am a graduate of The University of Toledo with a degree in Elementary Education. After several years of teaching elementary school, I completed the Intervention Specialist Program at the University of Dayton. I enjoy working with students of all ages, and watching their confidence soar as they achieve their goals!
Linda Sheline
Instructor
I earned my Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Miami University of Ohio and later in my career, earned my Master's degree in Education from Wright State University. Throughout my 37 years of teaching, not only did I work with large and small groups of students musically, but I also tutored two students who were unable to attend school due to severe health issues. It was that experience that helped me decide that after retiring, I would pursue a job in tutoring students.
I love my job at Sylvan because I am able to teach in small groups and give individual students the help needed in order for them to become more confident learners.
Janelle Vargo
Instructor
"Hahaha ok, we'll see" was the response I got when I was four years old and told my dad, a city school teacher, that I also wanted to be a teacher. He started taking moe more seriously when I began making and grading worksheets for my younger brother and cousins a few years later. Twenty-one years later, I have been living my dream of teaching for four years! I have a Bachelor's degree in Middle childhood Education and a Masters in Mild to Moderate Intervention. I currently work full-time as an Elementary Intervention Specialst and part-time for Sylvan.
I love working with small groups of students so I can really get to know the students and what areas they have mastered and what they need more help with. I love to take on a challenge and try to motivate and encourage students who have difficulties in school. Working at Sylvan is just another outlet for me to do what I love!
Karen Maxwell
Instructor
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and later received a Master of Arts in Education degree from Ball State University. My past teaching experience has been with students at the elementary level with a focus on children with special needs for over 25 years in the Dayton area.
I joined Sylvan at Vandalia in 1999. I am excited about this job because I get to do what I have loved which is to teach reading to young children and work in a tutoring setting. Watching children improve their skills and gain confidence in their abilities is very rewarding. This is evidenced by alot of smiles and excitement! It is my hope that the work I do and interaction with the students will not only make a difference in their schoolwork but in their lives.
Gregory Muhammad
Instructor
I am a native Daytonian, who graduated from Meadowdale High School. I went on in later years to graduate from Alabama State University with a degree in Elementary Education. I love working with children. It helps me think I have a hand in shaping the future.
Brittany Benning
Instructor
"Howdy!" I was born and raised in Arlington, TX. I graduated from The University of North Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies specializing in early childhood through 4th grade. I taught 3rd grade in Lewisville, TX for 2 years before moving to Ohio. I experienced the benefits of Sylvan firsthand when I encouraged a student in my classroom to check it out. I was amazed at how much her reading skills improved and more importantly how her self-confidence grew immensely.
I love working with kids on a personal level and using humor in my interactions to make learning a positive experience. I also like surrounding myself with the talented group of individuals I work with on a daily basis. When I'm not at Sylvan I enjoy spending time with my husband, traveling, Mexican food, interior design, shopping and working out.
Megan Lacey
Instructor
I graduated from Wright State University with a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Middle Childhood Education. I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the students at Sylvan Learning Center. I believe that the Sylvan program is a true testament to "teaching to meet the needs of each student individually." This experience has allowed me to reach diverse populations of students and see these students reach their maximum potential both at Sylvan and school. As a professional educator, seeing the students reach their full potential is truly rewarding.
Allie Gannon
Instructor
I graduated from Wright State University with a Masters in Middle Childhood Education, focus in math and language arts. I have really enjoyed my time here at Sylvan Learning Center. I've had the opportunity to work with many different students, and I enjoy being able to teach to all different age levels. I look forward to the experiences Sylvan can provide to help me grow as an educator.
Jacque Mann
Instructor
I am a graduate of The Ohio State University. I have worked with children since 1998 and love to see them gain confidence in their abilities. Encouraging children as they are developing and experiencing life changes is an important focus while teaching, helping them to learn new skills and build solid foundations for their future.
Steve Mann
Instructor
Since graduating from The Ohio State University, I have enjoyed using my education to help grade school students to succeed. Working at Sylvan has allowed me to help students build confidence. It has been very rewarding to me to watch students grow as they understand and apply new skills.
Rachel Begley
Instructor
I graduated from Miami University with a degree in Education, and am currently working toward my Masters in Higher Education at the University of Dayton. In addition to being in my fifth year of full time teaching, I enjoy working at Sylvan in the evenings helping students to gain the skills and confidence to succeed.
Sarah Thomason
Instructor
I earned both my Bachelors and Masters in Education from Wright State University. My favorite part of tutoring at Sylvan is being able to watch students grow as learners. Being able to work with students on individualized programs gives me the chance to help them develop more confidence to succeed in school, and in life.
Gina Schwieterman
Instructor
I began working with Sylvan in December of 2009 shortly after graduating from Wright State University. There, I received a Masters degree in Middle Childhood Education with concentrations in language arts, mathematics, and reading. Since graduation, I have worked in several school districts as a substitute teacher and as a part-time reading intervention teacher in a wonderful district. I love working at Sylvan because it allows me to work more closely with students and see them progress in their skills and confidence.
Catherine Meadors
Instructor
I have been teaching at Sylvan since the beginning of 2011. Here at Sylvan I teach Math, Reading, Writing and Study Skills to students of all ages! My favorite thing about teaching at Sylvan is having the opportunity to get to know and work with our wonderful, eager students. When I am not at Sylvan, I teach in the Huber Heights City School District. I am working as an Intervention Specialist at Wayne High School for the 2011-12 school year. My educational history includes a Bachelor's Degree from Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN, and I am currently working online on my Master's Degree at Western Governors' University.