Our Staff
Christine Dail
Executive Director
Christine earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Cedarville College and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Bob Jones University. She has taught grades 1-6 over a 10 year period. After teaching at a Sylvan, and seeing its excellent methods and programs, she and her father opened three centers.
Barbara Ratusznik
Director of Education
Barbara earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a major in Mathematics at Wayne State University. Previously, she has worked at both Henry Ford and Children's hospitals and as a substitute teacher in the Woodhaven/Brownstown School District. She has also worked for Sylvan as an Online Quiz Creator for their Book Adventure Website. Barbara enjoys communicating with parents and teachers in order to help meet the needs of each individual student.
Barb Mainzinger
Director of Education
Barb earned a B.S. in Secondary Education with a major in English Language and Literature and a minor in Social Studies, Psychology, and Earth Science. She has taught Science and English at St. Pius and at Sietz Middle School in Riverview.
Kristen All
Instructor
Kristen earned a B.A. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Language Arts at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has worked in the Child Development Center of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Stephanie Allevato
Instructor
Stephanie earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics, Science, and Early Childhood at Western Michigan University. She has a Master's Degree in the Art of Teaching at Marygrove College. She is currently a teacher at Memorial Elementary in Riverview. She really enjoys watching the students grow academically.
Amanda Buday
Instructor
Amanda earned a B.S. in Elementary Education with a major in Social Studies at Wayne State University. She has worked as a substitute teacher in the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District. She is currently teaching at the Michigan Technical Academy in Detroit. She says that working at Sylvan is a very rewarding experience because she is able to see kids understand concepts that were once difficult for them.
Dana Hale
Instructor
Dana earned a B.S. in Science Education from Wayne State University and a Master's Degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Science Education at Lawrence Tech. She currently teaches at Randall Elementary in Taylor. She feels that Sylvan is fun and that with a small group of students, you can really get to know them.
Michelle Hall
Instructor
Michelle earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Central Michigan University and a Master's of Science Degree in International Administration from University of Michigan-Dearborn. She has worked as a mechanical engineer for Chrysler. She has tutored many students in subjects such as Chemistry, Physics, and Advanced Math. She loves to help build confidence in students and enjoys seeing the lightbulb go on for them.
Stephanie Haywood
Instructor
Stephanie earned a B.S. in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University. She has worked as a substitute teacher in the Gibraltar School District. She has worked at Sylvan for more than seven years, originally working as a teachers' assistant while in high school.
Violet Hoying
Instructor
Violet earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education at Eastern Michigan University. She has worked as a director at a preschool and substitute teaches in the Monroe Public Schools.
Rose Kabalka
Instructor
Rose earned a B.S. in Secondary Education with a major in Language, Literature and Writing at Eastern Michigan University. She has substitute taught in the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District. She is a volunteer special needs worker at Soughpoint Community Christian Church. She is excited to witness students making leaps and bounds when it comes to learning at Sylvan. She enjoys that we are not only here for students' academic success, but that we are also here to build their confidence!
Heather Lowler
Instructor
Heather earned a B.S. in Elementary Education at Eastern Michigan University. She has taught in a preschool and in the Wyandotte Public Schools.
Kathy Pugh
Instructor
Kathy earned a B.S. in Secondary Education in Mathematics at Western Michigan University and a Master's Degreee in Science at Eastern Michigan University. She has had over 20 years of experience teaching in the Flat Rock Community School District. She enjoys seeing the progress that students make in our individual programs. She says that there is a big difference from teaching in the classroom compared to working at Sylvan.
Anthony Richendollar
Instructor
Anthony earned a B.S. in Music at Madonna University and a Master's Degree in the Art of Teaching at Marygrove College. He is a music teacher in the Southgate Public Schools.
Jessie Sherrard
Instructor
Jessie earned a B.A. and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University. She has taught for 23 years at Trenton High School and for 5 years in Grosse Ile at the East River Elementary School. She says that the best thing about teaching at Sylvan is watching the students become excited about learning - that moment when everything comes together and makes sense. They suddenly realize that they have a complete understanding!
Kathy Tipper
Instructor
Kathy earned a B.S. in Science and a Master's Degree in Reading at Eastern Michigan University. She is substitute teaching in the Huron, Monroe and Wayne County School Districts. She enjoys the great relationships she has built with the students at Sylvan.
