Contact Information
| Phone: | (989) 791-0088 |
| Fax: | (989) 791-9183 |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Friday: | Closed |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM - 1:00 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
Karen Bila
Center Director
Karen graduated in 1995 with a degree in Secondary Education/History & English. She has experience teaching in the classroom as well as being a juvenile officer for the 26th Judicial Circuit Court System. At Sylvan, Karen is responsible for the quality of instruction delivered, tuition plans, and conducting parent conferences. Karen has 2 young daughters at home.
Thomas R Yoder
B.A. Michigan State University, CLU, Executive Director/Owner
Tom, along with Dodi, has been the Executive Director since the Saginaw Sylvan Center opened in December of 1989. Midland Sylvan opened in 2003 and Bay City Sylvan in 2004. He supervises all accounting functions, conducts many of the parent conferences, and represents Sylvan to the community at large.
Dodi Yoder
B.A., M.ed. Michigan State University, Executive Director/Owner
Dodi is certified K-12 with a masters in educating the gifted. She has taught high school foreign languages, English, Psychology, K-8 Gifted and Talented plus 5th grade. WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS has listed Dodi multiple years. She is currently studying more effective ways to help dyslexics and others who struggle to learn. She is a master teacher responsible to train and certify all Sylvan instructors.
Dawn M Sickles
R.N., Center Director/ Owner
At Sylvan, Dawn is responsible for advanced technology, PR, keeping tons of interesting items in stock to entice students at the Sylvan Store, conferences with parents and classroom teachers, and the overall success of Sylvan. She has 2 sons at MSU and a daughter who just received her degree in dietetics from MSU. All 3 kids are Sylvan graduates too.
Brian Poplewski
District Math Director: Saginaw, Midland, Bay City
Brian is the math guru at Sylvan. While he is the most requested instructor for Upper Level Math such as Calculus, Geometry, Algebra, ACT/SAT, he also oversees all the math essentials students from Kindergarten on. His responsibilities include the quality control over all 3 Tri-Cities Sylvan Centers.
Carrie Waskiewicz
Lead Director of Education
Carrie graduated in 2000 and taught Pre-school and Kindergarten for Saginaw City Schools prior to joining Sylvan. She is continuing her education at SVSU through a Masters program for Early Childhood Education. Carrie specializes in Beginning Reading, but also teaches math essentials, writing, study skills and Academic Reading. She has one son at home.
Cheryl Gadeken
Upper Level Math Instructor
Cheryl Gadeken completed both her bachelors degree (double major in Mathematics Education and Special Education) and masters degree (in Educational Psychology – counseling) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has taught mathematics at all levels from elementary through calculus. Cheryl has taught at Sylvan since April of 2004. Besides working at Sylvan, Cheryl is currently also a professional tutor at Delta College.
Carole Halaka
Center Instructor
.Bio: Carole Halaka
I am a full-time French/Spanish instructor grades 7 - 12 at Garber High in Essexville, MI. I have taught there since 1994, Prior to that, I taught at John Glenn in Bay City, Parkway West in St. Louis, MO, San Gabriel, CA and Gaylord, MI. My certification is 7 - 12 French and Spanish.
My frequent travel increases my cultural awareness and fluency. Countries I have spent time in include France,Spain,Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Argentina,Italy, Switzerland,Germany,Austria, England, and Canada.
I am an avid reader and always have a novel for my free time. I love to walk through the State Park, read, and write. I have been teaching since 1977. I have a B.A. and M.A.. in French and Spanish from M.S.U.
I love tutoring at Sylvan since if affords me the opportunity to meet and work with students of all ages in various disciplines. They work so hard, learn so much, and succeed in so many areas. They are quite amazing!
Kim Mize
Instructor
I have been an instructor at Sylvan for 6 years. I teach Academic Reading, Sylvan Math Essentials and Study Skills. I earned my teaching degree from the University of Michigan - Flint and am working toward my Masters Degree at Saginaw Valley State University.
When I am not at Sylvan, I stay at home with my daughter, Allison who is 3 1/2. My son, Nate, is 6 years old and is in first grade. My husband, Joe, is a fourth grade teacher in Saginaw Township.
Gary Knight
Instructor
Graduate of Central Michigan University with a teaching degree and double majors in English and American History with main concentrations in English in grammar and American Literature. 34 graduate school credits toward Master's Degree with concentrations in English and geography. 30 years of teaching experience at Arthur Hill High School in the Saginaw Public School System. 5 years of experience working at the Thomas Township Library. 6 years of experience working at Sylvan Learning Center in Saginaw teaching writing, academic reading, and ACT/SAT preparation. In my opinion, Sylvan Learning Center does an outstanding job of determining what learning difficulties students may have and then custom-designing lessons to improve academic performance. Student success at Sylvan and at school proves that the Sylvan program works.
Sue Cameron
Instructor
Teaching certificate from MSU. I worked in the field of Social Work before my employment with Sylvan.
I've been at Sylvan for 8+ years and enjoy the kids. I learn a lot from them while they're learning. My main hobby is going north with my husband to build a cabin in the woods. And, I'm forever a great lover of animals.
Pam Petersen
Instructor
I have taught grades 2 -6, mostly at Davison Community Schools. For 7 years, I was a Mentor-Tutor for Students at Risk at Carman-Ainsworth Schools. During that time, I specialized in helping students prepare for the MEAP test. I worked with 3rd graders to improve their writing for a year. I have worked for Sylvan for 7 years. .I have found teaching at Sylvan to be one of the more rewarding experiences in my teaching career. There are so many "lightbulb" moments. That is when the student suddenly understands a skill that previously gave him/her trouble. The program is designed so that skills are reviewed and reviewed so they are not soon forgotten. Students make progress so quickly it is amazing! Being a part of that growth is very fulfulling.
Barb Kuhnle
Instructor
At Ferris, I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business degree with an emphasis on Marketing in November 19, 1986. I was not entirely fulfilled with my career choice in business.
I found what would be my niche in life. Teaching is the most rewarding and fulfilling career for me. I love to learn and love to teach. I graduated from Saginaw Valley State University, Summa Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education on April 30, 2004. I have minors in English and Social Studies. I was delighted to be selected as one of the elite teachers that work at Sylvan. It is wonderful to get to know the students and help them reach their full potential. Being at Sylvan is so rewarding because of the individual attention and lessons that are tailor made for each student. We all celebrate the success each student achieves as they reach their goals and learn how to love learning. Children bring a great joy to my life.
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