Contact Information
| Phone: | (406) 543-2522 |
| Fax: | (406)543-3587 |
| Monday: | 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Tuesday: | 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Wednesday: | 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Thursday: | 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Friday: | 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Saturday: | Closed |
| Sunday: | Closed |
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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
Elizabeth Kaparich
Center Director
Beth Kaparich is an active, experienced, and accomplished educator, mentor, and community member. Her experience and skill in understanding people make her an exceptional center director. Being part of the learning, growth, and achievements of our center's staff and families is her joy. Her insights and guidance are invaluable, and she provides the leadership that enables us all to be successful!
During her thirty-four year career in public edcuation, Beth was honored with the Mary Frances Shreeve Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding elementary teacher in Northwestern Montana. An active leader and past president of the Five Valleys Reading Association, our local chapter of the International Reading Association, she implemented many activities for the community, such as reading to children at our mall. The Association recognized her efforts with their Literacy Award, and the Montana State Reading Council also awarded Beth their Literacy Award. These honors acknowledge the oustanding contribution of an individual to furthering literacy in our region, and in our state.
Beth received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Kansas State Teacher College, and after moving to Montana, completed her Master's Degree in Elementary Education and her Administrative Certification from the University of Montana.
As director of our center, Beth uses her talents in working with parents, students, and staff to bring out the best in each person and foster their growth and confidence. As a community member, Beth is active in avenues which allow her to benefit others and extend her own skills and knowledge. She is truly an exemplary model of a life-long educator!
Beth enjoys many activities: spending time with her grandchildren, woodworking and gardening, skiing, and interacting with her dogs, Yanzee and Putter.
Wendy Swanson
Director of Education
Wendy's enthusiasm, sense of humor, clarity, and kindness in her work with our staff, our students and their families makes our center a productive, positive and pleasant place to be! She is able to accomodate the special needs of students in their individual educational goals, learning styles, scheduling, and personal concerns with caring and practical plans for success. Parents and students alike feel comfortable discussing their needs and progress with Wendy. Her down-to-earth solutions and logical thinking lead to excellent results. Wendy is an expert in designing and implementing programs which make the most of every student's strengths and support their progress toward their goals as smoothly and rapidly as possible.
Wendy has been our Lead Instructor and Director of Education for 12 years. In her public teaching career, she has taught here in Missoula and in Washington, where she was also Lead Instructor at a Sylvan Learning Center in Everett. Her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Reading, is from Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.
Wendy enjoys sports, and can often be found helping with and watching her children's events, especially basketball and softball. Caring for her family and their many pets makes Wendy's home time lively and fun. Along with teaching and planning programs at Sylvan, she helps her nephews and her own children to better understand mathematics. Wendy also likes to sing along with the radio, and with karaoke. Her energy and humor benefit all of us, and ensure that our center is a kind and caring, effective and fun place to be.
Denise Harmon
Lead Instructor
Denise Harmon is our lead instructor, an exceptionally talented teacher who loves to work with students, and has been involved with children and young adults in many ways all of her life. Denise has been a Cub Scout Den Mother, Assistant Leader for a Brownie Girl Scout Troop, Sunday School Teacher, Church children's group Music Leader and President of that group. For her active membership in PTA, along with serving as Secretary and President of that group, Denise has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Montana State PTA. In addition, she has taught in a multi-age classroom with first and second graders, has taught as a substitute teacher, and has been a para-educator in an extended resource classroom. Denise has a B.A. from the University of Montana in Elementary Education, with a minor in Music. During her career she has belonged to the Golden Key National Homor Society, Phi Beta Sigma Homor Society, and Mu Phi Epsilon Music Fraternity. Her musical talents are greatly appreciated in our community: Denise accompanies many high school students for District and State Music Festival, plays piano for productions of the Missoula Children's Theater and the "Bits and Pieces" actors, and also spends two weeks at Flathead Lake each summer to accompany the cast for the MCT summer camp. Her hobbies include reading, being involved with her family's activities, and participating in community groups such as the University of Montana Alumni Band.
Adina Pagel
Lead Beginning Reading Instructor
Adina Pagel loves to teach beginning readers, and brings her enthusiasm and expertise to our center, where she has helped young readers for many years. Adina's experience includes teaching preschool through high school students in a variety of situations, and working in school libraries. She has published an article in The Reading Teacher, the elementary journal of the International Reading Association, about her rewarding and successful work teaching an adult student to read, enabling him to reach one of his life goals. Adina received her B.A. and M.E. in Elementary Education and has endorsements in French and Reading. Although Missoula has been her home most of the time since she left high school, Adina has also lived in Michigan, California, Nebraska, Colorado, and New York. Beyond teaching beginning readers, Adina enjoys music, reading and writing, Montana's outdoors, and spending time with her children and now, two grandchildren.
Lydia Perry
Assistant Director of Education/Instructor
Lydia Perry has extensive experience as a teacher, having worked with many grade levels and subjects in varied settings. She has been at our Sylvan Learning Center for eight years, and is currently the Literary Specialist for Clinton Elementary School. Lydia has also taught preschool in Seattle, and has been the educator for middle school and high school students residing with the Missoula Youth Homes. No matter what the setting, her expertise and caring for her students are remarkable. She is an organized, clear, and engaging teacher who inspires active learning. Lydia's B.A. in Education is from Wittenberg University, with a concentration in fine arts. She also has an Elementary Curriculum Endorsement. Her hobbies are biking, hiking, reading, knitting, and enjoying the outdoors.
Vicki Lenihan
Assistant Director of Education/Instructor
Vicki loves working with students, both as an instructor and as a test administrator. She graduated from Concordia College in Minnesota, majoring in French and English with a Secondary Teaching Endorsement. While there, she was a member of the Alpha Society, French Club, and theater group. Vicki also taught in France in the college's first internship abroad. With a Graduate Assistantship, she went on to complete her M.S. Ed. in Secondary Reading, and came to teach here in Missoula. Vicki's extensive experience in high school Title 1 programs, diagnosing and remediating reading difficulties, makes her a great addition to our assessment team. Her hobbies include gardening, reading, home projects, flamenco dance, and being part of the cultural activities of our local Sons of Norway.
Jaime Bach
Instructor
Jaime illustrates that perfect combination of competence and kindness in a teacher: she is able to develop a great rapport with students while helping them to build their skills and confidence. In addition to her extensive Sylvan experience, she has been a teacher, tutor, and mentor in a variety of elementary, junior high and high school settings, providing both individual and group instruction. Jaime also served in the Republic of Kiribati, on the outer island of Tabiteuea Maiaki, as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She not only developed curriculum and teaching methods suitable to the structure, goals, and philosophy of education in Kiribati, but she also became an accepted member of professional and community life. Jaime worked diligently to speak Kiribati, which enabled her to participate in the community for a true cross-cultural exchange.
Jaime received her B.A. in Anthropology with a minor in Sociology from the University of San Diego, where she was awarded the California Retired Teachers Association Scholarship. Jaime is currently completing her M.A. in Anthropology at the University of Montana here in Missoula.
When she is not teaching or studying, Jaime enjoys the outdoors. Riding horses, hiking and climbing, and camping are all activities she loves. Jaime also likes ocean and river watersports of all kinds, camping, and travel.
Megan FitzPatrick
Instructor
Megan FitzPatrick is an experienced educator who inspires students with her kind approach and attention to their individual personalities and needs. She has a B.A. with degrees in English Education and Special Education. Megan has taught Special Education at Stevensville High School, where she was named the Bitterroot Winter Special Olympics Coach of the Year in 2005. Her interests include making fleece blankets, dancing, Tai Chi, listening to music, and travelling.
Colleen Matt
Instructor
Colleen brings extensive experience with science education and the outdoors to our center. Her accomplishments are many; here are a few. Colleen has taught and coordinated teacher education courses about wildlife, and has worked with entities such as the Alaska Interagency Bear Safety Education Committee on their educational programs. She has also acted as a board member of the science education camp "Ellamek Taringnaurvik," coordinated with the United States Forest Service and the Audubon Society.
Colleen has recently served as Director of Conservation Education and Hunting Heritage for our Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Currently, she is developing the Montana Master Naturalist curriculum and program. Colleen's wide range of experience translates easily to working with students here at Sylvan, and she brings a unique perspective and energy to her teaching. Colleen has her B.A. in Biology from Humboldt State University and her M.A.T. from The University of Alaska in Anchorage.
Jeanne McGinley
Instructor
Jeanne McGinley is a model teacher who continues to pursue her own education as well as educate others. She has been with our center for many years, encouraging and instructing her students with patience, clarity, and insight. Jeanne has also been a K-8 classroom teacher and Title 1 Math and Reading teacher; she contributes a wealth of experience working with students of all ages. Her degrees include a B.A. in Elementary Education, along with a B.S. in Forestry, and she is currently pursuing a Special Education Endorsement and Masters Degree in Education. She is also a member of the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi, which recognizes academic excellence. Jeanne is an accomplished seamstress, who has created costumes for community theater productions such as The Nutcracker, and has completed the dresses for many weddings. She also likes to swim, garden, and travel.
Lilly Motl
Instructor
Lilly's enthusiasm for working with youth and families makes her a great addition to our Sylvan staff! She has contributed to her communities as the Big Sister of the Year for Big Brothers and Sisters in 2002, and she was appointed to the Governor's Council on Families for the state of Montana from 2001-2003. While at the University of Montana, Lilly was a Peer Advisor for students.
Lilly completed her B.A. in Elementary Education, with a k-12 Reading Endorsement from the University of Montana in 2007. She enjoys working with students with a variety of strengths and needs. In 2007-2008 she taught fourth grade at Napi Elementary School in Browning, Montana, and she has also had experience teaching in a multi-aged program for autistic students this past summer. Her engaging manner and expertise enable her to reach students of all ages and abilities, helping them to learn and grow. Lilly's focus, organization, and insight make her an excellent teacher!
Lilly's interests include hiking, fly fishing, backpacking, running, and reading great books.
Krispen M Nelson
Instructor
Krispen is an outgoing teacher with broad background knowledge. Her students enjoy her practical approach and open personality. Krispen graduated with a B.A in Biology and Education from the University of Montana, where she is continuing with classes to expand her teaching endorsement to Broad Field Science. Krispen has been a substitute teacher in the middle schools and loves working with the Spectrum science activity center at the Univesity of Montana. In addition to science, she is interested in cooking, gardening and Judo.
Nissa Snyder-Johnson
Instructor
Nissa teaches with great enthusiasm, organization, and clarity. Her wide experience enables her to connect with students effectively, making their Sylvan lessons productive and fun. Nissa has been with our Sylvan center since 2003. She has taught four years of Title 1 Math and Reading and currently teaches second grade at Clinton Elementary School. Nissa's teaching degree in Elementary Education is from the University of Montana, and she has also completed her Literacy Endorsement. When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading, jogging with her dogs, and gardening.
Jacob Petersen-Perlman
Instructor
Jacob is a wonderful addition to our Sylvan staff! His calm approach and expertise benefit all of his students, and they enjoy working with him. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meterology with a minor in Mathematics from Iowa State University and is currently working on his Master's Degree in Geography at the University of Montana.
From 2004 to 2006, Jacob was a tutor at Iowa State University for students of Calculus II and General Mathematics. In 2008, he served as a preceptor for the class "Weather and Climate" in the Geography Department here at the University of Montana.
He was recognized as an outstanding student at Iowa State, receiving the Presidential Scholarship for all four of his undergraduate years of study. Most recently, Jacob received a grant from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to conduct an assessment of municipal water rights in the Upper Clark Fork River basin.
Jacob likes to hike, ski, and enjoy the outdoors. He also enjoys playing piano and guitar, and traveling.