Contact Information
| Phone: | (406) 543-2522 |
| Fax: | (406) 543-2587 |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM |
| Friday: | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Saturday: | 10:00 AM - 2:00 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
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 make 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.
Michael Hoag
Executive Director
Michael is the owner of your local Sylvan of Missoula. He is passionate about creating an atmosphere at Sylvan that is inspiring for students, welcoming for parents, and engaging for employees. He wants every family to receive a positive experience and feel so good about the service they received that they would recommend Sylvan to their closest friends. Michael earned a BS degree in Environmental Engineering from Montana Tech and an MBA from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. He had over 10 years of project management experience with a large general contracting firm before coming to Sylvan where he feels so fortunate to go to work and see the positive impact that Sylvan's teachers have on students every day. Michael spends most of his free time with his wife and two young children. He enjoys Montana's many outdoor recreational activities and spending time with friends.
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 Honor 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.
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.
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. Jeanne has recently completed her Special Education Endorsement and is pursuing her 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.
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.
Kristi Ray
Instructor
Kristi comes to our center with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from MSU in Bozeman and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix. She has been a paraprofessional special education teacher at Alberton Schools since 2006, working with all classes in grades 7 to 12. Kristi has also taught 8th grade American History and Kindergarten. Throughout her teaching, she enjoys supporting her students and being a part of their growth and success. Kristi spends her free time reading, four-wheeling, and having fun with family and friends.
Monica Martin
Instructor
Monica enjoys working with students of all ages, inspiring them to do their best and to love learning. She has been involved in education in a variety of ways over the past 18 years. Monica has taught reading and math intervention, as well as small group study skills classes. She has been a school psychologist for the past five years. Monica holds an Education Specialist degree, a Psychology degree with a minor in human and family development, and a Masters Degree in School Psychology. She likes to spend her time outside of work hiking, camping, travelling and relaxing with her family and dogs. Her hobbies include photography and collecting rocks.
John Parente
Instructor
John comes to Montana from the Finger Lakes region of western New York. He completed his high school education there, followed by his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics Education from UMT. John has extensive tutoring experience and enjoys helping students to reach a true understanding of math concepts and their applications. He has also been a snowboarding instructor, and likes hiking, camping, music (especially playing guitar), and travelling.
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