Our Staff
Karie Schwertman
Center Director
Karie comes to Sylvan after working as a Kindergarten and first grade teacher. She earned her elementary degree from SIUE and her masters in Educational Leadership from St. Louis Univ. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, and singing in her church. Karie believes that all students can learn and reach their goals when provided positive, personalized and successful learning experiences.
Jennifer Zeller
Director of Education
Jenny graduated in 2002 with her BS in Elementary Education. She began working for Sylvan in August of 2002. She became a director in 2006. Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris and their three sons, Brendan, Logan, and Donovan. Jenny can attest to the Sylvan guarantee because she has witnessed academic growth on numerous occasions at Sylvan. Jenny believes confidence is the #1 factor to academic success.
Kaci Snyder
Administrative Assistant
Kaci is currently a student at SIUE earning her degree in elementary education. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading and watching Cardinals baseball! Kaci believes that every person, with the right encouragement and confidence, has the ability to achieve great things. Education paves the way to success!
Dixie Banitt
Instructor
Dixie holds BA, MLS, and MS degrees from a variety of universities across the United States. Dixie has had the opportunity to teach in middle schools, an Alternative High School, and as a librarian for combined total of 25 years prior Sylvan. She enjoys reading, gardening, crafts, and traveling. Dixie believes each child is important and can learn. Her goal is to give students confidence, to improve their skills, to help them feel good about themselves and to think for themselves.
David Brown
Math Instructor
David obtained his Bachelors from Western Illinois University and his Masters in Mathematics from Arizona State University. He recently retired after teaching high school and junior high math for 32 years. David enjoys tennis, running, bicycling, and reading in his spare time.
Amanda Schneider
Instructor
Amanda recently graduated with her BS in Elementary Education from SIUE. Currently, Amanda is a substitute teacher for the Collinsville and Bethalto school districts. She enjoys camping, swimming, reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family. Amanda's favorite educational quote is, "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin.
Laura Meyer
Instructor
Laura has a BS in English from SIUE, and has been working with Sylvan since the spring of 2007. Laura enjoys coaching softball, baseball and basketball and she also likes to read, sew and listen to music. Laura believes that all students can learn a concept, and it is the learner's choice to accept one of the methods offered to them.
Ann Hagen-Rapsilber
Instructor
Ann earned her teaching degree at Eastern Illinois University and has since taught in grades Pre-K through 12th. She specializes in reading instruction and believes that every child deserves to be educated. In her free time, Ann loves to read children's books, travel and hang out with her husband and daughter.
Rachel Gamble
Instructor
Rachel earned her Elementary Ed degree from SIUE and currently works as a 5th grade teacher in the Triad district. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing the violin and viola, and traveling. Rachel feels that finding successful experiences is the key to keeping students motivated.
Rachel Jones
Instructor
Rachel graduated with a B.S. in English from SIUE and will earn her Middle School endorsement this June. She recently traveled to Botswana, Africa to teach AIDS Awareness. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling and photography. Rachel believes education can be fun and exciting, and it is the key to our future. She wants to help students develop into who they want to become.
