Tina Smith

Center Director

Tina is a graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana with a Major in Communications. She was a 2 time All-American athlete in Volleyball, and was awarded the University of Illinois Female Athlete of the Year Award.

Tina has a broad background in lending along with experience in sales. Her experience in coaching is what led her to us, wanting to help mold the lives of our kids. Her goal is to continue to grow the Sylvan family, and provide the best educational resources for the “kids”, as well as provide families with amazing customer care. Looking to build partnerships in education is what will bring continued success.

She is happy to be a new member of the Sylvan family, working towards its mission. Joining Sylvan has been an exciting move, as she strives to make a difference and be a part something meaningful.

Tom Seggelke

Director of Education

Abbey Mandeville

Instructor & Test Administrator

Abbey came to our center in the Winter of 2010, and we have been very lucky to have her here! She is a new teacher that is local to the area, and she instructs such subjects as Beginning Reading, Math Essentials, Academic Reading, and homework support on a variety of levels. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as shopping and learning all that she can about education. We're lucky to have such a friendly, dedicated, capable instructor added to our staff.

Angela Mundy

Instructor

David Radford

Instructor

Hannah Radford

Instructor & Test Administrator

Jasmine Abduhl

Instructor & ACT Prep

Kathleen Hochstetler

Instructor

For over eleven years, Kathleen has been an instructor at Sylvan Learning Center. While originally from Oklahoma, Kathleen has earned a Bachelor in Art degree in the areas of Elementary Education, and German from Tabor College in Kansas, and Emporia State University in Kansas, respectively. Currently, Kathleen works with Sangamon Area Special Education as a Special Education teacher. At Sylvan, Kathleen primarily works with Beginning Reading students, but is also certified in many other programs. In her free time, Kathleen enjoys quilting, sewing and baking. Kathleen also enjoys spending her time with her husband, her two grown children and her two granddaughters. Her favorite sports team is the St. Louis Cardinals, and she is often described as dependable, and sincere. Kathleen says her favorite part about working at Sylvan is the “fun staff, fun kids, and great curriculum.”

Lacey Shiffer

Instructor

Laura Reynolds

Instructor

Michelle Bagby

Instructor

Michelle has been with Sylvan for many years, tutoring primarily upper level math students. She is quite capable in nearly all of our programs, but her specialties include Geometry, Algebra I & II, Sylan Advanced Math, ACT Prep, and even advanced homework support in classes like Stats and Calculus. She spends her evenings instructing in our center, but is also a jewelry designer and tax preparer during the day! She's one busy lady, but her math skills are top notch. She is dedicated to helping her students succeed, and her near-continual smile makes the place even brighter!

Scott Moran

Instructor

Stephanie Hackethal

Instructor

A Western Illinois University alum for both her Bachelor’s in Elementary and Special Education and her Master’s in Reading, Stephanie has been with our center since Spring of 2004. She is currently employed with the Sangamon Area Special Education District in various districts, including Chatham, Riverton, Pawnee, and Divernon, seeing students from Kindergarten through twelfth grades. She is originally from Alton, Illinois, and has two daughters, Erin and Kelli, and one granddaughter, Hannah. She enjoys reading, crafts, and scrapbooking in her spare time, and she roots for the St. Louis Cardinals. She is one of our most patient and compassionate instructors, and she enjoys coming to work because of the positive and supportive attitude of the staff toward students and colleagues.

Sue Shea

Instructor

Springfield-area native, Sue Shea, has been with our center for five years, citing the positive atmosphere and clear student progression as her favorite parts of the job! Most often with younger students in the Beginning Reading or Academic Reading programs, Sue is often described as inquisitive, persistent, and optimistic. She is very quick to offer praise and support of her students and coworkers alike. She received her Associates degree at Lincoln Land Community College and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Teacher Education through the University of Illinois-Springfield. Recently, Sue finished her Masters degree in Reading at Benedictine University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, home-remodeling, and spending time with her three grown sons and four grandchildren (three girls and four boys).