Contact Information
| New Students: | (888) 338-2283 |
| Current Families: | (870) 932-4494 |
| Fax: | (870) 932-4490 |
| Monday: | 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday: | 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday: | 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Thursday: | 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Friday: | 8:30 AM - 7:30 PM |
| Saturday: | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
| 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
Krystal Smith
Director
Krystal Smith serves our Sylvan families as our Director, ensuring that all students’ programs are top notch!
She is a 2002 graduate from Camden-Fairview High and a 2008 graduate from ASU. Krystal received her BSE in Early Childhood Education. She resides in Paragould with her husband, Brian, and son, Harry.
Her favorite educational quote is, “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.” ~John Lubbock
Blair Barnhill
Instructor
Blair graduated from ASU with a BS in Biology in 2010. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy.
Blair has always enjoyed working with children in the classroom and finally has the opportunity to pursue that interest at Sylvan while finishing her degree. She really enjoys sharing her passion for learning in such a positive environment!
In her spare time Blair enjoys running, biking, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Layla.
Anthony Childress
Instructor
Anthony is a Northeast Arkansas native and proud graduate of Nettleton High School and ASU, where he attained his BA in Journalism. He currently attends ASU in pursuit of a Master's in Political Science. He expects to enter the non-traditional teaching licensure program in the coming months.
The decision to join our Sylvan team was about helping kids reach a bit higher in not only test scores, but to brighten their future potential well into adulthood.
The vast majority of his life has been spent in Jonesboro. It is a vibrant, progressive and ever-growing city. His son, Alec, lives here and is a Junior at ASU. His partner of 10 years, MG Meyering, owns an interior design firm and is very active with the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
His favorite education quote actually stems from a public service announcement that aired during the 1980s on behalf of the United Negro College Fund - "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste."
Amanda Cole
Instructor
Amanda is Sylvan-certified in Math Essentials, Algebra, and provides homework help to students in Geometry, Biology, Physics, and other upper-level courses.
She received a degree from ASU in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Right now, she is working towards a Master's degree in Biotechnology. She also works as a graduate assistant at ASU teaching Genetics lab and Anatomy and Physiology lab.
April Coleman
Instructor, Updater
April is Sylvan Certified to teach Academic Reading, Sylvan Advanced Math, and Math Essentials.
Becca Craft
Instructor, Updater, Assessment Administrator
Becca is Sylvan Certified to teach Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Math Essentials, Sylvan Advanced Math, Study Skills, Handwriting Without Tears, Academic Writing, and ACT Prep. Becca also takes on the challenge of helping our upper level homework support students.
Kari Ann Davis
Instructor
Kari Ann is a 2008 graduate of Arkansas State University where she received a BSE in Early Childhood Education. She resides in Paragould with her husband, Blake, and puppy, Maggie. She enjoys working with children and watching them succeed.
"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I might remember. Teach me and I will understand" -Benjamin Franklin
Marla Fergus
Instructor
Marla is Sylvan Certified to teach Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, and Math Essentials.
Marla graduated from Arkansas State University with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She has taught for over twenty-two years, teaching kindergarten through fifth grade. Marla enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.
"Working at Sylvan has been a positive experience. It is very rewarding to be able to help students."
Savannah Harrington
Teacher Assistant
Savannah is a student at Arkansas State University and is enrolled in the Exercise Science for Physical Therapy program. She enjoys working at Sylvan because she loves to see how the students grow in new knowledge everday.
Shea Harris
Instructor
Shea is Sylvan Certified to teach Academic Reading, Math Essentials, Sylvan Advanced Math, Advanced Reading, and Study Skills.
He graduated from Arkansas State University with a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Environmental Science. Currently, he serves as STEM Education & Outreach coordinator at Arkansas Bioscience Institute located on ASU’s main campus.
He likes to spend his free time outdoors either rock climbing or hiking.
His favorite education quote is, “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”
-Sydney J. Harris
Blake Hathcock
Teacher Assistant
Blake is an ASU student in the Early Childhood Education program. She expects to graduate in Dec. of 2011. Blake has worked at Sylvan since Sept. 2009, and she thoroughly enjoys interacting with the students.
Her favorite quote is, "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope and confidence." ~ Helen Keller
Rachel Klasky
Instructor, Updater
Rachel is Sylvan Certified to teach Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Study Skills, Academic Writing, and Math Essentials. She is also monitors our students' programs as an updater.
Karrah McCollum
Instructor
Karrah was born and raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She graduated from Arkansas State University in 2010 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts in Teaching also at ASU.
Upon graduation, she plans to become an elementary teacher, focusing on literacy and history. After teaching for a few years, she plans to go back to school to pursue the Masters of Educational Leadership (Principal Licensure).
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, watching movies, arts and crafts, hiking, and playing outside with her two dogs.
Andy Miller
Instructor
Andy is Sylvan Certified to teach Academic Reading, Study Skills, Sylvan Advanced Math, Math Essentials, and ACT Prep.
Jordan Rupard
Teacher Assistant
Jordan currently attends ASU where she is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Physical Education for K-12. She enjoys working at Sylvan because she sees how individualized education benefits the students. Jordan expects to graduate in 2012.
Her philosophy about Physical Education is that she wants her students to learn how to become and stay fit, even once they leave her classroom. It will be a joy to know she had influence in her students' lives after the school bell rings!
Chris Saito
Instructor
Chris was born and raised in Jonesboro, AR. In 2010, he graduated from ASU with a degree in chemistry and a minor in philosophy. He is currently a medical school student on leave of absence from UAMS-College of Medicine. Chris enjoys working at Sylvan because he loves being able to help unlock the potential in every student. In his spare time, Chris enjoys being at the gym, spending time with his family, fiancé and his dog, Duke.
Patty Salazar
Instructor
Patty graduated from ASU with a BSE in Spanish Education. This is her 5th year teaching. Patty enjoys spending time with her 3 children and teaching a second language. Working at Sylvan is very rewarding.
"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about"
Erika Sanders
Instructor, Updater
Erika is Sylvan Certified to teach Beginning Reading, Academic Reading, Study Skills, Academic Writing, and Math Essentials. She also monitors our students' programs as an updater.
Eric Saunders
Instructor
Eric is a proud graduate of Jonesboro High, and earned his B.A. in German from Hendrix College in 2003. He is currently working on his Master's Degree in History at the University of Central Arkansas and is looking forward to beginning PhD work in that field as soon as possible.
He loves the fact that Sylvan gives him a chance to help students succeed in the classroom, because in our modern world, academic achievement is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. His favorite quotation, both in academics and in everyday life, is "Every day you either get better, or you get worse. You never stay the same."
Jill Jackson
Regional Director
Jill began working at the Sylvan Learning Center in Jonesboro when the center first opened its doors in 2003. She began as the Director of Education and was quickly promoted to Center Director. In 2004, she was again promoted to Regional Director.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education/Elementary Education as well as a Master’s Degree in School Counseling. She has five years of classroom experience and five years of counseling experience. She currently oversees all Contract Service programs and aids the Jonesboro and Memphis center staff with their training and development needs.
Jill loves teaching children and watching them as the light bulbs of knowledge turn on. Children with special needs either mental, physical or education all hold a special place in her heart.
Joy Holt
Contract Services
Joy Holt is a former professional school counselor. She obtained a B.S.E. in Elementary Education/Early Childhood and a M.S E. in Counselor Education from Arkansas State University.
Joy’s professional accomplishments include:
• Past President of the Arkansas Counseling Association
• Past President of the Arkansas School Counselor Association
• Past Elementary Vice-President of the American School Counselor Association
• Recipient of the Arkansas School Counselor Association and American School Counselor Association’s Multi-Level School Counselor of the Year Awards
. Recipient of the Arkansas Counseling Association's Distinguished Professional Service Award
Joy’s purpose in life is simple; she strives to make a difference in the lives of others. She believes you should never let what you can’t do get in the way of what you can. If we can teach this concept to children, there is no limit to the accomplishments children can achieve.
Joy loves to hang out with her three sons: Noah, Mattie and Ollie. If you’re wondering…the boys are miniature schnauzers!
Haley Rowland
Contract Services
Haley received a BSE in mid-level Language Arts and Social Studies in May 2009. She taught 7th and 8th grade Language Arts prior to coming to Sylvan. At Sylvan, she teaches Academic Reading, Math Essentials, Homework Support, and Beginning Reading.
Haley loves to be outdoors, spend time with her family and friends, and play with her toy poodle, Lucy!
She loves Sylvan because when children learn, the smiles on their faces make her job worthwhile.
"What a child can do today with assistance, he or she will be able to do independently tomorrow." -Lev Vygotsky
Missy Tubbs
Admissions and Marketing
Missy graduated from Arkansas State University in 2004, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. She enjoys working behind the scenes to make sure everything is running smoothly and also getting out in the community letting people know about the great programs we offer.
“Meeting new people and making new friends is what I enjoy most about being a part of Sylvan!”
In Memorium, Jill Acre 1954 - 2009
Instructor, Test Administrator
The Jonesboro Sylvan family wishes to keep our "Mama Jill" in our hearts and actions daily by continuing to bring her light, love, and enthusiasm to every child every day. We will always love and remember her and are grateful for the time she dedicated to her Sylvan family. “Sylvan is my second family. I love what it does for students educationally, mentally and socially.” ~Jill Acre