Contact Information
| Phone: | (360) 416-6973 |
| Fax: | (360) 416-6974 |
| 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: | By Appointment |
| Saturday: | By Appointment |
| 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
Chris Maki
Executive Director
Chris has been the Executive Director of the Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, and Bellingham Sylvan Learning Centers for over 14 years. Mr. Maki has a wife Christina and two teenage boys, Fraser and Colin.
Chelsea Ginder
Center Director/Director of Education
Chelsea Ginder is the Center Director and Director of Education for the Mount Vernon Sylvan Learning Center. She started as a teacher and moved her way up. She has been with Sylvan for over a year now.
Chelsea graduated high school in Oak Harbor and attended Skagit Valley College. She transferred her credits to Washington State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Elementary Education. She was on the Dean's List and President's Honor Roll the entire time attending WSU. She was also accepted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Chelsea has volunteered and worked in schools ranging from Oak Harbor, Pullman, Spokane, Stanwood and Anacortes. She has worked in the AVID program in Anacortes as a mentor as well. Besides volunteering in schools, Chelsea has also given her time to programs such as Swim Gym and in science centers.
When Chelsea isn't at Sylvan, she is spending time wtih her husband, 2 year old daughter, dog and cats. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, baking, hiking, playing on the beach and researching educational topics.
Chelsea feels, "The opportunity to assist students and families achieve their educational goals is worth everything. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching students' confidence rise, pride soar, and the realization that learning really does feel good set in. Every student that steps foot in here is believed in by me and all the teachers and we will do everything in our power to help each and every student learn in their own way."
Jerry Timbin
Teacher
Jerry attended Central Washington University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Mathematics Education. He taught Algebra, Geometry and Basic Math at South High School in Bakersfield, CA. During this time, he also taught at a Sylvan Learning Center for almost four years. Since moving to Skagit County in 2007, he has been substitute teaching for the local school districts and Cascade Job Corps. Jerry does a lot of volunteer work, including with the Boys and Girls Club. He enjoys being the Treasurer for Shakespeare Northwest and Vice-President of Mount Baker Square Dance Club. Jerry enjoys playing video games, spending time with his family (his wife and 8 and 10 year old daughters) and square dancing. Jerry says his favorite thing about Sylvan is, “Students have a personalized program that fits with them and their families, and that it helps them achieve their goals in a very efficient manner.” Jerry teaches multiple programs at Sylvan, his main subjects being Math and Advanced Math.
Nadine Mosness
Teacher
Nadine attended Washington State University and gained her Bachelor’s Degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences. She then received her teaching certificate and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Dominican University. She graduated from Dominican with honors, achieving a 4.0. She has worked in schools in Pullman and Mount Vernon, WA and Petaluma and Rohnert Park, CA. She lived in Montana for some time where she volunteered in the schools and was on the PTA. Nadine has a 4th grade daughter who gives her “The Crazy Mom of the Year Award”. Nadine enjoys reading, writing fiction and poetry, cooking, walking, movie trivia and playing “Yellow Car” and “Slugbug” with her daughter. She teaches Reading, Beginning Reading, Math, Writing and Study Skills here at Sylvan and says her favorite thing about all of these subjects is “Witnessing and celebrating the academic growth of each student!”
Marisa Terado
Teacher
Marisa attended Western Washington University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Child Development. She later received her Master’s in Reading and Literacy from Walden University. She became a member of Pi Lambda Theta, which is an International Honor Society. She recently moved to the Skagit Valley from Nevada, where she taught kindergarten and 1st grade in Dayton. She recently began working at Fidalgo Elementary school in Anacortes, WA. In her free time, Marisa enjoys reading, camping and hiking. She has three dogs included in her family life. “Apollo” is a 10 year old Boxer, “D-O-G” is a 4 year old Chihuahua, and “Remington” is the baby – a German Wirehair, just 8 months old. While teaching here at Sylvan, she teaches Reading, Beginning Reading, and Math and says her favorite thing about her teaching is “Helping students experience success.”
Danielle Wickersham
Teacher
Danielle attended Saint Martin’s University where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was on the President’s list. She was also a member of the Society of Fellows. Aside from Sylvan, Danielle works for the Burlington-Edison School District and previously worked for North Thurston School District. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching television, and quilting. She says her favorite thing about working at Sylvan is the environment.
Mark Collins
Teacher
Mark obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Nazarene University. He went on to acquire a Master’s Degree in Education from Central Washington University. His extensive career in public schools included teaching and serving as Principal. During the course of his employment, he received a “Teacher of the Year” award, as well as “Principal of the Year”. He has volunteered his time at his church and North Cascades Health Council. In his free time he enjoys fishing, hunting, archery, yard work, and travel. He says his favorite thing about working at Sylvan is, “The positive atmosphere”.
Liz Dunshire
Teacher
Liz attended Western Washington University and gained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She then received her teaching certificate and a Master’s in Education – again from Western. During this time, she joined Pi Lamda Theta, the Teacher’s Honor Society. She did her student teaching abroad at Prague British School in Czech Republic. Back in the U.S., she tutored at Shuksam Middle School in Bellingham and was an instructor for YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island. She volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and Junior Achievement teaching economics. Liz enjoys bagpiping, photography, reading and writing stories, and watching hockey. She says her favorite thing about Sylvan is “Individual attention that helps students succeed”.