Contact Information
| Phone: | (360) 675-8010 |
| Fax: | (360) 675-5492 |
| Monday: | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday: | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM |
| Friday: | By Appointment |
| Saturday: | Closed |
| 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
Sharon Morehead
Director of Education
Sharon has twelve years of teaching experience and it prepared her well for the role of Director of Education at our Oak Harbor location. Sharon calls teaching her "joy job". She believes children are our greatest and most important resource. "We must be vigilant about making sure that they are ready and confident to assume the leadership of our world. I believe we have a moral imperative to provide whatever support is necessary to allow our children a clear hope for a bright future." Being a Director of Education for Sylvan Learning has provided her with the very best arena to exercise this passion for educating and nurturing children and young adults. "Everyday I am privileged to see the miracle of new found confidence and success light the faces of hungry learners. I love my job!"
Alicia Coons
Lead Teacher and Program Coordinator
Working at Sylvan is an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I have been apart of our Oak Harbor Sylvan for three years, and I am still elated to see the changes from when a student first walks in the door to the time they leave as a more confident, independent, motivated, and determined student. It is an amazing feeling to know the teachers at Sylvan are able to contribute and shape the minds of our next generation.
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
~ Albert Einstein ~
Richard Norman
Lead Math Teacher
Richard is a retired high school math teacher, who has taught a minimum of at least one year in every grade level. In addition, for fifteen years he taught math to adults in an evening class for nurses. Richard is familiar with every form of math from primary math to calculus, and is not only a valuable resource for the students at Sylvan, but also for the other teachers. He says that even after completing a thirty-six year career in teaching, he is still honing his skills as Sylvan. Richard is proud to be a Sylvan teacher because the Sylvan method complements his personal belief that any approach to education has to be complete and thorough. In addition to teaching Advanced Math and Math Essentials, Richard also teaches SAT Prep, Academic Reading, and the occasional Beginning Reading student.
Julie Hughes
Teacher
Julie Hughes graduated in 2008 from Western Washington University with her teachers certification and a B.A. in Classroom Development and Management. She is currently working on obtaining her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Development for Reading. Julie absolutely loves what she does here at Sylvan. “I look forward to coming to work every day. I enjoy seeing my students and sharing in their success!” Julie takes pride in what she does at Sylvan and enjoys every program the center offers. “I love that I can be working with a student on beginning reading skills and working with another student on manipulating fractions. It is really awesome what we can do here at Sylvan.”
Rachel Acker
Teacher
“Oh! I get it!” This is Rachel Acker’s favorite teaching moment: the moment when a student finds understanding and confidence in a concept or skill that they have been struggling to grasp. From learning letters and numbers to analyzing texts or long division, she loves sharing the joy of learning with students. Rachel graduated from Cedarville University in 2009 with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education. Originally from NY, she married a Navy man and found herself relocated to beautiful Whidbey Island. Rachel loves to be outdoors, whether it’s hiking with her dog or finding a sunny patch in the grass to sit and read. “I love working at Sylvan because of the warm, caring atmosphere it provides for all students of any age or learning style.”
Shawna Davis
Teacher
As a naval spouse, Shawna Davis has spent almost nine years on Whidbey Island with her husband, their cat, and two Cairn Terriers. Shawna splits her time between being a teacher at Sylvan and as a substitute Instructional Assistant in the Oak Harbor and Coupeville School districts. With a life-long passion for reading and writing, and a desire to contribute positively to her community, Shawna found herself immersed in the field of education. In the Summer of 2011, Shawna will transition from teacher to student as she attends Seattle Pacific University to earn her Washington Teacher Residency Certification. She plans to specialize in Secondary Education with an endorsement in English. Her ultimate goal is to acquire a Masters in Library Science and work in a school library.
Judith Turner
Teacher
As a former reference librarian with a Masters in Library and Information Science, Judith Turner strives to connect information with those that seek it. In other words, she is a wonderful example of what we look for in our teachers here at Sylvan Learning Center - passionate and driven to help our students. Judith teaches both Academic Reading and Math Essentials Programs to our local students. “One of the things I love about tutoring is putting the tools for understanding in the hands of a student and watching when things start to make sense for them and they experience that “Aha” moment. This is quickly followed by rising self confidence and increased self pride. They know they worked hard and they see the benefits. These are the moments that make this the best job.” In her spare time, Judith loves spending time with her children and husband, which usually involves car rides to soccer games, football practice, drama rehearsals, and even Sylvan lessons for her daughter. Not only is Judith one of our teachers, she is one of our parents. “I believe that it does take a community to raise a child, and for me and my family, Sylvan in our community - our teachers, our mentors, and our friends – all rolled into one.”
Kira Dickison
Teacher
Kira Dickison in one of our newest additions to Sylvan; she recently completed her Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in both Social Sciences and Music from DePaul University. Over the past several years she has fostered a love for the teaching field. Not only has she served as a Washington State Reading corp tutor, where she tutored students individually, as well as taught after-school and summer reading programs, she was a reading tutor for the America Reads program. It was these programs which increased her passion for working with children and desire to become a teacher at Sylvan. Kira is adamant that education should be an enjoyable experience, and teachers should foster in their students a love for learning. “I believe that the classroom is a reciprocal environment where learning is mutual; where students are partners with their teachers in the learning process.” Being a teacher at Sylvan has provided her with the opportunity to express her love of teaching and enables her to see children blossom and bloom with self confidence and success. “I want my students to become lifelong learners and inspire them with a love of learning.”