Judy Adorno

Executive Director (since 2000)

After teaching junior and senior high students for several years, Judy joined Kinder Care Learning Centers where she managed corporate center operations for 23 years. Judy joined Sylvan Learning Systems in Baltimore, Maryland in 1996 as Vice President of Operations for the Public School Division. Judy assumed responsibility for the St. Petersburg Sylvan center in November, 2000. She focuses on the effective implementation of the Sylvan programs so that every student enrolled is able to reach his or her full potential.

Gina Stephens

Center Director (since 2006)

Gina attended UNC-Wilmington on a Teaching Fellows Scholarship. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Elementary Education and in Spanish. Gina moved from NYC to join the St. Petersburg Sylvan team in 2005. She enjoys helping children realize their strengths and abilities and showing them how learning can be both interesting and rewarding. “I love Sylvan because each student’s needs are addressed individually, in order to help improve their skills and build confidence.”

Katie Soles

Program Manager (since 2007)

Katie graduated from Bowling Green University with a B.S. in Education. She lived in Ohio before moving to Florida in 2007. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 dogs. Her favorite thing to do in her free time is read. "I enjoy working at Sylvan because of the individualized instruction in a small setting."

Becky Haskell

Sylvan Teacher (since 2006)

Becky graduated from the University of Maine, Magna Cum Laude, with a BA in Elementary Education, a MA and CAS in school administration. She taught Special Education K-8, 2nd grade and 6th grade. For 10 years she worked as a Special Education Director and a School Superintendent for 4 years at School Union #122 in northern Maine. She enjoys spending time horseback riding with her daughter and granddaughter, reading, gardening, and swimming.

Miriam Holso

Sylvan Teacher (since 2006)

Miriam Holso has a M.S. in Mathematics, B.S. in Mathematics, and B.Ed. in middle and senior level Math. She is a “math person,” who has taught Math at University of South Florida and St. Petersburg College while residing in the beautiful St. Petersburg coast since 1997. Teaching at the friendly learning environment at St. Petersburg Sylvan Center suits now to her other great enjoyment in life: visiting grand children in California and Australia.

Megan Bakenhaster

Sylvan Teacher (since 2005)

Megan earned a BS in Marine Science and Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics from the University of Tampa. She worked for UT’s Academic Center for Excellence, tutoring students in algebra, physical science, and chemistry. After graduating, she worked as a pharmaceutical chemist and later at USM’s Parasitology Department while pursuing a Master’s degree in English Literature. Megan began teaching at Sylvan in 2005. She enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for math and learning with her students.

Beulah McHale

Syvlan Teacher (since 2001)

Beulah graduated from the highly regarded Ravishankar University in India, with a Masters Degree in Economics. She moved to Montana in 1984 and was the Director of an Early Childhood Program. In 1999 she moved to St. Petersburg to get away from the “cold weather.” Beulah taught at Gulf Coast and St. Petersburg Christian Schools before deciding to return to school. She holds certifications in Reading K-12, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) K-12, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12, and General Education K-6. She currently teaches 6th grade math at Pinellas Park Middle.

Dana Haskell

Sylvan Teacher (since 2006)

Dana earned degrees in Psychology and Elementary Ed from the University of Maine and holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Maine and University of Georgia. He worked for the Caribou School Dept. as the Director of Psychoeducational Services and Director of the Central Aroostook Child Development Center. He is a certified regular and special education teacher, Special Education Director, Special Education Consultant and Developmental Therapy Instructor

Phyllis Marcum

Sylvan Teacher (since 2005)

Phyllis earned a degree in Elementary Education from Kent State University. A passion for children, reading and education kept her in the classroom for 35 rewarding years. Throughout that time, she attended The Ohio State University and found new ideas, methods and ways to help children engage themselves in learning. Her daughter continues in her mother's foot steps and is a Professor of Education in Elkins, WV. Her son follows a similar path and works for NOAA. Phyllis loves to spend time with her husband, Chuck, her children and her two young grandchildren. She also enjoys genealogy, reading, volunteering and tutoring.

Angela Kelly

Sylvan Teacher (since 2008)

Angela Kelly, originally from St. Petersburg, received her Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education with a minor in British Literature from University of South Alabama in 2000. Since graduation, Angela has taught English and Critical Thinking at Seminole Middle School as well as English Composition, Writing Essentials, Communication Dynamics and Career Development at Southwest Florida College. Angela, who joined the Sylvan Learning Center in 2008, enjoys motivating students and sharing her enthusiasm for learning with them.

Ben Coffin

Sylvan Teacher (since 2006)

Ben is a teacher for exceptional students at Largo Middle School. He enjoys teaching reading and math at Sylvan.

Sharon Murray

Sylvan Teacher (since 2004)

Sharon graduated from Flagler College with a degree in Elementary Education and Education of the Hearing Impaired. She began her career at Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, FL. She started working for Pinellas County Schools at Meadowlawn Middle School, teaching students with learning disabilities. Sharon is currently the Exceptional Student Education department chair for Meadowlawn. Her outside interests include musical theatre, ballroom dancing and sign language.

Kelly Pettingill

Sylvan Teacher (since 2004)

Kelly earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Stetson University. She has taught 6th-8th grade Reading and Language Arts for the past five years in Volusia County. She recently moved to St. Petersburg from the east coast, where she was also a Director of Education at another Sylvan center. Kelly loves watching students learn and mature. In addition to teaching, Kelly loves reading, music, and playing with her Shetland Sheepdog, Becca.

Cora Lochridge

Sylvan Teacher (since 2010)

Cora earned a BA from the University of Kentucky in English/History; MA from University of Massachusetts in Urban Education and advanced certification in Exceptional Education from Boston College; taught for thirty years in Hillsborough County Schools as middle and high school English and Reading teacher and for the last twelve years as ESE Specialist for Juvenile Justice System/Hillsborough County Schools. After retiring in 2008 tutored young men at a Halfway House who were preparing for GED, ASVAB or SAT/ACT.

Married for thirty years with four children, six grand-children and three great-grandchildren; enjoy working part time in family toy store, volunteering for church and community events, swimming, reading, attending films and theater

Love working at Sylvan where a proven workable method shows all students can learn in a positive, patient atmosphere where all students from beginning readers, college students and even adults learning to read are given individualized care that builds on their strengths; am inspired & motivated by dedicated colleagues and an administration who give the staff with same respect and support they give the parents and students.

India Barrington

Sylvan Teacher (since 1997)

India is a native Floridian who graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Psychology and Social Science. She taught American History at Bartow High School. She has also taught AP and IB Psychology at Bartow High School / I.B. India has worked at Sylvan Learning Center in Lakeland, Florida as well as St. Pete. India stays busy

David Brown

Teacher

Dana Crane

Teacher

Abbie MacDonald

Teacher

Eunice Morales

Sylvan Teacher Assistant (since 2008)

Eunice attended Canton Agricultural and Technical College in Upstate New York. After living in Boston, Massachusetts, Burlington, Vermont and then to St. Petersburg in 1986, she started her career in the Pinellas School System in 1998. Eunice is a Teacher Assistant at Bay Point Elementary Magnet where she assists the school performing various duties at all levels. In 2002, she was nominated in the top 10 of Support Personnel of the Year. She is a mother of a 17 year old daughter and has been married for 29 years.