Contact Information
| Phone: | (250) 477-3212 |
| Fax: | (250) 477-3289 |
| Monday: | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday: | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday: | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Thursday: | 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM |
| Friday: | By Appointment |
| Saturday: | Closed |
| Sunday: | Closed |
Meet the Tutors
Penny Loome
Centre Director
I have been a teacher for twenty years and have taught all elementary grades from K through 7 here in North America, as well as in Asia, Europe and South America. I have worked extensively with gifted children, those in need of reading recovery programs, and those with specific learning differences. As an owner operator of Sylvan Learning here in Victoria I am always excited at the opportunity to work with new students, build their confidence and academic skills and watch them blossom! At the centre, I oversee the day-to-day operations of the centre including testing, teaching and school contact. My office door is always open, and parents and students should feel free to drop in for a chat or call if they have education questions, questions abou Sylvan or concerns they want to discuss.
Joseph Rooney
Owner
Over thirty five years as a teacher I have learned many things from my students, the most fundamental being that effective teaching is all about giving students the tools to access the knowledge they need. That is what we do at Sylvan. Whether the need is for basic math skills or advanced writing techniques, Sylvan has it covered. I am proud to be part of that and always gratified to see the skills we teach here being used to achieve success in school and beyond.
Dawn McBain
Teacher
I’ve always loved teaching – from ‘playing school’ as a child through 35 years as a teacher in the public school system. Having retired a few years ago, I’m delighted to be ‘back in the zone’ teaching at Sylvan. This enjoyable and rewarding venture allows me the opportunity to help students gain confidence as they develop the skills necessary for success. The program really works, and I’m pleased to be part of the process.
Allison Derrick
Teacher
Ever since I was small I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I graduated from UVIC in 2007, and spent the following year teaching elementary school in London, England. Upon my return to Canada, I was delighted to join Sylvan. I enjoy teaching because I love the variety it brings: every day is different! I am constantly learning and taking on new challenges. I love helping children achieve success, and then watching their confidence grow.
Karen Fuller
Teacher
I joined the Sylvan teaching staff in January 2009. I recently moved to Victoria from the Kamloops area where since 2002 I had taught both as a Teacher-on-Call and as a classroom teacher. Sylvan is a great place for me to continue teaching children reading skills whether they are phonics and phonemic awareness to beginning readers, or comprehension skills to those "reading to learn". It all matters and being part of the process is important to me. My favourite moments at Sylvan are when students' faces light up as they discover a new skill - the "I get it" look!
Read each day and keep the cobwebs away!
Rachelle Fafard
Teacher
Although I enjoy teaching a variety of subjects here at Sylvan, my passion is for French. I love sharing this passion with others, whether it be in the form of grammar, reading, or writing. I firmly believe that learning is a lifelong experience and skill, and I am thrilled to be able to help inspire and encourage students, and to give them the confidence they need to reach their full potential.
Angela Puszka
Teacher
I am a recent graduate from the University of Victoria, and have been teaching at Sylvan Learning since August 2009 specializing in senior high school math. The satisfaction I get from teaching math and watching students gain a better understanding of difficult concepts is beyond comparison. I have a passion for helping young people in my community who struggle, and enjoy seeing students build their confidence in skills.
Matt Keil
Teacher
I completed my BAH in psychology at the University of Guelph. After this I moved to the Gold Coast in Australia to complete my Masters of Teaching degree at Griffith University. From 2007-2010 I taught in Toronto Ontario and moved to Victoria in September of 2010. I enjoy working with students of all abilities and ages. I like getting students excited about learning and take pride in being a part of each student's learning process.
Amanda MacDonald
Teacher
I am a graduate of the Bachelor of Education program from Acadia University specializing in elementary education. I am new to BC, but began teaching at Sylvan in Dartmouth, NS, and was delighted that I was able to continue my Sylvan teaching experience here in Victoria. Teaching is not only my job, but my passion. I love having the opportunity to help students improve their skills and develop a joy of learning. I enjoy working with students of all ages in all subjects, but I especially enjoy teaching Beginning Reading.
Sean Rumble
Program Manager/Instructor
Sean has a life long love of math, science, and technology. He also loves hiking, skiing, and scuba diving, and is a serious video game nerd too. He spent a year living and working in South America where he got his first taste of teaching, and decided to return home to become an educator so that he could share his passions with the world. He worked for two years as a high school teacher in Prince Rupert and has since moved to the milder climet of Victoria to continue his career. Sean manages the math program at Sylvan. He loves getting students excited about math and the opportunities math can lead to.
Kerry Richardson
Instructor
Teaching has always been part of my life, providing me with opportunities to learn from, and with, others through sharing knowledge, skills, and abilities within an ethos in which learning thrives. From my first experience at university as a teaching assistant in my early twenties in which I was fascinated by student curiosity about archaeology, I have embarked on a journey to work together with others in “learning communities”. It has been my privilege to work in elementary, middle and secondary schools teaching young people who required support to actualize their potential. Several years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to work with adults who were “exploring college” and to mentor those students on a journey to enter the teaching profession. Today, I continue in a similar role as a tutor at the Sylvan Learning Centre to inspire students to take pride in their progress and to advocate for an attitude “I can:We can!”
Jamie Elbert
Instructor
A self-proclaimed English nut, I am always happy to step through Sylvan's doors and take part in the learning processes of so many fantastic students. Sylvan's system of mastery learning, ongoing assessment, and multiple formats makes learning engaging and effective, and makes my work fun! More than the system, though, as a teacher, I enjoy the connections formed with students as we battle out tricky concepts, and share moments of discovery.
Shaun van Pel
Instructor
Currently, I am a Medical student at the University of Victoria, but I was previously a teacher and it was one part of my life that I simply couldn't just leave behind. For the most part, my experiences have been with High School and University students in Mathematics and Science disciplines. My true love in education is watching my students achieve their "light bulb moment", when a previously mysterious concept suddenly becomes clear and their minds are opened up to new possibilities as a result. I not only believe, but I KNOW that all students have what it takes to master anything they want; it is merely a matter of how to help them discover their talents.