Michael Polidori

Center Director

Michael recently assumed duties a director of the Williamsburg center. He has experience as a director in three Sylvan centers.

Greg Perry

Executive Director/Owner

Greg and Joy Perry own and operate the Williamsburg Center in addition to the Newport News-Yorktown Center. They are the proud grandparents of Naomi and Jude Deibler (children of Ruth, a former Sylvan student). Please feel free to contact them at Williamsburg@sylvanlc.com with any questions about our Sylvan programs. Greg is a retired Air Force officer with over 36 years managing human resource and education activities and is an avid Denver Bronco fan. Go Tebow!

Joy Perry

Executive Director/Owner

Joy has been an Executive Director of Sylvan Learning Centers on the Peninsula since 2006. In addition to managing the Newport News-Yorktown and Williamsburg Centers, Joy is a program analyst for the US Army. She and her husband, Greg, are the parents of two children and two wonderful grandchildren, Naomi and Jude.

Christen Burk

Academic Reading, Math Essentials, Study Skills

Emily Jo Eklund

Science-Math-English/SAT Instructor

Emily was born in Hampton, but doesn't call the Bay Region her home. Spending her childhood in Sweden and in Beavercreek, Ohio, Emily comes to Sylvan via the College of William and Mary. An avid OSU Buckeye fan, Emily spends her free time trying to decide if she is more right brained than left. She enjoys painting, traveling, arts and crafts and a good book. She enjoys teaching the sciences and math, from Chemistry to Physics to Calculus, Trigonometry and the Algebras. She hopes to make it back to Europe soon, hiking the Alps, re-exploring Scandinavia, and eventually making it to Greece and Italy before she settles and has a family. A fan of the classics, you will often find Emily taking in an old black and white film, or reading a great Jane Austin novel. She has an appreciation for some Monty Python and just about anything on the BBC. There isn't anything this young lady cannot teach, with the exception of perhaps history, but with her thirst for all things academic, Emily can help just about any student that comes through Sylvan's doors.

Walter Hickey

Sylvan Certified Instructor - Higher Math, Science and Curriculum

Bob Linderman

Certified Teacher - Algebra, Geometry, Math, Reading, and Study Skills

Bob was born in Chicago, Illinois, but calls Yonkers, New York, his childhood home. Bob has specialized in high-level math instruction for Sylvan since he began in 2006. A graduate of Catholic University and receiving his master’s degree at Villanova, Bob began his teaching career in Newport News in 2003, after moving to the area in 1984. Bob now teaches in Hopewell, where he teaches high school. Happily married for 20 years, Bob spends his free time helping his son with his swim meets.

Jennifer Miller

SAT Prep Teacher - 7 years continous Sylvan Experience

Jennifer is our only staff member who can claim Williamsburg as her childhood home. Born in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Jennifer moved to Williamsburg and WJCC schools in 3rd grade. A stay at home mom of three boys, Jennifer calls Sylvan her “break” from the boys where she has fine-tuned her expertise in Sylvan SAT instruction over the past seven years. Her track record is incredible, showing an average 160-point increase for her many SAT students.

Betty Moore

Certified Teacher - Beginning Reading, Math, Study Skills

Mary Whitbeck

Certified Teacher - Reading, Math, Writing and Study Skills

Mary is a wonderful mother of two girls, as a result of 27 happy years of marriage. Mary has devoted most of her life to education, having spent 28 years of her life in the classrooms of Craig, Surry, and Williamsburg/James City Counties. Mary completed her schooling at both James Madison and Old Dominion University. Born in Schenectady, New York, Mary calls Roanoke her childhood home. Mary moved to the Williamsburg area in 1979. Her interests include continuing her education and traveling.

Leah Marinelli

Director of Education

Leah returns to her position as Director of Education while continuing her full-time position as a early childhood teacher in Newport News. Leah is a graduate of Radford University and has taught in Hampton and Newport News. She assists the Center staff with preparing personalized and individualized programs for all our students.