Meet Our Team

Karyn Hodges, BA, BEd

Centre Director

Karyn holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from UBCO in Kelowna, BC. Karyn grew up on the rainy west coast of British Columbia and has lived in Calgary for over 10 years. She has worked with Sylvan Learning for 17 years, starting as a part-time teacher while working as a teacher in the Central Okanagan School Board, before becoming the Director of Education, and then moving to Calgary to become the Centre Director of the Calgary SW Sylvan. In her spare time, she likes to read and spend time with her friends and family, especially her cat, Monkey.

Mackenzie Lloyd

Assistant Director

Mackenzie is an Assistant Director and tutor in Calgary, AB, and has been working at Sylvan since the summer of 2021, and, while she has many tutoring talents, Mackenzie also oversees the day-to-day operations. Mackenzie chose a career in the tutoring business because, as a child, she struggled throughout school and needed extra support. Mackenzie graduated from Bow Valley College in 2023. When she isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her cuddled up in a cozy blanket with her cat Max, watching Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or Harry Potter. She is very passionate about helping little individuals reach their educational goals in a fun, supportive environment.

Eve Hebert

Administrator/Tutor

Eve quickly immersed herself in the Sylvan environment since joining us in 2020. She strives to create a positive and engaging learning environment for each student at Sylvan and loves seeing students reap the rewards of their hard work. Eve holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Calgary and is currently working as an Education Assistant for special education and kindergarten. In her spare time, she practices nature photography and enjoys spending time with her pets.

Kirsten Hewitt

Lead Teacher

Kirsten is an elementary teacher from Calgary, AB. She has always known she wanted to be a teacher and enjoys working with the students at Sylvan. She loves teaching a variety of subjects, but her favorites are reading and social studies. She studied education and history at the University of Lethbridge. When Kirsten isn’t at Sylvan, you can find her lounging on the couch with her lab Taber and a good book or out hiking around the mountains.

Rebecca Carrol

Senior Teacher

Rebecca is a fun and energetic teacher who has been with Sylvan for over 10 years. She has a diploma in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Professional Arts in Human Services degree from Athabasca University. Rebecca loves to work with children of all ages and hopes to use her degree towards becoming a student counselor. She loves working at Sylvan because she gets to see students grow, learn, and build knowledge on new concepts. When Rebecca is not working at Sylvan, you can find her in the Rocky Mountains hiking and exploring nature with her dog Hazel.

Kassandra Sunstrum

Senior Teacher

Kassy has been a tutor at Sylvan since August 2019. She has a B.A. Honors Psychology and a B. Ed. and is currently teaching high school Math and Science. Kassy enjoys teaching because she gets to see the students take pride in their work and improve on skills that they once considered difficult. When she is not teaching, Kassy enjoys spending time with her family, being in the mountains, and making wedding floral arrangements.

Franz has been a major piece of the Sylvan SW team since 2022! With a PhD in Chemistry and a wealth of experience at the university level, Franz primarily works with the high school students for math and all of the sciences but he also enjoys interacting with and helping the youngers students learn! When he’s not at Sylvan, Franz is often found in the lab, researching something new!

Anna has been a valued member of the Sylvan SW team since 2023 and enjoys working with all students to help them develop new perspectives towards learning. As a lover of learning, Anna is completing an accounting degree to pair with her engineering one and enjoys crafts and digital arts in her spare time!

Ruchika is a dedicated educator with over 4 years of teaching experience. Holding a Master’s degree in Mathematics, she is passionate about nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning. Ruchika is an Alberta certified teacher, known for her commitment to excellence in education and her ability to inspire students to excel in the field of mathematics. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, volunteering and exploring new teaching methodologies.

Christian joined the Sylvan SW team late in 2023. With a Bachelors in Molecular Biology, a love of poetry and completing his Bachelors in Elementary Education, Chris is a well-rounded teacher who enjoys making a positive difference in all of his students’ lives! Christian enjoys playing all kinds of games and checking out various multimedia in his off time.

Yagna is new to the team at Sylvan SW but brings a wealth of experience in teaching a variety of students and subjects and enjoys helping students to build a more positive attitude towards learning! With a Masters in Biology, Yagna excels at working with high school students but also works with younger students on developing their reading skills! When not working, Yagna enjoys painting and reading.

Sarah has been an elementary teacher in Calgary for 6 years and is new to the Sylvan SW team! Sarah is also working on her masters in psychology. She loves connecting with students of all ages and seeing that ‘light bulb’ moment happen! In her spare time, Sarah enjoys baking, playing board games and sports.

Harsh has just joined the Sylvan SW team, bringing with him a great enjoyment of learning and teaching math! With a Masters in Engineering, Harsh primarily works with the high school students with their math, calculus and physics. When Harsh isn’t working, you can find him out exploring Calgary with his friends or relaxing at home with Netflix!