Meet our Irvine Tutoring Staff

Great Teachers Inspire

Our tutors and staff in Irvine consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Irvine know how to engage and motivate each child in a personal way—building confidence and smiles, as well as skills and better scores. We selectively choose tutors who know local curriculum and can link Sylvan lessons to what’s being taught in school. Get to know our tutors and staff in Irvine!

Joe Liu

Executive Director

Master of Arts Education: Education Management Emphasis; Grad. Dip. Ed., Education; Bachelor of Arts: Environmental Analysis and Design; Certificate: Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL
Shawn Venter

Center Director

As Center Director, Shawn leads a team of dedicated tutors for Sylvan of Irvine. Shawn chose a career in the tutoring business because Shawn truly believes in the program and the incredible changes it can make in a student's life. When Shawn isn't at Sylvan, you’ll find him working in philanthropy playing sports hiking, or spending time with his family.
Marlene AKA Melody Perez

Director of Education

Bachelor of Science: Human Services Associates of Liberal Arts Multi-subject Teaching Credential
Daniel Vo

Education Coordinator

Bachelor of Science: Sociology
Shirlee Smith

Lead Teacher

Master of Arts: Deaf Education; Bachelor of Arts: Psychology; Credential: Multiple Subject; Specialist Credential in Communication Handicapped
Pamela Jenkins

Teacher

Pamela Jenkins possesses a Doctorate in Education from Pepperdine University. Also, she teaches ESL at Santiago Canyon College. In Her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and going to the theater.
Beth Ullman

Teacher

Master of Arts: Library Sciences; Bachelor of Arts; Credential: Multiple Subject
Alexander D'Agostino

Teacher

Master of Science: Mathematics
Teaching Credential
Susan Li

Teacher

I received my teaching degree from the University of Michigan. I taught elementary education for 10 years and enjoyed watching my students learn and grow. In my free time, I like to read and do crossword puzzles.
Marge Packman

Teacher

Marge earned her degree in English with minors in Education and French from Northern Illinois University. She has over 20 years' experience as a tutor and substitute teacher. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and acting in community theater.
Susan Romito

Teacher

California Administrative Service Credential; Bachelor of Arts: Spanish; California Community College Credential: Basic Education/Ethnic Studies; Credential: Single Subject Spanish and English; California Bilingual Cross-Cultural Specialist Credential K-12
Jon Levin

Teacher

PhD: Culture and Curricular Studies; Masters of Education: Education Culture and Society; Bachelor of Science: Environmental Studies
Conor Matthews

Teacher

Master of Arts: Teaching; Bachelor of Arts: Anthropology; Credential: Multiple Subject; Certificate: TEFL/TOFL/TESL
Donna Linzey

Teacher

Master of Arts: Education Master of Science: ReadingBachelor of Science: AccountingCredential: Multiple Subject; Reading Specialist
Dan Linzey

Teacher

Bachelor of Arts: Liberal Arts; Credential: Multiple Subject
Emely Solis

Teacher

Bachelor of Arts: Spanish Language and Linguistics
Teaching credential
Deirdre Newman

Teacher

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science Credential: Multiple Subject