Meet Our Team

Josh Saffron

Center Director

Josh is a graduate of the Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a degree in Bible & Theology. Currently pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Grand Canyon University, Josh is a strong believer that the future will always be brighter when we invest in it. With that in mind, he is an outgoing person who is passionate about working with children. In his spare time, Josh enjoys fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Christopher Ford

Director of Education

Christopher is a graduate of West Coast Bible College and Seminary with a Bachelor of General Ministry as well as a current student of Temple College majoring in English. As a child he received tutoring from some memorable teachers and developed a strong desire to help people in any way he can; his passion for the two brought him here. In his free time Christopher enjoys watching movies with his family, writing poetry, working on cars and eating his wife’s culinary creations.

Monika Callegari

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Monika believes that education is a way to introduce children to their potential. She was inspired by great teachers, and she wants to instill that inspiration within her students. Monika received her Bachelor of Science from Tarleton University, and her Master’s in Education from Texas A&M Central Texas. She has obtained a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction as a Reading Specialist. She is currently certified in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 4-8th as well as History for grades 7th- 12th and a generalist for grades 4th -8th. Outside of Sylvan she loves reading young adult fiction and biography books. She is also an avid puzzle enthusiast! Overall, Monika is passionately focused on building relationships based on kindness and respect.

Carolina Flores

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Carolina feels most alive when she is helping students connect the dots between concepts in school. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor’s in Sociology and finds joy in helping kids connect the dots in different subjects. When she’s not working with students, Carolina enjoys running, hiking, and cooking

Tim Flugum

CERTIFIED MATHEMATICS TEACHER

Tim is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also has a Master’s Degree in Physics from Texas A & M University. Tim is a very special teacher. He is exceptional at all math courses, and he also teaches chemistry, physics, and some of our STEM courses. Students of all ages really like Tim, because he is positive and knows how to connect with kids. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking.

Royal Hawthorne

SYLVAN CERTIFIED TUTOR

Royal is a tutor at Sylvan Learning in Harker Heights who enjoys seeing students grow and she like to be a part of their success. Her favorite thing about working with students is the priceless look on their faces when they know they have done well. When she is not at Sylvan, Royal enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Tamara Thomas

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Teaching has always been a passion for Tamara. When she began teaching, it was something that she quickly fell in love with. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a minor in psychology. With our students, she is very devoted, sincere, ambitious, honest, and very open-minded. Outside of teaching, she loves to travel, go hiking, and volunteer within her community.

Vanity Avery

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Vanity is a funny and witty teacher with a passion for making an impact on the lives of children. She is a graduate of Western Governor’s University and holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. When she is not teaching, Vanity enjoys traveling with her family.

Debbie Showalter

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Debbie is passionate about helping children learn and grow. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Psychology from Tarleton State University. Debbie is an optimistic, thoughtful, and humorous teacher with a passion for photography, family, and gardening.

Tanesha Williams

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Tanesha graduated from Crown College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is certified in EC-6 and has taught for over 11 years. Her main goal is to help learners reach their full potential. Tanesha is a teacher who is very focused, patient, and dedicated to her students. Outside of teaching, she likes to read, shop, dance, and decorate.

Brianna Leblanc

CERTIFIED MATHEMATICS TEACHER

Brianna loves the “lightbulb” moments of education when kids can connect the dots. She graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications and holds certifications in elementary math, reading, and social studies. She is currently a science teacher and is working toward a master’s degree in teaching. In her free time, Brianna enjoys coloring and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Suzanne Ferguson

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Suzanne is an outstanding teacher who has an outgoing and bubbly personality. Her passion is to help struggling students succeed. She has a Master’s from Texas A & M, a Bachelor of Science from University of Phoenix, and an Associate’s in Psychology from Cameron University. She is EC-6 generalist, GT, and ESL certified. Outside of teaching she loves to read, attend baseball games, and relax with her children.

Lynn Grant

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Lynn Grant decided to become a teacher as she has always been interested in helping children. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Clark University and a Lifetime Elementary Education Certificate from St. Edwards University. She enjoys staying current with news events. She is very patient with the students and excels at teaching young readers.

Levona Hunter

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Levona decided to become a teacher because she likes children and enjoys watching them learn. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harding University, and a Master’s Degree in English from Arkansas State University, as well as an ESL certification from the University of Texas.  She is certified to teach English, Reading, History, Language Arts, and ESL. In her free time, she enjoys reading and quilting.

Lyle Gier

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Lyle is a soft-spoken person and a very good teacher. He has a way of earning the trust of students and values being able to teach kids. Lyle is a graduate of the University of North Texas where he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in Computer Educations and Cognitive Studies. Lyle prides himself on being a very honest person with good moral standards. In his free time, he likes to read.

Ann Kindleburg

CERTIFIED TEACHER

Ann is a caring and witty teacher who is passionate about seeing students reach their full potential. With her decades of experience in both K-12 and adult education, she enjoys watching students of all ages engage with and master concepts. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time with her family and animals.