Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Lubbock consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Lubbock 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 Lubbock!
Matthew Sullivan
Chief Operations Officer/ Owner
Matthew has spent the majority of his life connected to Sylvan in some form or fashion. He attended Sylvan as a student from 6th grade through high school graduation, worked at Sylvan part-time in high school and college, and then became a Sylvan owner in 2013. His passion is helping see people grow and reach their fullest potential, whether it be through baseball lessons and mentoring young men during his free time, or daily leading the team of Directors at Sylvan. He and his wife, Rachel, have 2 children, Calla & Shielding.
Likes: Spending time with his family, exercise, participating in men’s Bible studies/fellowship.
Strengths: Coaching/Mentoring, Motivating, Encouraging
Michael Sullivan
Chief Financial Officer/ Owner
Michael is a graduate from Texas A&M with a master’s degree in accounting. After starting his career working as a CPA with Deloitte, Michael has moved to roles that combine his accounting background and people skills. After spending 8 years working for Faithbridge Church in Spring, TX, he moved back to his hometown of Abilene to serve as the CFO of Sylvan Learning Centers of Abilene/Lubbock.
Likes: Aggie Athletics, Dallas Cowboys, Crumbl Cookie, playing/watching golf, and being outdoors with his wife Jill and two kids (Hadley, Patton).
Strengths: Attention to Detail, Strategic Thinking
Jordan Levin
Executive Director/Partner
Jordan has been passionately serving the families at Sylvan since 2015. He is a Texas Tech graduate and a Red Raider through and through. He enjoys spending time with his two dogs, Berkley and Pepper, and just about anything to do with sports.
Likes: Texas Tech sports, CrossFit, traveling, cooking and spending time with friends.
Strengths: Goal-oriented, Strategic, Communication, and Relational
Elizabeth Patterson
Executive Director/Partner
Elizabeth started her career in education where she taught elementary and junior high RLA. She is a graduate of Lubbock Christian University where she met her husband, Aaron, who is also an educator.
Likes: Baking, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and fur-babies
Strengths: Passionate about helping kids grow in academics, goal oriented, and self-motivated
Tyler Backus
Executive Director/Partner
Tyler has spent his career in the world of education. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he met his wife, Heather, who is a nurse at UMC. Tyler and his wife enjoy traveling the world and experiencing different cultures.
Likes: Traveling, spending time with family and friends, writing, and playing music.
Strengths: Problem-solving, self-motivated, and helping students achieve long-term success.
Kim Witherspoon
Director of Education
Before joining Sylvan, Kim was a certified special education teacher for 10 years. She has worked with children for about 30 years, in many different capacities. She is a graduate of University of Texas Permian Basin and Texas Tech University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in special education. Her passion is helping all kids become successful in their current and future endeavors!
Likes: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, watching movies and learning about significant historical discoveries and events.
Strengths: Honesty, strong work ethic, customer service, patient, advocate and dedication.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (806) 749-6534 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.
