Meet our Normal Tutoring Staff

Great Teachers Inspire

Our tutors and staff in Bloomington / Normal consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Normal 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 Bloomington / Normal!

Laura Vollmer

Center Director

Laura joins Sylvan with an Elementary Education degree from Illinois State University. She oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of teachers in Bloomington/Normal. A former teacher in Bloomington/Normal, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge to Sylvan. When Laura isn't at Sylvan, you'll find her spending time with her husband and three children, volunteering at her church, and spending time with her friends and family.
Katie Blake

Tutor

Katie graduated from ISU with degrees in English Education and Spanish. She enjoys teaching a wide variety of Sylvan programs, such as Academic Reading, SAT/ACT Test Preparation, and lower-grade Math Essentials. In her spare time, Katie enjoys tennis, reading, and listening to musicals.
Ally Miller

Tutor

Ally graduated from ISU with a major in Music Education and a minor in English as a Second Language (ESL). She enjoys helping students with their test preparation and math homework. In her spare time, Ally enjoys playing the French horn, listening to Broadway musicals, and spending time with her Kappa Kappa Gamma sisters.
Ashley Santos

Tutor

Ashley obtained a Secondary Mathematics Education Degree from Illinois State University. She thoroughly enjoys helping students with upper-level math. Ashley's hobbies include soccer, baking, spending time with her dog Bailey, and enjoying the company of family and friends.
Therese Schmidt

Tutor

Therese holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Illinois State University. She loves helping students learn and especially enjoys teaching the Sylvan Reading programs. In her spare time, Therese enjoys reading, running, shopping, and spending time with her family.
James Lee

Tutor

James graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Physics Education. He loves helping students with their homework and particularly enjoys teaching Sylvan Math programs. When he's not at Sylvan, James enjoys spending time with his wife, playing video games with friends, cooking, visiting his family (and their dogs), running, rock climbing, snowboarding, competing in amateur E-Sports tournaments, building computers, and playing trumpet in a professional jazz band.
Phil Ross

CENTER DIRECTOR/OWNER

As an Owner, Phil leads operations for Sylvan of Springfield. An RF engineer by trade, Phil chose a career in the tutoring business because he wanted to help our families and kids in the community gain knowledge and confidence. He studied at The University of Missouri-Rolla, and UIS-Springfield, earning his M.B.A. When Phil isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find him spending time with his wife, Vanessa, and two kids, Flynn and Oliver Ross.
Vanessa Ross

CENTER DIRECTOR/OWNER

As Center Director, Vanessa leads operations for Sylvan of Springfield. A Project Manager by trade, Vanessa chose a career in the tutoring business because she wanted to help families and kids build confidence and knowledge. Vanessa studied at Truman State University, and UIS-Springfield, earning her M.B.A. When Vanessa isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her spending time with her family, her husband Phil, and two kids, Flynn and Oliver Ross.