Meet our Omaha Tutoring Staff

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Great Teachers Inspire

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

  • Blake Thompson, Center Director

    Blake Thompson

    Center Director

    Blake is the Center Director at Sylvan of Northwest Omaha. He holds a Bachelors and a Masters in Music Education and an Endorsement in Administration from the University of Nebraska Kearney. He has served as a music educator and school administrator over his tenure in education. Outside of Sylvan, Blake is a guest clinician and performer throughout the Midwest educating students and teachers across many states. He enjoys playing the piano, singing, spending time in the yard, and spending time with his family. Blake recently moved to Omaha with his wife Mary, their five-year-old twins Anna and Owen, their 15-week-old baby Lucy, and their bulldog mix Millie. Blake is thrilled to be a part of the Sylvan family and to meet all of the families and students involved at his center to best meet their needs. He is excited to work with great teachers and leaders to foster what Sylvan does best, personalize learning!
  • Kelly Hein, Director of Education

    Kelly Hein

    Director of Education

    Kelly oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of tutors in Northwest Omaha. Kelly is a former Special Education teacher who holds a Master's in Teaching from Marian University and was a corps member with Teach For America Indianapolis. Kelly loves spending time with friends and family, including her fur daughter, Indy! If Kelly could live anywhere, she would live somewhere where she has ancestral roots, like Norway. Kelly loves teaching reading and math at Sylvan!
  • Carol Halstead, Tutor

    Carol Halstead

    Tutor

    Carol is the Early Intervention Teacher for the Blair Community Schools with a gift for working with children with multiple needs. While Carol has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in discovering how best to help a student learn. Carol earned her Bachelor's Degree from the State University College at Buffalo, N.Y., and her Master's Degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. When Carol isn't at Sylvan, you will find her spending time with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, or reading. 
  • Erin Haddock, Tutor

    Erin Haddock

    Tutor

    Erin Haddock is a Middle School Teacher in Omaha, NE with a gift for working with kids. While Erin has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in math tutoring. She studied at Dordt College and has a degree in Elementary Education and Middle School Math and Science. When Erin isn't at Sylvan, you'll find her singing with her choir, Madrigali Et Al, knitting, or spending time with her husband and pets, Fidgit (dog), and Dormeowmu (cat).
  • Sara Alswager, Tutor

    Sara Alswager

    Tutor

    Sara is an elementary music teacher in Millard, Nebraska with additional training and experience in intervention and tutoring. Sara loves gardening, hiking, swimming, going on walks, writing, reading, and making connections with people she cares about! As a child, Sara wanted to be a musician or oceanographer. Sara loves teaching reading at Sylvan! 
  • Kamryn Pullen, Tutor

    Kamryn Pullen

    Tutor

    We are happy to have Kamryn at Sylvan. Kamryn loves her dogs, Peaches, and Percy! If she could live anywhere in the world, she would live in Costa Rica and explore the rainforest. She teaches because she wants to help kids get excited about learning. When she was a kid, she wanted to be a women's soccer Olympic gold medalist!
  • Micayla Brown, Tutor

    Micayla Brown

    Tutor

    Micayla is a Lincoln native, studying secondary education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is passionate about literature and has minors in Language Arts, Drama, and Public Speaking. They love music, reading, and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to have the opportunity to help students and gain experience for her future career.
  • Susan Morton, Tutor

    Susan Morton

    Tutor

    Susan is a retired secondary math teacher who taught advanced math in Oklahoma for over 15 years. Prior to teaching, Susan worked in finance after completing her degree in Accounting from Ohio University. She recently relocated to Omaha to be closer to her 7 grandchildren, and she enjoys reading, traveling, and playing with her Great Danes. 
  • Marissa Roh, Owner

    Marissa Roh

    Owner

    Marissa is a former CPA, graduating from Doane College. She chose a career in the tutoring business because it's been a huge part of her family since 1996. She loves spending time with family, enjoying the outdoors (paddle boarding, fishing, etc.), and a good book. Marissa loves seeing the impact Sylvan has made on families and the surrounding community.
  • Wes Miller, Executive Director

    Wes Miller

    Executive Director

    Wes began his career at Sylvan as an instructor in 2001. He currently serves as the Lincoln Center Director and the Sylvan of Nebraska Executive Director. He earned his B.S. in Elementary Education and became the Education Director at Sylvan in 2002. He has also worked in the social work field and spent time traveling the states as an account manager in Healthcare. Sylvan has always felt like home to Wes and we welcome his 17 years of Sylvan experience!
  • Amanda Folks, Regional Marketing Director

    Amanda Folks

    Regional Marketing Director

    Amanda joined Sylvan of Nebraska as Center Director before transitioning to Regional Marketing Director. She is responsible for the content and outreach that keeps Sylvan engaged in our communities. Prior to working with Sylvan, Amanda worked for several family-support nonprofit organizations. She holds a BS in Child Development and an MS in Program Management from UNL. Amanda is a military spouse, a mom, and a yoga enthusiast who loves Sylvan! 
  • Sara Zents, Tutor

    Sara Zents

    Tutor

    Sara is an Omaha native who is passionate about teaching. She loves reading, writing, learning languages, and music. She graduated from Creighton University with a degree in Classical Languages, and is excited to bring her enthusiasm for learning to Sylvan's students.