Meet Our Team

Candace Harris

Reading, Writing, Study Skills, SAT/ACT Prep Teacher

Certified Teacher-  B.A. Elementary Education, M.A in Administration and Supervision from Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.
Candace joined the Schertz team in 2008.   She has over 32 years of classroom teaching experience.  She retired from the Schertz/Cibolo ISD in 2007.

DEBRA KATZ

READING, WRITING, MATH, BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, SAT/ACT Prep Teacher

Certified Teacher-  B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
Debra joined the Sylvan of Schertz team in  2019.  She has 28 years of teaching experience currently in Judson ISD at Wagner High School.  Previously Debra taught in the Schertz-Cibolo district and in Utah.  In her spare time, you’ll find Debra working with IMPACT, a club affiliated with the San Antonio Water Systems, doing projects that relate to water.

Janet Hicks

Director of Education

Certified Teacher- B.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University, M.S. in Early Childhood Education for Corpus Christi A&M University.
Janet joined the team of Schertz in 2023 as the Director of Education. She has 30 years of teaching experience. She has worked for Corpus Christi ISD, Goliad ISD and SCUCISD where she retired in 2016. She has been with Sylvan since 2017. She started as a teacher, then moved into a part-time Direction of Education and contract services. She has been a full time Director of Education since 2022.

Aneesah El-Amin

Center Director

Associate degree in early childhood, Director Certification, CDA.
Aneesah joined the team of Schertz in 2023 as the Center Director. She has 23 years in the field of Education. She has worked for Head Start and Family Associates. She has been with Sylvan since 2023.

Tony Marini

Math, Reading, SAT/ACT Prep Teacher

Certified Teacher- B.A. Mathematics / Education from North Park University, Chicago, IL.
Tony has tutored students at our Bandera, South San Antonio, Schertz and New Braunfels locations since 2011.   Tony has over 30 years of teaching experience. While Tony has many tutoring talents, he finds the greatest joy in watching student learn new skills.

Monica Stolp

Reading, Math, Chemistry, Physics Teacher

Certified Teacher- B.S. in Psychology from Texas State, San Marcos
Monica joined the Sylvan of New Braunfels team in 2021.  She is currently the remote learning teacher at St. Paul Lutheran School in New Braunfels.  Prior to this, Monica was the lead teacher at Canyon Lake Kids Academy.

Joel Cunningham

Reading, Writing, Study Skills Teacher, ACT/SAT ASVAB

Certified Teacher- B.S. Business Management from University of Tampa, M.B.A. Business Management from National University.
Joel is a former middle school ELAR, science and social studies teacher in the Schertz/ Cibolo/ Universal City School District.  Before teaching school, he was a commissioned officer in the United States Airforce.  Joel joined the Sylvan Learning of Schertz team in 2022. Joel loves working with kids because he has seen some of the other not so nice areas of the word where he noticed that freedom of choice for all people begins with the ability to read and write. Joel and his wife own show dogs AKC/UKC, so when he isn’t teachings, he is showing his dogs.

Hali Clough

Reading and Math Teacher

Certified Teacher- B.S. in Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio, M.S. in Literacy Education from Wayland University
Hali is currently a Pre-K teacher in Marion ISD.  She formerly taught Pre-k, Kindergarten, and 1st grade in Seguin ISD, Irving ISD, and Arlington ISD. Hali joined the Sylvan Learning Center of Schertz location in 2022.

Jeri Geren

Center Assistant/ Assessment Proctor/ Tutor

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Texas A&M, San Antonio, Associate Degree in Kinesiology.
Jeri joined our Sylvan of Schertz team in 2019.  She enjoys working with students of all ages.  Jeri oversees the instructional hours and ensures that all students are well taken care of.

Chrissy Laubach

Math, Study Skills, SAT/ACT Prep teacher

Bachelors in Business Administration, Masters of Business Administration of Healthcare Administration, Masters in Business Administration

Chrissy joined the Sylvan of Schertz team in January of 2023.  Currently she is a project manager/ protocol Coordinator for a Cancer Research Network.  In this position, it is necessary for Chrissy to process and understand large amount of information in order to establish protocol from medical trials.

Gene Foerster

Reading and Math Teacher

Mr. Gene has studied business and accounting at Upper Iowa University in Des Moines and Baylor University in Waco. A former city administrator in Bandera, Texas and teacher at St. Peter and Paul private school,  he joined the Sylvan of Schertz and New Braunfels team in 2017.

Josiah Rodriguez

Reading and Math Teacher

Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies from UTSA.

Josiah joined Sylvan in September 2023. He graduated cum laude from UTSA. He is currently a substitute teacher for NEISD. Josiah struggled with reading and math when he was younger. His hope and goal is to be that one person that he wished he had when he was in school. Josiah loved to read, play video games and spend time with family and friends. He is greatly involved in his church community.