Meet Our Team

John and Audrey Waterfield

Owners/Directors

John and Audrey Waterfield opened the new Sylvan Learning Center of Wilton in Nov. 2022. This dynamic teaching duo has 20+ years of educational experience between them.

John received his BA in History and Masters in Education from SUNY Albany. Before becoming a Sylvan teacher in 2016, John worked for BOCES as a substitute teacher in many schools throughout the capital region. Now, as an owner, John manages both in-school and in-center academic programs, but he stays true to his passion by teaching Sylvan students every week.

Audrey received her Masters in Education from SUNY Albany in 2012 and was certified by NYS in 2013. Before joining the Sylvan family in 2014, she taught Social Studies at the Brookwood juvenile detention center and was a GED teacher for YouthBuild Schenectady.

John and Audrey grew up locally and graduated from Niskayuna High School. After college, John and Audrey returned to Niskayuna to set down roots. They married in 2013 and are the proud parents of two beautiful young boys.

Hailey Vannattan

Teacher

Director

Hailey joined our Sylvan team in February of 2024.  She will be taking the position of Director of Education in the Glenville, NY Sylvan Center, but for now she’ll be working and training in our Wilton location.  Hailey earned her Masters in Educational Psychology from the University at Albany in 2023.  She is currently working on her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Perdue University.  When she’s not guiding young minds at Sylvan, she is sharing the joy of American Sign Language at SUNY Schenectady. We are so proud to have her on our team!

Donna Hayles

Teacher

Donna Hayles started at Sylvan in April of 2023.
She has over 20 years of teaching experience and has taught English at many levels both in Jamaica and the US.
Donna is currently an Associate Professor of English at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury. She is also working on her PhD of English at the University at Albany.  She is excited to add Sylvan to her already impressive teaching resume! In our Wilton center, Donna teaches the Sylvan reading, writing, study skills, and SAT Verbal programs.
When Donna is not at Sylvan, she prefers to be outdoors. You may run into her while on a nature walk in the Adirondacks.  She’s also an avid runner.  We are honored to welcome Donna to the team!

Tazmirra Boehmke

Teacher

Taz started at Sylvan in Feb. 2023.
They originally started their educating journey as a Nanny. Through this job, they discovered a love and talent for helping children grow and learn. After graduating with a BA in Spanish from Hartwick College, they started working on their Early Childhood Ed Certificate at SUNY Schenectady.
Taz was a teacher at Kindercare in Niskayuna, NY. They were responsible for care and assisting early academic development for toddlers and preschoolers.
Taz teaches our early literacy, reading, and writing programs. They excel at working with our youngest budding scholars and we are lucky to have them here! Taz loves Fantasy and Sci-Fi, in all forms, and has a twin but is one of a kind.

Katey joined our team in May 2023. She has a BA and MA in Languages from the University of Memphis with concentrations in French and English. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Ed. Policy and Leadership at SUNY Albany.
Katey’s focus on language enables her to teach students of all ages. She has taught foundational language skills to preschoolers, French at the college level, plus all grades between.

Katey is ready to help prep your high-schooler for the French Language Regents Checkpoint A/B. She also teaches Sylvan early literacy, reading, writing, and math.

Katey is a big Star Wars fan and has 3 dogs aptly named Kylo, Ahsoka, & Sparky.  We are thrilled to add her to our teaching force!

Lynn Sorrentino

Teacher

Lynn joined our Sylvan family in July 2023.
She has a B.A. in English Education, an M.S. in Curriculum Development & Design, and an SAS certificate in School District Administration.
Lynn is currently an adjunct English professor at SUNY Adirondack. She previously served as a secondary English & writing teacher for over 35 years. Lynn has a gift for inspiring students to reach their fullest potential.
In her free time, Lynn loves spending time with family, being active, and trying new recipes!

Josh McCann

Teacher

Josh McCann has a deep background in education, and we’re honored to have him working with us here at Sylvan of Wilton.
Josh graduated from Penn State University in 1999 with a Bachelors degree in Mathematics. He then became a Sylvan teacher in Philidelphia, PA in 2001. He went on to get his Masters degrees in Math Education and Educational Administration from Widener University. He clocked over 10 years of experience as an educator and administrator in Philidelphia eventually becoming the Dean of Students. Josh also worked for Empire State College from 2012-2020 teaching mathematics and evaluating aspiring teachers in the field. We are so lucky to have Josh working with us!