Meet Our Team

Samantha Allen

Centre Director

Samantha began working with Sylvan in 2013, first as an instructor, then a Director of Education, and is now the Centre Director for Coquitlam and Burnaby. She enjoys getting to know her students and their families, and helping them set achievable goals. Samantha believes in challenging students but allowing them to showcase their strengths as well. She has a Bachelor of Arts (English) and a Bachelor of Education from Simon Fraser University. She previously taught in ESL camps for international students, at a special education school, and spent a year teaching abroad in the UK. All of these experiences helped confirm her passion for education and seeing students of all ages succeed.

Chelsea Smith

Director of Education

Chelsea has always had a passion for education and decided at a young age that her career path would lead her to teach. Chelsea completed a Bachelor of Arts (English) in 2008 and went on to complete a Bachelor of Education in 2010, both at the University of Northern British Columbia. Chelsea spent five years living and teaching in England and then joined the Sylvan Coquitlam team as an instructor in 2015 and now as a Director of Education. Chelsea has a detailed knowledge of the Sylvan programs, with a specialty in Early Literacy. A parent herself, Chelsea knows the importance of giving a child self-confidence and skills to reach their full potential.

Ava is our Director of Education who has recently relocated to British Columbia from Las Vegas! She has been Centre Director and Director of Education at three Sylvan Learning Centers in the southwest, and loves being involved in Sylvan! She has always been passionate about helping students reach their potential to the fullest. Ava has a Masters degree in Education from the University of Virginia, and also has taught school in Maryland, USA. She enjoys hiking in the nearby parks and around Port Moody, as well as spending time with her two grandsons!