Meet Our Team

Amber Castillo

Executive Director

Amber Castillo oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of tutors. Amber is a California-credentialed Multiple Subjects teacher who taught grades 1-5 for eleven years. An Air Force veteran, she graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master’s in Human Relations and from Boston University with a Bachelor’s in Linguistics and minors in International Relations and Mathematics. When Amber isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her with her family appreciating the arts and outdoors.

Julie Baldwin

Tutor

Julie is a tutor with the gift of working with students of all ages and has done so for over 25 years. Julie is a trained literacy expert with the Lawndale Elementary School District. While she has many talents, Julie finds her greatest joy in teaching Literacy and Phonics skills. Julie currently studies at El Camino College as a life-long learner.

Thajilah Olaiya

Tutor

Thajilah is a Tutor who loves working with kids. She holds a strong passion for knowledge and education which she expresses in the way she works with youth. Thajilah has studied and taught all around the world. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate for History at the University of Glasgow. Thajilah enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

Elizabeth Tew

Tutor

Elizabeth is Tutor at Sylvan with an extensive background working with kids. Elizabeth has taught formerly in a classroom for many years, she holds a teaching credential in Special Education. She is a proud parent of 3 university students and understands firsthand the importance of education. When she isn’t at Sylvan, She loves enjoying music and spending time with her family.

Daysi Garcia

Tutor

Daysi is a Clinical Research Assistant completing her degree in Molecular Biology at Cal State University with a gift for working with kids. While Daysi has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in science and math tutoring. When Daysi isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her with her friends and family and making contributions to the future of science and medicine.

John Farley

Tutor

John is a teacher in El Segundo and Hermosa Beach, CA. He has a knack for helping students make connections between their learning and their everyday lives. He is especially fond of reading and literacy education. John has an extensive tutoring and teaching background, and is also currently a fourth-grade classroom teacher. When not teaching at Sylvan, John enjoys playing music and singing, as well as walking and traveling.

Angelica Tipon

Tutor

Angelica is a tutor in El Segundo and Hermosa Beach with a passion for working with kids. She studied at Loyola Marymount University to obtain her Masters of Arts in special education, and then continued her studies at the University of California, Los Angeles to secure her Education Specialist credentials. She has an abundance of experience teaching and aiding in schools including La Ballona Elementary School, Richmond Street School, and Towers Elementary. Outside of Sylvan, Angelica enjoys adventuring and traveling!

Elizabeth Ruiz

Tutor

Elizabeth is registered behavioral technician (RBT) for the Wiseburn School District who recently completed her masters program in Applied Behavioral Analysis. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with her degree in Education Sciences. She has special expertise in math and reading and likes to make learning a fun experience. When Elizabeth isn’t at Sylvan you’ll find her reading a good book or with her family eating delicious foods.