Meet Our Team

Elizabeth Lopez

Assistant Director of Education

Director

Elizabeth was born in Los Angeles, CA, and has remained local throughout her K-12 education. After graduating from Arroyo High School, she went on to pursue her AA degree in Child Development. Through her experiences in various school sessions like after-school programs and summer camps, Elizabeth realized that she wanted to gain additional experience in a learning environment. This led her to want to pursue a teacher’s aid position in an effort to help students strengthen their academic achievement. Aside from education, Elizabeth enjoys hiking, spending time with family, and visiting museums.

Marilyn Del Rio

Director

Director

Marilyn Del Rio has been with the Sylvan team for 9 years supporting centers all over Los Angeles in various roles and found her passion for marketing as she developed relationships with partner schools and businesses. Her favorite part of working with Sylvan though has been helping families find solutions for their child(ren) and seeing the confidence grow with their skills. Marilyn is excited to work with your child(ren) as a Senior Director of the San Gabriel Valley. When she’s not in the center, you’ll find her at the nearest dog park with her fur baby, Gigi, or enjoying music at a local concert.

Gabby J.

Center Assistant and Instructor

Gabby was born and raised in Pasadena, California. Gabby attended Pasadena City College and graduated with an AA in Psychology and Communications. She is currently attending CSULB for her bachelor’s in Communications. Gabby loves working with children and understands what a profound experience it is to provide a safe, welcoming, and fun learning experience. Gabby is a big mental health advocate and tries to always ensure that her students here always feel safe and understood. During her spare time, Gabby loves watching films and is an avid book reader. She loves to go to museums, concerts, and try out new restaurants. Her favorite place to visit is the beach with her dog.

Lauren A.

Lead Teacher

Lauren was born and raised in Monrovia, CA. She graduated from CSULA with a degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. After volunteering in domestic violence women and children shelter homes throughout college, she realized her passion was to help students who grew up in troubled homes realize a love of learning. Working with students has made her happy, knowing how much of an impact she can have on a child who wants a better life. Outside of Sylvan, Lauren promotes self-care and mental health. She loves traveling and visiting new places, hiking, and working out. She wants to continue to grow as a person and to achieve more dreams and goals that are in store for her life.

Sean T.

Teacher

Sean grew up in Eagle Rock, CA, a small neighborhood in the LA area, and he attended Eagle Rock High School. Having always struggled with mathematics throughout his educational career, he realized the impact that a good teacher can have on a child. His passion for teaching developed when he interned for the Davis Joint Unified School District as a math teacher at the Davis Senior High School and Holmes for Middle School from 2012-2014. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Math from UC Davis and his single-subject teaching credential in Math from Cal State LA. Outside of teaching, he enjoys playing billiards, performing magic tricks, and eating at local restaurants with friends and co-workers.

John C.

Teacher

John lives in the San Gabriel Valley with his wife and three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, studying the Catholic faith, and playing the violin. John has taught at Bishop Amat High School since 2010 where he teaches physics and has also taught algebra, trigonometry, and AP statistics. Before moving to California, John taught Physics at Missouri State University for six years. John has tutored since he was a student in college and loves to talk about mathematics and science.

Kelly F

Tutor

Kelly is originally from upstate New York and moved to Los Angeles about 8 years ago.  Having worked with students throughout her career in arts education and with Girl Scouts of America, she went on to pursue and receive a Master’s in Elementary Education from Brandman University. Since then, she has found fun and unique ways to support all students in their individual learning journeys.  Some of her hobbies outside of education are working behind the scenes for theater productions, exploring new places, and volunteering in the arts.

Diana B

Admin

Diana is trauma-informed youth advocate and aspiring counselor born and raised in Pasadena, California. She is an alumna San Diego State University with a Bachelors degree in Sociology and minor in Africana Studies Cum Laude. Diana is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree online in School Counseling and Mental Health and Wellness at New York University. She is a member of the American School Counselor Association, American Sociological Association, National Society of Leadership and Success, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Supporting students of all ages and backgrounds to provide them with the resources needed for individual success and their positive development is Diana’s greatest source of inspiration. Diana has various ambitious goals that are closely aligned with Sylvan’s company beliefs and mission statement. She cherishes the building relationships that she is forming with the students and staff. In her time at Sylvan, Diana has felt that the professional and educational experience has come full circle and can become a stepping stone to her counseling career

Outside of work, Diana enjoys traveling the world, attending concerts, exploring different cultures, and trying different foods. She also has a passion for painting and learning ASL which she both taught herself to do. Sometimes, you may catch Diana binging an anime series or playing video games.

Todd Crabtree

Executive Director

Todd is our Executive Director and has a life-long passion for helping kids achieve academic success.  Todd is the first to graduate from college in his family and served in the Marine Corp for twelve years.  He has been running learning centers since 1998 and he fully understands the impact a good education can have on a child’s life.  A native Southern California, Todd studied at Cal State Fullerton where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Theater Arts. When Todd isn’t working he’s a full-time husband and Dad, driving his son from one practice to the next.  He fully understands what every parent goes through, trying to help their child become the best he or she can be.

Fabio Marquez

Regional Director

Fabio Marquez is the Regional Director for Sylvan and has been with the company for 7 years. In the Regional Director role, he oversees seven centers and is responsible for operations, sales, and ongoing training. Fabio attended UC Irvine where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics along with a Minor in Latin American Studies. He comes to Sylvan with over a decade of tutoring and directing experience. In 2018, he was nominated for the Center Director of the Year Award. This award spans all centers in North America. Fabio enjoys working with families in order to make an ongoing plan for success.

Sara H.

Director of Marketing

Sara is the Director of Marketing for 8 Sylvan Learning centers in Southern California. In addition to overseeing all local digital marketing campaigns across her centers, Sara conducts and manages partnerships with school districts across Los Angeles. Sara’s passion for education began during her time at California State University, Long Beach, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. During her time in college, she studied abroad in Oxford England, and taught English in South Korea. When she is not at Sylvan, she’s hiking and exploring the local mountains, hitting the beach, or scuba diving the Channel Islands.

Cat Chittick

Education/Operations Coordinator

After receiving her degree from Wayne State University in Michigan, Cat moved to Los Angeles and spent several years teaching Shakespeare in the Beyond Borders: Arts and Language for Youth program and subbing in classrooms in the city. After accepting a job at Sylvan over 20 years ago, she realized she had found her new “home.” Cat has worked in many different roles, and loves talking to parents and teachers who know that Sylvan has been a lifeline for so many students. Currently, she is responsible for operations, program management, and ongoing training of all staff members. In her free time, Cat enjoys baking, doing anything crafty, and spending time with her husband and two children.