Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Ankeny consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Ankeny know how to engage and motivate each child in a personal way—building confidence and smiles, as well as skills and better scores. We selectively choose tutors who know local curriculum and can link Sylvan lessons to what’s being taught in school.
Get to know our tutors and staff in Ankeny!
Jody Simpson
Regional Director
Jody has been with Sylvan for over 24 years. Jody conducts conferences, assists families with their needs and ensures that our center is always upholding the Sylvan Pledge! She loves to build relationships with families and create life long partnerships. In her spare time, Jody loves to spend time with her family, attend all of her kids events, travel, and try new recipes.
Courtney Coakley
Center Director
Courtney has dedicated five years to Sylvan Learning, where she has served in various roles, including Tutor, Director of Education, and Center Director. With a degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University, Courtney has a strong foundation in fostering academic growth and a passion for helping students succeed.
Her favorite part of working at Sylvan is collaborating with families to identify personalized strategies for meeting their educational goals. Courtney is committed to making a lasting impact in students’ lives by providing tailored support every step of the way.
When she’s not at Sylvan, Courtney enjoys spending quality time with her son, Easton, and cheering on the Cyclones!
Jennifer Schafer
Tutor
Jennifer has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She’s owned a daycare, preschool, and is a published author. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with friends and family, listen to music, cook, and watch paranormal shows!
Joe Bagley
Tutor
Joe is a tutor in Ankeny, Iowa with a gift for working with kids. While Joe has many tutoring talents, he finds the greatest joy in reading tutoring. He studied at Grand View University and Drake University. Joe is a Spanish teacher at Southeast Polk! When he isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find him brushing up on his Spanish skills or spending time with his fiancé and his puppy.
Heather Towne
Administrative Assistant
Jeri Voss
Tutor
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (515) 635-1032 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.
