Meet Our Team

Ken has been in the education field since 1993. His passion for education dates back to tutoring kids in a Big Buddy program in the ‘80’s. “Once I saw the difference an individualized approach can have on a child’s learning, I knew I would work in education in some capacity!” After 20+ years with different tutoring organizations, Ken was attracted to Sylvan based on it’s reputation, people and innovation. Sylvan’s recent investment in an iPad driven educational platform for delivering instruction is unique in the tutoring world, and allows for the optimal integration of a high-touch, teacher-driven learning experience and a high-tech, digital environment that fuels results. Ken bought the Lake Zurich and Schaumburg Sylvan locations in 2014 and is actively involved day-to-day as Regional Director. Ken’s undergraduate degree is from the University of Notre Dame, and he has a Masters from Harvard University. When not at Sylvan, you can find him shuttling his three children around Barrington, coaching one of their teams, or playing softball (not quite retired yet!)

Jill has been with Sylvan since 2004. She joined the Lake Zurich Sylvan team in 2019 after transferring from another location. As Director of Education, she oversees the educational integrity of our programs, meets with parents for conferences, and manages and trains our tutors. Jill holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a Masters in Special Education.  She has experience in Elementary and Middle School settings. She brings a wealth of knowledge to Sylvan and a passion for providing top-notch programs to our students.  Jill’s favorite thing about working at Sylvan is watching her Sylvan students grow their academic self-confidence.

Heather received her Bachelor of Science degree in education from Youngstown State University and joined Sylvan in 2001. Heather believes in the power of personalized lessons for all students. She enjoys meeting with incoming and current families to develop the best learning plan for each student. She knows that academic success isn’t just about teaching facts but also about building confidence and a love for learning. Heather enjoys reading, traveling, the beach and spending time with her friends and family. 

Robert has been involved in education since 2018. He has worked as a substitute teacher, teaching classes ranging from Pre-K all the way through to high school. He has been working at Sylvan in Lake Zurich since 2020 and enjoys working with both students and their families to ensure that they receive the best possible quality education. His goal is to ensure that everyone works to be a lifelong learner! When he is not at Sylvan, he takes part in historical reenactments with a group of his friends, and does large events in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri! 

I have been with Sylvan Lake Zurich since 2005. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BSEE degree and I worked as an electrical engineer for 10 years. I tutor the Sylvan Math Essentials, Advanced Math, and Study Skills Programs. In addition, I provide homework support in Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Statistics, and Finite Math. I also teach the Math and Science portion of the ACT Preparation Class. I greatly enjoy helping students realize their maximum potential in mathematics.