Meet Our Team

Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Grand Rapids consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Grand Rapids 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 Grand Rapids!

Chris Handzel
Director
Director
As a Center Director at Sylvan Learning of Grand Rapids, Chris Handzel leads the operations and educational areas for our tutoring services. He enjoys assembling and coaching our teacher team to ensure the highest quality of instruction is delivered. He is passionate about childhood development and encouraging young people to reach their full potential. In his free time, Chris enjoys sports and most all outdoor activities with spouse and five children.

Jessica Rollins
Executive Director/Owner
After working in the Sylvan family for 15 years, Jessica and her husband George had the pleasure of becoming owners in March of 2017. Jessica’s favorite aspect of Sylvan is the ability to partner with community organizations and schools. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Education from CMU and a Master’s in Educational Psychology from EMU. Jessica also serves as the chair for the Dewitt Public Schools Foundation, where her children attend school. When she isn’t at Sylvan, Jessica enjoys vegetable gardening and camping.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (616) 552-8179 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.
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