Meet Our Team

Donna Aggugelo

Center Director

Donna has been with Sylvan for 17 years. She has a  BA in Elementary Education for grades K-8 and a minor in psychology and Spanish. Her masters degree is in curriculum and instruction. She has had 30 years of teaching experience with 10 years teaching in Texas and 20 years teaching in the Hazelwood School District. Donna has been a director at Sylvan for 5 years. The success she’s seen the students achieve over the years at Sylvan has been very rewarding and keeps her motivated. At home Donna enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and watching baseball, football and hockey games.

Ashleah Leverich

Director of Education

Before moving to St. Louis, Ashleah taught school in Northern California for almost a decade. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis and a master’s in Education from University of Rochester. She loves helping young learners learn, make connections, and grow confident in their abilities.

Shera Ross

Tutor

Shera is a retired History teacher in St. Louis, with a gift for working with kids. While Shera has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in tutoring Early Literacy and Academic Reading to our Sylvan students.  She received her B.A. in Education with a concentration in Social Studies from Maryville University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, as well as a Masters in Educational Administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis.  When Shera  isn’t at Sylvan, her favorite activities are spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, and playing with her two little dogs, Prince and Princess!

James Grant

Tutor

James has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Lindenwood University. He is currently working on his master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. He has been tutoring math since his senior year of high school and loves helping others to learn. In high school he was recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction, competed in Scholar Quiz Bowl, and achieved a 99th percentile composite score on his ACT. At Lindenwood University, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA, was Vice President of the Math Club, and received the 2021 Leroy E. Evans Mathematics Student of the Year Award with a unanimous vote. He values and loves learning new things, which is why he works at Sylvan.

Mario Jauregui

Tutor

Mario is a recent college graduate who began tutoring during his undergraduate years. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics from Washington University in St. Louis, graduating cum laude. He has worked on academic research applying methods from statistics and mathematics, especially their applications in the fields of biophysics and finance. At Sylvan, he finds joy in teaching mathematics and ACT/SAT concepts to our students. At home, he likes to play guitar or piano and spend time with friends.

Shonda Northern

Tutor

Hello, My name is Shonda, and spreading knowledge and equipping students to have a love for being a lifelong learner is my passion. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary and Early Childhood  from Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, Missouri. In 2013 I earned my Masters of Educational Leadership, Elementary and Secondary Administration from the  University of Missouri, St. Louis. In 2022 I earned my Special Reading Certification Kindergarten through Twelfth grade from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri. With 17 years of experience in education, I am currently an Academic Interventionist at a St. Louis County School District. I enjoy thrifting, cooking, and spending time with my family and friends. I am the mother of an amazing, charismatic 12 year old daughter, Kylee.

Kelly Selby

Tutor

Kelly has an Associates degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, a Bachelors in Education with an emphasis in Middle School Language Arts, and a Masters Degree in Special Education. She has taught and tutored in the various subjects of reading, ELA, math, and history in the general and special education settings for 11 years. She says,” I want everyone I teach to walk away knowing that they have the ability to learn and be successful in life.”

Micah Schwartz

Tutor

My name is Micah and i am from St. Louis. In May of 2024 I graduated from Webster University with an Education Studiea Degree. I have been a teacher’s assistant for two summers at Barrett’s Elementary in Parkway and Avery Elementary in Webster Groves. I have a passion for teaching in early childhood and did two internships for my Senior Education Research Class. These were conducted at the J Early Childhood Center in Creve Coeur and Dayspring Academy and Performing Arts Center in Maryland Heights. I am comfortable working with all students from Kindergarten through 6th grade in reading, writing, and math. I also enjoy golf and music for hobbies and I am the youngest of four in a close family.

Michael Sihilling

Tutor

I have an undergraduate degree in economics with a minor in history from U.C.L.A. and a Master’s Degree in International Business from Thunderbird School of Global Management. I completed post graduate studies in economics at Pembroke College, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. I have tutored children from different places all over the world. I provide support with all levels from K-12 in math and reading. I believe all students can succeed with the right support, and Sylvan can provide that. The most rewarding aspect of this work is seeing students meet their goals. My favorite moments are when it’s clear that a student has more confidently understood a concept or process that they previously struggled with.