Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Billings consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Billings 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 Billings!
Olga Prather
Center Director - Owner Tutoring Specialist
Olga Prather is the proud new owner of Sylvan Learning Center of Billings, MT. If you asked Olga, what she was meant to do with her life, she would answer, “Teach children, help them find a passion for learning that they can carry throughout their life.” A few highlights of her teaching career include: • Top performing teacher in the state of Colorado based off state student assessments and growth • Teacher of the Year • Curriculum instructor and writer for a top childcare center in Colorado • IT specialist and technology teacher • Nomination for “Disney Teacher of the Year” • Elementary education teaching certification and K-12 social studies broadfield teaching certification.
Darcy Stracke
Director of Education-Tutoring Specialist
Darcy Stracke oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of tutors in Billings, MT. A former teacher and coach in Colorado and Montana, Darcy brings a wealth of knowledge to Sylvan of Billings. She graduated with a masters in education. When Darcy isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her coaching and spending time with her family.
Judy Swoboda
Teacher-Tutoring Specialist
Judy is a tutor in Billings, MT She taught English and French in the Billings Public Schools for over 35 years. She has carried her English background to Sylvan where she tutors both ACT and SAT prep classes. She also proctors reading. In her spare time she likes to garden, quilt, hike, do yoga and take care of her family farm. She and her husband spend as much time as possible with their grandson Carson.
Allison Woten
Teacher
Allison is a teacher in Billings, MT with a gift for working with young kids. While Allison has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in Beginning Reading tutoring. She studied at MSU-B. When Allison isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her caring for the preschoolers at Young Families.
Peg Ostwalt
Teacher-Tutoring Specialist
Peg Ostwalt has proudly been at Sylvan in Billings for 17 years as a math instructor. While she has many teaching talents, Peg finds the greatest joy in teaching ALL levels of math. Peg has a BS and MA in math and education. When Peg isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her attending sports events and spending time with her amazing family.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (406) 545-3643 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.
