Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Arden consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Arden 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 Arden!
Anthea Rose
Director of Admissions
Anthea graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Education Studies & Human Relations, Creative Writing/English, and a certificate in Resilience & Trauma-Informed Perspectives. She is currently pursuing a masters in School Counseling from Western Carolina University. At Sylvan, she enjoys making a fun and adaptive learning environment for all students. In her free time, she enjoys painting and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Frankie Gazaway
Director of Education
Frankie has 25 years of experience in education including public & private schooling as well as homeschooling. Her degree is in Early Childhood Education from Bob Jones University. Her greatest interest is her family- she has five sons, the oldest of whom is a Marine. She is a huge advocate of teaching the whole child and ensuring the best education for all students. In her spare time, she is an avid reader and loves to cook and try new recipes.
Gretchen Kanupp
Lead Teacher
Gretchen graduated from Mars Hill College in 1992, and has taught grades first through third in Buncombe County. She has over thirty years of teaching experience. She joined our teachers at Sylvan in June of 2024, and enjoys traveling in her free time.
Kristy Neff
Tutor
Kristy is a teacher in Hendersonville, NC with a gift for working with kids. While Kristy has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in tutoring English Language and Literature. She studied at Winthrop University. When Kristy isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her exercising, reading, and spending time with her husband and her dog.
Patty Burgess
Instructor
Patty has two degrees from Guilford College: a bachelor’s in early & Intermediate Education, and a master’s in educational leadership. She has taught all grades PK-8, as well as being as STEM coach and Early Intervention Coordinator. She enjoys being with children and her family and learning new things. When Patty isn’t at Sylvan she enjoys reading, walking, gardening, and yoga.
Jessica Carroll
Instructor/Admin
Jessica graduated from Isothermal Community College with an associate’s in science/mathematics, and is graduating in December of 2024 with a bachelors in business management. She enjoys playing board games and Dungeons & Dragons and making Diamond Art.
Tracy Levi
SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Instructor
Tracy Levi holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a master’s degree In civil engineering. For eleven years she served as a civil engineer in Florida, working primarily with storm water management and water quality programs. Since moving to Asheville, she has enjoyed teaching Hebrew and Judaica to religious school students and teaching reading and math at Sylvan. She also teaches SAT/ACT math through our LIVE, online classes. In her spare time, Tracy enjoys the company of her two daughters and outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. She also has a passion for music and plays keyboard in a local band.
Melissa Deloach
SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Director/Professor
Melissa Deloach joined the Sylvan team in May 2019. By day she’s the Director of the Scholar’s Academy for Spartanburg County, but in the evenings and on Sundays, she manages our college prep program, including SAT/ACT prep and College Reading Strategies. Melissa holds degrees from Clemson University and Converse College. When she isn’t helping teens prepare for college either here or at the Scholar’s Academy, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Dr. Jeff French
SAT/ACT - College Prep LIVE, Online Professor
Dr. Jeff, as his Sylvan students call him, graduated from Furman University in 1995. He then held a variety of college-level roles as graduate student, program coordinator, and instructor for the University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College while also serving as a zookeeper at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia. With a focus on genetics and ecology, Dr. French finished his graduate work in biology and currently serves as Chair of Biology and Assistant Dean of Science and Math at North Greenville University. In his “free time”, he enjoys preparing students for the SAT and ACT as a LIVE, online instructor for Sylvan.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (828) 237-4019 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.