Meet Our Team

Rachel Atkins Cummings

Director

With years of experience at Sylvan, Rachel oversees the education and operations of our center in Ballantyne. With a Bachelor’s in Geography from Virginia Tech and a Master’s in Environmental Management and Sustainability from James Madison University, Rachel has always been passionate about helping students of all ages reach their goals!  When she’s not at Sylvan, Rachel enjoys finding new coffee shops with her husband, hiking, kayaking, camping, and managing their small business!

Wendy Schuster

Regional Director

As Regional Director, Wendy oversees our centers in Charlotte – Mooresville, Huntersville, Ballantyne, Matthews, & Union County. A former classroom teacher and administrator, Wendy chose a career in the tutoring business because she wanted a more personal experience with the children. She obtained her Master’s in Ed. Leadership at University of GA. When Wendy isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her walking her dog at the park or watching UGA football.

Cindy Presnell

Admissions Director

Cindy has been an integral part of our Sylvan team since 2004. As our Admissions Director, Cindy introduces parents to Sylvan, and we don’t know what we would do without her! When Cindy isn’t at Sylvan, she is training her dog, spending time with her family and friends, and looking forward to trips to the beach.

Ms. Sharon is a Lead Tutor at Slyvan of Ballantyne. Ms. Sharon has an M.S. in Education from the State University of NY and is a Certified Master Teacher. Sharon’s teaching career has spanned 25 years. Since then, she has tutored privately, as well as three Sylvan locations. Sharon joined the Sylvan Ballantyne team in 2013. Sharon tutors Beginning Reading, Math, Academic Reading, Study Skills, Academic Writing, Advanced Reading, and SAT / ACT College Prep. Working with all ages and subjects makes the job exciting!

Mark joined the Sylvan of Ballantyne team in May of 2018. He helps bring excellent customer service and assistance to our students and families. Mark enjoys working with children and finds many ways to get them motivated and excited about learning. He currently is a sophomore in high school and plans to attend college for computer science. Mark enjoys going out with his friends and spending time with his family.

Claire is a Lead Tutor, Math & Algebra Edge Tutor, SAT/ACT, Upper Level Math & Homework Support tutor in Charlotte, NC. She joined our team in 2017. Claire has a passion for working with children and loves to see our students succeed. While Claire has many tutoring talents, she finds the greatest joy in SAT/ACT tutoring. When Claire is not at Sylvan, you will find her reading or spending time with friends and family.

A top notch math tutor, Ms. Madeline brought her skills to Sylvan in 2015. Madeline goes above and beyond and is consistently well prepared for her students each hour. Her favorite subjects to tutor are Calculus 1 and Algebra 1. When Madeline is not at Sylvan you’ll find her volunteering with the Augustine Literacy Project, helping children in poverty learn to read, and spending time with her family.

Kayla is a tutor in Charlotte, NC with a passion for helping students. She joined our Sylvan of Ballantyne in June of 2018. While she possess many tutoring talents, she finds most enjoyment in tutoring students with learning disabilities. She studies Special Education at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. When Kayla isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her playing with her puppy or painting with friends.

Arezou is a teaching assistant at Gateway Academy. She studied at Zahedan University where she received a Bachelors in Math. She also studied in Charlotte, where she received an Associates in Education. While Arezou has many talents her passion is in teaching math. When Arezou is not at Sylvan, you will find her spending time with her family.

Kodi is a tutor in Charlotte, NC with a passion for learning, whether it be with regards to self-education or helping others discover new things as well. He joined Sylvan of Ballantyne in May 2018, and while he enjoys tutoring students in all subjects, mathematics is his forte. In fact, he studies Applied Mathematics at Harvard University. When Kodi isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll probably find him reading or spending time with friends and family.

Blaire is a Math, SAT/ACT, and Upper Level Math tutor at Sylvan of Ballantyne. She studied at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Blaire’s favorite subject to teach at Sylvan is Mathematics. When Blaire is not at Sylvan you are likely to find her spending time with her family and friends.

Qusel has worked at Sylvan of Ballantyne since October of 2016. He graduated from Fayetteville State University where he obtained his degree in Math. Qusel also teaches math at Charlotte Secondary School. Qusel has more than 15 years of teaching experience and has taught; Pre-calc, Advanced Functions and Modeling, Math 1, Math 2, Math 3, and Principals of Business and Finance.

Sabrina is a Teacher Assistant at Oakhurst STEAM Academy. She studied at North Carolina Central College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Sabrina joined Sylvan of Ballantyne in October 2018. While Sabrina has many tutoring talents, her passion is teaching special education students. When Sabrina isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her volunteering at her local church, or in the community feeding the homeless. You may also find her at a coffee shop reading an interesting book or novel.

Sharyn retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public School System after working as a Reading Specialist and First and Second Grade Classroom Teacher for 25 years. She received her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She also has a Masters degree in Literacy from Queen’s University of Charlotte. Sharyn’s newest passion is cycling. She enjoys spending time with her newest Grandson in Long Beach, NY.