Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Bismarck consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Bismarck 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 Bismarck!
Kari Weigel
Owner of Sylvan of North Dakota
Kari started with Sylvan when it opened in July 1995. She rejoined Sylvan in June 2004. Kari spends much of her time introducing families to Sylvan, answering their questions, and matching students up with a program built just for them! In her free time she enjoys going to coffee, playing scrabble, reading, playing with her children, and spending time with her extended family.
Maren Gerhardt
Executive Director
Maren joined Sylvan in 2006. Prior to working at Sylvan, Maren earned her BS in education from the University of North Dakota and taught in the public school system for five years. With a passion for math and higher-level education, Maren has overseen the ACT and college prep programs in addition to other programs Sylvan offers. When asked why she chose Sylvan over the classroom, her answer was simple, “At Sylvan, we teach kids to love to learn!” Away from Sylvan, you will find Maren playing outdoors somewhere with her family, whether it is the mountains of Montana, the lakes of Minnesota, or out for a run somewhere in-between.
Becky Liedtke
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Becky Liedtke is an Education Coordinator in Bismarck, ND with a gift for working with kids. While Becky has many talents, she find the greatest joy in being around family and enjoying time outdoors. After a long morning walk, she can often be found on the deck with an open book and cup of coffee in the summer. She studied at University of Montana Western and Lesley University. When Becky isn’t at Sylvan, you’ll find her working with pre-service nurses as the librarian at North Dakota State University School of Nursing at Sanford.
Ryan Weigel
Finance Manager
Ryan joined Sylvan in September 2008 and we are lucky to have him here. He manages the “business” side of Sylvan. In his free time he enjoys golfing, softball, running, spending time with his three kids, and watching football, baseball or any other sport.
Tarah Arne
School Services Manager
Tarah started working at Sylvan in September 2020. She works directly with schools scheduling and teaching students. In her spare time, she enjoys games with her family, exploring new places, getting lost in a book, running every day, and going to her children’s music and sports events.
Sam Razink
School Services Manager
Sam joined Sylvan in 2020 and works directly with the school to help ensure student success and enjoyment. He studied at the University of Mary. When he isn’t at Sylvan, he enjoys playing board games, watching movies, or spending time with his family and friends.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (701) 712-5459 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.