Meet Our Team

Lorie Strouse

Center Director, State Certified and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Director

Lorie has overseen student programs and progress for close to 30 years at the Mentor location. She enjoys seeing students grow in their abilities and reach their potential!  Working with families to meet their individual needs and goals is very gratifying.  She graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Elementary Education.  When Lorie isn’t at Sylvan, she enjoys traveling, being with family, and playing with her Grandcats, Milo and Pooka!

Jen Arnone

Director of Education, State Certified and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Director

Jen has a true gift for working with students! She graduated from Ohio State University with her teaching degree. She loves teaching early readers and math. When she isn’t at Sylvan, you will find her cheering her boys on at their sporting events and supporting our Cleveland sports teams!!

Missy Fryer

Executive Director/Owner, State Certified and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Director

In 2001, Missy graduated from Lake Erie College with a degree in Middle School Education. It was shortly after that when she first joined Sylvan Learning Center as a teacher and then as Director of Education. In 2004, she left Sylvan to help her husband grow his business, but she is now back at Sylvan of Mentor as Director Executive Director/Owner.  When she’s not helping students solve for X, you can find her at the Cedar Lee Theatre watching a documentary or at home playing with her two dogs, Harry and Ringo!

Maria Kaleal

State Certified and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Maria began as an instructor with Mentor Sylvan in April 1987. She graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in education and has completed graduate course studies at Lake Erie College. Along with English, she speaks Greek and Spanish. Maria has a genuine and deep love for children. She enjoys cooking and baking for her family and friends.

Stacy Polasko

State Certified and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Stacy first began with Sylvan in 2017. She is a graduate of Notre Dame College of Ohio where she earned a degree in Elementary Education. In addition to her time at Sylvan of Mentor, Stacy also taught at Kenston Schools and Willoughby Eastlake Schools. When she’s not helping students at Sylvan, Stacy spends time with her family and friends.

Jonah Vincente

Sylvan Certified Teacher

Jonah has been a student favorite at Sylvan of Mentor since 2021. With degrees in Math and Music from Baldwin Wallace, he is able to help our students tackle the toughest math problems. When he isn’t sharing his love of equations at the center, you can find him writing and playing music at church or playing video and card games.

Christy Nichols

State Certified Teacher and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Christy is a graduate from BGSU with a BS in Education majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education. She also has a masters in curriculum and instruction from Ashland University. Her favorite subject to teach is Math, specifically Algebra. In her spare time, she likes to read, spend time with family and friends, and to binge watch TV shows with her family. She recently joined a couples bowling league with her husband and her bowling average is ALMOST 100 now!

Stacey Huberty

State Certified Teacher and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Stacey graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She currently spends her days teaching kindergarten at Melridge Elementary in the Riverside School District. In her spare time, Stacey likes to read and spend time with her family. Stacey first started Sylvan of Mentor in 2002 and we are happy to have her back again in 2024.

Emily Graff

State Certified Teacher and Sylvan Certified Teacher

Emily has been with Sylvan of Mentor since 2019. She earned her education degree from BGSU and her maser’s degree from the University of Toledo. She loves to bowl, bake, craft, read, and play Minecraft.