Brenda is a dedicated, full-time middle school math teacher with over 25 years of experience. She has been a valued member of the Sylvan team for several years, finding joy in helping students grow and reach their full potential. Her passion for fostering student success and her unwavering commitment to their progress make her an indispensable asset to the team!
Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Pittsburgh consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh!
Lora O
Tutor
Lora recently retired after an impressive 34-year career with the Peters Township School District, where she taught grades 2 through 5 and provided gifted support and enrichment for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Principal Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Master’s degree in Reading and Language Arts from Duquesne University. Currently, Lora serves as the Executive Director of the National State Teachers of the Year – Pennsylvania Chapter. Outside of her professional life, Lora enjoys traveling, swimming, scrapbooking, reading, shopping, and listening to country music, reflecting her diverse interests and zest for life.
Rachel D
Tutor
Jessica K
Tutor
Jessica earned her Master of Education (M.Ed.) and teaching certification from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2020, where she spent two years teaching middle school math and science. In 2022, she returned to Edinboro to pursue a second M.Ed. in Special Education and has since dedicated herself to supporting students with diverse learning needs. Currently, she is a special education teacher at South Fayette. Jessica is passionate about her work at Sylvan, where she enjoys the opportunity to collaborate with students in small groups and one-on-one, helping them reach their full academic potential.
Damian F
Tutor
Damian is a dedicated full-time Computer Science teacher at Provident Charter School and has been a valued member of the Sylvan team for over a year, after relocating from Maryland. At Sylvan, he tutors students across a broad spectrum of mathematics, from foundational concepts in kindergarten math to advanced topics like SAT Math and Calculus. His diverse expertise and passion for teaching make him an invaluable resource for students at every level of their academic journey!
Lauren L
Tutor
Lauren brings 13 years of experience in education, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood from Clarion University and a Master of Education as a Reading Specialist from the University of Pittsburgh. She began her career as a Pre-K teacher in Head Start and Pre-K Counts programs and currently serves as a Reading and Math Intervention Teacher for the AIU Non-Public School Program. Lauren is passionate about making a positive impact on students’ lives and helping them achieve their full potential. At Sylvan, she thrives on the opportunity to work one-on-one and in small groups, fostering student confidence and ensuring their success.
Brenda F
Tutor
Danielle S
Tutor
Danielle holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Ohio Valley University. With a background as a former 2nd grade teacher, she has also served as the Center Director for a Sylvan Learning Center in North Carolina. Currently, she balances raising two teenagers—a 17-year-old son and a 15-year-old daughter—while continuing her work as a flight attendant.
Danielle shares, “I love the personalized approach that Sylvan offers in a small group setting. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness those ‘light bulb’ moments when students grasp a concept and feel proud of their progress. I missed the intimacy of small-group teaching, and at Sylvan, I get the best of both worlds: flying and teaching in a dynamic, fun environment.”
Andrea M
Virtual Tutor
Andrea has been an educator for ten years, currently teaching 2nd grade in the school district where she was raised. Throughout her career, she has taught students in grades 2, 4, 5, and 6 in both Colorado and Pennsylvania. Beyond the classroom, Andrea has also coached swimming, further enriching her experience with students. She values her work at Sylvan because it allows her to support students beyond traditional classroom settings. Passionate about uncovering each student’s unique interests and understanding their academic strengths and needs, Andrea thrives at Sylvan, where she can extend her expertise to help even more students succeed in their educational journeys.
Gabby P
Billing and Scheduling Manager/Tutor
Gabby has been a valued member of the Sylvan Learning team since 2023. She oversees scheduling and billing for families at our Peters Township center, ensuring everything runs smoothly. In addition to her administrative duties, Gabby plays an active role in supporting assessments, marketing initiatives, events, and contests. Though her primary passion lies in marketing and customer satisfaction, she also steps in to assist with tutoring when needed. Outside of work, Gabby loves shopping and cherishing quality time with her family.
David G
Tutor
David recently relocated from Seattle, where he taught at another Sylvan Learning Center. With several years of experience teaching middle school math, he is currently working towards his Ph.D. at Franciscan University. David is passionate about helping students grasp the broader concepts of math while making the subject both engaging and enjoyable. His favorite program at Sylvan is SAT Prep, which has a proven track record of significantly boosting students’ initial SAT scores.
Donna V
Tutor
Donna recently retired from the Baldwin School District after more than 20 years as a high school math teacher. She also brings valuable experience from her time teaching in local districts such as Trinity and Canon-McMillan. Currently, Donna is assisting with substitute teaching at Canon-McMillan Middle and High School, while also working at Sylvan Learning. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Youngstown University. Donna is passionate about helping students grasp mathematical concepts in ways that make sense to them, creating a positive and engaging learning environment. In her free time, Donna enjoys spending quality time with her family and cheering on the Ohio State football team.
Katie G
Tutor
Katie has been a valued member of Sylvan for over two years, having relocated from Indiana. Before joining Sylvan, she taught for several years in Bloomington, Indiana, and later transitioned to the Keystone Oaks School District in Pennsylvania where she teaches 2nd grade. Katie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She is particularly passionate about working with emerging readers and dedicated to nurturing a lifelong love of reading in her students. Outside of work, Katie enjoys staying active and cherishing time with her family.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (412) 347-6856 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.
