Meet Our Team
Great Teachers Inspire
Our tutors and staff in Harker Heights-Killeen consist of passionate educators who love inspiring children to succeed. Warm, caring and great at relating to kids, our tutors in Harker Heights-Killeen 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 Harker Heights-Killeen!
Josh Saffron
Center Director
Josh is a graduate of the Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a degree in Bible & Theology. Currently pursuing an MBA with an emphasis in marketing from Grand Canyon University, Josh is a strong believer that the future will always be brighter when we invest in it. With that in mind, he is an outgoing person who is passionate about working with children. In his spare time, Josh enjoys fishing, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.
Christopher Ford
Director of Education
Christopher is a graduate of West Coast Bible College and Seminary with a Bachelor of General Ministry as well as a current student of Temple College majoring in English. As a child he received tutoring from some memorable teachers and developed a strong desire to help people in any way he can; his passion for the two brought him here. In his free time Christopher enjoys watching movies with his family, writing poetry, working on cars and eating his wife’s culinary creations.
Monika Callegari
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Monika believes that education is a way to introduce children to their potential. She was inspired by great teachers, and she wants to instill that inspiration within her students. Monika received her Bachelor of Science from Tarleton University, and her Master’s in Education from Texas A&M Central Texas. She has obtained a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction as a Reading Specialist. She is currently certified in English Language Arts and Reading for grades 4-8th as well as History for grades 7th- 12th and a generalist for grades 4th -8th. Outside of Sylvan she loves reading young adult fiction and biography books. She is also an avid puzzle enthusiast! Overall, Monika is passionately focused on building relationships based on kindness and respect.
Carolina Flores
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Carolina feels most alive when she is helping students connect the dots between concepts in school. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a bachelor’s in Sociology and finds joy in helping kids connect the dots in different subjects. When she’s not working with students, Carolina enjoys running, hiking, and cooking
Royal Hawthorne
SYLVAN CERTIFIED TUTOR
Royal is a tutor at Sylvan Learning in Harker Heights who enjoys seeing students grow and she like to be a part of their success. Her favorite thing about working with students is the priceless look on their faces when they know they have done well. When she is not at Sylvan, Royal enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Tamara Thomas
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Teaching has always been a passion for Tamara. When she began teaching, it was something that she quickly fell in love with. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with a minor in psychology. With our students, she is very devoted, sincere, ambitious, honest, and very open-minded. Outside of teaching, she loves to travel, go hiking, and volunteer within her community.
Vanity Avery
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Vanity is a funny and witty teacher with a passion for making an impact on the lives of children. She is a graduate of Western Governor’s University and holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. When she is not teaching, Vanity enjoys traveling with her family.
Debbie Showalter
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Debbie is passionate about helping children learn and grow. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on Psychology from Tarleton State University. Debbie is an optimistic, thoughtful, and humorous teacher with a passion for photography, family, and gardening.
Tanesha Williams
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Tanesha graduated from Crown College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She also graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is certified in EC-6 and has taught for over 11 years. Her main goal is to help learners reach their full potential. Tanesha is a teacher who is very focused, patient, and dedicated to her students. Outside of teaching, she likes to read, shop, dance, and decorate.
Brianna Leblanc
CERTIFIED MATHEMATICS TEACHER
Brianna loves the “lightbulb” moments of education when kids can connect the dots. She graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications and holds certifications in elementary math, reading, and social studies. She is currently a science teacher and is working toward a master’s degree in teaching. In her free time, Brianna enjoys coloring and spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Suzanne Ferguson
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Suzanne is an outstanding teacher who has an outgoing and bubbly personality. Her passion is to help struggling students succeed. She has a Master’s from Texas A & M, a Bachelor of Science from University of Phoenix, and an Associate’s in Psychology from Cameron University. She is EC-6 generalist, GT, and ESL certified. Outside of teaching she loves to read, attend baseball games, and relax with her children.
Lynn Grant
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Lynn Grant decided to become a teacher as she has always been interested in helping children. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Government from Clark University and a Lifetime Elementary Education Certificate from St. Edwards University. She enjoys staying current with news events. She is very patient with the students and excels at teaching young readers.
Levona Hunter
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Levona decided to become a teacher because she likes children and enjoys watching them learn. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harding University, and a Master’s Degree in English from Arkansas State University, as well as an ESL certification from the University of Texas. She is certified to teach English, Reading, History, Language Arts, and ESL. In her free time, she enjoys reading and quilting.
Lyle Gier
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Lyle is a soft-spoken person and a very good teacher. He has a way of earning the trust of students and values being able to teach kids. Lyle is a graduate of the University of North Texas where he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s Degree in Computer Educations and Cognitive Studies. Lyle prides himself on being a very honest person with good moral standards. In his free time, he likes to read.
Ann Kindleburg
CERTIFIED TEACHER
Ann is a caring and witty teacher who is passionate about seeing students reach their full potential. With her decades of experience in both K-12 and adult education, she enjoys watching students of all ages engage with and master concepts. In her free time, Ann enjoys spending time with her family and animals.
Start your child on the path to academic success today
Give us a call at (254) 449-7385 or fill out the form to discuss your child’s learning goals.