Meet Our Team

Gail feels privileged to help lead an amazing team of educators and support staff along with her husband, Dave. A former Public Relations manager and Elementary Classroom Teacher, Gail finds great joy and fun in working with students and teachers. As the parent of two college athletes, she is excited about helping student-athletes realize their full academic potential and options for college and beyond. She holds a degree in Public Relations from WSU and went on to Seattle Pacific University for her K-8 teaching endorsement and Master’s work in Special Education. Gail has also served a 3-year term on the national Franchise Owner’s Association board for Sylvan Learning.

Hailing from Fircrest, WA and a graduate of Wilson High School, Dave, along with his wife Gail, take great pride in owning and operating Sylvan of Tacoma, WA.  Holding a B.S. in Economics from Willamette University where he played football as an Academic All-American, Dave enjoys working in an industry that helps students succeed at every level. Dave has served on the boards of Boys & Girls Clubs, Greater Lakes Mental Health and the Sylvan Franchise Owner’s Association.  He has also enjoyed coaching middle school basketball over the years.    

Valerie oversees the educational integrity of our programs, managing and training our team of tutors in Tacoma, WA.  A former classroom teacher, Valerie enjoys helping students make the connections between ideas and looking deeper to find the answers.  SAT and ACT prep, Writing and Study Skills are some of the programs she teaches at Tacoma Sylvan.  She also preps students for various college and career tests such as the ASVAB, COMPASS, ACCUPLACER, GED and more.  Valerie graduated from University of Central Arkansas with a degree in Special Education and minor in English.  Her husband’s career in the Air Force lead Valerie to live in England for 4 years.  

Able to leap over long Calculus problems in a single bound, our popular Tacoma Sylvan upper level math teacher David enjoys helping students understand complicated math concepts.  With degrees in Chemistry, Physics, Accounting and Theology, David brings a wealth of knowledge to his students.  David regularly assists Tacoma Sylvan students with Calculus, Geometry, Algebra, Statistics, SAT and ACT Prep and other career/college readiness tests such as the ASVAB, ACCUPLACER, COMPASS, GED and more.  Having grown up in a military family, David has lived in 6 countries and been to 48 states!  An avid stamp collector and reader, David also enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 pet cats.