Who's Who at Kumon
Jean Byrne, Ph.D., Director
Jean Byrne has been a Kumon Instructor since 1994 and has achieved the status of “Elite Kumon Instructor,” one of only 60 Gold Level Instructors of the more than 1400 Kumon instructors in North America.
Jean received her Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and retired from Kent State University with over 35 years of service. Along the way she was twice named one of the “Top 10 Instructors” for the University. She also received the “Outstanding Faculty Award” for the Masters in Public Health Program at Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine three times.
From the vantage point of the program coordinator of the Health Education and Promotion program, she saw how deficits in math and reading hindered students reach their full potential. In some cases she saw students drop majors because they were afraid of the “gatekeeping” math courses. She also saw how students who had a strong foundation in math and reading possessed the confidence and skills to succeed in college and beyond.
Jean first discovered Kumon in an attempt to help her fifth-grade son who was struggling in math at that time. As soon as she found out about the Kumon method, it was love at first sight! She enrolled her son, who went on to be named the “Outstanding Student” in his high school class of 500; and Jean went on to a second career as a Kumon instructor!
Jackie Gross, Assistant Director
Jackie is the heart and soul of our Center. She is the friendly voice that you hear on the phone and the even friendlier face that your children see when they enter the Center. Whether she is congratulating them for work well done or encouraging them to be neater and more careful, Jackie has the knack to say it just right!! After a number of years in the banking industry, Jackie went back to her true passion and recently graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
Felicia Gruber, Assistant Director
Felicia is the smiling face you see in the waiting room. She is our first line of communication with the parents. She handles payments, vacation plans, and scheduling issues, as well as the all-important prizes. However, Felicia is much more than a receptionist. Being a Kumon parent herself for over eight years both here and in San Antonio, Felicia knows Kumon both from the Center side and from the parent side. Therefore, she is more than happy to discuss the benefits of Kumon as well as the motivational issues with you.
Kumon Center Assistants
Jean employs ten to twelve assistants to work with the students at each class session. At the time of their application for employment all staff are screened to ensure that they have the needed qualifications to assist your child in the Kumon program. Jean then personally trains all staff members to ensure uniformity.
At the present time the staff includes two Ph.D.’s along with four individuals with Master’s Degrees and four individuals with degrees in Education, as welll as two interns from the Master's Degree Program in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Akron. Rounding out our staff are high school students. However, these are no ordinary high school students. In recent years our assistants have gone on to Bucknell, Harvard, Miami University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Chicago, MIT, Princeton, Case Western, Ohio State University, and Yale. This year's graduates are going to Emory, Georgetown, and the University of Pennsylvania. To be an assistant, a high school student must be at the top of their class. They all serve as wonderful role models for your children.
Most of all, Jean looks for staff who relate well with students of all ages and who can share their enthusiasm for learning.
