Staff
BJ Adair, MSW, Site Director
BJ is the Site Director at Juniper Gardens. You can contact BJ at 913-940-6405 or BJAdair@learningclubkck.org.
BJ is the Site Director at Juniper Gardens. You can contact BJ at 913-940-6405 or BJAdair@learningclubkck.org.
Alesha Bowman, Assistant Director of Teacher Internship
Alesha Bowman is the assistant Director of the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship.She has worked in higher education for 5 years in the area of Multicultural Student Services and focused on the recruitment, retention, and overall development of underrepresented students. Alesha has worked at universities in Jefferson City, MO, Warrensburg, MO and most recent Greencastle, IN where she was the Director of Multicultural Student Services. She holds a masters degree in Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri as well as a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education. Alesha is passionate about helping underrepresented students figure out their post graduate plans and encouraging them to chase after their wildest dreams. You can contact Alesha at 816-213-3294 or ABowman@learningclubkck.org.
Alesha Bowman is the assistant Director of the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship.She has worked in higher education for 5 years in the area of Multicultural Student Services and focused on the recruitment, retention, and overall development of underrepresented students. Alesha has worked at universities in Jefferson City, MO, Warrensburg, MO and most recent Greencastle, IN where she was the Director of Multicultural Student Services. She holds a masters degree in Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri as well as a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education. Alesha is passionate about helping underrepresented students figure out their post graduate plans and encouraging them to chase after their wildest dreams. You can contact Alesha at 816-213-3294 or ABowman@learningclubkck.org.
Amy Dickens, Site Director
Amy Dickens is the Site Director for Cyrus K. Holliday. She has worked in education for over twenty years and has taught many elementary grade levels during this time. Throughout her time as a teacher, she has also enjoyed volunteering to tutor all ages and to assist in literacy projects throughout the Kansas City area. She has a master’s degree in education from Baker University and received her undergraduate from UMKC. She is passionate about helping children gain a love of learning, as well as encouraging them to realize how valuable knowledge can be to their lives. You may contact Amy at adickens@learningclubkck.org or 913-609-9290.
Amy Dickens is the Site Director for Cyrus K. Holliday. She has worked in education for over twenty years and has taught many elementary grade levels during this time. Throughout her time as a teacher, she has also enjoyed volunteering to tutor all ages and to assist in literacy projects throughout the Kansas City area. She has a master’s degree in education from Baker University and received her undergraduate from UMKC. She is passionate about helping children gain a love of learning, as well as encouraging them to realize how valuable knowledge can be to their lives. You may contact Amy at adickens@learningclubkck.org or 913-609-9290.
Connie Anderson, Assistant Site Director
You can contact her at canderson@learningclubkck.org.
You can contact her at canderson@learningclubkck.org.
Brad Grabs, Executive Director
Brad Grabs founded the Learning Club in 2002 after being mugged by two teenage boys a couple of blocks from Blessed Sacrament Church. Giving up a career as a teacher at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, Brad was moved by the assault to devote his time and energy to inner city youth. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Arkansas, and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. He and his wife and children live across the street from the Blessed Sacrament Learning Club site. Contact Brad at 913-244-5838 or bgrabs@learningclubkck.org.
Brad Grabs founded the Learning Club in 2002 after being mugged by two teenage boys a couple of blocks from Blessed Sacrament Church. Giving up a career as a teacher at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, Brad was moved by the assault to devote his time and energy to inner city youth. He has an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame, a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of Arkansas, and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. He and his wife and children live across the street from the Blessed Sacrament Learning Club site. Contact Brad at 913-244-5838 or bgrabs@learningclubkck.org.
Dawn Grabs, IT Support
Dawn Grabs oversees the website, database and other projects. She has been with the Learning Club since 2012. Dawn’s other experiences include 6 years at Unbound, 3 years at Wells Fargo and two years as a missionary and English teacher in the country of East Timor. She serves on the board at Sanctuary of Hope Prayer and Retreat Center in Kansas City, KS, and spends most of her time with their children John, Emmanuel and Frances. You can contact her at dawngrabs@gmail.com.
Dawn Grabs oversees the website, database and other projects. She has been with the Learning Club since 2012. Dawn’s other experiences include 6 years at Unbound, 3 years at Wells Fargo and two years as a missionary and English teacher in the country of East Timor. She serves on the board at Sanctuary of Hope Prayer and Retreat Center in Kansas City, KS, and spends most of her time with their children John, Emmanuel and Frances. You can contact her at dawngrabs@gmail.com.
Sister Pat Johannsen, SCL, Site Director
Sr. Pat is from Montana originally. She is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. She has a degree in elementary education and a masters degree in education with a concentration in reading.
She taught in elementary Catholic schools for a total of 15 years and she also taught in a teacher training college which trained elementary teachers in South Sudan. Sr. Pat is passionate about reading and also enjoys doing embroidery and being outdoors. You can contact Sr. Pat at 913-202-3076 or PJohannsen@learningclubkck.org.
Sr. Pat is from Montana originally. She is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. She has a degree in elementary education and a masters degree in education with a concentration in reading.
She taught in elementary Catholic schools for a total of 15 years and she also taught in a teacher training college which trained elementary teachers in South Sudan. Sr. Pat is passionate about reading and also enjoys doing embroidery and being outdoors. You can contact Sr. Pat at 913-202-3076 or PJohannsen@learningclubkck.org.
James Snow, Director of Site Operations
James Snow serves as our Director of Site Operations and is the Site Director at St. Margaret’s and Pemberton Park. He also provides administrative support and does social media for the Learning Club. James spent two years working as a tutor in an alternative high school in Boston and another year as an 8th grade science teacher in Nashville, before joining the Learning Club in 2016. James is particularly interested in getting kids excited about learning, and leads many hands-on enrichment activities with the students. You may contact James at 240-464-5284 or jsnow@learningclubkck.org.
James Snow serves as our Director of Site Operations and is the Site Director at St. Margaret’s and Pemberton Park. He also provides administrative support and does social media for the Learning Club. James spent two years working as a tutor in an alternative high school in Boston and another year as an 8th grade science teacher in Nashville, before joining the Learning Club in 2016. James is particularly interested in getting kids excited about learning, and leads many hands-on enrichment activities with the students. You may contact James at 240-464-5284 or jsnow@learningclubkck.org.
Mikala Sullivan, Assistant Site Director
Mikala Sullivan serves as our Assistant Site Director at St. Margaret’s, Blessed Sacrament, Pemberton Park, and Chalet Manor. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Avila University. Mikala has worked with Kansas Academy of Theatrical Arts as a teaching artist and mentor to secondary education students. She has a heart for young people and wants to help aide them in reaching their full potential. Mikala is passionate about helping students to see how valuable they are and being a source of light and encouragement to students. You can contact her at msullivan@learningclubkck.org or 816-516-3125.
Mikala Sullivan serves as our Assistant Site Director at St. Margaret’s, Blessed Sacrament, Pemberton Park, and Chalet Manor. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Avila University. Mikala has worked with Kansas Academy of Theatrical Arts as a teaching artist and mentor to secondary education students. She has a heart for young people and wants to help aide them in reaching their full potential. Mikala is passionate about helping students to see how valuable they are and being a source of light and encouragement to students. You can contact her at msullivan@learningclubkck.org or 816-516-3125.
Laura Swan, Director of Teacher Internship
Laura Swan is the Director of the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship, training and supporting groups of high school interns as they mentor elementary school students. She has taught in the Kansas City, Missouri public school district, including teaching at the alternative elementary school. She has also taught English as a second language in Seoul, South Korea and Naples, Italy and served with the AmeriCorps education program Jumpstart. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's in literacy education from Mizzou and is a certified teacher at the early childhood and elementary school levels. Laura is passionate about being a warrior for all children by working to close the achievement gap and sparking interest in the education field. Contact Laura at 734-308-9399 or LSwan@LearningClubKCK.org.
Laura Swan is the Director of the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship, training and supporting groups of high school interns as they mentor elementary school students. She has taught in the Kansas City, Missouri public school district, including teaching at the alternative elementary school. She has also taught English as a second language in Seoul, South Korea and Naples, Italy and served with the AmeriCorps education program Jumpstart. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's in literacy education from Mizzou and is a certified teacher at the early childhood and elementary school levels. Laura is passionate about being a warrior for all children by working to close the achievement gap and sparking interest in the education field. Contact Laura at 734-308-9399 or LSwan@LearningClubKCK.org.