Staff
Valerie Contreras, Assistant Director of the Learning Club Academy Teaching Internship
Valerie Contreras is the Assistant Director of the Learning Club Academy Teaching Internship. Valerie has lived in Kansas City, KS all her life. She graduated from J.C. Harmon, Class of 2012, and she is a first-generation college graduate. She has a liberal arts A.A. degree from Johnson County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her professional experience comes from working with children and volunteering. Valerie's passion is working with children in an educational setting. She enjoys seeing the growth and changes students go through over the time. It is vital to her that children see themselves in the people who serve them. She strongly believes in working to bring all the knowledge these children gain back into the community. You may contact her at VContreras@learningclubkck.org.
Valerie Contreras is the Assistant Director of the Learning Club Academy Teaching Internship. Valerie has lived in Kansas City, KS all her life. She graduated from J.C. Harmon, Class of 2012, and she is a first-generation college graduate. She has a liberal arts A.A. degree from Johnson County Community College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her professional experience comes from working with children and volunteering. Valerie's passion is working with children in an educational setting. She enjoys seeing the growth and changes students go through over the time. It is vital to her that children see themselves in the people who serve them. She strongly believes in working to bring all the knowledge these children gain back into the community. You may contact her at VContreras@learningclubkck.org.
Amy Dickens, M.Ed., Site Director
Amy Dickens is the Site Director for Cyrus K. Holliday. She has worked in education for more than 20 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 more than 20 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.
Brad Grabs, M.Ed., 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.
Shasika Gurung, AmeriCorps Member
Shasika Gurung is an AmeriCorps member with the Learning Club this school year. She is studying nursing at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Shasika graduated from Wyandotte High School in 2018. She is originally from Nepal, and she came to the United States in 2011 with her family. She was a tutor during her senior year of high school through the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship pilot program. Shasika is especially passionate about helping kids do better in school. She loves working with kids and meeting new people. You may contact Shasika at Volunteer@LearningClubKCK.org.
Shasika Gurung is an AmeriCorps member with the Learning Club this school year. She is studying nursing at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Shasika graduated from Wyandotte High School in 2018. She is originally from Nepal, and she came to the United States in 2011 with her family. She was a tutor during her senior year of high school through the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship pilot program. Shasika is especially passionate about helping kids do better in school. She loves working with kids and meeting new people. You may contact Shasika at Volunteer@LearningClubKCK.org.
Sister Pat Johannsen, SCL, Site Director
Sr. Pat serves as Site Director at Chalet Manor. She is from Montana originally, and 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. Sr. Pat taught in elementary Catholic schools for a total of 15 years as well as 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 serves as Site Director at Chalet Manor. She is from Montana originally, and 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. Sr. Pat taught in elementary Catholic schools for a total of 15 years as well as 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 is the Director of Site Operations and the Site Director at St. Margaret’s and Pemberton Park. He also provides administrative support and manages social media accounts 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 is the Director of Site Operations and the Site Director at St. Margaret’s and Pemberton Park. He also provides administrative support and manages social media accounts 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, Juniper Gardens, 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, Juniper Gardens, 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.
Tha Len Sung, AmeriCorps Member
Tha Len Sung is a student at Kansas City Kansas Community College studying accounting. She came to the United States from the Chin State in Burma with her family in 2014 and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 2018. Tha was one of the first interns hired during the Learning Club's internship pilot program with Wyandotte in spring 2018. She is now an AmeriCorps member serving with the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship program. She loves coming to the Learning Club because she has a chance to help younger students. She said not only does she help them learn, but she also learns a lot from them. Tha can be contacted at Volunteer@LearningClubKCK.org.
Tha Len Sung is a student at Kansas City Kansas Community College studying accounting. She came to the United States from the Chin State in Burma with her family in 2014 and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 2018. Tha was one of the first interns hired during the Learning Club's internship pilot program with Wyandotte in spring 2018. She is now an AmeriCorps member serving with the Learning Club Academy Teacher Internship program. She loves coming to the Learning Club because she has a chance to help younger students. She said not only does she help them learn, but she also learns a lot from them. Tha can be contacted at Volunteer@LearningClubKCK.org.
Laura Swan, M.Ed., 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 of Education in literacy 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 of Education in literacy 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.
Monica Tyrrell, Site Director
Monica is the Site Director at St. Margaret's.
Monica is the Site Director at St. Margaret's.