About the Team

At Level UP Enrichment, we all support each other and our instructors on their adventures with us! Learn a bit more about what matters to us outside of work:

Enthusiastic Edutainers

Our instructors are specifically hired and rigorously trained in the art of teaching with a performance-like style in mind. We understand that After School is a unique time for students to be learning. After 6-8 hours of academia, some students can be unwilling to push through an additional hour with us. Our core values within every class are that every student must be SAFE, have FUN, and LEARN something. To ensure this, each new instructor goes through a 6-12 week (about 20 classes) training program in which they ‘Level UP’ and prove proficiency in all aspects of After School Enrichment and Teaching. Our training emphasizes various aspects of child development, teaching, and performance summarized below:

  • Week 1-3: Connecting with your students. Make friends and show them you care!

  • Week 3-6: Finding your voice as a teacher.

Meet the Management Team!

President & Founder

C.J. Caldwell

As a kid, C.J.'s dream of becoming a teacher began after his mom enrolled him in an after-school chess club where he saw how much fun learning and teaching could be. Now, C.J. has worked in After-School Enrichment for over 13 years and taught thousands of students how to play chess, and more importantly to him, that learning can be just as fun as playing. Outside of work, he is a father of a 2.5-year-old daughter, a 9-year-old fur baby, and is married to a chess expert. He plays guitar, loves nature, socializing, and meeting new people.

Regional Director of San Diego & Austin

Jeffery Lin

With 10+ years of after-school enrichment experience, Jeff has helped provide after-school enrichment to thousands of kids in San Diego and Texas. Outside of Level UP, Jeff has a love for board games and helped design and launch a successful kickstarter for Eternal Kings.

Austin Program Manager & Account Manager

Kyndle Jones

Kyndle joined Level UP in August 2021 as a Level 1 instructor with the goal to learn how to communicate and teach children. She moved to the Austin branch in June 2022 where she is proud to be in a position to provide work for our employees and be able to enrich the lives of the families in her community. In her spare time, you can catch her playing the alto sax, video games, and collecting all things Pokémon. She also has 2 cats named Togepi and Jynx (after Pokémon of course).

North San Diego Senior Program Manger

Arielle Knittel

Arielle joined the world of after-school enrichment 8 years ago. She immediately fell in love with the variety of skills she got to practice as an instructor and the fact that she got to ignite that same love of learning in her students. You'll now find her in the office or out in the field, ensuring both instructors and students have a space to explore and discover their passions. After hours, you'll find her dancing, singing, and learning all sorts of new musical instruments. She also plays the alto saxophone and is officially challenging Kyndle to a sax battle.

South San Diego Program Manager

Lacey O’Neal

Lacey joined Level UP in January 2022 as a Level 1 instructor. She quickly fell in love with the company's mission and field, which pushed her to change her career goal and pursue a management position. She has a strong passion for training future childcare workers and providing a safe space for students to learn. Outside of work, Lacey's interests are playing volleyball, board games, hanging out with her cat Müna, and long walks on the beach.

San Diego Chess & Sports Regional Director (interm)

Brent Englehart

Mr. E has about seven years of experience working with Level UP in a variety of capacities. It was this experience that led him to pursue his teaching credential in Elementary and Mild/Moderate Special Education. He's still in school, but plans to be done soon! Mr. E spends his free time reading books, playing video and board games, and watching lots and lots of horror movies.

San Diego Quartermaster & Materials Manager

Rayph Cosford

Rayph has been with Level UP since March 2022 and is an expert in our Lego Video, Escape Room, and Art classes. Outside of work, he likes to make art, read comics/manga, play traditional board/card games, and paint miniatures. A fun fact about him is he loves trying new foods and does a lot of cooking because of that.

 

Meet some of the Instructors!

Agatha - Level 2 Enrichment Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Running the “Shop Day” class for Math Magic

  • Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough

Ailene - Level 2 Enrichment Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Teaching art classes and the first Board and Brew team hangout

  • Something Important About Them: Ailene uses her experience from RPGs as a mental teaching tool

Ann - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Was able to reengage a student who was wanting to come home mid-class, and he ended up getting a checkmate in the last 2 minutes of class!

  • Fun Fact: Ann likes to sing

Amber - Level 3 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: The Friday night team hangouts after tournaments

  • Favorite Animal: Unicorn

Charlie - Level 2 Enrichment Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Watching instructors handle kindergarteners; sometimes it’s like herding cats!

  • Fun Fact: Charlie likes to go sailing

Brosnan - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Shocking the kids by debuting a lesson where the queen is “sacrificed” 6 times - their excitement and disbelief was priceless

  • Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Golden Oreo Gold Rush from Baskin Robbins

Dave - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Fun Fact: Dave has spent many years training in storytelling

  • Favorite Animal: Tardigrade

Conrad - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Watching CJ teach classes

  • Fun Fact: Conrad likes to play pickleball

Navid - Level 1 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: His first time teaching on the chess demo board for both beginner and advanced students

  • Fun fact: Navid likes to hike, camp, play sports, and practice Taiichi

Elkaei - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Something Important about Them: Elkaei streams and likes to watch streams of chess and gaming

  • Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Green tea and chocolate chip

Terren - Level 2 Chess Instructor

  • Favorite Memory at Level UP: Teaching a chess game and hearing “That’s really cool!” from the students

  • Fun Fact: Terren loves to learn about history