The leading supplemental and enrichment education franchise has continued to appeal to franchisees by providing online learning resources and in-person school support for families adapting to school systems impacted by COVID-19.
Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of supplemental and enrichment education for students in grades K-12 with more than 750 points of presence worldwide, has turned over operation of two of its Utah territories to one of its longest-serving franchisees, Mike Loudon. Loudon now controls six of the seven Utah territories and hopes to expand further.
HR Technology: The Growth of Recruitment Marketing Platforms
Loudon was a business major at Brigham Young University who went on to work in several industries, including the automobile industry, the paper industry, health care and consumer products, before partnering with Sylvan.
“In 2007 I decided I wanted to try my own thing,” said Loudon. “I didn’t have an epiphany of how to build a better mousetrap or something, but I knew franchises had a higher probability of success. So being somewhat risk-averse, I found Sylvan. I wanted something I could be passionate about.”
Loudon weathered the economic crash in 2008 and the pandemic lockdown thanks to Sylvan’s corporate support and his own resourcefulness. But even after 13 years and two recessions, Loudon hasn’t lost his passion for the brand, as his new expansion demonstrates.
“For me it was about helping people, directly impacting young people — kids between K-12 — and the families that are distressed when their kids aren’t doing well,” he said. “It’s very gratifying to give families some hope and lay out a plan that helps their students gain skills and do better in school, helping them feel better about themselves as young people.”
For more than 40 years, Sylvan Learning has been focused on building academic confidence, igniting intellectual curiosity and inspiring a love for learning — all of which make a big impact in school and in life. Since its founding in 1979, Sylvan Learning has become the leading supplemental and enrichment education franchise in North America thanks to its mission-driven philosophy, educational technology, community-oriented approach and strong franchisee support infrastructure.
HR Technology: TecHRseries Interview with Martin Hartshorne, CEO at When I Work
Because of its ongoing investment in technology solutions and breadth of content and delivery options provided in-center, in-home and online, Sylvan has been uniquely positioned to respond to parents’ needs in these challenging times. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sylvan Learning has worked hard to support students and their parents. First, in March, Sylvan Learning introduced a virtual tutoring option as school districts transitioned to remote learning. The company is also continuing to utilize its proprietary software, SylvanSync™, which provides teachers and students with adaptive practice sessions. As the school year approached, the brand announced the launch of School Support, a program that provides a variety of services to help children stay on track and parents manage the complexities of this current school year.
As a result of its flexible and innovative offering, the industry-leading learning franchise is continuing to grow. Those who are interested in franchising with Sylvan Learning have the option to provide services completely virtually or offer in-person support to students during their regular virtual school days. By offering a much-needed service during COVID-19, Sylvan Learning franchisees have the opportunity to help families across the country during this difficult time.
“Mike Loudon has always made a difference in the communities he services and we are excited to see him expand.” said CEO John McAuliffe. “The Sylvan Learning system is stronger, more nimble and more united than ever. We have ramped up our already-strong training for instruction, local marketing and technology for our franchise owners and expanded our reach for families and students. There is more demand for our services than ever, and we are excited to continue partnering with qualified franchisees to bring Sylvan Learning to new areas across the country.”