Former CPA Teams up with Education Professional Opened Sylvan Learning of West Linn, OR

Oregon — Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of supplemental and enrichment education for students in grades K–12 with more than 710 points of presence worldwide, is now expanding its footprint to West Linn, OR., with the opening that took place on February 21, 2023. The owners are Audra Bohn, Mitchell Bohn, Amy Paradis and Eric Paradis.

Amy Paradis, an Oregon native, worked in accounting for over a decade before finding herself looking for other ways to be involved with her community and help families. When the opportunity arose to combine forces with existing Sylvan Learning franchise owners Audra and Mitchell Bohn, Amy and her husband Eric jumped at the opportunity.

“I chose this brand because of its reputation. This business has always been about the students and their families for me. If I can help a family achieve their goal, then I feel like I have achieved mine. From a growth standpoint, although it's early in the process, I hope to bring our tutoring services to more of the Portland metro area and connect directly with the families in the surrounding areas,” Paradis said. “I've taken this opportunity because it makes me happy. I believe that when you are happy with your work, it's not really work.”

Expansion plans

Sylvan is planning for aggressive expansion in 2023 to tackle the COVID-related learning challenges for students. In 2022, nationwide reports showed the test scores of students across the U.S. continuing to fall; some statistics show a loss of two decades’ worth of learning progress. In response, Sylvan is working diligently to expand its presence with a goal of adding approximately 50 additional units by the end of 2024.

CEO John McAuliffe says that the growth is supported by a surge of prospective franchisees looking to change careers and make a positive impact in their communities, many of whom are educators.

For over four decades, Sylvan has been focused on building academic confidence and inspiring curiosity among students. The brand’s continued investment in technology solutions, varied delivery options, robust curriculum, and a one-on-one support model, empowers its ability to deliver up to three times more academic growth compared to students who are not enrolled at Sylvan.

Company history

Since its inception in 1979, Sylvan has become a leading supplemental and enrichment education franchise in North America. Now, it is uniquely positioned to address the growing need for academic support among parents and students as communities navigate a challenging comeback from COVID-related academic challenges.

“These new owners will be able to make a difference in their community by bringing Sylvan Learning to the families of West Linn,” McAuliffe said. “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.”

With more than 40 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience.

Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE — STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep — college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey. Sylvan is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franchise Group, Inc.