Sylvan Learning’s Global Recognition and Innovative Technology Inspired Franchisee Natalie DiPaolo to Open Pleasantville, New York Location

Former biology teacher Natalie DiPaolo loves working with kids, but after 22 years of teaching, she decided it was time to work for herself.

She’d heard positive stories about Sylvan Learning and decided to look into its franchise opportunity. After a successful Discovery Day with the supplemental and enrichment education franchise, she knew she wanted to sign on the dotted line.

“I started thinking about how I can connect my passion for education with my desire to be my own boss,” DiPaolo said. “This led me to child tutoring. Sylvan Learning struck a chord with me because it’s a brand that’s really well-known and recognizable. I also heard good things in terms of the results it generates for the students. I heard a lot of positive anecdotes about children coming out of Sylvan, how they came to our centers because they were struggling and then started to excel after signing up for tutoring.”

DiPaolo’s Sylvan Learning center will be located in the Westchester County village of Pleasantville, New York and is scheduled to open by the end of 2019. In addition to her role as franchise owner, DiPaolo will serve as the center director and her husband, Gianni, will be her silent and supportive partner. Their center will be the brand’s third in Westchester County.

DiPaolo knows Westchester County and its communities well. Not only is she a native and current resident of southern Westchester County, but she also taught seventh through twelfth grades in Westchester County’s public schools. DiPaolo is therefore well-aware of the issues local students can face, such as crowded classrooms. With its low student-to-teacher ratio, DiPaolo is confident Sylvan Learning will directly benefit Westchester County learners.

DiPaolo is joining Sylvan Learning at an opportune time. This year, Sylvan Learning has been celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the company added 67 new franchisees to its system in 2018 and plans to add at least 60 new franchisees to its system by the end of 2019.

One thing that truly impressed DiPaolo about Sylvan Learning was its global presence and impact. Sylvan Learning has locations around the world, including Canada, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and across the Middle East. The brand consistently gets interest from potential franchise partners internationally and is open to continuing development across the world.

Sylvan Learning also stood out to DiPaolo thanks to its incorporation of technology in lesson plans. The brand does this through its proprietary software, SylvanSync™****, which provides teachers and their students with adaptive lessons. These lessons, which are done on an iPad, are based on data from that particular student’s performance in previous lessons, providing an unparalleled personalized learning experience that combines technology with a personalized touch.

“As an educator who was in the school system for many years, I can say that is the way to go,” she said. “I don’t think any other education brand out there can match Sylvan Learning’s technology.”

DiPaolo did not attend Discovery Days for any other brands because she was so confident in her decision to franchise with Sylvan Learning.

“I was just very impressed by how organized Discovery Day was and by how much support the brand can provide to franchisees,” she said. “Sometimes, franchisees at other brands are on their own. Not at Sylvan Learning. For every single thing I have to do, there is some sort of support in place to get that done.”

In the future, she plans to open at least three more locations, preferably within New York, including New York City, and within driving distance so that she can remain involved in the day-to-day of the center activity.

She’s excited to bring Sylvan Learning to her own backyard and plans on becoming a member of the local Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s nice to give back to your community,” she said. “I want to get out to the farmers’ markets and local library and also be part of the local Girl Scouts troop.”

Of course, DiPaolo is also excited to be her own boss while also sticking to her passion for education.

“I love seeing kids light up when they understand a concept,” she said. “There’s a good feeling that comes with that. Through Sylvan Learning, I can still get that feeling and become a successful business person.”