A Legacy of Learning: 20 Years of Sylvan Learning in Bloomington and Franklin, Indiana

Twenty years ago, Greg Moore made a bold career shift from corporate finance to education, driven by a desire to create a lasting impact in his community. He saw the growing need for personalized learning and knew Sylvan Learning*’s approach could help students bridge academic gaps and build confidence. Since opening his first center in Franklin, Indiana, and later acquiring Bloomington, Moore has spent two decades ensuring students receive the support they need to succeed.

Through strong relationships with local schools, libraries and community organizations, his centers have expanded beyond traditional tutoring, offering in-school programs, study skills seminars and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camps. With literacy rates declining nationwide, Moore sees Sylvan’s role as more important than ever and remains committed to helping more students reach their full potential in the years ahead.

1851 Franchise spoke to Moore about his franchise journey and hopes for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What were you doing before franchising? How did you decide it was for you?

Greg Moore: My background is in business — I have a couple of degrees in the field — and I spent about 20 years working in corporate finance, both in the United States and abroad. Eventually, I grew tired of sitting in cubicles around the world, writing spreadsheets. I remember thinking that wouldn’t look too great on an obituary: “He wrote really good Excel spreadsheets.”

As I was approaching 40, I reflected on when I had a paper route and how much I enjoyed being more independent. I was looking for a complete change. At the time, my wife and I were living in Tokyo, and we noticed the incredible dedication in Japan toward education. Families invested heavily in after-school tutoring, known as the “juku system,” and there was a juku center right around the corner from where we lived.

We were considering getting into franchising and wanted to pursue something we were passionate about. Since we both love learning, we decided to return to the U.S. to start our family and began researching opportunities. Sylvan Learning stood out as the best model for helping kids catch up academically, regain confidence and build their skills.

I believe faith intervened because a Sylvan franchise opened up in my hometown, where I am now. That was in 2005. We conducted our due diligence and officially opened in 2006. The following year, we opened the Bloomington center, though it had already been established. That’s why both are celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year. Since then, we’ve added a third center as well.

I love what I do. I work harder for less money, but I’m truly passionate about it. I love seeing kids "get it" — watching the light bulbs go off above their heads and hearing parents say they’ve gotten their kids back. Over the years, there have been so many great stories — that’s what keeps me going.

1851: What have been some of the most significant achievements or milestones you’ve reached since becoming a franchisee?

Moore: Well, of course, the individual stories are wonderful — it’s always about helping one kid at a time. Over the years, that’s added up to hundreds, maybe even thousands, of students we’ve been able to support.

One of our greatest satisfactions has been the partnerships we’ve forged with local school corporations, especially post-COVID. With the influx of tutoring dollars and literacy programs, schools have entrusted us to work with their students on-site after school. This has allowed us to help dozens of kids at a time, which has been incredibly rewarding. It has also expanded our ability to make a meaningful impact in the community.

1851: How would you say that Sylvan has positively impacted children and families in your community?

Moore: We provide something that many students wouldn’t have access to otherwise. People often think Sylvan is just tutoring — and I understand why. If you search for “tutor” in Indiana on Google, we appear, as we should, to be easily found. But the truth is, we are much more than that.

Sylvan is really about diagnostic, prescriptive, supplemental education. Diagnostic means we begin with an initial skills assessment to pinpoint exactly where a student is academically. Every student has their own individualized program. Prescriptive means we identify the missing building blocks in reading or math and determine the right order to address them. Supplemental means we use licensed instructors who can go back and meet students where they are. For example, if a fifth grader is reading at a second-grade level, they can work with someone who teaches at their exact level, helping them move forward at the right pace — not too fast, not too slow.

There really isn’t anything else like that. Tutors have their role, and we do tutoring as well. If a student just needs help with their current calculus homework, we can provide that. But where we really add value is in our ability to buy back time — whether a student is one, two or even three years behind. Public schools simply don’t have the resources to provide that level of individualized focus because their mission is much broader.

1851: What would you say sets your center staff apart? 

Moore: I am really proud of our staff. We have a core group of teachers who are willing to do anything and everything for the students. Many have been with us for years — some even decades — and they consistently go above and beyond. While we have a structured curriculum and resources, I often see teachers coming in to use the photocopier because they’ve found a great lesson they want to add to help a specific student. Their dedication isn’t about the money. Many of them are retired and have already had long careers, but they continue teaching because they genuinely want to help kids in an environment they love. It’s been wonderful to watch how committed they are, even when they don’t have to be.

1851: Are there any unique programs or initiatives that have contributed to your success?

Moore: In addition to our core tutoring programs, one of the biggest contributors to our success has been the relationships we’ve forged with local schools. These partnerships have expanded our impact beyond reading and math tutoring, which make up the majority of our work. We've also developed strong collaborations with libraries, where we offer study skills seminars to help broaden the reach of our programs. These sessions are completely free to attendees and provide valuable academic support.

We’ve also been hired by libraries to run summer STEM camps, and by high schools to conduct practice SAT tests. In some cases, we’ve even held Sunday courses in different schools. Many tutoring centers operate strictly within their own walls, but now about half of our services are reaching students outside of the center. This has been a game changer for families who struggle with transportation, ensuring more students can access the help they need.

1851: As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of these centers, how do you see the future of the centers and Sylvan overall?

Moore: I see us being needed more than ever, particularly given the decline in literacy rates — not just since COVID, but even before. Unfortunately, this has been a pervasive trend for almost the entire time I’ve been here. That said, I believe there are significant opportunities for us to reach more students, especially through the partnerships we’ve built with schools, libraries, churches and other community organizations. Expanding these relationships will allow us to make an even greater impact in the years to come.

1851: What advice would you offer prospective franchisees who are considering joining Sylvan?

Moore: It’s not about the money — and that alone will turn a lot of people away. As I mentioned, I took a tremendous pay cut transitioning from corporate America to this, and that’s okay. But it’s important to understand that going in. The hours can also be pretty brutal. This isn’t a business where you’re home by five if you’re doing it well. That said, if you have a strong staff, you can build trust and delegate. I’m not here every night until closing, but you have to be willing to put in the work.

To sustain that level of effort, you really have to love the kids, the families and the mission. If you’re in it just for the financials, it won’t be enough to keep you going. The true motivation comes from the stories — the kids who come back after struggling, sometimes with little hope, and watching them succeed. That’s what makes it all worth it.

ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING

With more than 45 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.  For more information, visit www.SylvanLearning.com. 

ABOUT UNLEASHED BRANDS

Unleashed Brands currently includes portfolio brands Urban Air, Snapology, The Little Gym, XP League, Class 101, Premier Martial Arts and Sylvan Learning and was founded to curate and grow a portfolio of the most innovative and profitable brands that help kids learn, play and grow. Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses focused on serving families. Its mission is to impact the lives of every kid by providing fun, engaging and inspiring experiences that help them become who they are destined to be. For more information, please visit www.unleashedbrands.com.