Kristen Maines from University of Buffalo Athletics Signs with Sylvan Learning; Brings Leading Technology/Education Franchise Statewide Count to 16, With Opportunity to Add Locations in 33 More Territories

AMHERST, NY — Sylvan Learning, a leading provider of supplemental and enrichment education for students in grades K-12 with more than 750 points of presence worldwide, is now expanding its footprint to Amherst with the signing of Kristen Maines from the University of Buffalo Athletics Department. This new signing brings the leading technology and education franchise count to 16 statewide, with opportunities to add locations in another 33 territories.

Amherst native Maines attended the University of Buffalo where she achieved her master’s in higher education. As a Division 1 tennis player, she decided to combine her love for athletics with her passion for education by becoming a college athletics coach. Maines and her husband had always explored the idea of business ownership, and when Sylvan Learning in Amherst became available, they jumped at the opportunity to continue her passion for education while helping families in need of educational support during COVID-19.

“My husband and I had been looking for something for a while before the center was for sale,” Maines said. “Given our current economic climate and my history with the University of Buffalo, Sylvan Learning really stood out to me. After seeing how much they do for their franchisees, I was sold.”

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. Founded 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.

Because of its ongoing investment in technology solutions and its 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 parents. In March, as school districts transitioned to remote learning, Sylvan Learning introduced a virtual tutoring option. The brand also debuted a mobile app in some markets that allows parents to book virtual lessons with Sylvan-approved tutors. The company also continues to use 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 to 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 America during this difficult time.

“Kristen Maines will be able to make a difference in her community by bringing Sylvan Learning to the families of Amherst,” said Sylvan 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.”

To learn more about Sylvan franchise opportunities, visit www.sylvanfranchise.com.

ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING LLC

With more than 40 years of experience and more than 750 points of presence throughout North America, 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 http://www.SylvanLearning.com or SylvanLearning.com/blog.