Sylvan Learning Cranberry Township in Pennsylvania Celebrates Five Years of Growth and Resilience

As Sylvan Learning  in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, approaches its fifth anniversary, franchise owners Katelyn and Suzan O'Brien reflect on the impact they have made since taking over the location in 2022. A family duo with deep roots in education, Suzan spent more than 40 years in the classroom before retiring, while daughter Katelyn was a middle school science teacher for over a decade. Their shared commitment to student success led them to Sylvan, where they saw an opportunity to provide much-needed academic support in both their home state of Maryland and their former hometown of Pittsburgh.

When the Cranberry Township location became available, the decision to step in felt natural. Though the center had struggled to gain momentum after opening in early 2020 due to the pandemic, Katelyn and Suzan recognized its potential. As educators rather than business professionals, they relied on Sylvan’s strong support system to help them navigate franchise ownership. Their passion for education made a difference, allowing them to connect with parents and emphasize the importance of supplemental learning. Since taking over, they have steadily grown enrollment and expanded the center’s presence in the community.

Despite living in Maryland, Suzan frequently travels to Pennsylvania to oversee operations, while their team of experienced directors ensures that students receive top-tier instruction. One of their key hires, the Cranberry center’s current director, has been with Sylvan for more than 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Looking ahead, Katelyn and Suzan remain focused on strengthening their existing centers before considering further expansion. For them, the work is all about helping children succeed — something they are proud to continue doing as Sylvan Cranberry Township marks this important milestone.

1851 Franchise recently  spoke with Katelyn and Suzan about their partnership, their franchising journey with Sylvan Learning and the five-year milestone of their Cranberry Township center. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Katelyn O'Brien: We're both educators. I was an elementary and middle school science teacher for 13 years. During COVID, we saw students struggling and falling behind, and in our area of Maryland, there were no tutoring or support services outside of school. Parents were constantly asking for help, but as full-time teachers, staying after school or tutoring on weekends wasn't realistic. My mom was about to retire, and we started looking into options. We considered starting a tutoring business independently, but then we found Sylvan. After several meetings and trainings, we decided Sylvan would be a great fit for us and our community.

Suzan O'Brien: I was an elementary teacher for 41 and a half years and thought I would stay in the classroom for life. When COVID hit, parents in our Maryland community were desperate for help, and we had nowhere to refer them. As I was getting ready to retire, Katelyn was also looking for a change. After researching our options, we landed on Sylvan. Our initial goal was to serve our small Maryland community, but eight months later, Sylvan Corporate approached us about two available centers in Pittsburgh. Given our long history in Pittsburgh—where I worked for 30 years and Katelyn grew up—it felt meant to be. That’s how we started Hometown Learning, our LLC for the two Pittsburgh centers.

1851: Did you come across Sylvan while looking for a franchise, or did you fall into franchising after discovering Sylvan?

Katelyn: We knew we wanted to offer tutoring and support services. We started exploring options and found Sylvan, which led us into franchising. We believe in the product, and the structure of a franchise made it a great fit for us.

1851: Can you tell us what drew you to Sylvan Learning? What is it about the brand that excites you the most?

Katelyn: We see results with the program, and the guaranteed outcomes make a difference. The support from corporate has been incredible. From our designated marketing person to our franchise business consultant, and even up to the CFO or CEO, we can reach out to anyone anytime. That level of support is invaluable.

Suzan: Sylvan serves students from pre-K through high school and beyond. On our own, we wouldn’t have been able to cover such a wide range of learning needs. Whether it’s a first-grader struggling with reading or a high school student needing calculus help, Sylvan has the resources to support them all.

1851: The Cranberry Township location opened in February 2020, just before the COVID pandemic. You took over operations in 2022. What were some of the challenges you had to overcome?

Katelyn: The center was brand new when COVID hit, so it didn’t have a chance to establish itself. Since taking over, we’ve focused on building enrollment, hiring staff, and growing awareness in the community.

Suzan: The prior owner was a strong businessman, but COVID made it impossible to get the center off the ground. We aren’t businesspeople, but as educators, we bring a unique perspective that resonates with parents. We understand their concerns and can effectively communicate why Sylvan is worth the investment.

1851: How has the learning loss associated with COVID impacted your business?

Katelyn: Teachers are concerned about learning gaps, and parents want their kids to catch up. COVID widened the academic gap, increasing the demand for services like ours.

1851: What are some of the things you’ve achieved with your Cranberry Township center since you took it over?

Suzan: We’ve created a strong presence in the community. Even though we don’t live there, we’ve built relationships and established credibility as educators who genuinely care about helping kids succeed.

Katelyn: We’ve been able to positively impact students and families. That’s our biggest win.

1851: How involved are you in the day-to-day operations of your learning centers?

Suzan: We have three centers and live in Maryland, so I travel frequently. Our director at Cranberry has been with Sylvan for over 25 years and brings a wealth of knowledge. We’re lucky to have her leading that center.

1851: What does the future hold for you and Sylvan Learning? Any exciting developments on the horizon? Any plans for further expansion?

Suzan: When we first opened in Maryland, we considered expanding to Morgantown, West Virginia. Then the Pittsburgh opportunity came up, and we prioritized that. Right now, we’re focused on growing our existing centers. We still see potential for expansion in the future, but we want to strengthen what we have first.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Suzan: If you’re passionate about helping kids and have an educational or business background, Sylvan is a great fit. My proudest accomplishment is making a difference in kids’ lives, and I’m still doing that even in retirement.

Katelyn: Sylvan provides incredible support. We weren’t business-minded, but their guidance has helped us successfully run a business.

Suzan: Opening a business independently would have been overwhelming. Franchising gave us the training and ongoing support we needed to succeed.

1851: You mentioned the children you’ve helped. Any success stories you’d like to share?

Katelyn: We’ve had students start at a kindergarten level and reach third or fourth grade in just a year. Seeing that kind of progress is incredibly rewarding.

Suzan: One personal story that stands out: I once had a student with autism whose parents didn’t know how to support him. I worked with them, and 25 years later, his mother still thanks me every time she sees me. That’s the kind of impact we strive for.

1851: What’s one thing about your story you want everyone to know?

Suzan: We’re a woman-owned business that started during the pandemic, dedicated to making a difference in kids’ lives. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built.

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.