Sylvan Learning Franchisee Christine Vallen Brings Major Community and Life Experiences to the Table

Christine Vallen knew she had to do something when she found out the local Sylvan Learning center in Broomfield, Colorado was closing.

“My son, Chris, is a math and science tutor for Sylvan in Broomfield,” Vallen said. “He came to me distressed, telling me the Sylvan location was planning on closing and he was going to be losing his job. Over the years, I’ve grown a passion for learning and watching others grow. I couldn’t sit back and watch such a great resource close its doors.”

Vallen never thought she’d become a franchisee. She’d seen friends and colleagues franchise with different companies, and while they found fulfillment, Vallen still had the impression that franchising was a complicated process that required a large financial and time investment.

Still, Vallen always had a passion for learning and helping others gain confidence, which is perfectly in line with Sylvan Learning’s values. The education company emphasizes challenging students, building their confidence and improving their study skills and grades. With this desire to help bring Sylvan’s programming to the community, Vallen began looking into how to become a franchisee. She immediately realized that Sylvan makes the franchisee application process simple to follow, and the corporate team is always there to help answer questions and provide guidance along the way. The transition into business ownership was a lot smoother than Vallen initially anticipated.

“We are currently working on contacting existing or former families of Sylvan to increase enrollment, and I’m working on a few marketing initiatives with my son, Sean, to get the word out in the community that the Sylvan is under new ownership,” Vallen said.

The Sylvan Learning corporate team is thrilled to have Vallen on their side.

“Christine is a huge asset to the Sylvan Learning family,” Sylvan Learning Vice President of Franchise Development Georgia Chasen said. “She has years of experience working with children, and she and her sons are very ingrained in the Broomfield community. We know her center will be in full force very soon, and we’re excited to watch her grow her business as an entrepreneur and franchisee.”

Vallen knows how tough life can be for students. Growing up, Vallen had a speech impediment and ADD. This required attending remedial and speech classes during her elementary years. After high school, she went on to study accounting technology and bookkeeping before starting a family and becoming a stay-at-home mom for 16 years. When her two sons got older, she saw an opportunity to give back to her community and began working with the Family Ministry at Broomfield Methodist Church.

“I started working at the church, beginning as a nursery coordinator and working my way up to Assistant Director,” she said. “I fell in love with the preschool there and found fulfillment from mentoring the kids, especially those who needed a little extra attention.”

Vallen had been working at the church for eight years when she experienced some personal hardship. In 2013, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two years later, she got divorced.

“I knew I needed change,” Vallen said.

In 2016, she left her job at the church to pursue her own storytelling event company, CTales. Dressed up in costume and armed with props and puppets, Vallen visits preschools to tell children stories, creating a curriculum that complements what the children are already learning in school. She continues to do this while also franchising with Sylvan.

Vallen hopes her Sylvan enterprise will become a family business in the near future. Her son, Chris, who has degrees in chemistry and mathematics will be going back to school for a teachers certification, while Sean is completing his undergraduate studies in marketing. Once the Broomfield location is up and running to its full potential, Vallen would like to open a satellite location in the surrounding area.

Vallen’s work and life experiences have helped make her the strong and determined entrepreneur she is today.

“I am constantly inspired by the kids,” she said. “You don’t realize how much of an impact you have on a child at such a young age. I’ve always had a desire to help children reach their fullest potential and to succeed in life. Owning these businesses allows me to do just that.”

The startup costs for a Sylvan Learning franchise range from $69,760 - $161,445. The initial franchise fee is $24,000. To learn more about franchising with Sylvan Learning, visit https://sylvanfranchise.com/.