Sylvan Learning in Schererville, Indiana, Celebrates 35 Years of Excellence

Sylvan Learning in Schererville, Indiana, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. COO Sarah Miller and CEO Kent Kolbow, who lead 21 Sylvan centers across three states, attribute the success of the Schererville center to the commitment of its staff. Their efforts have made the center a cornerstone of the community, helping students thrive academically and personally.

The Schererville team, led by center directors Jen DiTola, Stephenie Miller and Katie Walker, has created an environment that prioritizes academic achievement as well as building strong relationships with students and families. Their approach has fostered trust and loyalty over the years, making the center a trusted resource for families seeking quality education support.

Under their leadership, the center has seen remarkable growth, including reaching $1 million in annual revenue and serving hundreds of students at a time. The team’s focus on collaboration and innovation has been key to meeting the evolving needs of the community while maintaining the high standards that define Sylvan Learning.

Looking ahead, the Schererville team remains committed to empowering students to achieve their goals and helping families navigate their educational journeys. This 35-year milestone highlights the impact of a dedicated team and their unwavering focus on making a difference in the lives of local children and families.

1851 Franchise spoke to Miller about how the center has grown over the years and how the team has shaped its success. Here’s what she 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?

Sarah Miller: I've been the CEO of our 21 locations across three states for 15 years now. I came from a nonprofit background and always knew that serving kids and those in need was a passion of mine. I also loved the opportunity to combine that passion with my business and organizational skills. When the opportunity to join Sylvan presented itself after working in several nonprofits for a few years, I jumped at the chance. It allowed me to serve the local community, kids and families while leveraging my skills in a meaningful way

1851: What have been some of the most significant achievements or milestones you've reached as a franchisee?

Miller: They’ve grown tenfold. Just in terms of revenue, when we purchased the centers in 2015, they brought in just over $187,000 for the entire year. In 2024, they brought in over a million dollars in revenue for the year. They’ve grown massively in revenue, but they’ve also grown significantly in student size and the services they provide.

Now, they’re the largest center within our franchise group, which is impressive considering we have 21 centers. They currently have over 250 students actively enrolled, and at times, they’ve served up to 300 students. They’ve done an amazing job connecting with families and building deep relationships over the years. Many families have been with them for a long time, bringing all their family members.

The team — Jen DiTola, Stephenie Miller and Katie Walker — runs the center and does a fantastic job collaborating and empowering their teachers to not only teach but also care about what’s happening with their students. They’ve created an environment where teachers are strong, encouraging and genuinely care about each student.

We even had to expand that location because they kept asking, “How many tables can we fit in this space? How close can the kids sit together?” Eventually, we had to create more space to accommodate their growth. Families trust that their children are cared for academically, but also that everyone — from teachers to directors — genuinely cares about the students as individuals. That’s really been the key to their growth.

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

Miller: In so many ways — there are lots of stories. The impact has been huge. For example, they had a student who started with them in elementary school and just graduated within the last two years. Her family was deeply dedicated to and committed to working with Sylvan throughout her journey. There were challenges along the way — sometimes we focused on one subject, then shifted to another — but the team always ensured that the student knew her progress, whether big or small, was valued.

They had good conversations and tough ones because the staff genuinely cared about her and worked in partnership with her family. That relationship between the team, the student and her family was a significant factor in her success throughout high school. It’s those connections that truly make a difference.

1851: What would you say sets your center and your staff apart? Are there any unique programs or initiatives that have contributed to your success?

Miller: They care like no one else. It’s not just about seeing a need and meeting it — they dig deeper to uncover what’s beneath the surface and figure out how they can truly help. They know their community well and are deeply engaged with it. They understand what’s affecting local families as well as broader challenges that impact every family.

They care so much that they feel just as invested in a child’s success as the parents and kids themselves. If a child gets a bad test score, they’ll be just as upset and will do whatever it takes to help that child improve. Their passion for every kid to make progress is unmatched — they go to battle for every child.

There are times they’ll call me and say, “Sarah, we need to find a way to help this kid outside the box because they need this support.” They’re always willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure every child achieves success at the center and has a fair shot in life. They’ll partner with schools, have conversations with educators and even find creative ways to make sure a child can attend the center when it seems like there’s no option.

They stay ahead of the curve, ensuring parents understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. They aren’t afraid to have hard conversations because they know the long-term benefits for the kids and families they serve. Their commitment is what truly sets them apart.

1851: As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of your location, how do you see the future of your center and the brand overall?

Miller: I’m super excited to see where the center goes. Having a year like 2024, where they hit a million dollars in revenue and achieved some of our biggest Black Friday numbers — they’re huge producers on Black Friday — I can’t wait to see how they continue to further impact the communities and families around them. They’re on a great growth trajectory.

There’s been significant leadership growth within the center director teams. Jen is part of our system-wide leadership team, and both Katie and Stephanie — as directors — have also shown great growth. This leadership development enables them to grow other leaders within their center, which allows everyone to better serve families. We’re really excited about that.

Sylvan as a brand is also continuing to grow, impacting more families and staying kid-focused. Across all the brands within Unleashed, we feel like we’re such a natural fit for helping families understand that we’re not just here for kids who are struggling or having a hard time — we’re also here for kids who want to challenge themselves and improve. That’s what Schererville has done — they’ve said, "We're here for the success of every child.”

They see each child’s potential and are committed to helping them achieve more than they even thought possible. That’s what I see for the future of our brand and center: growing and helping even more kids achieve beyond what they see in themselves.

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

Miller: As a Sylvan franchise owner, it’s all about making sure you have the right team in place. Schererville wouldn’t be what it is today without this passionate, loyal, hardworking team. We wouldn’t be the system we are without such great, committed and dedicated team members.

As a franchisee, it’s really important to take the time to build that team. It can feel overwhelming and frustrating at times to go through the hiring process and then continue to mold and guide your director along the way. But when you find the right director — someone you’ve carefully chosen through the processes needed to run a Sylvan center successfully, smoothly and consistently — and they’re able to take themselves to the next level independently, it’s incredibly rewarding.

That director becomes the key to achieving your vision of impacting the community. Through their work, you can make a difference. But this only happens when you take cautious, strategic, and purposeful steps in building and nurturing your team. It’s time-consuming, but it’s worth it because it leads to success — not just for you as the owner, but for the families you serve and the director who helps bring it all together.

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.