Valley Business Report: How Susan Valverde Brought Sylvan Learning to the Rio Grande Valley and Transformed Local Education

Susan Valverde, brand president of Sylvan Learning, began her career in business development with the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, where she saw firsthand how education impacts job opportunities. During a trip to Europe, she noticed how the companies there worked with schools to prepare students for the workforce. This experience inspired her to bring similar support to her community, leading her to open the first Sylvan Learning Center in McAllen, Texas, in 2002, according to a recent Valley Business Report (VBR) profile. 

Valverde understood the challenges students face, especially as someone who struggled with a second language as an immigrant child. Her personal connection to learning struggles drove her to make Sylvan’s tutoring services accessible to more students. 

“Maybe that’s what drew me to education,” Valverde said. “I know what it’s like to be that child who needs to catch up in the classroom.”

She opened additional centers in Brownsville and Harlingen, Texas, and worked with local school districts to offer after-school programs. By securing state grants and partnering with schools, Valverde helped Sylvan become a valuable resource for all parents, whether or not they had the financial means to afford personalized tutoring.

Her approach to collaboration set a model for other Sylvan centers. In 2016, after successfully expanding Sylvan’s reach in the Valley region, Valverde sold her franchise and took on a corporate role as vice president of franchise operations. Today, as brand president, she continues to support Sylvan centers across the country, staying committed to her mission of meeting students where they are and helping them reach their goals.

Read the full article here.