1851

Carol Galbraith knows a thing or two about building long-lasting relationships.Today, the longtime <a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=when-sylvan-learning-students-become-parents-and-teachers-franchisee-carol-galbraiths-influence-spans-generations-2709417" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sylvan Learning</a> franchisee and former high school teacher, who purchased her Lafayette, Indiana center back in 1996 with a business partner, has two former <a href="http://v/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=when-sylvan-learning-students-become-parents-and-teachers-franchisee-carol-galbraiths-influence-spans-generations-2709417" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Sylvan Learning</a> students who are now working for her as teachers. She also has two former Sylvan Learning students and five former high school students who now bring their own children to her center for tutoring.She attributes <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning/longtime-sylvan-learning-veterans-talk-culture-technology-and-spider-man-comic-books-2709081">this kind of longevity</a> to building trust and maintaining a warm, personable environment in her center. Galbraith’s experiences tie in with the education brand’s <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning/sylvan-learning-celebrates-40-years-of-helping-4-mill-ion-students-across-the-world-2709126">40th anniversary</a> this year. The brand prides itself on building long-lasting relationships among families and franchisees.“I think the biggest thing about being part of the Sylvan Learning brand is to build trust,” she said. “There’s not a week that goes by that we don’t get a call from a parent who basically says ‘I hope you can help. We can’t go anywhere else. There’s no hope.’ That’s sad. We like to give a personal touch. It’s nice when customers come in and see that we’re real people, that we’re a small business serving their local community and that we care about them.”From teacher to franchiseeGalbraith began her teaching career in 1975 at Frankton High School in Frankton, Indiana. It was a small school with a total of 32 faculty members at the time. In 1987, she started teaching at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Indiana, where she would be for the next nine years. Throughout her teaching career, she taught English, composition, speech, theater and creative writing.Things were going well, but in 1996 she had a major change of heart. She learned that the franchisee who owned the Lafayette Sylvan Learning center wanted to sell his franchise and retire. A friend called Galbraith to see if she was interested. Galbraith decided to take a leave of absence to pursue this new venture, and her principal told her that if she didn’t like this new path she could come back after a year.Ultimately, Galbraith resigned from teaching.Galbraith purchased her current Sylvan Learning with a business partner. Together, they eventually owned and operated three Sylvan Learning locations, plus a testing center. When her business partner decided to leave the brand in 2006, Galbraith chose to close the two extra centers and focus on her Lafayette center and the testing center.“It’s about an hour and a half to the next Sylvan Learning center, and we have people who drive an hour and 15 minutes to get to our center, so we have a very wide and very large area we serve,” she said.When students become parents - and teachers!Two former Sylvan students who were at Galbraith’s center in 2005 and 2006 now have their children there, which truly thrills her.“I have one parent whose little girl has been with us for about a year, and another parent just called recently because he wants to bring in his stepdaughter,” Galbraith said. “He was a former student and now he’s 25. Both of them said they remember how much Sylvan Learning helped them, so they wanted to bring their kids and get them the same help.”Five of Galbraith’s former Jefferson High School students also currently have their children at her Sylvan Learning. They were delighted when they learned that Galbraith was in charge of the center.“The parents will submit an inquiry and I’ll reply via email and say my name and they’ll reply with ‘Are you Mrs. Galbraith who taught at Jefferson High School?’” she said.On top of that, two of Galbraith’s current teachers were previously students at her center. They also work in education in addition to their Sylvan jobs. They each revealed their Sylvan Learning history to Galbraith when they came in for their job interviews.“They said they enjoyed their experience,” she said. “They know how much it helped and they wanted to help other kids. They felt like it did so much for them and they wanted to do the same for other kids.”Nurture - and stay business savvyGalbraith’s advice to prospective <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning/how-two-women-s-journey-with-sylvan-took-them-from-instructors-to-franchisees-2708804">Sylvan Learning franchisees</a> is to be passionate about their business venture but also financially savvy.“It is a business, and I have to wear two hats, my nurturing hat and my business hat,” Galbraith said. “There’s a time the nurturing hat wants to take over but my business hat says it has to be a business.”It’s also important to be visible in one’s community. Galbraith noted that she is heavily involved in her area.“I’m on a lot of boards and networking and service groups,” she said. “You have to be out there, so people know who you are and what you do so you can build that trust in the community.”Galbraith has zero plans to retire.“People say ‘Why don’t you retire?’ and I tell them I’ve been at Sylvan for 23 years and I love what I’m doing,” she said. “It’s not just about numbers and profits. It’s about changing lives. There’s a lot of responsibility, and everything about it is wonderful.”The startup costs for a Sylvan Learning center range from $69,760 to $161,445. The franchise fee is $24,000. To learn more about franchising with Sylvan, visit <a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=when-sylvan-learning-students-become-parents-and-teachers-franchisee-carol-galbraiths-influence-spans-generations-2709417" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://sylvanfranchise.com/</a>.

Carol Galbraith, Sylvan Learning Franchisee

When Sylvan Learning Students Become Parents and Teachers: Franchisee Carol Galbraith’s Influence Spans Generations

1851 Franchise

Several of Carol Galbraith’s former students now bring their children to her Lafayette, Indiana Sylvan Learning franchise. 

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

when-sylvan-learning-students-become-parents-and-teachers-franchisee-carol-galbraiths-influence-spans-generations

Right at Home

Veterans, Army, Navy, Right at Home franchisees, Veterans Day

Veterans Excel as Right at Home Franchisees: Here's Why

veterans-in-franchising-right-at-home-success

The Cleaning Authority

Why This Corporate McDonald’s Rep Decided To Open His Own Franchise With The Cleaning Authority

cleaning-authority/kent-lewis-franchise-success

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

KidStrong Wraps Up Q3 With First Manhattan Location, 45 New Franchises and Record-High Attendance

kidstrong-q3-growth-2025

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of front lobby area of Woodhouse Spa

Why Woodhouse Has No True Competitor in the Spa Franchise Space

luxury-spa-franchise

Right at Home Expanding In-Home Care Services in Wausau, Wisconsin 

right-at-home-expanding-in-home-care-services-in-wausau-wisconsin

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Photo of Happinest Brands teams standing together in front of branded vehicles

Happinest Brands Continues Strong 2025 Trajectory With Major Q3 Growth and Strategic Wins

happinest-brands-q3-franchise-growth

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown

franchise-community-support-shutdown

Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

slim-chickens-rd-center-fayetteville

Nearly 40% of Americans Are Eating Out Less as High Prices Redefine Dining Habits

nearly-40-of-americans-are-eating-out-less-as-high-prices-redefine-dining-habits

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum

Authority Brands Enters Q4 with Record Momentum, Surpassing 200 New Franchise Owners in the First 10 Months of 2025

authority-brands-enters-q4-with-record-momentum-surpassing-200-new-franchise-owners-in-the-first-10-months-of-2025

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with Nisha Patel, Disha Barot, and BIGGBY COFFEE logo

Two Women Bring BIGGBY® COFFEE to Georgia With a Mission to Create Community-Focused Gathering Spots

biggby-coffee-georgia-franchise-launch

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

When Sylvan Learning Students Become Parents and Teachers: Franchisee Carol Galbraith’s Influence Spans Generations

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS