Sylvan Learning of Midlothian Executive Director Steve Green and Education Director Holly Batten. Photos by Jonathan Spiers.
With its programs now wireless, a local tutoring business is broadening its orbit.
Sylvan Learning of Midlothian, a local franchise of the national tutoring center brand, is opening its first satellite location at Rainbow Station at The Boulders, a preschool franchise at 7421 Boulder Springs Road.
The first of multiple satellites planned in the Southside, the location, near Midlothian Turnpike and Chippenham Parkway, will allow the Sylvan franchise to bring the company’s Internet-based programs to students beyond the walls of its Sylvan Learning Center, a 2,000-square-foot space at 5309 Commonwealth Centre Parkway.
Executive Director Steve Green, who purchased Sylvan Learning of Midlothian in late 2013 after directing a similar center in the West End for seven years, said the satellite locations follow recent upgrades in the company’s technology. Its K-12 tutoring and college prep programs are taught on iPads that were purchased last year.
Green said the satellites will make it easier for students and tutors to participate in programs without requiring them to travel to the Brandermill-area center. He said he’s planning to open at least three satellites over the next 12 months, likely at other Rainbow Station locations.
Sylvan tutors work with three students at a time.
“As long as we have three people to serve, it’s worth it to do, and profitable,” he said.
Sylvan classes are based on a 3-1 student-tutor ratio, illustrated at the center with desks that are designed so that each tutor sits with a group of three students.
Green said using space in preschools and day cares helps to cut down costs of opening the locations. Working with Rainbow Station is ideal, he said, because it uses state-certified instructors, which Sylvan Learning requires.
Costs to open each satellite correlate with the number of iPads that need to be purchased, at about $450 or more each, Green said. Unlike local public school programs where take-home laptops are given to each student, Green said the iPads are provided to students when they come to a location. If classes are staggered throughout a day or week, fewer iPads need to be purchased.
Student enrollment also determines other costs, such as staffing and compensation for tutors. Additional costs include rent and marketing, Green said.
The company charges about $50 an hour for standard tutoring subjects, such as math and writing, and it has additional charges for specialized subjects like coding and robotics.
Sylvan Learning of Midlothian currently serves more than 60 students at its center off Hull Street, Green said. The Boulders satellite location would serve about 30 more, he said.
The franchise currently has about 16 tutors, who work part-time and may have other teaching jobs, Green said. In addition to Green, the center’s full-time staff includes Holly Batten, who serves as director of education.
Sylvan Learning has 800 centers worldwide, including more than 20 in Virginia. The Midlothian franchise is the only one in the Richmond area, though Green said the company has had a local presence for 20 years. Costs to open a new franchise range from $160,000 to more than $280,000, according to the company’s website.
Sylvan Learning of Midlothian Executive Director Steve Green and Education Director Holly Batten. Photos by Jonathan Spiers.
With its programs now wireless, a local tutoring business is broadening its orbit.
Sylvan Learning of Midlothian, a local franchise of the national tutoring center brand, is opening its first satellite location at Rainbow Station at The Boulders, a preschool franchise at 7421 Boulder Springs Road.
The first of multiple satellites planned in the Southside, the location, near Midlothian Turnpike and Chippenham Parkway, will allow the Sylvan franchise to bring the company’s Internet-based programs to students beyond the walls of its Sylvan Learning Center, a 2,000-square-foot space at 5309 Commonwealth Centre Parkway.
Executive Director Steve Green, who purchased Sylvan Learning of Midlothian in late 2013 after directing a similar center in the West End for seven years, said the satellite locations follow recent upgrades in the company’s technology. Its K-12 tutoring and college prep programs are taught on iPads that were purchased last year.
Green said the satellites will make it easier for students and tutors to participate in programs without requiring them to travel to the Brandermill-area center. He said he’s planning to open at least three satellites over the next 12 months, likely at other Rainbow Station locations.
Sylvan tutors work with three students at a time.
“As long as we have three people to serve, it’s worth it to do, and profitable,” he said.
Sylvan classes are based on a 3-1 student-tutor ratio, illustrated at the center with desks that are designed so that each tutor sits with a group of three students.
Green said using space in preschools and day cares helps to cut down costs of opening the locations. Working with Rainbow Station is ideal, he said, because it uses state-certified instructors, which Sylvan Learning requires.
Costs to open each satellite correlate with the number of iPads that need to be purchased, at about $450 or more each, Green said. Unlike local public school programs where take-home laptops are given to each student, Green said the iPads are provided to students when they come to a location. If classes are staggered throughout a day or week, fewer iPads need to be purchased.
Student enrollment also determines other costs, such as staffing and compensation for tutors. Additional costs include rent and marketing, Green said.
The company charges about $50 an hour for standard tutoring subjects, such as math and writing, and it has additional charges for specialized subjects like coding and robotics.
Sylvan Learning of Midlothian currently serves more than 60 students at its center off Hull Street, Green said. The Boulders satellite location would serve about 30 more, he said.
The franchise currently has about 16 tutors, who work part-time and may have other teaching jobs, Green said. In addition to Green, the center’s full-time staff includes Holly Batten, who serves as director of education.
Sylvan Learning has 800 centers worldwide, including more than 20 in Virginia. The Midlothian franchise is the only one in the Richmond area, though Green said the company has had a local presence for 20 years. Costs to open a new franchise range from $160,000 to more than $280,000, according to the company’s website.
Congratulations to Steve Green and his team at Sylvan. Steve is a talented entrepreneur and the Sylvan program is outstanding. Since I live in the far west end, I hope this satellite program expands out this way in the near future. Keep up the great work Steve, et al.
A great story about an even better person. Steve has always working in businesses that help the community, and setting our children up for success is one of the most important things we can do. Nice job Sylvan team!