The most important thing a person can have is an education, Sylvan Learning of Celina owner Shanna Miller said.

“[Education] is one of the best things we can give to our own children and the kids of the community,” Miller said.

Sylvan Learning of Prosper owner Janet Roy said education builds expertise, which increases confidence.

The background

Miller taught science in middle school and high school at Frisco ISD. She also coached volleyball, basketball and soccer but, after 11 years of teaching, wanted a change.




“I knew I wanted to stay in the education realm and stay connected to kids and helping them grow and reach their goals,” Miller said.

She began reaching tutoring services and felt that Sylvan would meet the criteria she set for her next career.

Roy has a master’s degree in computer science and worked as a Database Administrator before opening Sylvan Learning in Prosper, she said.

Like Miller, Roy was ready for a change and, believing in the importance of education, found her way to Sylvan.




“Educating somebody ... it's a service that has a lot of value,” Roy said.

What they offer

Both Sylvan Learning of Celina and Sylvan Learning of Prosper offer kindergarten through 12th grade personalized tutoring, the owners said. Subjects include reading, writing and math. The center also offers a study skills program and SAT prep for students planning to attend college.

“We also do homework support sessions,” Miller said. “It really depends on what the kid needs.”




What’s special about it?

Miller said every student at Sylvan has different needs and goals. When parents sign their children up for tutoring, they do an assessment so the program can be tailored to the student.

Sylvan Learning offers support for all types of students, whether they are behind or need to fill in gaps in a subject or students who are at the academic levels they need to be at but need help with consistency or sliding backward when on breaks. Lastly, the center offers students who have excelled with the content a chance to stay engaged and continue moving forward in their academics.

Roy said tutoring programs offered at Sylvan helps to build student confidence because they will be able to use the skills they learn outside of the classroom. In addition, Miller said the programs also learn independence as they learn so they start to feel more comfortable with the coursework.