Passion Brings Educator Commercial Success

Greenville Daily Reflector:

As Becky Taylor walked through a Sylvan Learning Center recently — something she has done countless times the past 21 years — a young girl popped up from her studies and exclaimed, “That’s the woman on the commercial.”

Yes, the owner is now a celebrity.

Taylor, owner of five Sylvan franchises in eastern North Carolina, was selected as the spokeswoman for Sylvan’s summer advertising campaign and spent a day in Dallas filming a commercial that is airing nationwide and in parts beyond the U.S. borders. Not only have local students recognized her, but vacationing friends and former employees have seen the 30-second and 60-second spots from Aruba to California to Nebraska.

“The kids really think it’s like somebody from Hollywood,” Taylor said in an interview in her more natural setting of her office on Turnbury Drive in Greenville.

“It was a neat experience,” Taylor said. “I saw a whole new world.”

It was a world that was fascinating but also made her appreciate what she does back home.

“Basically I got to be a star for a day, which was pretty awesome,” said Taylor, who lives in Bath. “It made me realize I would not want to do that all my life.”

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