Our family is delighted to welcome your family to New Horizon Academy! Our mission, philosophy, and practices are entirely focused on a commitment to excellence and fostering a healthy sense of self in every child enrolled in our early education and childcare programs.
New Horizon Academy, a Minnesota family-owned and operated childcare company, has been serving young children since opening its first school in 1971.
While working as an elementary school teacher, our founder, Sue Dunkley, knew she needed to provide a nurturing place for children to go before they ventured out into the big world and entered school. This is why New Horizon Academy was born.
Today, Chad Dunkley, Sue’s son and one of New Horizon Academy’s first students, is our chief executive officer. Chad ensures that the commitment to excellence Sue strived for in New Horizon Academy’s early years and the foundation that our company was built upon continue to be the cornerstone for each New Horizon Academy.
Because of our continuing love, belief, and dedication to children, we have flourished to become one of the nation’s most successful and respected providers of childcare and early education.
As New Horizon Academy continues to grow and serve more families each year, we will always have family roots, a warm atmosphere, an open door, and a commitment to excellence.
Sue is co-founder and president of New Horizon Enterprises, Inc. She started New Horizon Academy in 1971 in Brooklyn Center with eight children. Since then, she has grown the business to be one of the largest privately owned childcare providers in the country and the largest hourly childcare provider.
Sue received her degree in education, as well as her teaching certificate in early childhood development, from the University of Minnesota. She has been interviewed and featured as an expert in such national publications as American Baby, Parenting Magazine, and Working Mother, as well as local newscasts and publications.
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William M. Dunkley is co-founder and chairman of New Horizon Enterprises, Inc. and is also the chairman of New Horizon Kids Quest, Inc.
Mr. Dunkley is concurrently Chief Executive Officer for the law firm of Dunkley and Bennett, P.A. He received a B.S. in business administration from the University of Minnesota, and a juris doctorate from the William Mitchell School of Law.
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A passionate and published leader, speaker, and advocate, Chad Dunkley drives the strategy and culture of continuous improvement at New Horizon Academy as Chief Executive Officer. After earning a Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law, Chad followed his mom’s footsteps into early care and education. He says the moment he held his infant son in his arms, he knew there was no more important work than providing the best early education programs for young children and their families.
Throughout his career, Chad has earned international recognition as a leader. Chad was named a Most Admired CEO by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2017) and an Exceptional Emerging Leader by the Child Care Information Exchange (2015). In 2004, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal recognized Chad as one of the region’s most outstanding leaders as one of their Forty Under 40 award recipients.
Today, Chad is Co-Chair of The Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), a national nonprofit alliance representing over 7,000 multi-site and multi-state child care programs. He is also President of the Minnesota Child Care Association (MCCA), an executive board member of the Chad Greenway Lead the Way Foundation, and a board member of the Minnesota Business Partnership. Previously, Chad completed a four-year term on the governing board of The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 2017.
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Jill serves as the chief legal officer and the executive vice president for New Horizon Academy. She provides advice and counsel to all departments within the organization, including overseeing a broad range of legal issues, real estate matters, regulatory matters, employment, acquisitions, and reputational risks.
Prior to joining New Horizon Academy, Jill was an attorney with Dunkley and Bennett, P.A., where her primary practice areas included corporate, real estate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, employment, and a variety of commercial transactions.
Jill received her juris doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Hamline University. Jill actively supports philanthropic events that are focused on improving the lives of children.
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24Even with over 100 schools across multiple states, New Horizon Academy remains a family-owned company, still led by the family who started it all. This means every decision is made by people who know our communities and care deeply about the children, families, and educators we serve.
While the Dunkley family oversees overall operations, each of our schools is led by a director and assistant director, both of whom are experienced leaders in early childhood education.
Choosing a family-owned childcare means choosing a team that truly values early childhood education. From teachers to directors, district managers, and executives, every team member at New Horizon Academy is dedicated to your child’s safety, education, and well-being.
At New Horizon Academy, they truly want what’s best for children, parents, and teachers. They provide the best tools, support teachers and families through transitions, and genuinely care about the children’s learning. The CEO, Chad Dunkley, personally advocates for children, parents, and teachers in state and federal legislation, which I have never seen at any other center I’ve worked for. I love working at New Horizon Academy!
Our family has moved several times over the years and has experienced a variety of different childcare environments. I can confidently say that New Horizon Academy has been the best choice for ensuring the safety, well-being, and early education of our children. We love that they are family-owned, which ensures consistent quality and curriculum that you may not find in franchised schools. With numerous clean, top-notch, and technically advanced facilities and friendly, diverse, and qualified staff, New Horizon Academy excels at fostering personal relationships while providing affordable, comprehensive care for children.
At New Horizon Academy, they truly want what’s best for children, parents, and teachers. They provide the best tools, support teachers and families through transitions, and genuinely care about the children’s learning. The CEO, Chad Dunkley, personally advocates for children, parents, and teachers in state and federal legislation, which I have never seen at any other center I’ve worked for. I love working at New Horizon Academy!
Our family has moved several times over the years and has experienced a variety of different childcare environments. I can confidently say that New Horizon Academy has been the best choice for ensuring the safety, well-being, and early education of our children. We love that they are family-owned, which ensures consistent quality and curriculum that you may not find in franchised schools. With numerous clean, top-notch, and technically advanced facilities and friendly, diverse, and qualified staff, New Horizon Academy excels at fostering personal relationships while providing affordable, comprehensive care for children.
An investment in a New Horizon Academy education is an investment in your child’s future. Families trust New Horizon Academy to set their children up for success. Here are a few reasons why:
From a single preschool classroom in 1971 to 100 schools today, much has changed for New Horizon Academy, but our commitment to children, families, teachers, and our communities remains the same.
One hundred percent of our eligible schools are accredited by NAEYC, the gold standard in early childhood accreditation. This is an accomplishment no other childcare provider of our size has achieved.
We hire teachers with experience, give them the training and support they need to succeed, pay them above market average, and help them achieve their goals. This results in stable, consistent care for your child.
Our state-of-the-art schools provide children with thoughtfully designed classrooms, playgrounds, and learning tools. We regularly update our schools to ensure they reflect our high standards for safety, quality, and care.
Your child’s safety and well-being always come first. Our childcare centers create caring, secure environments focused on supporting each child’s health and happiness. You can feel confident that your child is in good hands.
Our research-based curriculum offers engaging, hands-on activities in STEAM, language and literacy, social-emotional learning, physical development, and more to support kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning.
As an organization, we strive to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture where all children, families, and staff feel a sense of belonging. We approach our relationships with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
A nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack are prepared fresh each day by our school chef, with menus developed by our nutrition specialist to ensure every meal is balanced. All meals are included in the cost of tuition!
Our mobile app keeps parents connected with daily updates, allowing teachers to share information, send messages, and delight you with photos and videos from your child’s day, so you never miss a moment.
Families are always welcome to come in for visits, participate in activities, and join us for family fun events. We love having parents involved in their child’s learning and value every opportunity to build a strong community.
From a single preschool classroom in 1971 to 100 schools today, much has changed for New Horizon Academy, but our commitment to children, families, teachers, and our communities remains the same.
One hundred percent of our eligible schools are accredited by NAEYC, the gold standard in early childhood accreditation. This is an accomplishment no other childcare provider of our size has achieved.
We hire teachers with experience, give them the training and support they need to succeed, pay them above market average, and help them achieve their goals. This results in stable, consistent care for your child.
Our state-of-the-art schools provide children with thoughtfully designed classrooms, playgrounds, and learning tools. We regularly update our schools to ensure they reflect our high standards for safety, quality, and care.
Your child’s safety and well-being always come first. Our childcare centers create caring, secure environments focused on supporting each child’s health and happiness. You can feel confident that your child is in good hands.
Our research-based curriculum offers engaging, hands-on activities in STEAM, language and literacy, social-emotional learning, physical development, and more to support kindergarten readiness and lifelong learning.
As an organization, we strive to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture where all children, families, and staff feel a sense of belonging. We approach our relationships with curiosity, compassion, and respect.
A nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack are prepared fresh each day by our school chef, with menus developed by our nutrition specialist to ensure every meal is balanced. All meals are included in the cost of tuition!
Our mobile app keeps parents connected with daily updates, allowing teachers to share information, send messages, and delight you with photos and videos from your child’s day, so you never miss a moment.
Families are always welcome to come in for visits, participate in activities, and join us for family fun events. We love having parents involved in their child’s learning and value every opportunity to build a strong community.
