Business Details
48 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Child Care & Early Education
For over 46 years, Horizon Education Centers has been a leader in providing high-quality early childhood education and care. Established in memory of our founder Mary M. Smith, our enduring legacy is built on a commitment to excellence in programs for children aged 6 weeks to 14 years. Our mission focuses on delivering high-quality early childhood education, care, and youth development programs, with a dedication to accessibility for all families regardless of income or location. Licensed by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, we offer year-round child care, preschool, and afterschool programs through partnerships with local school districts and community agencies. Our centers are open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with afterschool hours varying by location.We serve communities in Western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties, including Cleveland, Elyria, and Lorain, ensuring a wide reach for our services. Our programs are highly rated by Step Up to Quality, emphasizing wellness, readiness, and individualized attention. With 21 locations and 10 Horizon Centers, we provide infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age programs, and summer camps. Our team of experienced educators and administrators, including board-certified professionals, ensures a nurturing environment tailored to each child's needs. We prioritize parent-staff partnerships and maintain strong community ties, reflecting our belief that early childhood education lays the foundation for lifelong success.
Services
Infant Care
Toddler Care
Preschool Programs
School Age Care
Before/After School Care
Summer Camp
Educational Curriculum
STEM Exploration
Character Development
Homework Help
Details
- Year established: 1978
Highlights and features
- We offer 45+ years of experience in early childhood education.
- Our programs are highly rated by Step Up to Quality standards.
- We provide individualized attention tailored to each child's needs.
- Our staff includes certified educators with extensive childcare expertise.
- We serve 21 locations across Western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties.
Associations and certifications
- Step Up to Quality
What people say
Individualized attention
Improved drastically
Compassion and love
Second family
Tailored approach
Services
Infant Care
Our Infant Care program serves children aged 6 weeks to 18 months. Experienced teachers provide personalized attention in sensory-rich environments designed for early development. We focus on building strong foundations through age-appropriate activities and parent-staff partnerships.
Toddler Programs
Toddler programs cater to 18-36 month-olds with milestone-based curricula aligned with Ohio Early Learning Standards. Our classrooms promote social-emotional learning, cognitive development, and motor skills through immersive educational experiences and structured routines.
Preschool Programs
Preschool programs prepare 3-5 year-olds for kindergarten using Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum Gold. We emphasize literacy, numeracy, and social skills while providing developmental screenings and individualized growth plans tailored to each child's needs.
School Age Care
School-age programs serve children 6-14 years with homework help, STEM activities, and physical wellness programs. Our before/after-school services include character education, leadership development, and nutritious meals during extended care hours.
Summer Camp
Our 10-week summer camp offers themed activities, field trips, and swimming for children 6-14 years. The program prevents summer learning loss while providing full-day care with educational experiences and structured recreational activities.
People
Julie Hamman
Trustee
Assistant Vice President Account Executive at Lockton with 35 years of insurance industry experience. Supports strategic direction and funding efforts for early childhood education at state and federal levels.
Georgia Hatzis
Trustee
Partner at UB Greensfelder LLP specializing in civil litigation defense. Advocates for accessible quality education and contributes legal expertise to support Horizon's mission.
Bret Fisher
Board President
CEO of Achieve Credit Union with 25 years financial industry experience. Leverages financial expertise to advance Horizon's educational goals and community impact initiatives.
David Smith
Executive Director
MPA holder leading Horizon's operations with community development expertise. Oversees organizational growth and implementation of educational programs across multiple locations.
Teria Bivins
Chief Academics Officer
MBA holder responsible for academic programming and curriculum development. Ensures educational excellence across all Horizon centers through evidence-based teaching strategies and staff training.
Questions
What age groups do you serve?
We serve children aged 6 weeks to 14 years through infant care, toddler programs, preschool, and school-age services.
Do you offer summer programs?
Yes, our 10-week summer camp includes themed activities, field trips, swimming, and a summer reading program for ages 6-14.
What are your operating hours?
Centers operate 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, with variable afterschool hours depending on location.
Are meals provided?
Yes, we provide healthy breakfasts, lunches, and snacks daily for all enrolled children.
How do you support special needs children?
Our staff provides individualized approaches and tailored support for children with special needs like ADHD and anxiety.
What locations do you serve?
We operate 21 centers across Western Cuyahoga and Lorain Counties, including Cleveland, Elyria, and Lorain.
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