New Horizon Academy

10/09/2026

Kindergarten readiness is about more than academics. Through play, connection, and social-emotional learning, children build the confidence and skills they need to thrive.

What early childhood topics would you like us to talk about next? Let us know in the comments! 💬

10/09/2026

Halloween is an exciting time of the year. It is the perfect opportunity to combine fun and learning, spend quality time together as a family, and create Halloween traditions.

10/02/2026

We believe every smile tells a story. 💛 World Smile Day began as a reminder to spread kindness and brighten someone's day. Seeing these happy faces? That's our favorite part of what we do. 😊

09/24/2026

Think outdoor classrooms are just extra playtime? Think again! From science and creativity to problem-solving and teamwork, some of the most important lessons happen outside. ☀️✨

09/22/2026

Sweater weather, crunchy leaves, and curious minds. 🍁 Hello, fall! 🧡

09/21/2026

We were honored to welcome Iowa State Senator Matt Blake to our New Horizon Academy Johnston school last week.

During his visit, Senator Blake toured our school and joined us for a meaningful discussion about child care policy in Iowa, including ways to make high-quality child care more affordable for families and how to better support the educators who make early learning possible.

These conversations are an important part of our ongoing advocacy efforts. By building relationships with policymakers and sharing the realities facing families and teachers, we can help shape solutions that strengthen early childhood education for communities across Iowa.

Thank you, Senator Blake, for taking the time to visit and engage in this important dialogue.

09/17/2026

Pre-K vs. Preschool: What's the difference? We're breaking it down in under a minute! ⏱️

09/16/2026

More than 55 years ago, Sue Dunkley built New Horizon Academy around a simple but powerful belief: children thrive when they feel safe, valued, and connected. Today, that same philosophy lives on through our focus on strong child-teacher relationships, research-informed curriculum, and conscious discipline practices that support every child’s social and emotional growth.

We are honored to be recognized at the 2026 Minnesota Family Business Awards, and proud that the values that inspired our founding continue to guide our work every day. Thank you to our teachers, staff, families, and communities for helping bring this vision to life. 💙

Twin Cities Business

09/16/2026

We are so honored to be featured in Twin Cities Business! 💛

New Horizon Academy started in a Brooklyn Center church with eight children. Fifty-five years later, it just opened its 110th school and, by the end of this year, will operate in eight states. All along, it has remained family-owned, with three generations involved today. It's also one of our 2026 Minnesota Family Business Awards winners.

At its center, the company prioritizes the child-teacher connection. New Horizon’s education team updates curriculum based on new research, and its schools deploy “conscious discipline,” a type of social-emotional learning. To first-generation owner Sue Dunkley, it sounds familiar. “[It’s] everything I thought should happen with kids,” she says. “If they don’t feel safe, they’re not going to learn.”

With a philosophy of respect for children and a fast-moving decision-making process, the 55-year-old New Horizon Academy has become a national leader in childcare. Read the feature stories for all five winners on our website.