JDN Early Childhood Education Center provides exceptional, full-day, year-round programming for children ages six weeks to five years. Recognized with the prestigious Gold Medal rating—the highest distinction in Ohio’s Step Up to Quality program—JDN exemplifies educational excellence at every level.

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Rooted in Jewish education and welcoming children of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, JDN provides nurturing early childhood education for children from six weeks through five years old. We cultivate academic readiness, confidence, self-regulation, creativity, and a genuine love of learning through experiences designed to support each child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

Our highly skilled educators and dedicated staff provide attentive, responsive care in an environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to explore. The result is a strong foundation for learning, healthy development, and a lifelong love of discovery.

JDN offers more than the typical preschool experience. Our staff use Conscious Discipline, an evidence-based approach that helps children learn important social and emotional skills in a positive, supportive environment. This curriculum teaches both adults and children how to stay calm, handle big feelings, solve problems, and build healthy relationships. Conscious Discipline gives our teachers tools and shared language to guide children through everyday challenges. Through consistent routines, classroom rituals, and caring interactions, teachers help children feel connected, safe, and confident. These everyday moments become opportunities for children to learn cooperation, empathy, self-control, and kindness.  Our approach to early childhood education creates a nurturing, skill-building environment where children learn to understand themselves, work well with others, and can thrive.

For children who need additional support, JDN provides early childhood mental health services for children and families. Services may include developmental and behavioral assessments, referrals, counseling, and individualized support to help children build the social and emotional skills they need to succeed.

Our director, Suzanne Appel, LISW-S, ECMHC, OIMHP-3, also provides coaching and training to JDN educators, giving teachers practical strategies to support children’s social and emotional development in the classroom. This collaborative approach helps ensure that children receive consistent, responsive support throughout their day.

Together, this approach creates a nurturing, skill-building environment where children learn to understand themselves, work well with others, and thrive.

The JDN experience is delivered in a warm, inclusive, and academically rich environment.

• JDN’s teaching team brings a rich blend of academic credentials and hands-on expertise in early childhood education.
• Educators hold specialized degrees and advanced training, ensuring the highest level of instructional quality.
• Staff members who speak Russian and Spanish, allowing us to support children who are learning English as a second language and to foster strong communication with multilingual families.
• Intentionally low classroom ratios create an environment where each child receives individualized attention, feels secure, and builds meaningful connections with teachers and peers.
• Diverse school community enriches our classrooms, helping children develop self-awareness, empathy, respect, and an appreciation for people and cultures beyond their own.
• Although JDN is a Jewish school, it is not a religious school. Serving a diverse population, we leave religious instruction to parents and instead teach about Jewish holidays, traditions and values. To show respect and appreciation for all cultures in our school population, we encourage children to share their families’ special traditions. Both Jewish and national holidays are discussed in terms of reflecting the events and values they represent.

Getting started at JDN is a simple, personalized process designed to help families become familiar with our program and prepare their child for a successful transition.

1. Schedule a Tour
   Parents and caregivers visit JDN for a tour and to learn more about our program, classrooms, and approach to early childhood education.
2. Reserve Your Child’s Spot
   A non-refundable $1,050 deposit is required to reserve your child’s enrollment. Of this amount, $1,000 is applied to the first month’s tuition and $50 is the registration fee.
3. Complete Enrollment Forms
   Families complete the required enrollment paperwork, including the child’s developmental history, medical statement, Enrollment and Health Information Form, and other admission documents. All paperwork must be submitted to the Director by the first transition day.
4. Visit Before the First Full Day
   One or more visits with your child’s teacher may be scheduled before their first full day of school. These visits give your child an opportunity to become familiar with their teacher and classroom and help make the transition to JDN as comfortable as possible.