Meet the CHS New Danville Center Director

Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) is continuing its expansion across Pennsylvania with the upcoming opening of CHS New Danville, the fourth Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC).

The Center, located on the site of the former Lancaster Mennonite School New Danville campus, is expected to open its doors to children and families in summer 2026. It will be the first CHS Lancaster County location, with CHS Elizabethtown and CHS Lancaster City to follow.

Leading the CHS New Danville team is Center Director Jessica Bailey, who brings more than 17 years of experience working with children and a deep passion for supporting families through high-quality early learning.

“I’m so excited to continue building the quality partnerships that will support our children and families,” she said. “Lancaster County is full of incredible resources for those in need, but sometimes navigating them can be a challenge. We are thrilled to develop partnerships that can effectively connect families with these supports so they can grow and thrive.”

Bailey began her career in education in 2008. She started as a substitute teacher before taking her first full-time teaching position in 2011. Since then, she has served in multiple roles across the field, from preschool teacher to mentor, assistant director, and director for both for-profit and non-profit programs.

Her 13 years of experience, specifically in Early Childhood Education (ECE), have shaped her belief in the power of the early years to influence a child’s lifelong learning journey.

“The guidance, love, and support we provide at an early age can be the catalyst for a child’s experience in later education,” she said. “Young children are naturally inquisitive, and I love being part of giving them meaningful experiences that spark that curiosity.”

When she learned about the mission of CHS, Bailey knew it aligned perfectly with her own values.

“I think the biggest reason CHS called to me is its drive to be high-quality and to support the whole family,” she said. “The phrase ‘it takes a village’ is something parents hear often, but CHS truly lives into that. The organization prides itself on building a positive and supportive community that strengthens a child’s knowledge and a parent’s resources. I can’t wait to build that in New Danville.”

Bailey is particularly inspired by CHS’s holistic approach to ECE, which combines professional development for staff, individualized support for children, and wraparound resources for families.

“I think what makes CHS unique is the beneficial supports that are put in place throughout the program,” she said. “We have the ability to build up our staff by providing quality professional development through Seeds to Lead, employ knowledgeable coaches to guide teachers through goals or challenges, and offer support from our Health Services team to benefit the whole child.”

For Bailey, opening CHS New Danville is also an opportunity to continue a local legacy of care and education.

“The previous school at this location has such a rich history of education, love, and support for its students,” she said. “Being able to continue that legacy through the mission of CHS is a joy for us and for the community.”

With its expected opening in summer 2026, CHS New Danville will serve children from birth to age 5 from under-resourced and overburdened backgrounds, at no cost to qualifying families. The Center will employ nearly 60 professionals across key fields, including Scholastic, Family Success, Health Services, and Operations.

CHS New Danville is currently hiring key positions. To learn more or apply, visit our Careers page.