Meet the CHS Harrisburg Center Director
For Jim Snyder, education has never been about simply preparing students for the next grade level. It has always been about building foundations strong enough to last a lifetime.
Throughout more than 15 years in education, Snyder has served in a variety of leadership roles, including teacher, behavior coach, team leader, Director of Operations, Executive Director, and Elementary School Principal. He earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from Point Park University while developing expertise in curriculum and instruction, school culture, positive peer culture, and behavioral support. Each role gave him a different perspective on what children need to succeed.
One lesson stood out above all the others.
“I spent years working with students who were already facing significant academic, behavioral, and social challenges,” Snyder said. “What I came to realize was that many of those challenges didn’t begin in elementary, middle, or high school. They began much earlier. The earlier we invest in children and families, the greater the opportunity we have to change the trajectory of a child’s life.”
That realization ultimately led Snyder to Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning.
Investing where it matters most
Snyder believes early childhood is the single greatest investment a community can make.
“The first five years of life lay the foundation for everything that follows,” he said. “This is when children develop confidence, curiosity, relationships, and the skills that prepare them not only for kindergarten, but for life.”
Early childhood education is about more than academics, he said. It is about creating environments where children feel safe, valued, challenged, and inspired to learn through meaningful relationships and purposeful play.
“When children know they are loved, supported, and believed in, incredible things happen,” he said. “Our responsibility is to create those moments every single day.”
Supporting the whole family
What drew Snyder to Catherine Hershey Schools was not only its commitment to children, but its commitment to families.
“The two-generational approach is what truly sets CHS apart,” Snyder said. “When we invest in parents and caregivers, we’re investing in children. Strong families create strong foundations, and strong foundations create brighter futures.”
Every enrolled family partners with a Family Success Advocate who helps connect them with resources related to education, employment, health care, housing, financial stability, and other areas that support long-term success.
“Preparing a child for kindergarten is incredibly important,” Snyder said. “But if we stop there, we’ve missed an opportunity. When families grow alongside their children, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom.”
The Family Success program creates meaningful partnerships with families through goal setting, home visits, developmental support, and access to community resources—all designed to strengthen the entire family unit.
A community built on relationships
As Center Director of CHS Harrisburg, Snyder leads an interdisciplinary team across Scholastic, Family Success, Health Services, Operations, and Human Resources. He believes the best outcomes happen when every department works together with one shared purpose.
“My role is to help create a culture where every child, every family, and every team member feels seen, supported, and valued,” he said. “Relationships are at the center of everything we do.”
Those relationships can have an impact that extends far beyond a child’s time at CHS. In fact, Snyder recently found himself reconnecting with a former student who had enrolled her own daughter at CHS Harrisburg.
Snyder also sees the Center as an important partner within the Harrisburg community.
“We want families to know that when they walk through our doors, they’re joining something bigger than a school,” he said. “They’re joining a community that believes in them, supports them, and wants to see them succeed.”
As Catherine Hershey Schools continues to grow, Snyder is committed to building partnerships that strengthen not only the Center, but the surrounding community as well.
“My hope is that every child leaves our Center confident, every family leaves empowered, and every member of our community recognizes that investing in young children is one of the most meaningful investments we can make,” he said. “When we build strong foundations early, there’s no limit to what our children and our community can become.”
