Dreams Realized: Madi’s Story

The Shutt family’s discovery of Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning (CHS) came at the perfect time. When their first child was born in 2020, a close family friend initially cared for him. Their second boy arrived in 2022, with both children starting an in-home child care service.

*The Shutt family during 2025 CHS Hershey “Moving On” Ceremony*

One day, their mother Madi came across a Facebook ad for CHS Hershey and thought nothing of it at the time. Madi’s mom later sent her that same ad and encouraged her to apply. Around that time, the family’s current child care service informed them they would soon be closing.

Perfect timing

“We were very overwhelmed,” Madi said. “It’s incredibly difficult to find reliable, affordable child care for working families.”

After at first thinking the opportunity seemed too good to be true, the Shutts completed the application.

“After our final in-person interview, it finally started to feel real,” Madi said. “Maybe good things could happen to hardworking families like ours. When we got the call that both boys were accepted, it felt like taking a deep breath after holding it in for so long. The relief of not having to worry about child care expenses lifted a tremendous weight off our shoulders.”

The boys enrolled at CHS Hershey when it opened in October 2023. Their journeys are something Madi is deeply proud to share.

Whole child care in action

“When [our first child] started at CHS, he had limited speech, language, and social-emotional skills,” Madi said. “His sensory needs were recognized and addressed from the start, and with the dedication of the staff and resources, many of his challenges were quickly resolved.”

Now thriving and nearly finished his first year in kindergarten, the oldest Shutt boy loves coming back to CHS Hershey to see his former teachers and Family Success Advocate (FSA), Brenda.

*The first Shutt boy after “Moving On” to kindergarten*

“He formed friendships that he carries to this day,” Madi said. “He loves coming to the Center to drop off his siblings, always excited to see familiar faces. Especially Ms. Jen, his former Bumblebee teacher, and he enjoys entertaining Ms. Brenda during our home visits!”

From infant to preschooler

The Shutts’ second boy began his journey at CHS when he was just 10 months old. He will be one of the first CHS children to experience the program, starting as an infant and ending his time as a preschooler. He is currently in an older-toddler classroom and will move to a preschool classroom this fall.

“By the time he turned two, people were amazed by his language skills, often surprised to learn his age because he could talk so much,” Madi said. “We truly believe that his rapid development is a result of his early exposure to the classroom environment and the curriculum at CHS.”

The Shutts’ third son started at CHS even earlier, when he was 12 weeks old. “I’m eager to watch his journey unfold,” Madi said. “I look forward to seeing the impact this early start will have on his development.”

Family support and success

Beyond the high-quality education and care her children receive, the Shutts work with their FSA to identify needed areas of support and goals to reach.

“Since joining CHS, we have become debt-free!” Madi said. “We’re also actively pursuing one of our biggest dreams: buying a home. It’s been a long-standing goal, and now we’re finally making it happen.”

*The second Shutt boy playing on the playground at CHS Hershey*

Those major goals are a pillar of the CHS mission and culture, but so are the unexpected times of support.

“Last May, we unexpectedly lost my dad,” Madi said. “When I shared with my FSA that our oldest boy was struggling to cope, she found age-appropriate grief counseling for him. That was something we hadn’t faced before.”

One community

For the Shutts, those moments are what makes CHS unique.

CHS is more than early childhood education and care. Acceptance, opportunity, and support shape the community. Through welcoming classrooms, dedicated team members, individualized resources, and strong community partnerships, CHS works to create an environment where every child and family feels seen, valued, and empowered to thrive. As the Shutt boys continue to grow, their story reflects the heart of this year’s school year theme: One Team, One Dream.

“CHS truly feels like a family,” Madi said. “It’s comforting to know our boys have adults who truly know them–their quirks, flaws, and preferences–and love them as their own. The staff bring out the very best in our children!”

Dreams Realized series: As the 2025-26 CHS school-year theme “One Team, One Dream” was launched in August, stories will be shared throughout the year showcasing members of the CHS community following—and realizing—their dreams. Vol. 1: Dil’s Story, Vol. 2: Lily’s Story, Vol. 3: Luna’s Story, Vol. 4: Xavier’s Story, Vol. 5: Hilary’s Story, Vol. 6: Kayla’s Story, Vol. 7: Natalie’s Story, Vol. 8: Emily’s Story, Vol. 9: Abby’s Story, Vol. 10: Madi’s Story.