Families Today - Kids: Johnson family began childcare business in Florida

North Country Academy has provided impeccable childcare for almost 10 years throughout Saratoga County to more than 925 children. The centers are located in Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Latham, Queensbury and Delmar and are ranked in the top 10 largest and highest ranked childcare in the Capital District.

The Johnson family is from Saratoga Springs, but their childcare business started in Florida. It started when Bill’s mother was a public school teacher and noticed that childcare centers were in demand, so they decided to start their own. Over time, they expanded and opened more schools.

After 10 successful years, they decided to move back to Saratoga Springs in 1998 during the start of their hometown’s boom, with the belief that this area is a better place to raise a family.

Within no time, their childcare centers have been quite successful through the education of the children and the ongoing training programs of their staff.

These childcare centers offer a fun and safe play environment for kids before and after school and summer camps as well as individualized education programs for toddlers, kids who are in preschool, pre-K and elementary school students. The services include computer and educational learning centers, full and part time hours for childcare, audio and video monitored classrooms, outdoor playgrounds with bike trails and swings and a well trained compassionate team.

North Country Academy has more than 70 MAT trained staff to give prescribed medicine properly, or in the case of an emergency, to the children. All caregivers must be certified in infant and child CPR and First Aid. The employees have also recently completed training in customer service, successful management, team strategies as well as delegation.

In addition to these requirements from their workers, the centers maintain high safety standards.

Over 50 successful health, fire, Family Services, Office of Children, etc. inspections have been completed this past year. In addition to the North Country Academy’s high safety and training standards, age appropriate education of the children is a top priority where parent feedback is welcome.

Bill Johnson hopes to continue the success of the North Country Academy’s five childcare centers, but would love to expand his business and open more in the future. He believes that through the rigorous training programs, “there have been significant improvements in qualifying the staff, especially in improving the services and stability we provide.” The high safety, employee training, and child education programs of North Country Academy have certainly raised the standards for childcare centers. Each center is open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. For more information on the centers, rates and registration, visit www.northcountryacademy.com or call their main phone lineat 885- 3353.