Our North Dallas school will be closed on February 2 due to inclement weather. 

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Westerville – Dempsey

Preschool and Daycare in Westerville, Ohio

Welcome to The Nest Schools of Westerville, OH!

We are proud to offer Westerville families childcare and early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old. Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom.

At The Nest, we work every day to create a culture of kindness, build the foundations for wellness for life, make learning fun, and continually take our best and make it better. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about our child care options and schedule a tour!

Our school is located off the intersection of Sunbury Road and Dempsey Road.

We offer before and after-school care to Wilder Elementary, McVay Elementary, and Pointview Elementary.

Take a Look Inside Our School

The Nest Difference

At The Nest, we take every precaution to ensure your child’s health and safety when they spend their day with us. Our schools provide layers of security measures to protect the children in our care.
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Our curriculum and program design incorporate the most current research in early development to best prepare children for their future in and out of the classroom. Each element of our Nest Play curriculum shares one goal: to help children love to learn.
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Communication with our families is a top priority at The Nest Schools. Everything from the face-to-face interactions during pick up and drop off times, individual conference times, school e-newsletter, daily reporting app, and interactive displays outside every classroom allow for parents to be fully involved and in the know on their child’s learning and progress.
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At The Nest Schools, we hire teachers who have a genuine love for young children and share our vision of raising a world of kind, healthy, and inspired kids. All of our teachers are highly-trained youth developers who are dedicated to bringing out what is special and unique about each child.
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At The Nest, we set out to create outdoor environments that entice children to engage with nature. Our playgrounds are rich with plants and natural elements, exciting play themes, and physical challenges. Children can learn to assess risks and test their boundaries within an environment that was created with their safety, health, and skill-building in mind.
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Our Westerville Leadership Team

Katie Headshot

Katie Bixler

Director

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Katie Bixler has been in the early childcare field since 2012 and holds her Masters in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Special education and literacy!

To Katie, children are our future and she wants to help them become the “best young adults they can be”. She entered the early childhood education field before she had children of her own, and stayed because it gave her a sense of belonging. She strives to treat all children like they are her own and looks forward to making connections with their families. The children who need a little extra help and attention are the ones who usually stand out to Katie and she loves to help them grow through encouragement. She enjoys nurturing, teaching, and growing children to reach their highest potential in life.

Katie lives with her fiancé and three children: Madison (5), Madden (3), and Mason (1). They also have 2 dogs; a boxer named lucky, and a Husky Mix named Stitch; a cat; 2 hamsters, and 3 hermit crabs.

A fun fact about Katie is that she thrives on keeping her children busy while learning both at home and while traveling. They have traveled to 8 states since her first child was born and plan to travel more in the coming years!

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Amber Lee

Assistant Director

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Amber Lee has been in the early education field since 2015 and has her CDA. She has served as a lead teacher and now as an assistant director.

In her spare time, Amber enjoys hiking trails and reading books.
Andrea

Andrea Williams

Regional Director

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Andrea has been in early childhood education since 2006 and has a master’s degree in Elementary Education. Andrea started her career in Chicago, working with children from preschool to middle school. She moved to Columbus in 2019 and has been with The Nest ever since, first as a director and now as regional director. Andrea has a strong passion for child development and truly believes that the foundation set during the early childhood years for children plays an immense role in their lifelong success as learners.

Andrea still lives in the Columbus area with her husband, and their three highly active boys. Andrea loves being outside, reading, and going on adventures with her boys during her spare time.

Our Westerville Educational Programs

Hummingbirds

We understand that infants need nurturing, and parents need to feel secure knowing their child is in good hands. Our infant teachers are hand-picked natural caregivers who focus on meeting the individual needs of every child. While your child is in our care, you can rest assured that they will receive the attention and interaction they need and deserve.

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Ducklings

We recognize that your young toddler has the capacity to learn so much in the first few years of their life by simply having opportunities to explore and play amongst peers. Our teachers encourage learning through daily routines and experiences involving health and physical development, social-emotional development, language and literacy development, and so much more.

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Cardinals

Our Cardinal program supports older toddlers and their increased independence, exploration of emotions and feelings, and fast-developing use of language. We also understand and support their continued desire to explore everything about their world. We believe our play-based philosophy and learning center structure gives them the best opportunity to do this.

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Penguins

The early preschool years are nothing short of amazing! Children at this age have an overwhelming eagerness to learn and you will notice that their ability to experiment, explore, and focus on set activities begins to change rapidly. Our Penguin program supports young preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and encouraged in their learning and personal interests.

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Robins

The older preschool years consist of so much learning and development! Their peer relationships are strengthening, they have a more complex understanding and use of language, and their overall motor skills have developed rapidly. Our Robins program continues to provide for preschoolers and their need to be challenged, engaged, and supported in their learning and personal interests.

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Pelicans / Before & After School

Our School Age program provides children with opportunities for exploration, creativity, and fun challenges to support them in becoming their best selves. Our program consists of a mix of guided activities planned by the children and teacher-guided activities.

Summer Fun for Your Child

Summer is one of the things children look forward to the most. School’s out, and children are ready to get back to their much-awaited playtime. But instead of letting your child become glued to TV screens, computers, or mobile devices watching cartoons or playing video games, this may be the perfect time to encourage them to engage in activities that offer the right balance between learning and fun. This is where summer camps come in!

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What Our Families Are Saying

“We are so grateful for The Nest Schools! We have had amazing teachers so far, and our son loves every minute of school! What I love is that even the teachers that our son hasn’t had yet all know him by name, and treat him like he is one of their own students. We would (and do) recommend The Nest to anyone that asks.”

Amanda Lacks

“The things we like best about our child care experience at The Nest Schools are that we’re always greeted each morning with the staff’s friendly smiles and positive attitudes. Both of our children feel welcomed and have developed wonderful relationships. We are also impressed by the level of safety and the daily curriculum.”

Stephanie & Ryan Briggs

“To us, The Nest Schools has meant more than just childcare; they have been our partner in the development and success of our kids! ”

Stephen Starr

Schedule Your Tour

Scheduling a tour does not guarantee availability.
The School Director will be able to confirm space in your child’s program during the tour.

Self-scheduled tours are currently available for the following programs.
If your program is not listed, please contact the school for more information on availability and waitlist options.

Call Us: 614-618-3256

Nest Rebrand Timeline

Classroom Furniture & Materials

Every classroom will be transformed with top of the line, solid maple craftsmanship pieces including tables, chairs, shelves, toys, and every day classroom supplies.

Done

Big Brave Blocks

Our jumbo blocks will ignite children’s imaginations encouraging learning, social development, movement, and of course fun! Click here to learn more about children’s development through big block fun. 

Done

Paint

All walls within the school will receive a fresh new coat of paint!

Done

Flooring

Easy to clean vinyl-plank flooring will be installed throughout the school.

Done

Outdoor Play Spaces

Our outdoor play spaces will be rich with plants and natural elements, exciting play themes, and physical challenges. Children can learn to assess risks and test their boundaries within an environment created with their safety, health, and skill-building in mind.

Done

Interior Signage/Artwork

Beautiful artwork, classroom signs, and signs emphasizing our core values will adorn the interior of our school.

Done

Exterior Signage

New exterior signage will ensure we can’t be missed!

Done

Digital Signage

Never miss a beat! Our digital displays outside classrooms and in our lobby will keep you up-to-date on weekly curriculum activities, school announcements, events, menus and more!

Done

Security

We will be installing state-of-the-art security systems at the entrance and throughout our school to keep our children safe and provide parents peace of mind that their children are safe in our care.

Done

Air Purifiers

Air purifiers using ActivePure Technology® will continuously clean and protect air and surfaces 24 hours a day, reducing 99.96% of airborne SARS-COV-2 viral partials as well as other viral contaminants.

Click here to watch a short video with more information on how this technology protects your child while in our care.

Done

Interior Renovations

Natural elements true to our brand will be carried throughout the design of our school. Our welcome area will become a warm and inviting space, and even our hallway spaces will receive fun Nest elements!

Done