Business: Peter Pan Day School

Address: 24w760 75th St., Naperville

Phone/website: 630-961-3950; www.preschools.net

Managing Director: John Hochstetter, 59; Creative Director: Jeryl Hochstetter, 60. They live in Lombard

Years in business: 56

What does your business do? “What we do is we create a warm, welcoming, joyful environment for little kids. We believe they should grow through interactive play. The idea is for them to learn important stuff that will take them into their elementary (school) years and beyond. They think they’re having a great time playing. They’re learning,” John said.

What age groups? “Depending on the location, we do nine months through pre-K,” John said. “At this location (on 75th Street), we start with toddlers, 18 months.”

Where are your other locations? “Little Shepherd Day School on Jefferson Street west of downtown. On Olesen Drive we have Peter Pan North. It started as an overflow for this school, but it’s grown into its own entity. And we have Peter Pan of Westmont,“ John said.

The husband and wife team of John and Jeryl Hochstetter run the Peter Pan Day School in Naperville and three other locations. John’s parents founded the day school on 75th Street in 1969 for children up to pre-kindergarten age. (Steve Metsch/Naperville Sun)

What’s the background? “My parents Helen and Marv started this in 1969. My mother is still very active in the business. … I grew up in the business. My parents encouraged me to go on my own path. I started teaching English and writing at Marquette (University). I was in D.C. working in politics. About 10 minutes at the White House under President Clinton. I wrote one of his radio addresses about Head Start. … For the last three or four years we are more involved (here),” John said. “My wife Jeryl is the brains behind the operation. She taught kindergarten, won awards.”

“My mother taught first grade. My dad was a junior high teacher. … My mother really grew it. In those days for a woman to grow a business was quite a thing,” John said.

How do you educate children through play? “This is where the nature thing comes in. There’s a whole bunch of research that shows it. We sort of knew intuitively that giving them an appreciation of the outdoors really helps them with their social development and problem-solving skills. And it’s a great way to introduce STEM,” John said.

What is STEM? “Science, technology, engineering and math. Nature’s a great way to introduce those concepts because they’ll be sorting and counting and doing mini experiments, seeing the patterns. The other thing is this generation is going to be confronted with plenty of screens in their lives. Fostering an appreciation of the outdoors is critical for them,” John said.

“We have a degreed science and nature teacher in every school to work with them,” Jeryl said.

What about January and February? “They do go outside, boots and coats. Oh, absolutely,” Jeryl said. “We bring nature in.”

How many children are here? “We have 60 to 70 here, about 300 for all the schools. … We have a summer camp. A bit more relaxed curriculum. We have a pool here, lessons,” John said.

What about competition? “There’s a lot. Parents have a lot of choices. That’s probably a good thing. There are corporations. There are super fancy schools. And there’s everything in between,” John said.

“Like any business, we try to make the best product that we can and offer it at a price that’s attractive to most families. The difference is our product is taking care of little human beings, which is a pretty big responsibility.”

What sets you apart? “Decades of developing a curriculum that we know works for kids,” John said.

Children enjoy the playground at Peter Pan Day School in Naperville. About 300 children in total are enrolled at the chain’s four locations in the area. (Steve Metsch/Naperville Sun)

What about pricing? “We’re around $300 to $400 a week depending on how often the kids come, how long they stay,” John said.

What do you like best about your job? “There is nothing I don’t like. It is pretty joyful. … There are day-to-day challenges, just like any small business. … The best part is when a parent comes in and tells you how much their kid enjoys this and how they feel their kids are in good hands when they are away at work,” John said.

“I enjoy working with the kids and the people here,” Jeryl said. “They’re so fun to work with. Everybody has that same joy. Every day. The kids asking me questions and their interest in nature. … The only drawback, which I don’t know if it is a drawback, is I’ll be in a store and see something and think we can do that for the school. You do it 24/7.”

What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “The key thing is surrounding yourself with good people. That’s the most important thing to do. And get ready to play a number of roles,” John said.

“Dig right in,” Jeryl said.

Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun. If you know of a business you’d like to see profiled in Down to Business, contact him at metschmsfl@yahoo.com. 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/03/business-naperville-school-peter-pan-hochstetter/