2024 Business Excellence Winner: Kathleen Nelson of World Academy

Kathleen Nelson of World Academy is the 2024 Business Excellence winner for the Business & Professional Services category for a small company

October 3, 2024

NH Business Review Staff,

Kathleen Nelson 200x200 Originally from Washington, D.C., Kathy moved to New Hampshire, where, in 1980, she and her husband, Gary, founded the Small World Learning Center to meet the demand for high-quality child care for working parents in the Greater Nashua area. Since then, Kathy has served as executive director, head of school, and, as of 2017, president of the school. Through her leadership and vision, World Academy has expanded over the years, now serving over 500 students from infants through grade 8. Throughout her career, Kathy has actively championed the importance of early childhood and quality independent education, advocating not only locally, but also at the state level.  Her vision to educate students with innovative and transformative experiences always included working with families and is informed by her pluralistic perspective. She has empowered many to understand that there is nothing we can’t do when we believe in ourselves. After almost five decades that theme still permeates the climate and culture of World Academy.