Danielle Paige is an early childhood education leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Academic Explorers, a multi-site childcare organization serving families across Long Island, New York. With a master’s degree in early childhood & special education (Birth–Grade 2), Her classroom career began prior to transitioning into entrepreneurship, combining the passion for teaching with a vision to expand access to high-quality early learning.
Danielle launched her first group family day care program while working full time as an educator and completing her graduate studies. Since then, she has grown from a home-based childcare program into a network of centers serving approximately 300 children and families, across more than 20 classrooms, employing a team of 60+ early childhood educators and administrators.
Under her leadership, Academic Explorers has established strong partnerships with school districts, universities, and community organizations. Her programs have been awarded Universal Pre-K (UPK) contracts through local districts and selected by New York State to operate a childcare center on the campus of SUNY Old Westbury. Danielle is deeply committed to increasing access to early childhood education, including serving families through childcare subsidy programs and participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Known for building systems that allow her organization to scale efficiently, Danielle operates her business with a strong focus on leadership development, innovation, and sustainability. She is passionate about empowering educators to think beyond the classroom and explore entrepreneurship as a pathway to impact, ownership, and long-term growth.