Jessica Dehn is an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder and director of Dino Drop-In Learning Center, driven by a mission to revolutionize early education learning and support families in the Bozeman community. With a hands-on approach and a deep commitment to transforming the childcare industry, she continuously seeks innovative ways to foster a community where parents can pursue their professional aspirations while ensuring their children receive quality care and education.

 

Born and raised in Warroad, Minnesota—often referred to as Hockeytown, USA—Dehn pursued her education at the University of Minnesota, earning a degree in Human Physiology. After relocating to Bozeman, she obtained a master's degree in public administration from Montana State University (MSU). Dehn's career began in early childhood education, where she worked as a paraprofessional and lead teacher for over a decade in Minnesota. She later transitioned to the corporate world, collaborating with startups before returning to her passion for entrepreneurship in Montana.

 

The arrival of Jessica and her husband, Jeff's first son, Keaton, brought joy and the challenges of balancing her career and motherhood. While Keaton accompanied her on business trips and meetings, managing work and family life became increasingly difficult, especially after the birth of her second son, Orion. Recognizing the lack of viable childcare options, Dehn spent months consulting with startups while contemplating a return to entrepreneurship.

After struggling to find a preschool that respected parental autonomy and flexibility, Jessica founded Dino Drop-In Learning Center in 2016. This innovative childcare center was designed to meet the rising demand for flexible, high-quality childcare, particularly in rural areas with growing populations and increased entrepreneurship. Dehn's vision was to create a model that supported working families and empowered other mothers to pursue their careers or education.

 

Dino Drop-In (205 N 11th Ave) offers affordable and accessible childcare. It prioritizes convenience for working families while maintaining high educational and developmental standards. Parents can drop off their children during operating hours and pay only for the time used. The center features scheduled snack times, free play, and daily group activities, and it is committed to keeping children away from screen time. Parents can monitor their children via a password-protected webcam throughout the day.

 

Programs Offered

 

The success of Dino Drop-In was nationally recognized when it secured 2nd place in the Small Business Administration's InnovateHER contest in 2017. This accolade fueled Jessica's ambition for expansion, leading to the licensing and franchising of Dino Drop-In across the United States.

 

Furthermore, since its inception in 2016, Dino Drop-In has been honored as Bozeman's Choice Daycare Provider, winning the title in the local reader's poll annually through 2025!

 

A defining aspect of Dino Drop-In is its commitment to respecting each family's autonomy. While Jessica firmly believes that early education is crucial for a child's development and future success, she also recognizes the importance of listening to parents and adapting care approaches to fit individual family needs. "Our job as educators is to support them rather than impose our personal views. Every child is loved and cared for as if they were our own, and we do all we can to support each family in ways specific to their needs," Jessica states. Whether related to co-sleeping, feeding practices, or other parenting choices, each child is treated with love and care, reflecting the values of their families. Our schools are meant to feel like an extension of your family," she emphasizes. "We love spending days exploring and learning with your children and appreciate your trust in us."

 

The impact of Jessica's approach is reflected in client testimonials. One parent shared, "My child had issues being away from mama. The first time he cried, I got some tips from the team, and since then, he's been excited to go to Dino Drop-In every time. It is a great option for stay-at-home moms looking to socialize with their kids. He's transformed into being a confident kid away from me."

 

A cornerstone of Jessica's vision is integrating employer-supported childcare solutions. Acknowledging working parents' challenges in securing reliable childcare, she is partnering with businesses to offer on-site or nearby Dino Drop-In centers. These collaborations enhance employee productivity and satisfaction and tackle a significant barrier to workforce retention. By working with companies, particularly those with non-traditional hours or remote workforces, Dino Drop-In can create customized childcare options that meet the diverse needs of employees.

 

Jessica recounts a pivotal moment in her business journey: "The first day I received positive cash flow, after two months of business, I called Thrive Bozeman to see how I could give back to the community supporting me. They realized my small cash reserves wouldn't be most meaningful, so I offered what I had in abundance—free childcare—to support their parenting classes." Over the years, Dino Drop-In has donated services to help families attend fundraisers, business conferences, recovery group meetings, nurse visits, and more, proudly supporting any child-focused business that reaches out. Jessica also took proactive steps to ensure continuous care for the children of high school students and teachers when the YMCA left the Hawks Nest.

 

Jessica is actively working to raise awareness at the state level regarding the need for incentives for businesses to provide employer-supported childcare. Recently, she returned from Helena, where she spoke with legislators about state laws that would benefit the industry and educators. "I have repeatedly been to D.C. to advocate for positive change for teachers and families," she states with determination. "I will continue to fight for change that will impact the lives of our youngest students and help professionalize the perception of our teachers and preschools."

 

 

After the successful launch of Dino Drop-In, Jessica Dehn received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, many of whom inquired about the potential expansion of her innovative childcare business. In response to this interest, Jessica committed herself to further disrupting and elevating the childcare industry by establishing more affordable and accessible centers that cater to the needs of working families while upholding high educational and developmental standards.

 

The groundbreaking aspect of Dino Franchising is its scalability and community-centered approach. By equipping local entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, training, and resources to open their own Dino Drop-In childcare centers, this model fosters sustainable, locally driven solutions to the childcare crisis.

 

Among the full-time centers established under Jessica's vision are Explore Montessori & Academy and ABCDino Academy.

 

Explore Montessori & Academy, which opened in September 2020, provides Infant through Kindergarten programs across two locations in Bozeman:

Explore Academy: 1705 W. Kagy Blvd

Explore Montessori: 1933 N. 22nd

 

ABCDino Academy, inaugurated in 2023 at the Dino Drop-In Learning Center in Bozeman, offers preschool and childcare services to children aged 6 weeks to 6 years. Additionally, Dino on the Go! Extends the Dino Drop-In model by providing remote in-home care, including in-home preschool, tutoring, full—and part-time childcare, and date night-sitting services.

 

ABCDino was awarded the Best New Childcare Center Award in 2024 for its excellence!

 

ABCDino Academy and Explore Montessori & Academy feature internal scholarships to support needy families. The centers actively seek to assist individuals who have encountered challenges within the community, providing a stable, safe, and educational environment for their children. This outreach has included emergency placements through Child Protective Services, immediate care for foster families, and support for homeless families or single parents fleeing domestic violence.

 

Feedback from clients underscores the impact of these centers:

 

Charissa H. from ABCDino Academy shares, "I have used this location for childcare for over a year. There is an outstanding balance between learning and play. My children love going here, and I have peace of mind knowing that they are well cared for by truly extraordinary teachers. I am thrilled that this is now a preschool, and my children can start their relationship with education in such an excellent environment."

 

Brittany S. from Explore Academy adds, "My three-year-old daughter has thrived at Explore for nearly two years. The staff is very patient and attentive to the unique individual needs of each child and family. My kiddo adores her teachers, enjoys the lessons, and especially loves all the outdoor playtime. I appreciate the emphasis on fine motor development, speech development, early reading, and social skills in my kiddo's class. She is rapidly becoming a bright, kind, empathetic, independent, and capable little girl—I attribute much of her growth to the Explore curriculum and team!"

 

Looking ahead, Jessica Dehn has ambitious expansion plans. She states, "We have several schools in various stages of expansion in Washington and North Dakota. We will continue to propose projects and serve new communities as opportunities arise. We are franchising Dino Drop-In and ABCDino Academy for anyone interested in building a successful childcare model. We would love to help and welcome you to our team of exceptional early education providers."

 

To learn more about the Dino Learning Revolution or to enroll a child today, interested parties are encouraged to visit:

 

Dino Drop-In & ABCDinoAcademy at 205 N 11th Ave, Bozeman, MT.

Website: dinodropin.com

Website: ABCDinoAcademy.com

 

Explore Montessori at 1933 N 22nd Ave, Bozeman, MT.

Explore Academy at 1705 W Kagy Blvd, Bozeman, MT.

Website: Explore-Academy.com