A Blue Bell parent is turning his family's experience with early childhood education into a business. John DiValentino, who has lived in Blue Bell for 12 years, will open The Goddard School of North Penn in October 2026 at 1390 South Valley Forge Road in Towamencin Township, bringing space for 150 children to a building that sat empty after a Rite Aid pharmacy closed in late 2023.

It's DiValentino's first franchise. He's partnering with Matt and Dina Speranza, veteran Goddard franchisees who own 16 locations across Florida, Ohio, and the greater Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions.

All three of DiValentino's sons graduated from Goddard Schools. His cousin owns The Goddard School of Souderton, and his brother-in-law owns the Chester Springs location. Before pursuing the franchise, DiValentino managed large-scale infrastructure projects in the Philadelphia area and coached wrestling.

The nearly 11,000-square-foot building will house 10 classrooms serving children from six weeks to six years old. Features include an indoor gym, a rock-climbing wall, an outdoor classroom, and what the franchise describes as hospital-grade sanitization equipment.

Towamencin Township officials voted in late December 2024 to approve converting the former pharmacy site to a school, clearing the way for the project. The location will be the first Goddard School in Lansdale, joining what the franchise says are nearly 60 locations already operating in the greater Philadelphia area.

Goddard Systems, LLC, headquartered in King of Prussia, licenses more than 680 schools in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

The school plans to open in October 2026. Families can contact The Goddard School of North Penn at 267-436-7300.