Gardner School of Minneapolis

My daughter Lani has been at the gardener school since November and it’s been nothing but great communication and great curriculum for my toddler! She has progressed so much!!! They care and love on all the students I would recommend this daycare for first time parents whose never took their baby to daycare. Our experience here has been above and beyond. Teacher Keke!! 💕Is absolutely amazing my toddler she loves her classroom! She’s the sweetest. I plan to have my daughter here for a long time! - Ms.Cook

We have been to other preschools with both our current pre-k child and our older child before he started public school, including both a larger franchise and a smaller community school. Out of every pre-school we have tried, this one is easily the best. The biggest reason is the people. The staff here is truly amazing. You can feel that they genuinely care about the kids, and that kind of environment is truly a treasure. The biggest shoutout has to go to Teacher Alyssa, the lead teacher in the oldest classroom. She has meant so much to our family. She has a real passion for teaching, and you can see it every day. She cares deeply about the children’s wellbeing and works hard to give them a well-rounded education, academically, socially, and emotionally. She advocates for them and takes real ownership in their growth in a way that is rare and beautiful. We specifically wanted a school with a stronger academic, kindergarten-readiness focus, and she has absolutely delivered. Camille is practically reading already, and we have zero concerns about kindergarten. When Camille draws family portraits, she includes our family and Teacher Alyssa, which says it all. Right alongside her, Tinsae is also such an important part of that classroom. She has such a warm, “big sister” energy with the children. She makes them feel safe, cared for, and loved. She is especially wonderful during nap time, helping the kids who need sleep settle in while still keeping the non-nappers engaged. Chloe, the director, does a fantastic job keeping everything running smoothly, which makes a huge difference. What also stands out is how much heart she puts into the school. She comes up with thoughtful, fun touches that make the experience feel personal and memorable for families. Things like the baby fashion show during the Christmas concert, or the Valentine cards for parents to fill out for their own child, are such sweet touches. Cedric, the assistant director, is also very kind and easy to talk to as a parent, but also has great presence with the kids too. We also have to shout out Nat. Nat used to be the assistant director, so Nat is a wealth of knowledge, and now that Nat is in the classroom right below Camille’s, Nat is always such a friendly face at drop-off. I have seen Nat with the children, and Nat has a very grounded presence that is kind, gentle, and consistent. Nat has that steady authority that helps kids learn good behavior while still feeling safe and supported. We truly love all of the teachers, including the ones from the younger classrooms. Camille has had Teacher Kambia, and it is obvious how much she cares about truly connecting with the kids. Even as Camille has moved up, that care and connection is still there. One thing we especially love is how much they support our daughter’s interests. She loves art, and they really take the time to encourage that and help her feel proud of what she is passionate about. They have accommodated our child’s unique nap time needs, which has a real impact on our life. 😅 Another plus is that they do a great job containing illness. We do not get sick nearly as often here as we did at other places, and as a parent, that matters a lot. In general, this school has provided exactly what we were looking for. The academics are strong, and the practical pieces are super helpful too. The cafeteria-style eating area helps get the kids used to that environment, and the gym space means they can still move their bodies when it is too cold to go outside. It is a diverse school that makes real, positive efforts to be inclusive, and that is something we really value. Honestly I could sing the school’s praises all day. Being a parent is hard, and having people around your child who are supportive, caring, and genuinely invested means more than I can say. Camille is here through the end of the summer, and while we are excited for her to move up to kindergarten, we are going to miss this preschool so much. We feel very lucky to have found it, and I would absolutely recommend it to other families.

We love all of the teachers and staff at The Gardner school. Our daughter has been there since a baby and we have had great teachers each year, she’s now thriving with teachers Alyssa and Tinsae in preschool, learning so much and getting ready for kindergarten next year. Our baby boy is in an infant room, playing and learning with sweet friends and teachers Dee and Kambia. We are grateful to know our children are happy, safe, and well cared for there, and have built an amazing parent community as well.

My daughter goes twice a week and now she wants to go everyday. Teacher Shia is really caring, my baby started to rhyme a lot since going to school.

One of the best schools I have ever seen. When we took admission, Chloe, the Executive Director, truly impressed us. She gave us her time, answered all our questions patiently, and made us feel very welcome. One of the best decisions we have made for our 2-year-old. My daughter’s class teacher, Teacher Natt, is a true blessing. She takes such wonderful care of my child that we never worry when dropping her off. We receive regular updates through the app, which gives us great peace of mind. This is truly the best school, and I would highly recommend it to everyone.