When families walk into a Gardner School, they feel it right away. The calm. The warmth. The teachers who kneel to greet a child at eye level. Those moments are not accidental. They are built through intention, reflection, and ongoing investment in the people who bring our schools to life.
This winter, we gathered in two meaningful ways: our Leadership Summit for School Directors and Support Team Leaders, and our Professional Development Day for teaching teams across our markets. These events reflect The Gardner School’s commitment to excellence in early childhood education and ongoing professional development for our preschool teachers and leaders.
Investing in Preschool Leadership and Professional Growth
At our Winter 2026 Leadership Summit, school leaders stepped away from daily operations to focus on strengthening culture, communication, and connection.
Team Leaders explored:
- Peer discussions on leadership styles, best practices, and developing our team members
- Recent feedback from teachers and team members
- Ways to support parents and thriving school communities
- A workshop on calm, confident, connected leadership
The message was clear: leadership shapes experience. When directors lead with steadiness and emotional awareness, that tone carries into classrooms. When leaders feel supported and aligned, teachers do too. And when teachers feel supported, children thrive.
Celebrating our School Leadership at the 2026 Leadership Summit Awards Night!
Children First Philosophy in Early Childhood Education
In Mid-February, our school teams gathered regionally for Professional Development Day. Centered around our Children First philosophy, the day focused on practical, meaningful growth. Topics included:
- Developmentally appropriate care for infants, toddlers, and twos
- The importance of love rituals and daily connection
- Child abuse prevention and safety practices
- Intentional interactions in the classroom
One powerful reminder was that children often mirror the emotional tone of the adults around them. When teachers model empathy, calm, and clarity, children internalize those same skills.
Research from organizations like NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) reinforces that responsive, attuned adult relationships are foundational to healthy early childhood development. Read more here.
The Leadership Summit sessions were collaborative, energetic, and discussion-based, grounded in real classroom moments. Teachers shared ideas, reflected honestly, and left with renewed confidence in the impact of their work.
During Professional Development Day, Team Members in Minnesota explore creativity and the building blocks of Conscious Discipline (skills to support big feelings and emotions in young children)
Investing in Educators Strengthens the Preschool Experience
Families feel the results every day. It’s the steady voice at drop-off that brings peace of mind. It’s in the calm rhythm of a classroom that feels safe and welcoming. It’s in the teacher who remembers a favorite book, a nervous habit, or exactly how your child likes to be comforted.
What families may not always see are the hours of learning, reflection, and collaboration happening behind the scenes to make those moments possible.
At The Gardner School, investing in our team members is not a single day on the calendar. It is a promise we carry forward because when our educators grow, children feel it. When we strengthen leaders and support teachers, we strengthen the preschool experience for every child in our care. That commitment shapes not just today’s classroom moments, but all they will become.
