The Gardner School of Naperville
Inviting Classrooms With Large Windows and Natural Light
The Gardner School of Naperville was constructed to have an open and inviting layout with well-lit classrooms, where parents receive real-time updates on their child’s daily progress through our parent communications app.
Four-Year Degreed Lead Teachers in Preschool Classrooms
All our lead teachers in preschool classrooms have four-year degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, or a closely-related field. Our teachers place a high priority on routinely assessing students’ growth and development to provide the best forms of care.
The Gardner School of Naperville is significantly more than a traditional child care center or early childhood daycare. As a private, academically-focused Naperville preschool that specializes in early childhood education, we cater to those families who want the best for their child. We provide full- and part-time child care year-round and a research-based educational curriculum for children six weeks old through private Kindergarten.
In addition, we also offer a full suite of enrichment classes and our summer camp, Camp Gardner. The stimulating, creative, and educationally engineered school has been designed to meet the needs of our most important client—the children. Attention to detail, both inside and outside the classroom, is what makes TGS a very special place and preschool in Naperville.
School Features
- Academically-focused learning with research-based curriculum
- Real-time updates through the parent communications app with photos, nap and feeding times, and school announcements
- Safe and secure environment with two security checkpoints
- Inviting classrooms with four-year degreed teachers
- Delicious, healthy meals in the Kids’ Café
- On-site supplemental enrichment classes (sports, music and arts, computers, foreign language, karate, sports, and art) in our enrichment studio and computer lab
- Open-door policy for daily check-ins
- Two private outdoor playgrounds and spacious indoor play area
- Yearly family and community events
- Private nursing room
Academically-focused Programs
Camp Gardner
Infants
Kindergarten
Pre-K
Preschool
Toddlers
Twos
Enrichment Classes
Dance
Gymnastics
Music/Drama
Spanish
Karate
Sports
Art
Naperville Campus Leadership
Kaitlyn Rose
School Director
How long have you been with TGS?
I have been with TGS since April 2018.
Roles Served with TGS:
I was initially hired as a Manager in Training for the North Region and then joined TGS Schaumburg as the Assistant Director. In June 2020, I became the Director at TGS Naperville.
What is your educational background?
I attended Illinois State University as a Family Consumer Science major with a minor in Early Childhood Education.
What makes you laugh about kids?
I think the statement “kids say the darndest things” reigns true with children this age. They never cease to amaze me with the stories of how their weekends went or what they did the night prior.
What is your favorite part of the day at TGS?
My favorite part of the day at TGS is my interaction with the students. I love to sit in on circle times and enrichment courses to observe what the children are learning now and how they are growing from the last time that I was in their class.
What do you love most about TGS?
I love the connections I have made most about TGS. Not only have I made lasting relationships with the students, I have made relationships with their parents as well. TGS makes you feel like one big family!
What is your fondest memory of TGS thus far?
Thus far, my fondest memory of TGS is Pre-K graduation. It is so sweet to see the smiles that beam on the students’ faces as they walk across the stage in their caps and gowns to accept their diplomas.
What is the funniest thing you have ever heard come out of the mouth of a TGS Student?
It wasn’t so much what a student said, but more so what a student did. During the Spring Fling performance, the toddlers went on stage to sing their song and some of them were not feeling it. I was sitting in the front to take pictures and help them remember their motions for the song. One student in particular had his eyes locked on me, mimicking all of the moves so he wouldn’t mess up – all while he was crying. As soon as he got off stage, the tears stopped, and he carried on with his night like nothing was ever wrong. It was one of the best dramatic performances I had ever seen!
What inspires you?
Seeing children learn new things is my biggest inspiration. There is truly nothing like watching a child learn a new skill or solve a problem on their own. The way their faces light up with pride is indescribable.
What is your passion or passions?
My passion in life is growth. No matter what I involve myself in, I always want to see an upward move in the right direction. Whether it is teaching myself a new skill or challenging myself in a work setting, I am always striving for that upward climb.
What does the term ‘Where Learning Begins’ mean to you?
The term “Where Learning Begins” instantly makes me think of our school. Since we enroll students starting at 6 weeks old, we are the main foundation when it comes to laying a stable ground for education. We strive to make learning fun and help our students excel not only while they are enrolled with The Gardner School, but after they graduate and move onto their new schools.
Chrysa Feldott
Assistant Director
How long have you been with TGS?
Since November 2014
Roles Served with TGS:
I started at The Gardner School of Naperville, IL in November 2014 as a Pre-K lead teacher and was promoted to assistant director in April 2022.
What is your educational background?
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Studies with an emphasis in Child Development from Middle TN State University.
What made you decide to have a career in education?
I always knew early on that I wanted to work with children. I was also inspired by many teachers at a young age and wanted to continue to inspire and help others learn and grow.
What makes you laugh about kids?
How innocent and truthful kids can be.
What do you love most about working with infants through the age of 5?
Kids will keep you active, and they will even keep you learning. Young children have active and creative minds. As I move through each school year, I continually take on the challenge of sparking their imagination, reaching them at their level, and inspiring them to grow – academically, socially, and emotionally.
What is your favorite part of the day at TGS?
I love greeting the kids and families during drop-off and also learning more about the families at pick-up.
What do you love most about TGS?
I love our sense of community! We’ve built what feels like a large extended family with our teachers, children, and parents. We are all here to support each other and work together!
What is your fondest memory of TGS thus far?
I loved opening my own Exploration classroom when we first opened the school, along with the process of working and growing my career at The Gardner School!
What inspires you?
Children inspire me. It’s such a rewarding line of work that you can’t help but be inspired by them!
What is your passion or passions?
It may sound cheesy, but my job is my passion! I couldn’t work somewhere that I wasn’t this passionate about.
What does the term “Where Learning Begins” mean to you?
We are the start of children’s educational journey. We help set them up for the rest of their lives!
How important is early childhood education?
It is very important! We help instill not only cognitive skills but also self-help skills that will follow them in their future success.
What would you tell new parents who are apprehensive about leaving their infant in the care of someone else for the first time?
Our teachers are amazing! They are experts at what they do, and they treat each child as their own and care for you and your entire family’s needs when it comes to the well-being of your baby!