Music and Drama
Children explore rhythm, movement, and creative expression through hands-on music and drama. They learn fundamentals like melody and notation while building confidence through storytelling, puppetry, and simple performances.
The Gardner School of Brentwood
Trusted Early Learning Community in Brentwood
Where Joy Meets Learning
At The Gardner School of Brentwood, children learn and grow in a warm, thoughtfully designed environment that blends early academics with nurturing relationships. As a NAEYC-accredited preschool with a 3 Star rating from Tennessee’s Star-Quality Child Care Program (the highest rating in the state), we offer the level of quality, care, and consistency that families in Brentwood value. Conveniently located between Volvo Cars Cool Springs and WE O Neal Construction, our school supports families who live and work throughout the Cool Springs and Brentwood area.
Where Children Are Safe, Known, and Supported
Inside our bright, inviting classrooms, teachers guide children through early literacy, math, problem-solving, and social-emotional development using a research-based curriculum and hands-on exploration. Children enjoy warm routines, caring teacher relationships, and thoughtfully designed spaces that support independence and joyful learning. With a large outdoor playscape that includes a covered area, a Kids Café, and a calm, welcoming school environment, children ages 6 weeks to 5 years experience the support and connection they need to thrive.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our research-based curriculum supports early literacy, math, creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. Highly qualified, degreed teachers guide children through purposeful play and consistent routines that build confidence and a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.
Safety and Health
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Two secure entry checkpoints, clean classrooms, and predictable routines help children feel safe and supported. Healthy, nourishing meals and snacks are served daily in the Kids Café. Our team maintains a thoughtful, attentive approach to safety and child well-being.
Environment and Design
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Bright classrooms, warm materials, and organized learning areas create a calm, inspiring atmosphere where young learners feel comfortable and ready to explore. A large private playground with a covered play area and a spacious indoor playroom offers safe, engaging environments for movement and discovery.
Community
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Families appreciate our long-term staff, open communication, real-time parent updates, and welcoming school culture. Strong partnerships between parents and teachers help children feel known, supported, and connected throughout their early years.
Academically-Focused Programs
At The Gardner School, learning truly begins with care. Our infant classrooms provide a nurturing start built on a nationally recognized, research-based curriculum that supports early learning and development. With teachers who understand both the science and the soul of early education, babies grow in an environment that builds trust, curiosity, and confidence from the very beginning.
Toddlers are natural explorers, full of curiosity, movement, and new words waiting to bloom. At The Gardner School, our toddler classrooms nurture and celebrate this growing independence through play-based learning and intentional teaching. Each day builds confidence, language, and friendship in an environment that’s safe, structured, and full of joy. Our early childhood education program develops the whole child — encouraging physical coordination, emotional confidence, and early cognitive growth in every discovery.
Two-year-olds are bursting with curiosity and confidence. At The Gardner School, our classrooms encourage this new independence through hands-on learning, nurturing guidance, and joyful discovery. Teachers help children explore, experiment, and build social and self-help skills in a safe environment where learning and laughter go hand in hand. In this two-year-old early learning classroom, children begin to strengthen emotional regulation, independence, and empathy while exploring the world around them.
Preschoolers are natural problem-solvers and collaborators. At The Gardner School, our classrooms inspire curiosity, confidence, and creativity through hands-on learning and purposeful structure. Teachers guide children through new concepts in literacy, math, science, and art, helping them build independence, friendships, and a lifelong love of learning. Our preschool classrooms encourage critical thinking and pre-academic foundations that set the stage for kindergarten success.
Pre-K is a milestone year filled with confidence, curiosity, and preparation for what’s next. At The Gardner School, our teachers guide children through meaningful, play-based learning that builds academic readiness, social skills, and independence. With a curriculum designed around kindergarten preparation, students develop the focus, responsibility, and love of learning that will carry them into elementary school and beyond. Our Pre-K program helps children grow the attention, independence, and social skills they need to feel confident and ready for kindergarten.
Enrichment Programs
Sports
Active, structured classes help children build coordination, strength, and confidence. Through sports like soccer, basketball, gymnastics, and yoga, they practice teamwork, listening skills, and healthy movement habits.
Martial Arts
Martial arts introduce balance, discipline, and respectful movement in a safe, beginner-friendly format. Children learn basic stances and controlled motions that build focus, confidence, and body awareness.
Dance and Movement
Children build balance, coordination, and spatial awareness through beginner dance and creative movement. With simple steps, stretching, and expressive motion, they strengthen motor skills while growing confidence and joy in how their bodies move.
S.T.E.A.M.
Hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences spark curiosity and critical thinking. Through simple experiments and creative projects, children explore how things work and discover the joy of learning.
Foreign Language
Through songs, games, and simple vocabulary, children are introduced to the basics of a second language to enable basic conversational skills. Lessons built around familiar themes make learning fun, natural, and age-appropriate.
Seasonal Experiences
Children participate in seasonal, multi-week, or pop-up enrichment classes that may include cooking, gardening, or exciting seasonal activities. These experiences offer fresh ways to learn, create, and discover.
School Leadership
Angela Sesler
Executive School Director
Angela Sesler
Executive School Director
Angela finds her greatest joy in the small, meaningful moments that unfold throughout the day at The Gardner School of Brentwood. Whether she is walking into a classroom to hear children proudly share new discoveries or watching a creative idea come to life through a teacher’s lesson, she treasures the sense of wonder and growth that fills the building. Since beginning her TGS journey in 2018 as a toddler teacher, Angela has carried her classroom experience into her leadership, creating a community grounded in authenticity, belonging, and childlike magic.
Kanika Nair
Assistant Director
Kanika Nair
Assistant Director
Kanika’s days at The Gardner School of Brentwood are filled with happy smiles, warm hugs, and the wonderfully imaginative stories children love to share. Some of her favorite moments happen in the classrooms where she chats about artwork, helps build Lego towers, joins pretend play, or reads a beloved book that fills the room with giggles. Those small interactions fuel her joy and deepen her connection with each child.
Schedule a Tour
Please select a date and time that works best for you (tours are ~45 minutes). We recommend visiting in the morning between 9:30 – 11:30 am. Of course, we completely understand that is not always possible with families’ schedules and welcome families to join whenever is most convenient for you. If you aren’t ready to tour yet or these times below don’t work for your family, use the Contact Us button below, and we will coordinate a time together.
Contact Us
If you aren’t yet ready to schedule a tour or the available times do not work for your family, please click Contact Us to connect with someone from The Gardner School.