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 Franklin
Where Children Learn, Explore, and Belong
Supportive Learning Environment for Franklin Families
At The Gardner School of Franklin, children learn and grow in a warm, thoughtfully designed environment that supports early academics and meaningful social-emotional development. As a nationally accredited preschool through the National Accreditation Commission, we meet rigorous standards for quality early education. Our highly qualified teachers regularly assess each child’s growth to provide personal attention that nurtures confidence, curiosity, and learning. Conveniently located near Historic Downtown Franklin and the Cool Springs business district, our school welcomes families throughout Franklin and Williamson County.
Community Built for Exploring and Growth
Inside our bright, inviting classrooms, teachers guide early literacy, math, problem-solving, and social-emotional skills through a research-based curriculum and hands-on exploration. Families appreciate the safe, calm routines that help children feel known and supported. Our unique Americana Main Street design sparks imagination and excitement, while indoor and outdoor playscapes and a Kids Café offer warm, engaging spaces for learning and play. We serve children ages six weeks to five years with full and part-time programs that fit the needs of busy families.
Location
Inside this School
Learning and Growth
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Our academically focused curriculum supports early literacy, math, creativity, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. Teachers guide children through hands-on activities, purposeful play, and consistent routines that build strong foundations for kindergarten and beyond.
Safety and Well-Being
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Secure entry systems, clean classrooms, and predictable routines help children feel safe and supported. Healthy meals and snacks are served daily in the Kids Café, and our team maintains attentive safety practices that create a steady, caring environment for young learners.
Environment and Design
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Our Americana Main Street design creates a warm, imaginative setting that inspires curiosity the moment children walk through the door. Bright classrooms, thoughtful layout choices, and a large outdoor playground with a covered play area offer inviting spaces for movement, exploration, and joyful learning.
Caring Teachers
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Families value our long-term teachers, warm school culture, and real-time communication. Many educators have been part of our Franklin community for years, creating a stable and trusted environment where children feel known, supported, and encouraged to grow each day.
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
Karina Cadiz
Executive School Director
Karina Cadiz
Executive School Director
Karina has been part of The Gardner School family for more than a decade, beginning her career as a Pre-K Teacher at our Chicago–West Loop campus. From those early days in the classroom, she discovered her passion for guiding both children and teachers, growing into leadership roles that included School Support Coordinator, Assistant Director, and Executive School Director across several Chicago campuses. In September 2021, she brought her experience and enthusiasm to The Gardner School of Franklin.
Nicole Bock
Assistant Director
Nicole Bock
Assistant Director
Nicole joined The Gardner School of Franklin in March 2022 and has loved helping children feel excited and confident every day since. Her favorite part of the morning is seeing the joy on children’s faces as they arrive, ready to learn and play. When a child feels unsure at drop-off, Nicole loves being the friendly face that helps turn their day around with kindness and encouragement.
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.