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 Midtown – Nashville
A Caring Early Learning Community in Midtown Nashville
A Trusted Preschool for Nashville Families
At The Gardner School of Midtown, children learn and grow in a warm, thoughtfully designed environment that blends early academics with meaningful play. As a NAEYC-accredited preschool with a 3-Star rating from Tennessee’s Star-Quality Child Care Program – the highest distinction in the state – we offer families a truly high-quality early learning experience. Conveniently located on State Street near Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital, our school serves families who live and work throughout the downtown and midtown Nashville area.
Where Young Learners Build Confidence and Joy
Our curriculum blends teacher-guided instruction with child-led exploration, helping children build confidence, curiosity, and strong academic foundations. With highly qualified teachers, bright classrooms, enrichment studio/Kids’ Café, outdoor playscape, children experience a learning environment designed to support early literacy, math, problem-solving, gross motor development, and social-emotional growth. Families appreciate our warm school culture, consistent communication, and a supportive environment that feels calm, inviting, and deeply connected.
Location
Inside this School
Learning
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Our research-based curriculum supports early literacy, math, creativity, and social-emotional development. Teachers guide children through purposeful play, hands-on exploration, and consistent routines that build confidence and foundational academic skills.
Safety and Health
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Two secure entry checkpoints, clean and calming classrooms, and predictable routines help children feel safe and supported. Healthy meals and snacks in the Kids’ Café nourish growing bodies, and our team is trained to maintain a safe, attentive environment each day.
Environment and Design
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Bright, organized classrooms and thoughtfully arranged learning areas create a warm, inviting atmosphere where children feel comfortable and ready to explore. Indoor and outdoor playscapes offer safe, engaging spaces for movement and discovery throughout the year.
Community
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Families appreciate our real-time updates, daily check-ins, and welcoming school culture that supports the connection between parents, teachers, and children. Long-term staff create a community, and our central Midtown location provides convenience for families balancing work and home.
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
Logan Myers
Executive School Director
Logan Myers
Executive School Director
Logan finds the greatest joy in the family feeling that fills The Gardner School of Midtown each day. Whether she’s greeting children with hugs and smiles at drop-off or chatting with families during school events, those moments of connection remind her what makes this community so special. Since joining The Gardner School in 2018, Logan has grown from Floater Teacher to Lead Infant Teacher, Creative Curriculum Coordinator, Assistant Director, and now Executive School Director — a journey that reflects her dedication to both children and teachers.
Jessie Sampsell
Assistant Director
Jessie Sampsell
Assistant Director
Jessie loves seeing children’s faces light up when she greets them by name each morning at The Gardner School of Midtown. Watching children grow, learn, and build confidence over the years is what makes her work so meaningful. She began her TGS journey in May 2022 as a Floater Teacher before becoming a School Support Coordinator and later Assistant Director, a path that has deepened her relationships with both children and families.
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.