Testimonials
Our family spent seven wonderful years at Open Gate Nursery School, and I truly can’t imagine a better foundation for our children—or for us as parents. Open Gate is so much more than a preschool; it’s a vibrant, thoughtful, and deeply nurturing community that supports the whole child and whole family.
From our very first days there, we were struck by the richness of the curriculum and the care with which it was designed. Teacher Kristi is intentional in everything she does—each activity, story, song, and moment of exploration is chosen to support children’s growth in meaningful, developmentally appropriate ways. The environment encourages curiosity, kindness, responsibility, and confidence, all while helping children build essential pre-academic skills through play.
As a teacher myself, the years I spent at Open Gate also shaped my own educational philosophy. I learned to trust in the power of play as a foundation for learning and to recognize that giving children real responsibilities helps them grow in incredible ways. Open Gate gave me permission—as a parent and a professional—to let children try hard things, to support rather than rescue, and to see mistakes as opportunities to learn. These are lessons I carry with me every day in my own classroom.
Now that I teach in elementary school, I see firsthand the difference a quality preschool experience makes. Students who had environments like Open Gate arrive with not just academic readiness, but with the social-emotional skills, confidence, and curiosity that make real learning possible. Unfortunately, too many children today come to school with limited real-world experiences and less understanding of how to navigate social and emotional challenges. Play-based, child-centered programs like Open Gate are more essential than ever.
We are forever grateful to the teachers, the parent community, and the philosophy of Open Gate for giving our children such a joyful, grounded, and empowering beginning—and for teaching us how to raise kids who are capable, connected, and curious.
– Katarina Miller
Open Gate was more than a school for our family, it was home. A place where I could share with friends things my toddlers were going through, a place where I trusted my young children could practice conflict resolution and listening skills, a place where my young children could explore and talk about things and crafts that weren’t in our home. I am still friends and part of community with parents from Open Gate ten years later. It’s a special gem, my children are lucky to have gone through it, I’m lucky to have been a parent at it and also lucky to be given the opportunity to be a part of the teaching staff. Anyone who picks Open Gate for the child is choosing an excellent school.
– Kristina Granillo
Open Gate Nursery School is a nurturing space where little humans, seasoned caregivers, new parents, and teachers come together to learn and grow through the beautiful and challenging journey of parenthood. In an innovative world shaped by polished social media and AI, we must keep places like Open Gate Nursery School operating and thriving. OGNS will always be dear to my heart as it taught me the essence of how to do community as a new mom with my now 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. Those years were not without their challenges, but they became the foundation of my parenting journey. We don’t have to navigate parenting alone; we messily thrive in community. As our kids grow, it’s crucial for them to hear voices beyond our own. A trusted community enriches our kids experiences and is vital for everyone involved. I am continually grateful for OGNS, where friendships formed years ago endure and continue to blossom. Parenting doesn’t end outside the gates of Open Gate; it deepens and grows richer in the embrace of our Gator family!
– Glendy Martin
What sets Open Gate apart from other preschools is the community. It isn’t just a place for your child to learn, it’s a place for you to learn from teachers with years of experience both as parents themselves and as trained early childhood educators. Best of all, it’s a place your child AND you will find treasured friends – many of whom will be with you years later long after your preschool days are done.
– Sandra Slutz
Once an Open Gator, Always an Open Gator! More than twenty years ago, we found more than just a preschool at Open Gate Nursery School; we found the community that would become the foundation of our family. The co-op model invited us in, not just as parents, but as partners in our children’s first exploration of the world.
Working alongside other families and dedicated teachers, we built a village. We learned how to be better parents from watching our children learn and from the shared experiences of those around us. This was the true magic of Open Gate: it wasn’t just about preparing our kids for school, it was about connecting families in a meaningful and lasting way.
Two decades later, the strength of that foundation is undeniable. The friendships we forged and the sense of community we discovered at Open Gate have remained with us, continuing to enrich our lives. We are endlessly grateful for the incredible start it gave our children and the enduring support system it gave our entire family.
– Nilufer Surty Green
We love Open Gate! When we began touring preschools with our first child, I was very hesitant and didn’t feel comfortable with the thought of leaving him somewhere with strangers. From the moment we toured Open Gate though, it felt like home. Teacher Kristi knows just how to meet the needs of each child (and parent) that walk through the door. The other parents quickly become friends and valued sources of support. We’re now back at Open Gate with our third child and we are so happy to be back in the Open Gate community again. My oldest son wishes he could go back too and often talks about “the good old days when I got to play at Open Gate”. We are so thankful that we found such a fun and supportive preschool for our kids!
– Allison Kuckos
Our time at Open Gate Nursery School was absolutely magical. We found friends, a village to do life with, and so much support in our early days of parenting. The skills and philosophies we learned at OGNS helped us move through the various stages of parenting with a little more grace, curiosity, and confidence. Our kids had a ball- dress up, art, and so much more. Our oldest just graduated from high school, and we still talk about the fun that was had at OGNS. The teachers are incredible, full of love and knowledge ready to share with parents and children alike. The OGNS team fosters a beautiful community of families at a critical juncture in child development. We are all in it together and can relate, commiserate, and celebrate together.
– Melissa Musallum Fennel
We can’t begin to appreciate Open Gate for the long lasting impact it has had on our family. 22 years after the beginning of our journey at OGNS we still treasure our experience from the nursery, to the art room to the kitchen to the board. Every element of the building of our family of five was impacted by the days spent to the evenings sharing stories and learning from the teachers and other parents. We will always remember Open Gate and will always sing our favorite OG songs.
We love you Teacher Kristi. Xo.
– The Cook Family
Open Gate undoubtedly was a foundation stone for my parenting journey. Akshara is who she is because of the time we both spent amidst the Open Gate community. I developed lasting deeper friendships and felt a deep sense of belonging during our time at Open Gate! Can’t thank them enough for all the love, support, kindness that I still continue to receive from Open Gate community!
Once a gator always a gator?♥️
– Anitha
My littlest baby graduated from nursery school on Thursday ?. I saw this interview recently where a semi-famous dad was saying he wished he could have one of his daughter at every age living in his house because, with each new phase, they become a slightly different version of themselves. In the morning before graduation, Molly and Abby stood in the bathroom, Molly giving Abby a little glow up with some makeup. Abby wore a favorite purple dress with a rainbow tutu skirt that she says makes her feel like a lightbulb lit up. I snapped a picture of them then looked back at the picture of Molly holding Abby the day we brought her home from the hospital. Boy was I feeling what that semi-famous dad said so hard in that moment – a wish in my heart that I could hang on to a little bit of what my babies were like at every phase. But I know I can’t so the next best thing is to try and remember to soak in these moments as they pass. That’s what I tried to do at Abby’s graduation, the first I got to attend for my kids since the pandemic threw a wrench in such festivities for Molly. Abby’s graduation could not have been a more perfect culmination to her time at Open Gate, this school that, just like in the Three Bears, was just right. They started off with a performance of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and then we got to witness their last circle time complete with favorite songs and their requisite props which the kids got to keep to continue enjoying at home, a story, and some nuggets of sage advice and encouragement from Teacher Kristi. In my card to the teachers I wrote, “Abby has had so many opportunities to try, to explore, to experience, to enjoy, and to grow at Open Gate. She’s been given the space to do so with her own flair and at her own pace, and I have been so happy to be able to bear witness to all of it. Your adept, patient, and loving hand has guided her so that now she’s ready for the next step, and we can’t thank you enough.” And it’s true! When Abby arrived at Open Gate originally, she wasn’t ready to stay at school without me, often needing to observe instead of participate actively. Now she has gained confidence and independence and was an active and poised part of every element of the graduation – still with a flair and personality all her own ?. Abby girl, I am so crazy proud of you and I love you so much and thank goodness you got this experience and thank goodness you are headed to a school where I can still participate sometimes because I can’t wait to continue to watch you grow AND still I will miss this iteration of you so much ?. Congratulations my sweet love, and thank you Teacher Kristi and Teacher Andrea for everything ❤️!
– Liz Davydov
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