Secret Garden Nursery is my dream preschool, and Lisa is one of my favorite people on the planet. She is so amazing and nurturing, and truly brilliant. She really ensures that the children are comfortable and secure there so that they can blossom intellectually and emotionally. The children build a tight-knit little community together with her, and it is so special to experience. They garden throughout the year and experience different subjects so deeply. For example, they worked on a lighthouse curriculum a few years ago after our family trip to the Outer Banks, which brought in wonderful books, art, and play with profound themes around helping others. Lisa is highly qualified and has a master's degree in early childhood education from the Bank Street school in NYC. She is the first person I ever felt comfortable leaving my children with aside from my own mom!

We love Secret Garden! - Small class size (6 students) and mixed ages (2-5 year olds) gives it a family-like feel - A caring, experienced teacher who understands child development and emphasizes child-led play and learning - Lots of outside time in the fall, spring, and summer (as weather allows), playing and planting in a beautiful garden - Teacher is covid/flu-cautious, and has fans/air purifiers running indoors - No potty training requirements - Kids can acclimate to the school at their own pace. (I stayed with my daughter for her first 3 weeks there in 2023, and stayed for about 3.5 months with my son in 2025, while he grew comfortable there.) This is a great option for sensitive little ones with limited experience with caregivers outside of their family!

My daughter’s time with Lisa at Secret Garden has been nothing short of a gift for our entire family. My daughter started as a newly 2 year-old who had never been cared for by anyone other than a parent. Lisa partnered with us to ensure that our daughter could adjust to school at her own pace, while developing the sturdy attachment needed to feel safe, learn and grow. I grew as a parent, too because I saw that in the right environment, my daughter could absolutely thrive. I am so grateful to Lisa for becoming a trusted member of our village, and for giving my child the best foundation for early learning that I could imagine.