My husband and I are working parents of 4 beautiful children. Our oldest 3 are in grade school now, and the youngest is almost 2.
We tried the gamut of childcare options with the oldest 3. My employer had an onsite daycare at the time, but it chose a low-cost (and low quality) provider. We were constantly battling the childcare, and its lack of attentiveness to our concerns or our children's wellbeing was both disturbing and frustrating. We pulled our oldest 3 out of the daycare at the ages of 3 and 18 months (twins).
We then tried the nanny route. There were positives, as far as not having to get the kids ready and out the door in the morning, but after having to fire one nanny, find backup childcare on the fly when the nanny was sick or had medical appointments, and deal with all of the state/federal reporting for taxes, we discovered we weren't really saving any time, money, or frustration.
We abandoned the nanny route and started afresh when we relocated to Colorado. This time we found a true preschool - not just a childcare (there is a BIG difference, by the way, between a childcare/daycare and a school!). We enrolled the oldest in the school's private Kindergarten program and the twins in the preschool. But to continue our less than successful efforts in finding quality childcare/school, we soon realized that bad management was rampant at the school. The teachers were unhappy for a variety of reasons but largely because they were not treated professionally or respectfully. Additionally, my oldest child's Kindergarten education suffered, as the management was blind to its staff's weaknesses and need for additional training. As a result we pulled all of the children out of the school by the time the oldest hit 1st grade.
Our youngest was born within the first year of moving here, while the oldest was struggling to catch-up in 1st grade. I had heard "rave" reviews about Montessori schools, so I put the baby in the Montessori school near my work. The staff was nice enough, but I soon realized that the Montessori philosophy was not for me. It felt loveless and cold. I disagreed with their philosophy on several key, developmental issues. As a result, when I was asked to take a position at one of my employer's satellite offices in Highlands Ranch, I wasn't too upset about pulling my littlest one out of the Montessori school.
I toured two schools near my new office location. But I can tell you right now, it was a no brainer for me upon touring the first school: The Goddard School Highlands Ranch was going to be my youngest child's new home away from home.
First and foremost, there is the owner, Sam. He is so responsive to his parent's concerns. In fact, he goes out of his way to address them. But most importantly, he values prevention - what can he or his teachers do to prevent not only the big stuff (like accidents and illness) but also the little stuff. He always has the best interest of the children and the parents in mind. I love the fact that he wants his school to be "an extension of the family", keeping and honoring family requests as well loving and supporting the children like they were his or his staff's own. Even if it is 6:15 PM and he's trying to close the school, he has kept an unofficial open door policy if you need to speak with him personally in his office.
Secondly, the quality of the staff and the curriculum: Wow - my husband and I have been so impressed! Given our lengthy and varied experiences with childcares and schools referenced earlier, we have never been so satisfied with the education our children have received in a childcare setting until now. There truly is something different about the Goddard Schools, and Sam has done an excellent job in screening his staff to ensure the highest level of execution of the curriculum. We see where our fourth and youngest child is developmentally just shy of the age of 2 and marvel, as we know our first 3 were not nearly as advanced as she is for her age.
Lastly, you know you have a great preschool when the staff is tenured. I know that the Goddard School in Highlands Ranch is relatively new, but the same teachers that were in the infant room and toddler room when my youngest first enrolled at the school at the age of 4 months are still in the room - over a year-and-a-half later. The turnover of the staff is low for a preschool. I can only surmise that the teachers a.) feel appreciated, b.) feel challenged, and c.) receive adequate compensation. The teachers, as with any employee, need these things in order to stay. I think a lot of that is evident of how Sam treats his staff.
I probably have one of the longest reviews on Yelp but feel strongly about the quality of the Goddard School in Highlands Ranch, its owner, and its staff. Given our various failures to find suitable childcare/school for our children, we want others to know about this fantastic school and the opportunity it affords not only their child(ren) but their family. read more
