Who We Are
The Gan is a holistic early learning center located in Rochester, Minnesota. We seek to create a stimulating and enriching educational environment for each one of our students. Inspired by elements of the Reggio-Emilia and Montessori philosophies, we aim to ignite a spark in each child for a lifelong passion for learning and discovery. Our Jewish values drive the curriculum, environment and school culture. We model and encourage kindness, respect, compassion, confidence and responsibility.
We are committed to building a strong educational foundation for our children through play, social collaboration, and exploration. We strongly believe in fostering children’s natural curiosity as a means to inspire learning. Our emergent and experiential curriculum enables our students to draw their own conclusions through exploring and experiencing, which allows them to own their knowledge. If you would like to learn more and take a tour, please fill out this form
We look forward to partnering with you as we guide and encourage your children to grow and discover themselves as young learners.
Our Philosophy
True to our name, in The Gan -garden in Hebrew- a child is viewed as a seed that we nurture with the utmost care. A seed that is most impressionable in its first years, since the seed’s every experience will shape and color the quality of its matured self.
We believe that the early childhood years are the most influential time for children as they begin their journey of learning. This magical time of extraordinary cognitive, emotional and physical growth, combined with an excellent early childhood program, sets the foundation for later learning and social relationships.
At The Gan, this journey is a partnership between children, parents, and teachers. Our goal is to prepare our children for a future where they can flourish. Experts worldwide acknowledge that today’s children need more than the traditional 3 R’s (reading, writing, and arithmetic) to prepare them for the future.
Our focus includes the 4 C’s: Critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication.
Judaism underscores the uniqueness of every child, teaching us to train children according to their individual paths. We recognize that each child has his or her unique needs, interests and passions. Our children are viewed as collaborators: they are competent, curious, inquisitive, unique, and creative. Our school fosters children’s intellectual development as they are encouraged to explore their environment and express themselves through words, movement, drawing, painting, playing and other natural modes of expression. We plant the seeds for a lifelong quest and LOVE for learning, innovation, and thinking WAY out of the box. Our curriculum exposes children to a wide range of experiences including art, movement, pre-writing and reading skills, social and early math skills, which are all integrated into our hands-on learning. We strive to promote an environment in which children develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for a successful and meaningful life. Each of our students is provided the opportunity to interact in a meaningful environment where they can construct new ideas, learn to think, reason, question, problem-solve, and experiment, as they discover who they are and the world around them.
Gan is a licensed childcare center.
Our Team
Chana Greene – Director
As both the Director of Gan Rochester Preschool and a mother of five, Chana understands what families are looking for in an exceptional early childhood program. She studied Early Childhood Education at the Teachers Seminary of Safed, Israel, and has served as a teacher, educational director, and camp director. Chana is passionate about creating a school where children are known, respected, and inspired to become confident, curious learners.
| Ashley Giberson-Asplund – Assistant Director |
Ashley brings a unique blend of educational leadership and creativity to Gan. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education and spent several years teaching before discovering her passion for Montessori and Reggio Emilia education. Ashley supports our teachers, classrooms, and families while helping foster the beautiful, child-centered environment that defines Gan.
Jodi Hass – Maple Lead Teacher
With more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education, Jodi brings exceptional knowledge, warmth, and leadership to our preschool classroom. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Development and believes children learn best through meaningful relationships, hands-on experiences, and joyful exploration.
Gabi Crowder – Oak Lead Teacher
Gabi taught Kindergarten and First Grade before joining Gan and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology while pursuing her master’s in Special Education. She is passionate about helping young children build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning through hands-on exploration.
Erin Hemenway – Willow Lead Teacher
Erin brings nearly 30 years of experience caring for young children, including 27 years operating her own successful childcare program. Her calm, nurturing approach helps toddlers develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning during these important early years.
Miranda Bear – Sprouts Lead Teacher
Miranda holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and brings more than ten years of experience working with children in a variety of educational settings. She is passionate about creating a calm, loving environment where infants feel secure, supported, and encouraged to explore the world around them.
Our Ages & Hours
- Gan Hours Half Day: 8:30am – 12:30pm
- Gan Hours Full Day: 8:30am – 3:30pm
- Early Care: 7:00am – 8:30am
- After Care: 3:30pm – 5:30pm
- Ages: 6 months – 5 years old
Scholarships available