The Playgarden

The Playgarden began as a vibrant Jacksonville Beach neighborhood playgroup in 1995 formed by parents who wished to offer an early childhood educational setting inspired by Waldorf Principles to their own children.

These founding parents, supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida (previously called the Jacksonville Community Foundation) saw the need for a whole child approach and developed an innovative format that included parent/child classes, playgroup, parent education discussions, handwork workshops, community puppet shows, and seasonal festivals.

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The Playgarden is a Jacksonville Beach pre-school and kindergarten located just blocks from the beach. It is a perfect place for children preschool to kindergarten to explore, grow, and create. In early childhood, daily life experience is the "curriculum". The child's relationships to the caregivers and to the environment are the two most important aspects through which the child can experience healthy life rhythms and routines.

Our Executive Director is Ms. Laura Cruz. She is responsible for all administrative functions of the school and keeps our school home happy and bright. Ms. Laura served as a Dragonfly teacher for two years, enjoying outside play at The Playgarden, where she won our hearts with her caring disposition and grace with the children.

The Board of Directors is legally and ethically responsible for all activities of the organization. Under Florida law, the "Board of Directors" means the group of persons vested with the management of the affairs of the organization. The Board may delegate certain responsibilities to various committees or staff of the organization, but Board Members are expected to oversee and protect all of the corporation's operations and assets.