A Shared Story, 30 Years in the Making

For Carli McInerny, the connection between Country Friends and Gardner School is more than a recent chapter in Gardner's history. It’s been a defining part of her own story as a parent and teacher.

Today, Carli serves as Gardner's Director of Early Childhood Program, overseeing early childhood across both Country Friends and Gardner's Main Campus. But her connection to this community began long before she stepped into that role. Carli began her career in early childhood education at Country Friends before joining Gardner as an Early Childhood teacher. She returned to Country Friends following the acquisition, where she now leads the program.

When Country Friends officially became part of Gardner during the 2024–25 school year, Carli found herself at the center of a story that had been taking shape for decades. With both campuses founded in 1995 on the belief that children learn best through play, curiosity, exploration and strong relationships, Carli said she knew it would be a good idea to bring the two campuses together.

“I felt like this was a natural next step for both campuses because there were so many similarities in the schools and among the staff. Having worked at both, I had witnessed that firsthand,” said Carli. “We both believed in giving children room to be curious, to explore, to take risks and to build strong relationships. Those shared values made it easy to see how the two campuses could come together while still honoring what makes each one special.”

Left to right: Carli McInerny & Alychiphey Evans

Carli wasn’t the only teacher whose path has crossed both campuses. Alychiphey Evans, now Assistant Director of Country Friends, was Carli’s assistant teacher during Carli’s first year at Gardner as well as a sub regular substitute teacher at Country Friends. Today, they work together again at Country Friends, another example of how people and relationships have moved between the two campuses over the years.

“I think that’s one of the things that makes Gardner special. There are so many relationships that carry from one campus to the other. You might start at Country Friends, move to Gardner or work at one campus and later find yourself at the other. There’s a sense of familiarity that stays with you, and I think that’s really special for both our families and our staff,” Alychiphey said.

For many of our families, the ability to move between Country Friends and Gardner means a child can grow within a community that already knows them. Carli has also experienced that firsthand as a parent. Her own children have attended either one or both campuses, giving her a unique perspective on the ways children can grow and thrive as they move through Gardner. Each has had a different path, but both have been surrounded by teachers who care about them, understand their strengths and support them in their learning.

"My oldest started at Gardner's Main Campus for kindergarten without having had the same early childhood experience as his younger sibling, so he needed a little more support with the social and emotional side of that transition. Thankfully, with the school's small class sizes, his teachers were able to get to know him and support him as he adjusted. My younger child went through Country Friends first, and I saw how that experience helped prepare him for kindergarten. He was socially and emotionally ready, had strong problem-solving skills and was ready for the academics too," Carli said.

Creating a positive experience for every child and staff member, no matter where they start or how they get here, is what makes Gardner School so special. For Carli and Alychiphey, that has meant finding their way from one campus to the other, and now having the opportunity to help shape both for the children and families who will follow.