Narnia Preschool

Narnia was absolutely the best preschool experience my daughter and I could have had. The hardest part of reaching kindergarten age for my daughter was leaving Narnia and her beloved teacher, Zeze (who is also the director). About 8 months has passed since our family’s preschool graduation and every other week or so, my daughter declares, «Remember you said we could visit Narnia!» or «I miss Zeze so much!» Don’t get me wrong, she loves kindergarten and is thriving at her new school, but she still longs for the comfort and happiness of Narnia.
In our time with the school, we got to know Zeze and her family very well, and they are great people and good neighbors (we live right down the street from the school). We also became close with all the other parents who were there concurrently with us and I never heard a word of dissatisfaction from any of them. Us parents spent a good deal of time in the class room and had excellent openly communicative relationships with Zeze, her family, and the staff. Nothing is amiss at Narnia. I have read these other negative reviews — they can be credited to one personal who is telling many lies because of a personal agenda. It is sad and disturbing to see a school as wonderful as Narnia and a childcare provider as dedicated and loving as Zeze protrayed in this false way.
Please visit the school, meet the people behind it, and check real references. You will see what is behind my 5 star review.

It’s not an isolated incident for Zeze to leave a child alone. My son attended Narnia for several months and something tripped my «mommy radar» so I asked Zeze a few questions. I could tell right away she wasn’t being straightforward and it took a week for the story to come out. Turns out Zeze thought he’d been «naughty» and instead of trying to teach him a better way to respond, she locked him in a room by himself for hours (from before naptime until afterwards) and wouldn’t let him out. He was terrified and screamed so hard that he threw up all over himself. When I finally figured out what had happened and tried to talk about it with Zeze, she started shouting in a very aggressive way and tried to blame me and my son for her inappropriate behavior. Definitely there’s a screw loose … only way to describe the situation … and I immediately pulled my son out of her daycare. During that last week I stopped by unexpectedly in the middle of the day and found that Zeze wasn’t even there, she left the children with someone they’d never seen before — someone who wasn’t fingerprinted and had absolutely no background in childcare. When I called the county to report the problem I learned that Zeze had also been cited for not employing enough adults to keep the children safe. Apparently this happened on a routine basis to increase profits and also, several times a staff member quit in the middle of the day because of the way Zeze treats her staff. Unfortunately this wasn’t surprising, several times while walking up to the front door I heard Zeze screaming at her husband at top volume, in front of the kids.
Regardless of which daycare your child attends, full-​time working parents might want to drop by at mid-​day unannounced to find out what goes on when you’re not around and see if your trust is well-​founded. If your kids are at Narnia, you might learn about aspects of Zeze’s personality you weren’t aware of before.

We have had a wonderful experience at Narnia. My son was there for about 16 months and my daughter just started there a few months ago. I preferred this small pre-​school setting (over a large, more anonymous daycare). It was a perfect transition place between being at home w/​mom before going off to a very structured setting. Kids are encouraged, but not forced to participate in circle time, music class, art, etc. We love the teachers, who are very nurturing and attentive.
I encourage visiting. I knew as soon as I was there that this was the ideal place for my kids. Very «home“y feeling.

This has taken me a while to write. I dont like posting and upchucking negativity– mostly, I feel that people make their own beds and lie in them, and life will bring them what they deserve — without any retrobution from me. But… aghh. little ones and your children are at stake. I taught pre-​school for 4 years as an accredited ECE educator while in college, and know what the challenges are. That perhaps made this harder — knowing kids are away from their parents and working on trusting others? important to honor and comfort that for all children.
My son attended this school the fall of 08 into January of 2009.
He is and was social, outgoing, and took to people and new situations easily. We left him with friends, neighbors, babystters, and at our church — where he almost always said good bye without anxiety.
He took to the school well at first, but his anxiety seemd to increase over the 4 months we had him there. The director (Zeze Cole) thought this was about the fact that he was only there two days a week instead of more. We believed her.
We continued our time there, but after one day when our son came home and told me the same thing 5 times over a 1 day period this exact story — «I told teacher Zeze I didnt like her» — and when we asked what she said back, he said «I dont like you either, you are not a nice boy!» and then he claimed «then she left me alone outside and went into the house».
I didnt have any alarm at first as my son was saying this to many people he loved at the time — me, his Dad, his beloved nanny… But when I went to the school the next morning and just asked Zeze what her response was, (still not truly believing my then 3 year old) — she became immediately reactive and hostile. Her reaction rose to a yelling volume — and followed with a storming of her leaving me, accusing me of being «an unfit parent» and she stated «I hope you are not leaving him here!». the only other attendant (other than the startled children) was her niece and co-​care giver. We obviously, did not return!
I spoke with a friend later that day (who is a child psychologist for a public K-​12) and she stated the following: «Kids at age 3 dont have the capacity to „make up“ a story 5 times the same way — he was trying to work it out by telling you — and Zeze was obviously ‘guilty’ of the statement back, as indicated by her explosive outward expression — Call the county an see what else is in her file for complaints — this is not the fist time she has reacted badly to a parent or child».
So, I did. And after calling the county to inquire — they asked why I was inquiring — I just stated we had a bad experience there — to which they became immediately concerned and opened an investigation at the pre-​school. I was shocked at their immediate retrobution, and thankful that the care for kids extended to that.
There was an investigation, the school and director (Zeze) was cited for three additional infractions — I believe they were:
1) leaving a child unattended
2) Not posting parental rights
3) Making a parent/​child feel uncomfortable/​threatened
There are a few more things in her file –failing to fingerprint a care giver and the above #2, for the second time.
I have since learned from other parents who did have a good experience there that there is a chance Zeze was undergoing some personal problems during this time.
I understand as a parent that we all have imperfect days and reactions.
I do not understand caring for other people’s children and treating them in this fashion.
My child would not even walk near the school for so many months after (we live 3 blocks away) — stating that teacher Zeze is «mean» and he didnt like her. He thought all teachers were «mean» until he entered and started «Smile’s Day school» in Montclair this year. (read my review :). He had anxiety about attending here this year because of his past experience at Narnia… but, due to the greatness of Smiles and the warmth given by all present, he is happy and loving pre-​school (sigh of relief) :)!!! He told me after his first week «Mom, teachers are nice, I have hearts in my eyes for them!»
It took me so long to write this review because I cried every time I thought about my son’s experience at Narnia.
One last thing — Doug Cole is Zeze’s husband and he is quite amazing and remarkable. My son loved him — all the kids flock to him. His music and energy is brilliant.
I wish Zeze and her school well, and hope whatever her personal problems were have faded away — glad we are not there, glad we believed our son enough to simply ask what happened to the director… It brought our son closer to us, and strengthened our parent child bond.
CALL THE COUNTY AND READ HER FILE. (510) 780‑8600
please also feel free to contact me for additional info: