Mill Avenue School

Welcome to Our School

Mill Avenue preschool Tempe az 2

Mill Avenue participates in Quality First, Arizona’s Quality Improvement and Rating system. We provide a high standard of child care and education in Tempe for children aged 6 weeks to 12 years. Meals and snacks are included in tuition, and our school age program offers transportation to and from Carminati, Wood, Arredondo, and Joseph P. Spracale Elementary Schools.

At Mill Avenue our ethos is based on the understanding that children are foremost their own educators – natural learners with ability, curiosity and imagination. A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future. We believe each child deserves the best possible start in life and the support to fulfill their potential.

As professionals we nurture their learning by providing the opportunity and tools to enable all our children to be happy, secure and independent individuals. We believe many different characteristics and intrinsic values go into making a great teacher. That’s why we hold our teachers to a higher standard in order to make a difference in your child’s education. We also provide bus runs to and from our school. You can see the list of schools we service here.

What People Say About Us

5 stars
5/5
Michelle Crawford
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I love love love this place. You know it’s a good place when kids don’t want to leave and they ask about going back everyday. I love the fact they do things with the kids such as field trips. I also love the fact that there are cameras in the rooms so you can see what is going on.
Ashlea Wells
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I love this preschool! My 6 month old daughter is in the infants and she absolutely loves it! Jessica is the most wonderful teacher and takes such amazing care of my little girl while I'm at work!!! I would never trust anyone else to take care of her as Jessica does! We love this place!
Sarah Rasley
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My experience at this school has been nothing short of amazing. My daughter started going here right when she turned 2 and she is now 4 1/2. She had wonderful relationships with the teachers and staff right from the start, and has developed many friendships with her classmates as she has moved through the 2s, 3s, and now 4s class. As a mom, I am continually impressed with director Kim Hale's dedication and love for maintaining a fun, safe, educational, loving environment for all students and teachers. Over the past few years I have gotten to know Kim and some of her staff on a more personal level (a couple of the teachers are even our go-to babysitters) and I am continually impressed with the high quality of work and moral ethic that is required from all teachers and staff. Safety and health are among the top priorities at Mill Avenue Preschool, followed very closely by love, learning, and fun. Our family is so happy to be a part of the Small Miracles family!
Tyler Riddle
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My now almost 2 year old son was little Almost 1 1/2 years old and of course would cry when leaving my arms for day care for the day but 30 minutes later I’d see on the camera he was smiling, running around happy, happy boy. Fast forward 6 months or so to present day I walk in the doors of Mill Avenue Preschool to one of my sons teachers hands out greeting him and he smiles and reaches for her, my heart melt, he even put his head on her shoulders after fully handing him over. I couldn’t feel more comfortable leaving my son in the loving hands of those women at Mill Ave Preschool.
Xan E
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I have had my daughter here since she was 6 months old (2014) and I love it here. When she first started going here Leslie was the director and though she was quite pleasant, she seemed a little scatter-brained: the tuition changed weekly, she had no idea what the pro-rated costs were, and seemed unconcerned with details like the nutrition of the children. I also observed that some of the staff seemed afraid of her. However my daughter was quite happy in the infant room with Denise (she is amazing) and so I was okay with it. In late 2015, new management took over and we saw a lot of positive changes instantly: the variety, quality, and nutritional value of the food went up significantly; their curriculum became quite diverse. The new management also fired some of the staff that seemed incapable of caring for the children (not realizing that a child in your care is outdoors without shoes or socks, too exhausted to perform physical activities with the children, easily overwhelmed by more than 3 children, etc.). I think they might also have lost some good employees (wonder what happened to Melissa in the 1-2 year old class room, she had the singular ability to command a room of 12 toddlers with ease, I envy her that). The new management has a zero-tolerance policy towards tardiness of the staff, laziness, or incompetence, plus my daughter is very happy here. I have tried looking for a comparable daycare (professionalism of staff, curriculum, nutrition, warmth of care-givers towards children) closer to home and to date I haven't found one. So for now its the lengthy commute to this daycare that my family and I love. My daughter certainly looks forward to going to preschool.
Alana Fenstermaker
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I highly recommend Mill Avenue preschool. I wouldn’t trust my grandson to any other preschool. Specifically, the Director is amazing and takes the time to talk to us when needed and participate in my grandsons development. I truly appreciate this preschool.
Jen Stgo
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My daughter is here since January 2016 and we still love it like the first days. Staff cares about the kiddos and they let parents know right away if your baby is sick. Parents are welcome anytime and what I like the most is that I can see in the website what my child is doing at anytime and only authorized people by the parents can pick them up, so you know your child is safe. My daughter have learned so much in here, we are very happy and grateful for everything and every teacher that we have met.
Kirstin Tvedten
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We have three children that attend Mill Avenue full-time. There are options for 2, 3, and 5-day care. Kids are fed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and two snacks like clockwork. I'm amazed when I go to the center (or check in on a camera remotely) when all the 1-2 year olds are sitting at a table peacefully eating or doing an activity. My 2 year old has been reciting the ABC's for months now and can count past 10. I don't know if they are still there, but there were also teachers who would teach some sign-language.
Mari Gurulee
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I highly recommend Mill Avenue preschool to anyone looking for daycare. They have breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The teachers are great they all greet you with a smile and good morning or good evening. I have four kids that have been going for about a year now and love going everyday, two of them are school-aged they drive them by bus to and from school they also have time to eat breakfast before heading to school and after school they are fed snacks and dinner. They teach my four and five-year-olds what they need to know going into kindergarten. And being able to watch them from work or wherever I need to go, on their cameras is a plus, from the classrooms to outside. It's everything a parent would look for in a daycare.
Matthew Taylor
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I can not express how much I love this place. My 11month old is always smiles when he realizes that we are almost there. I know that he does not miss me at all during the day because he is treated like he is royalty when he arrives. The staff actually calls him Sir Nicholas!! Not only does his teachers Ms. Rachel and Ms. Sabrina make sure that he is always getting stimulation and everyday learning but all of the OTHER teachers know who he is and always are smiles when they see him. I have yet to find a teacher there that is in a bad mood...EVER!!! Olga and Jen, the director and assistant director, respectively harbor an environment that makes the Children happy and excited but they also go out of their way to make sure the parents are HAPPY and excited to be there to drop of their children and even more to pick them up!!! I also love the fact that I can drop in on the internet camera at ANY time to see how my soon is doing and how he is being treated...I have NEVER been disappointed!!!! I have NEVER heard any crying or yelling when I am inside the school and there is always happy music and a good vibe flowing through the facility!! I will never hesitate to recommend this wonderful school to anyone!!!
Jeb Breese
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My son currently goes here, and the teacher knows him by name, and recognizes him instantly. They are always polite and super accommodating. If you are looking for an honest review, and a great place for your child to be, this is definitely it. Anytime I've ever had to call or ask questions, Kim and team are always readily available to assist.
Frank Dowdell
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Both of my children go to this preschool and these teachers have been like close family to them since they’ve started! The head Director, as well as my kids’ teachers Miss A and Miss J have been amazing at furthering my children’s book knowledge and making them comfortable with expressing all types of care and kindness with not only their peeers, but with the rest of the staff as well !
Melanie Mckenner
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I love this daycare the treat my son good and the staff has been great and the boss is always so nice and i love that my son loves it there he never comes home upset always wants to go and they always greet me when i drop off my son dominic and its a great place
DanO
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My daughter went there year's ago. It's a very good little preschool. She enjoyed her time there.
Rebecca ruiz
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We love this place! Have been with the family for many years! Our second home!
Jenn Valenzuela Director
Jenn Valenzuela

Center Director

Meet Our Director

Hi there! My name is Jenn Valenzuela and I’m the director at the Mill Ave School. I was born and raised here in Tempe, and I graduated from Marcos De Niza High School right around the corner! My education continued at Rio Salado College, where I majored in Early Education with an emphasis in admin and management.

I married my high school sweetheart in 2013, and we have 3 awesome kiddos- a 13 year old son and 2 daughters, 9 and 4. We love to hang out with our extended family, go to Sun Devil football games, hike, and watch movies in our free time!

My early education experience began in 2005, where I fell in love with the field. I’ve taught every age group over the years, but my favorite by far are the infants. There’s just something about watching infants meet all the milestones; not to mention the tremendous amount of growth in that first year that fills my cup to the brim!

My teaching philosophy is that every child learns through play. Any milestone that we want to see them achieve can be taught through fun in a safe, loving environment!

I’m honored you chose us as a first step in your child’s education!

All Meals Are Provided

We are proud to be part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).  We provide breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack times throughout the day and meals are included in tuition to make sure every child has access to them. We believe that providing nutritious meals helps children have more energy for learning and gives them the fuel they need to succeed in life.

Programs

We want children as early as possible to appreciate the importance of reaching out beyond themselves and into the community. Small Miracles schools offer a range of programs for children 6 weeks to 12 years.

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Infant Program

At Small Miracles, we know that a baby's growth and development depends on individualized care and experiences. That is why we make it our focus to meet the needs of each infant. To do so, we provide our staff of caregiver educators with the tools they need to develop strong connections and trust with each baby they interact with. This trust allows the little ones to feel secure and confident enough to take part in play as well as early childhood learning activities. We are committed to providing this supportive environment, ensuring that your baby gets the best start possible.

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Toddler Program

We understand that the transition to toddlerhood can be a tumultuous one. Every child is unique and has their own needs and wants that must be respected during this challenging time. With our experienced teachers, we strive to craft an environment where children can explore, learn, and make progress with self-reliance. As with all of our classrooms, we attempt to control the environment, not the little people in it. When our teachers fill the classroom with wonder and awe, children focus on reading, dancing, singing, painting, playing and so much more!

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Preschool Program

This is another step on the journey of life. While want to prepare children to be successful in school, we know they will be if we take great advantage of the time we have together. Instead of pushing developmentally inappropriate lessons and activities on our children, our teachers work to plan for each child’s needs - whether they are learning to hold a pencil, write their name, learn conflict resolution skills and so much more. We know that children who experience child centered environments perform better in elementary school and in life. This confidence pushed us to offer the very best.

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Before & After-School Program

A great way to keep your kids active and learning outside of school hours. Parents can take advantage of our before & after-school program and give their kids an engaging experience outside of the classroom. From exploring the creative arts, to playing spirited sports, to getting that much-needed homework help, there's something for everyone. Plus, we provide the convenience of transportation to and from schools, so parents don't have to worry about a hectic schedule. Transportation is provided to and from local schools and our classrooms are open all day on school holidays.

We Offer Quality First Scholarships

All Small Miracles locations participate in First Things First’s signature program, Quality First. Quality First works with child care and preschool providers across Arizona to improve the quality of their early learning settings for children from birth to age 5. We also offer Quality First Scholarships that cover most or all of the cost of child care for children 0 – 5. Please contact a location near you to find out about scholarship availability.

We are committed to quality improvement and going beyond regulatory requirements to help the infants, toddlers and preschoolers be ready for success in kindergarten and beyond. Our strong belief is that continuous quality improvement not only benefits our children but out teachers and community equally. For more information, visit QualityFirstAZ.com.

How to Enroll

At Small Miracles, we understand that finding quality child care can be a difficult task. That’s why we’ve made it easy to get started at one of our locations. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to providing your child with the care they need and deserve.

Schedule a Tour – or just drop in!
We will be happy to see you!
The process of registering your child is easy and straightforward. First, schedule a tour of one of our facilities by clicking the button below, or just drop in. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you have and show you around.
Request Information
Step 2: Complete & Submit Registration Forms
Once you've decided that Small Miracles Education is the right fit for your family, the next step is to fill out a registration form. This can be done online or in person at our office. After we receive your registration form, we will follow up with you to confirm enrollment and provide you with all the information you need to get started.
Schedule a tour
Step 3: Look forward to your child’s first day of school!
Registering your child for school is an exciting milestone! Once you're registered, your child will have access to our innovative curriculum, experienced teachers, and state-of-the-art facilities. And you can look forward to your child’s first day of school!
Want to learn more?

Keeping Families Connected

At Small Miracles Preschools, we understand how important it is for our families to stay connected with us and their child’s development. That’s why we’ve made sure that WatchMeGrow® helps bridge the gap between home and school. Our exclusive family app gives parents peace of mind, allowing them to keep an eye on their precious ones with live streaming video of the classroom and much more. Keep up-to-date with your child’s progress throughout the day with WatchMeGrow®!

dreamstime accredited
Proud to be Nationally Accredited!

Of the 2,000+ early childhood centers in Arizona only 10% are nationally accredited. Most Small Miracles schools are nationally accredited.

Being accredited is a rigorous process that includes the evaluation of your schools overall educational program and its adherence to the best early learning practices. In the United States only 5% of all early learning centers are accredited.

Care & Security for Your Child

We welcome you to experience our top rated childcare facilities in person. Visit us to learn more about our quality preschool programs to see if Small Miracles is the best fit for your family.

Request a Tour

Please fill out the form below and a team member will contact you to coordinate and confirm your tour.