The teachers are very nice. The new executive director is a handful. She use to be a judge and was dismissed. Look her up on google (Zinora M. Mitchelle-Rankin).Very unprofessional lady. Doesn't care about your concerns or what you have to say. If its not her way then it's no way. If you say anything about taking your child out of the center they won't hesitate and tell you to take your child out of the center. When I say "they" I also mean Barbara and shack. They're very unprofessional people and they don't have the patience. Please don't put your child in this center. My child has behavorial problem and someone inform me that Barbara would grab my son, while my son is fighting his way out. A teacher from the center told me this, that witness this incident. As a parent it's very disturbing to hear and ask your child if its true and your child say yes that's it's true. These people don't need to be there and need to be shit down. The teachers are prison in that jail cell. The place is dark, it hardly had any windows, it stinks and lack of professionalism from the office staff. They should be reported to Schoolboard or something probably OSSE or NAEYC. I had to take my child out.

Avoid

Well, the founder has since committed suicide and there is a new director in place.

I had 2 children that attended the GAP Center. I thought the administation along with the staff were great. I had no problem with either. Yes the building along with parking is atrocious.

I always interacted with administration not the executive director i heard she was a hand full....

Yes. Parking is atrocious. And waiting for the elevators were particularly difficult at times, especially as we were pushing a double pram with infant twins.

It should be said that this facility is PERFECLY LOCATED for anyone within the apartment building or living within walking distance nearby.

One of the Daycares that we toured was Bright Horizons on Pennsylvania Avenue and compared to having the children play within an area demarcated by cones on the sidewalk - GAP has a full outside play area adjacent to the park.

And again, the staff were wonderful. We still miss Mulu.

Is this the daycare center inside of the Woodner apts? I took a tour of the center and i was pleased with Administration a young lady was very helpful and the center itself was nice except it is inside of the woodner.

Sorry this is such a tardy post.

GAP does have windows in several rooms and a wonderful outside play area.

We removed our children from GAP because it was relatively far away from our home.

We are now at Northwest Settlement House on S Street and 7th Street NW. We loved our children's instructor Mulu -- she is an angel on this earth. We still miss her.

Administrations are administrative, right? That's the nature of the daycare administration beast, right?

Agree there are a lot of issues with the lack of professionalism of the administration...

11:22 here, we went with a home daycare in 16th st heights called Little Star, which is about a mile or so north of GAP. Highly recommend. the owner's name is marilyn medrano. 441-6227 is her number but not sure if she has slots. You could also look into Bright Start, though its not really columbia heights. I have heard good things about Centronia but also that it is very hard to get into.

I worked at GAP as a literacy coach a couple of years ago, and agree with the other PP's. Really, avoid the place if you can. The environment, lack of ECE knowledge of some of the staff, and poor administration made it an unpleasant experience all round.

Hi 11:22, we were considering GAP, amongst others in the area. If you don't mind me asking, where in the Columbia Heights area did you find home daycare? Are you and your infant happy?

We live in the area and are desperately searching for a quality day care in the area for an infant. Any and all information is greatly appreciated!

we visited when I was pregnant and I was turned off by the dark, dank rooms, and the noise. the noise was unbelievable. we found a home daycare nearby.

I actually have my daughter at GAP and I wouldn't recommend it either. The teachers are very loving and take excellent care of my daughter. I have no concerns about her safety. The other post re: the darkness and windowlessness is accurrate...it's not a pretty space. The main reason I'm looking to leave is the administration. The one founder who is left running the place is very unprofessional and does not demonstrate an interest in hearing parental concerns or making any significant changes when problems arise. She is stuck in the past as far as philosophy and best practice.

I wouldn't recommend it. I do outreach work in the community, and this center is very dark and in the basement of the Woodner, that massive apartment building off 16th St. Some of the rooms the kids are in don't have windows. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable putting my small child in that center.

Has anybody had any experience or heard anything about the GAP Child Care Center in Columbia Heights (16th St NW). I'm going back to work part time in the afternoons and really need to find a day care that would give the best care to my sweet little 3 month old baby girl. My husband found GAP on the internet but we can't find any reviews/feedback. Any suggestions for good reliable and loving daycare services in the are would be great as well.

Thank you,
C