Our Goddard School Teachers

Sean and Whitney are the Owners of the Goddard School located in Grand Rapids (Knapp's Corner). Whitney graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Hospitality Business and before opening the Goddard School had a career in Sales and Event Management for Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and the JW Marriott Grand Rapids. Sean graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Business Management and worked in Outside Sales for a traffic control company. As parents of 8 year-old daughter, Eila, and 4 year-old, Iris, Sean and Whitney understand the importance of creating a safe, nurturing environment and want the Goddard School to be a child's home away from home. Both Sean and Whitney were born and raised in the Grand Rapids area and look forward to giving back to the community by educating it's future leaders. Sean and Whitney look forward to welcoming you to the school and introducing your family to the amazing faculty!

Ms. Ali is our Executive Director. She holds her Bachelor's Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in Christian Education and Children's Ministry. She has 5 years of experience as a lead pre-k teacher in the Detroit area, over 15 years of working with children and 5 years as a dance instructor. Ms. Ali was a Day Camps Director with SpringHill Camps where she traveled throughout the midwest with a team of counselors to provide a fun week of camp for children in their hometown. Ms. Ali loves to do arts and crafts with the children, as well as watching them discover new ways to move and play! She loves teaching science and guiding them through curious play and experiments. Ms. Ali loves children and teaching them new skills. She enjoys seeing children realize and discover their new talents. You will usually find her smiling and being creative, and always finds joy in the little things!

Ms. Michelle is our Director of Operations. She has a wide range of work experience in many different fields. Ms. Michelle worked at SpringHill Camps for over 22 years where she had many different roles including store manager/purchaser, registration professional and in-house designer. Ms. Michelle is a mother of 5 kids who all live in the Grand Rapids or Kalamazoo area. Ms. Michelle recently moved back to Grand Rapids to be near her kids and grandsons. She loves doing anything creative with kids including coloring, painting, baking or photography. Ms. Michelle joined the Goddard Knapp’s Corner Family because she loved the idea of supporting a school that is dedicated to providing quality education in a safe environment.

Ms. Ana is a Co-Lead Teacher in our Preschool classroom, Rockin’ Robins! She has experience working with children at SpringHill Camps where she taught ages 4-12. She has experience working with large groups of children up to 20 and also has experience working one-on-one with children with special needs. Ms. Ana is currently in school working on attaining her associates degree in Child Development from the Child Care Institute. Ms. Ana and Ms. Jenna have been a co-teaching team for almost 2 years and are excited to continue working together in the Rockin’ Robins classroom. Ms. Ana chose to become a teacher because she has a passion for children and enjoys teaching them the tools to help with social emotional development. She also likes to see the student’s perspective about the world around them and teach them in a way that they understand but challenges them. Her favorite activities to do with students is anything creative, such as crafts and dramatic play!

Ms. Jenna is a Co-Lead Teacher in our Preschool classroom, Rockin’ Robins! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University in 2021. She has previous experience working at an elementary school as a teacher aid, and with a before and after school daycare. Ms. Jenna first developed her passion for working with kids as a young teen babysitting and loves watching them develop their own unique personalities. Ms. Jenna and Ms. Arianna have been a co-teaching team for almost 2 years and are excited to continue working together in the Rockin’ Robins classroom. She enjoys being a part of the children's constant creativity. Her favorite activity to do with her students is anything that includes art projects as she loves to see them make their project their own!

Ms. Rachel is one of our Program Lead teachers in our Preschool classrooms. Ms. Rachel graduated from Cornerstone University with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and TESOL. She has 6 years of teaching experience at the Elementary/Preschool lever. She found her passion for working with young learners when she taught for GSRP. Ms. Rachel loves working in early childhood education. She believes that young children have innocent imaginations and are so eager to learn. She became a teacher because she loves seeing the extraordinary growth each student goes through. She also loves to see the development of each child's unique personalities. Her favorite activity to do with her students is to read silly and entertaining books. Her favorite part is to see how her students faces light up and when they ask for the story to be reread over and over again. Ms. Rachel strives to make her classroom an environment where young learners can express their creative endeavors and learn to grow!

Ms. Erin is a Co-Lead teacher in our Preschool classroom, Mighty Moose! She is currently working toward her bachelor’s degree in teaching at GRCC and GVSU. She worked at a daycare for three years with infants and toddlers, and then nannied for a year. Erin moved from Connecticut two years ago to see a new city. She has three nieces and has been an aunt since she was seven. She has two cats named Ollie and Luna and spends most of her time at Reeds Lake, where she loves to read. Ms. Erin loves watching children grow and learn how unique and special each child is. Ms. Erin loves to learn herself and grow as a teacher alongside the students. She loves science and English related subjects and finds science so interesting to learn and experiment with in the classroom!

Ms. Jill is one of our Preschool Floater Teachers! Ms. Jill has been a teacher for over 20 years and has been in lead teacher in a 3s classroom, as well as director for an overnight summer camp for 8 years. She has a BS in Education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. Her favorite subject to teach is history, which she also has a BA in. All of her vacations are historically relevant! Ms. Jill became a teacher because she loves being around all the excitement and energy of children, whether they are preschool or high school! Ms. Jill continues to teach because it makes a positive impact on the future. She is passionate about teaching, traveling, gardening, reading, and cooking, and enjoys yoga, walking, and spending time with family. She has also been married for 27 years and has a son who is a recent MSU graduate. Go Green!

Ms. Elizabeth is one of our Co-Lead teachers in our Preschool classroom, Busy Bees! Ms. Elizabeth is new to this field but has experience caring for children at an in-home daycare setting. Ms. Elizabeth has a son, who she loves supporting by going to all of his school and sporting events! She thinks it is always amazing watching children grow and learn while doing the things they love and enjoy! She decided to become a teacher because she believes a child's mind is so imaginative! There is no limit to what they can do. In her opinion, her favorite part is seeing a child's eyes light up when they see or experience something new to them. Ms. Elizabeth's favorite activity to do with her students is anything to do with arts and crafts or dramatic play. She thinks its so fun to watch their imaginations run wild!

Ms. Joselyn is our Assistant Teacher in our preschool classroom, Loving Loons! She is so excited to be part of our Goddard school! When she was younger, she had a hard time learning and didn’t like school. Her younger sister would often come ask her for help and Joselyn tried her best to make it fun. She found a lot of joy in helping her sister learn. She thinks of herself as a kind and caring individual with a strong focus on helping children succeed. Ms. Joselyn has a passion for helping those who struggle and wants to make learning fun and engaging for them! She particularly likes teaching English and reading. As a child, she enjoyed helping her grandparents out in the children’s nursery, and in college she did an internship as a home in Mexico, where there were 28 children and only 2 adults!

Ms. Nicole is one of our Co-Lead Teachers in our Bridge classroom, Busy Bees! She has worked with children her whole life, between babysitting and working in childcare for the past five years. Ms. Nicole has always loved children and loves watching them learn and grow. Ms. Nicole loves to teach colors and ABCs to younger ages, especially when she can make it fun and use songs to help kids learn.

Lexi is one of our Co-Lead Teachers in our Bridge classroom, Busy Bees! bringing creativity, warmth, and experience to every classroom she visits. As the oldest of four siblings, she’s always had a nurturing spirit, which grew into years of working with children through church ministries, dance, music, and nannying. She trained in classical ballet through high school, played the viola, and later taught dance and assisted with music instruction. A favorite memory of hers is traveling and performing in Europe with her groups. Lexi recently celebrated her marriage in June and is very family-oriented. She’s especially passionate about reading and loves seeing children light up as they begin to read on their own.

Ms. Lillian is one of our Co-Lead Teachers in our Toddler Classroom, Pleasant Pheasants! Ms. Lillian has experience from babysitting nieces and nephews, as well as helping out with after school daycare in middle school. She loves the energy that children have and wants to help shape the minds of future generations. Ms. Lillian loves math and art. Having the freedom to create and express creativity with no wrong answers is so important to your inner self and becoming who you want to be. Ms. Lillian is a very positive person and treats all children as if they were her own because we are all human and everyone deserves the same love and respect.

Ms. Rachel is excited to be part of our school community! She has taken several child development and elementary education courses at Grand Rapids Community College and has been working as a nanny for a family since 2021. Through these experiences, she has developed a strong passion for supporting children as they grow and learn. Teacher Bio Ms. Rachel loves helping children become the best versions of themselves and enjoys finding the learning strategies that work best for each individual child. She especially enjoys teaching art and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. She believes creative expression plays an important role in childhood development. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Rachel enjoys relaxing with a good book and spending time with her dog, especially when she can be outside enjoying nice weather.

Ms. Emma graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Elementary Education (PK–3) and a minor in TESOL. She has over 10 years of experience working with children, including roles as a babysitter, nanny, and in various classroom settings. As the oldest of three siblings, she’s always found joy in caring for others and naturally gravitated toward teaching. Emma is especially passionate about early literacy and loves helping children discover the joy of reading. She also enjoys teaching science, where she brings learning to life through fun, hands-on experiments. Emma describes herself as nurturing, outgoing, and enthusiastic about building meaningful connections with each child and their family. She is so excited to be part of the Goddard School at Knapp’s Corner and can’t wait to get to know your child, support their growth, and be part of their early learning journey!

Ms. Courtney is one of our Floater teachers in our Toddler Classrooms. She Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development from CMU. Since college, she's had experience in multiple daycare/preschool centers as well as working for Walt Disney World right after college, getting tons of one-on-one child experience! Ms. Courtney is the biggest Disney fan, and she loves incorporating Disney magic into her classroom and lesson plans. Her favorite activity to do with her students is arts and crafts. She says that, getting a little messy with some paint or play-doh is so fun and great for sensory, fine motor development, etc. She became a teacher because she has a huge love for helping children develop the skills needed to grow. The thing Ms. Courtney enjoys most about working with children is seeing their faces light up when they see her it's unlike anything else!

Allesha Cooper holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Leadership and has been working with children since early 2022. She has experience working with toddlers, preschoolers, elementary students, and high school students, and also spent time substitute teaching in 2024. Allesha has always enjoyed being around children and loves watching them grow, learn, and develop their unique talents. She especially enjoys the curiosity children bring through their questions and the opportunity to engage with them through interactive play and meaningful learning experiences. Teacher Bio In the classroom, Allesha enjoys encouraging creativity and self-expression through activities like art, creative writing, and theatre. While in college, she took a theatre for kids course that sparked her interest in using creative activities to support children’s confidence and development. Outside of the classroom, Allesha looks forward to building strong relationships with children and families.

Claire has been working with children since middle school, starting with babysitting and later becoming a summer nanny for two middle school-aged boys. She’s also spent time in classrooms through a college placement and has always had a heart for teaching. While she originally planned to teach high school English, her experience with younger children—and her sweet nieces and nephew—helped shift her passion to early childhood education. Claire loves creating a sense of belonging in her classroom and encouraging kids to share the things they love. She’s excited to be part of the team and is looking forward to learning and growing alongside the students!

Ms. Sophia Vander Pol has been working in childcare for about a year and has always had a passion for caring for children. Growing up with six siblings, she naturally developed a love for helping and supporting younger kids. Sophia also spent time volunteering in the nursery at her church when she was younger, which helped inspire her interest in working with children and supporting their growth and development. Sophia loves building relationships with the children in her classroom and helping them learn new skills each day. She especially enjoys helping with math and problem-solving activities, encouraging children to think, explore, and gain confidence as they learn. Sophia is excited to be part of the community and looks forward to getting to know the families and children at The Goddard School.

Angelica brings a strong passion for early childhood development, shaped by both her personal and professional experience. In addition to babysitting, she’s the proud mom of two young children—a 5-year-old and a baby—who keep her busy and inspired every day. She loves helping children grow and learn through play, especially when it comes to building their confidence and problem-solving skills. Angelica enjoys teaching early cognitive skills and finds it rewarding to see children explore, make connections, and discover new ideas. When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time outdoors, going for walks, and playing with her kids. She’s excited to be part of the Goddard team and looks forward to learning and growing alongside her students!

Ms. Margaret is one of our Co-Lead Teachers in our First Steps Classroom, Tiny Turtles! Ms. Margaret has been working with kids for almost 15 years, with her last six years being focused on infants. She loves to watch children grow and learn as time progresses, especially when she sees them accomplish something with hard work. Ms. Margaret enjoys doing art projects, reading stories, singing songs, and getting into some sort of sensory experience! She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and loves spending time outdoors.

Ms. Kaylee is our Assistant Teacher in our First Steps Classroom, Tiny Turtles! She has eight years of childcare experience and has taught infants to four years old. She loves teaching infants and toddlers the most because she is able to help them learn the basics of life. Ms. Kaylee’s aunt operated a daycare and that inspired Kaylee to work with children and maybe run her own daycare one day. She has lived in Rockford since 2017, when she and her husband remodeled their house together. They have been together for fourteen years and married for seven!

Ms. Brittnee is one of our Co-Lead Teachers in the Infant classroom, Sleeping Bears. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University and brings over 10 years of experience in childcare settings, primarily working with infants and toddlers. Ms. Brittnee became a teacher in 2015 because of her passion for watching children grow through learning, exploration, and trying new things. She especially loves witnessing those special “light bulb” moments when a child masters a new or challenging skill. In the classroom, Ms. Brittnee enjoys singing songs, dancing, being silly, and making fun noises with her students to create a joyful and engaging learning environment. As a parent herself to her daughter, Jaynee, she understands the importance of ensuring every child feels safe, loved, and supported while at school.

Ms. Carrie brings over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, including running her own in-home daycare and teaching in preschool classrooms. She has also raised four children of her own and worked with kids from birth through high school in various educational settings. Carrie loves helping children feel safe, confident, and excited about learning. She is especially passionate about teaching social and emotional skills—like sharing, communication, and understanding feelings—and finds joy in supporting each child’s growth. She works to create a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels loved and valued. Building strong relationships with children and their families is incredibly important to her, and she’s excited to bring that connection to her classroom at The Goddard School.

Ms. Ashley is one of our Floater Teachers in our Infant classrooms! Ms. Ashley just graduated from Wheaton College with a double major in psychology and International Relations. She did an internship at World Reset with the youth and children’s department where she worked with young immigrants, refugees, and their mothers. Ms. Ashley has also nannied and babysat for many families with children aged 6 months to 12 years old. In the fall she is starting on another degree in counseling, with which she hopes to continue her work with children. Ms. Ashley has the most experience and enjoyment teaching about music. She was a piano teacher in high school and loved teaching her students how to make and appreciate music. She grew up as a musician and has been playing piano since she was 4! She also plays the ukulele and sings and does some writing and storytelling as well! Ms. Ashley is passionate about psychology and development, so teaching is a huge part of that. She

Ms. Taylor is one of of Floater Teachers in the Infant and Toddler classrooms. Ms. Taylor comes to us with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and plans on returning to school in the fall for a degree in school counseling. She has experience with children from babysitting, observing classrooms while in college, and working with a pediatric physical therapist. She became a teacher because she enjoys watching children grow. She continues to teach because she likes the idea of being the difference in a child’s life and helping them learn subjects that may be difficult for them. Ms. Taylor enjoys teaching arts and crafts because she herself loves crafty projects. Art also allows people to be themselves and has therapeutic and calming benefits. There’s never a wrong way to do it, and it’s always different! In her free time, Ms. Taylor enjoys lifting weights with her boyfriend and hanging out with their dogs, a German Shepherd and a Beagle. She also really enjoys the outdoors!

Ms. Erin became a teacher because she loves watching children learn and explore. That “lightbulb moment” when something clicks and they figure out a problem on their own is what inspires her to keep teaching! Most of her experience comes from teaching dance to children ages 3–18. She has also been babysitting for many years and gained additional experience assisting at a daycare center while in college. Beyond dance, Ms. Erin especially loves helping children learn to read. Reading was one of her favorite activities growing up, and sharing that love with her students is one of her greatest joys. She is very excited to begin her journey here at The Goddard School and can’t wait to connect with her students and families!

Ms. Loie graduated summa cum laude from Central Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Development and Learning. Loie brings a wonderful blend of classroom knowledge and nature-based experience, having worked as an Outdoor Education Director at Camp Roger and a Naturalist Educator at Wittenbach Agriscience Center. She has a passion for helping children learn through hands-on exploration—whether it’s science, team building, or discovering the wonders of nature. Loie is known for her joyful spirit, creativity, and the way she builds strong, caring relationships with children and families. We’re so lucky to have her joining our Goddard family!

Sarai Bailey is currently studying Early Childhood Education and has several years of experience working with children of all ages, including after-school care. She is passionate about helping children grow, learn, and discover new skills in a supportive and engaging environment. Sarai is patient, reliable, and committed to creating a classroom where children feel safe, understood, and excited to learn. She especially enjoys teaching math and literacy and loves building strong relationships that support each child’s confidence and growth.

Amanda has always had a passion for working with children and supporting their growth and development. As a teenager, she spent many years babysitting and later volunteered in her church’s children’s ministry, where she gained experience caring for and engaging with young learners. These experiences helped grow her love for working with children and inspired her to continue supporting their learning and development. Amanda enjoys being part of the moments when children discover something new, build confidence, and develop important skills. Amanda has been married to her husband, Steve, for 16 years, and together they have two daughters, Elanor and Rosanna. Their family also includes two cats at home. In the classroom, Amanda especially enjoys sharing her love of reading with children. She finds it exciting to watch students grow as readers over time and loves helping them develop a lifelong appreciation for books and learning.

Ms. Jennifer is excited to be part of our school community! She studied Sociology at Grand Valley State University and has experience working with children as a recess aide when her daughters were in school. She enjoys supporting young learners as they discover new ideas and build confidence in what they are learning. Teacher Bio Ms. Jennifer has been married for 27 years and has two adult daughters. Her oldest daughter will be getting married on Halloween in 2026. She loves animals and has four cats at home. In the classroom, Ms. Jennifer especially enjoys teaching math and language arts and likes using hands-on materials like blocks and tactile activities to help children understand new concepts. She has always felt a connection to working with children, inspired by her grandmother who was a kindergarten teacher.

Megan Brickner holds a Master’s degree in Montessori Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts and Elementary Education. With over 20 years of experience, she is a former Montessori teacher, literacy coach, and longtime volunteer. Megan is passionate about helping children learn to read and loves seeing those “aha” moments. Outside the classroom, she enjoys photography, tennis, time in nature with her kids, and cheering on the Spartans.

Ashley Jeffords brings both professional and personal experience to the classroom. During college, she helped organize after-school programs for local elementary students, and she is also a mom of two young children—a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and a four-month-old son. Ashley grew up moving around the country due to her mom serving in the military, which gave her the opportunity to see many places and meet people from many different backgrounds. Teacher Bio Ashley was inspired to work with children after becoming a parent herself and realizing how important it is to have caring and trustworthy teachers guiding and supporting young learners. She holds a master’s degree in Art History and especially enjoys sharing her love of art with children. Ashley believes art is a global language and that it’s never too early for children to begin exploring creativity and self-expression. Outside of the classroom, she is a big cat lover and has two cats at home named Cider and Fozzie Bear.

Carey has experience working with children in a variety of settings, including teaching swim lessons where she helped children of all abilities become comfortable and confident in the water. She has also worked in after-school care and summer programs, as well as serving as a part-time live-in nanny. Carey grew up in St. Joseph, Michigan, attended Holy Cross College at Notre Dame, and returned to Michigan in 2022 after spending a few years living in Nashville, Tennessee. Carey enjoys helping children learn about the world around them and loves seeing the curiosity they bring to everyday experiences. She also enjoys sharing her love of music with students and played the cello from 4th through 12th grade. Carey is excited to be living in Grand Rapids and working with children as they learn and grow. She is engaged to her fiancé, Tom, and they are planning to be married this August.

Joset Nelson is excited to be working with children and supporting their growth and development. She recently graduated from Lowell Senior High School where she maintained a 3.8 GPA while balancing school, advanced placement classes, and working throughout the week. Joset is currently attending Grand Rapids Community College where she is studying Social Work, with plans to continue her education at Michigan State University to earn her bachelor’s degree. Joset is known for being hardworking, a great listener, and a fast learner. She enjoys helping others and brings a positive, energetic attitude to everything she does. In her free time, she enjoys being creative and has a strong interest in art. Joset is passionate about supporting young learners and helping create a caring and encouraging environment where children can feel confident, safe, and excited to learn.

Ms. Naty Martinez Vasquez graduated from Calvin University in 2023 with a double major in Elementary Education and Spanish. She has experience working with children in a variety of classroom settings, including student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom, serving as a building substitute in a K–6 school, teaching preschool, and working as a long-term substitute for kindergarten. Her background has given her experience supporting students at different ages and stages of learning. Growing up in a large family of six children—and as one of the oldest quadruplets—Ms. Naty naturally developed a love for helping and caring for others. She also spent many years volunteering in her church nursery and babysitting. Inspired by many teachers in her own family and by educators who supported her during her school years, Ms. Naty is passionate about helping children learn, grow, and build confidence each day. She is excited to work with the children and families at The Goddard School.

Ms. Olivia brings a kind heart and positive energy to the classroom each day. She truly enjoys working with children and loves creating a warm, welcoming space where they feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. Olivia is known for her strong work ethic and the joy she brings to those around her—both children and coworkers. Her caring nature helps children feel comfortable being themselves while building confidence and learning new skills. Olivia is currently studying at Grand Valley State University and has experience working in a childcare setting, where she enjoyed planning fun activities and helping children grow socially and emotionally. She is passionate about building meaningful connections with the children in her care and making each day a positive experience. Olivia’s thoughtful and upbeat personality makes her a wonderful part of our school community.