Our Teachers

Ms. Van has been the Owner of the Goddard School on Higley Road since 2011. She has over 25 years of experience in the education field in various capacities, from preschool teacher to vice-principal of a public elementary school. Ms. Van believes some parents don't see the incredible capacity to learn in their children's early years. Thus a day we waste in teaching something new to a child is a day lost forever. Children who enter kindergarten should have an introductory foundation in math, reading, and science/technologies without sacrificing their appreciation for the Arts. That is why the STEAM curriculum at this school is very robust. Ms. Van also believes having fun is a much-needed component to promote a life-long love of learning. Ms. Van earns a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She home-taught her two daughters to read before four years old. One of the daughters is now a graduate of UC Berkeley University. The other one graduated from Stanford University.

Ms. Mykelanne is our wonderful Director of Education. Ms. Mykelanne joined our Goddard School on Higley Road in August 2012. She has extensive experience as a teacher as well as a successful administrator at a high-standard preschool before joining The Goddard School. Mykelanne has a solid record in providing training to teachers and serving the children and parents with dedication and care. Ms. Mykelanne attended Cerritos College in Early Childhood Development/Child and Family Organizations and Management and a CDA from Successful Solutions Professional Development.

Ms. Riley loves high-energy teaching and hands-on learning, and gives lots of love to create a fun learning environment! Her favorite children’s book is Where The Wild Things Are. Her favorite place on earth is a sunny beach – with a plate of nachos. From her Mom, Ms. Riley learns that resilience is critical in life. With her daughter, Ms. Riley watches the movie Encanto several times a week.

Ms. Adrianna is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Walam University. She knows each child learns differently and the teacher should approach each child accordingly. She likes to get together with friends and family.

Ms. Ashey wants to be known as a nurturing teacher! She seeks to understand each child she works with using empathy and patience. Ms. Ashley's hero is her Grandmother who had a long career as a teacher. Ms. Ashley's favorite children's movie is Beaty and the Beast and her favorite children's book is The Magic Treehouse.

Ms. Emily's approach to working with children combines love and compassion but not without a certain dose of strength and determination. Her favorite children's movie is Beauty and the Beast and she cheers for the Buffalo Bills. Ms. Emily is currently attending college in Secondary Education and a minor in Ministry.

Ms. Ashley earned an AA degree from Mesa College and is aiming for a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Development. She has extensive experience working in premier preschools in the valley as well as running her childcare center for a while. Ms. Ashley came to our school because “how inviting the school is and the friendly staff gave her a very good first impression”. One thing she learned from her Mom was you should always treat everyone equally. She has lived by that mantra her whole life. Ms. Ashley’s favorite book is The Rainbow Fish and her favorite children’s movie is The Little Mermaid. We can see that aquatic life is her thing.

Ms. Brooke just loves music and Netflix movies! And she loves the movie Monster Inc. In working with children, her guiding principle includes Patience, Kindness, and Encouragement. Before coming to the Goddards school on Higley Road, Ms. Brookes had extensive experience working in reputable licensed preschools in the Valley.

Ms. Annaliese has extensive experience as a preschool teacher in the 2 to school-age groups. She loves working with children because she feels happy when helping them learn and grow. She still keeps her fond memory of when her 4th-grade teacher taught her how to garden. She loves the children's song “Roar Like A Lion” because her son always jumps to that song. It makes her laugh! Ms. Annaliese’s favorite place on earth is a cabin surrounded by tall, green pine trees.

Ms. Beth earns a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Sorsogon State College. She has extensive experience with 2-y to Pre-K age groups. Her approach to teaching is to build a good relationship and provide interactive, fun, and appropriate learning activities. Ms. Beth loves working with children because their laughter and innocent humor make her happy. One thing she learns from her Mom is that “being humble and kind is important”. Ms. Beth’s favorite book is The Giving Tree.

Ms. Christine's single focus at the Goddard School is to prepare our students to be in the top tier of their Kindergarten class next year. She has been with The Goddard School on Higley Road since 2014. She has over 18 years as a "Kindergarten Readiness Teacher & Specialist". She also has many years of experience in management as an Assistant Director of a national preschool in the Valley. Ms. Christine is an avid reader. Her favorite children's book is "The Lorax". From her students, she learns "to be more open and live in the moment. It's all about right now".

Ms. Tania has over 4 years of experience in teaching pre-K to 6th grade when she came to the Goddard School on Higley Road. Her success was due to her approach to teaching: teaching must be interactive and based on clear communication with the students and the parents. She learned one important thing from her Mom: Always be honest no matter what. She feels happy when she makes someone’s day special. Her favorite children’s book is The Giving Tree. After reading the book, Ms. Tania felt like someone was always there for her even though she might feel lonely at the moment. Her favorite children’s movie is “The Land Before Time” because it shows you how strong friendship could be.

Ms. Tracy earned an AA degree in Multimedia and Computer Graphics. She always tries to use real-life situations to teach maths, colors, shapes, and words. Teaching her students and her own children now, Ms. Tracy always remembers one thing she learned from her Mom: There is always room for one more at the dinner table!

Ms. Eliz earns a BS degree in Elementary Education. She has over 10 years of experience working with children in various age groups. She believes that as an educator you should focus on creating a plan that is both intentional and fun. Her favorite children’s song is It’s A Small World and her hero is Abraham Lincoln.

Ms. Valerie's hero is her Mom who made some tough decisions, sacrificing herself, for the family. Before coming to the Goddard School on Higley Road, she has extensive experience working with children from infant to 3. Ms. Valerie loves to see her students reach the milestone. It makes her smile knowing she had a hand in making it happen.

Ms. Alisa has extensive experience in leading students in the 1-3-year-old groups. She recognizes each student is different and requires a different learning style thus the teachers need to have different approaches for the students. She loves to read Dr. Seus’ books and loves anything Disney. No wonder her favorite children’s movie is Mullan. She also loves the song You Are My Sunshine since her Mom always sang that song to her at bedtime. She still finds herself humming the song without even thinking.

Ms. Caitlin's approach to teaching is nurturing with positive reinforcement. One thing she learned from working with children is Patience and Loving. Ms. Caitlin's favorite children's book is The Rainbow Fish and her favorite children's song is Five Little Ducks.

Ms. Skype has extensive experience in Childcare and Preschool settings with 20 years of working in various positions in the field. Her approach to teaching is to create a fun environment and creative thinking. Ms. Skye learned one critical skill from her Mom: To be independent.