Our Teachers

Lorri has been the owner of The Goddard School since 2010. She is the proud mother of three children. As such, she recognizes the importance of a safe and nurturing learning environment. She holds a BBA from Georgia Southern University. Prior to owning The Goddard School, she worked in Family Services. As the on-site owner with a human services background, she is committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in this community. Lorri and her family enjoy spending time together - playing board games, biking, fishing, swimming and going to the beach. Family is the basis for why she chose Goddard and is happy to be able to provide Goddard’s outstanding program to the children in the Tampa community. She looks forward to welcoming you and your children to the Goddard family.

Katie and her husband Calum moved to the Tampa area from Chicago in 2016 and have been enjoying the sunny days ever since! They welcomed their first baby girl in 2021 and she gets to enjoy the Preschool classroom here at The Goddard School. Katie has over 13 years of Early Childhood Education experience and loves being an integral part of children's growth and development. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Anthropology and holds her Florida Director's Credential. She was a Preschool Teacher for more than 6 years before moving into administration within the Early Childhood Education field. Katie enjoys coaching, mentoring, and encouraging teachers to bring out the investigative explorer within each child. She is excited to provide meaningful, hands-on learning and the very best high-quality education for children and families.

Desirae has been married for 27 years and has raised 2 amazing young men. She loves helping children to strengthen their love of self and family, as well as their love of learning! She is always looking for opportunities to further develop best practices in Early Childhood Education, and has been teaching for more than 15 years. Desirae believes that children learn best when they feel loved, accepted, and supported by a teacher who understands their individual needs and works with them to develop a positive/loving relationship. Learning through play is the most effective way young children learn and she enjoys providing this type of learning atmosphere for her students. As an Early Childhood Educator, she believes we shape the love of learning and success that our students will take with them for the rest of their educational journey. Desirae holds her A.S. in Early Childhood Management/Education, a current Florida Director's Credential, and has more than 15 years of experience.

Erica is the proud mama of three beautiful children. She began her motherhood journey early which led her into childcare but it truly has been a lifelong dream, after many years of playing teacher, as a child. Erica has been in the early childhood field since 2011, gaining loads of experience through each new adventure that life has taken her on. She holds her Florida Child Care Professional Credential and VPK Endorsed Director’s credential. Erica believes that children learn best through experience and on-level learning. Open-ended questions hold such value in aha moments, with each child. Everything truly can be a learning opportunity.

Melissa was born and raised in Virginia and just moved to Florida in March of 2019 to be closer to her family. She is the proud mother of one son, and Gammie of one granddaughter. Melissa first stepped into the Early Childhood Education field when she was in high school and it was then that she decided she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children and provide them with a classroom they can feel safe in. Now, over 30 years later, Melissa is still providing that safe classroom and enjoying every minute of it. From 2004 to 2019, she was a lead teacher in the Infant Room at The Goddard School in Chantilly, VA. She believes that learning should be student-centered, interactive, and engaging. Children learn through their play and the classroom should create a family of learners as the children all work together and learn in their unique style. Melissa has her Child Development Associates (CDA), is MAT Trained, and has more than 30 years of experience!

Jenny joined Goddard in 2024. She is the proud mama of four beautiful children. Being from a big family she finds purpose in serving parents through taking care of their kids.Jenny is working on her CDA and has been in the childcare field for many years. She is passionate about providing a safe and nurturing environment for her students and committed to working closely with parents to ensure that their children receive the best possible care and attention.

Ms. Kari joined The Goddard School in 2024 and has worked in early childhood since 2022. She and her loving husband have an absolutely wonderful daughter. Kari enjoys inspiring a love for learning in the students and children around her and striving to empower them to reach their full potential. She believes education does not start at the kindergarten level; it begins at birth. She enjoys watching children learn and grow every step of the way.

Ms. Maria joined The Goddard School in 2024. She was born and raised in Colombia, moving to the US in 2021. She is a proud boy mom. She has her technical certification in Early Childhood and speaks both English and Spanish. With experience in the field since 2022. Her teaching philosophy is that children learn from the love, trust and understanding that teachers show towards them. We must guide and teach them because they are the future.

Jessica joined the Goddard School in 2024. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Florida in 2021. Jessica has 45 hours of DCF training as well as her CPR and first aid certification. During her free time, she enjoys going on adventures and exploring new places with her three children. Jessica is looking forward to her professional journey at the Goddard School and providing the best possible education for your children.

Emily joined the Goddard family in 2023. She was born and raised in Lowell, MA and moved to Florida in 2021. She proudly obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UMASS Lowell in 2017. She has always enjoyed working with children and in 2021 she happily started working in the preschool setting. She has her DCF 45 hours and is CPR/First Aid certified. She always had a passion for helping people and being a part of individual growth and development. Some of her hobbies are drawing, traveling, and spending time with her family. She is very excited to be a part of The Goddard School in Westchase and she looks forward to building relationships with your children and family.

Lauren joined The Goddard School in 2023 and has been working with children for more than 6 years. She truly enjoys working with the infants. Lauren earned her bachelor's degree at The University of Maryland Baltimore County with a teaching certificate and a psychology degree. Lauren believes creative and interactive play and exploring are foundational to learning. Her teaching philosophy centers around guiding children through play to attain knowledge and insight into the world around them.

Lilyana has been with us since 2024. She was born and raised in Pennsylvania before graduating high school and going to West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Lily graduated from in 2021 with a B.A in Elementary Education K-6, as well as a minor in Child Development and Family Studies. After teaching in a Special Education classroom Pennsylvania for a 2 years, she moved to Florida in August of 2023. Lily holds a passion for working with children and once she had her own child in 2022, she knew it was even more important to help provide the kind of environment and safe space for children that she would want her daughter to go into. Lily believes every teacher should build valuable connections and relationships with each of the children/families in their classroom, and that’s her goal here at The Goddard School.

Kailey grew up and went to high school in Hanover Pennsylvania. She has been with Goddard since 2024. Her childcare journey started in 2022 in Allentown Pennsylvania. Kailey began her early childhood journey back in 2021. As a teacher, she truly believes every child deserves their voice to be heard and respected. Kailey's teaching philosophy revolves around nurturing a child's natural curiosity and helping that curiosity grow. Her favorite things to do with the children are art projects and using creativity to learn and have fun.

Ms. Julie joined The Goddard School in 2022 and has enjoyed working with our toddler students. Julie has been working with children for several years and believes the most important and formative years in any person’s life are the very first few! Julie loves teaching and encouraging her students to explore and safely navigate the world around them. Her daily goal is to ensure all children feel loved, cared for, and valued.

Bre joined The Goddard School in February of 2022. She is from a small town in Missouri and moved to Florida in 2020 to further her education and adventure out spreading her wings. Bre started her journey in Early Childhood Education in 2021 and just graduated with her CDA, she is also currently seeking her Psychology Degree. Bre enjoys spending her time with the children in her classroom and it shows! She believes every child is unique and special and she cherishes her children in the classroom

Sondra joined The Goddard School in 2022 with extensive experience and a love of teaching. Earning her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Sondra brings a deep understanding of developmentally appropriate practices and enjoys fostering a love of learning in each one of her students. Sondra facilitates hands-on learning experiences within her preschool classroom and enjoys the rich conversations she gets to share within the classroom.

Soyoung joined the Goddard family in 2023. She was born in South Korea and moved to America when she was 9 years old. She has a Masters degree in Psychology. In 2020 Soyoung moved to the beautiful Sunshine State from Chicago. She has been happily married to her college sweetheart for 3 years. She loves working with children of all age groups and is so excited to learn about your child and teach them amazing things!

Brooke joined the Goddard School in 2024! She proudly represents Tampa, Florida as her hometown. Brooke has worked in early education for 13 years. She graduated from St. Petersburg College with an Associate in Arts and is aiming for a Bachelor's degree in Early Education. She is equipped with a CDA and Directors Credential. Brooke is excited to create a nurturing environment for little learners!

Alysia is a college student at FIU. She recently moved to the Tampa area from Miami. She loves working with children of all ages and being involved in their learning process. It brings her so much joy to see their positive outlook on life and their eagerness to learn. Every day is an adventure with kids. She is excited to further her education in child development and teaching!

Jer'ri joined The Goddard School in 2021 and is a real Floridian with two beautiful daughters and one granddaughter. She prides herself on being a "GiGi." Jer'ri has earned her associates and CDA, has her staff credential and is continuing to pursue a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She believes that children not only learn through play and interaction with their peers, but also with their educators and mentors. Jer'ri loves to get messy, run, jump, and follow along with what her students are doing in order to learn and grow right along with them.

Tania has worked in Early Childhood Education since 2013. She has completed her 45 DCF hours and she has obtained her Child Development Associate. She also has an associate degree in Art. As an educator, providing a safe and nurturing environment to children is her number one goal. She also has a passion for cooking traveling and spending time with her family. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing that “lightbulb” moment.

Mrs. Elizabeth was born and raised in Iowa and is the oldest of five children. She obtained her Associate in Arts degree in 2004 from Muscatine Community College in Iowa. She earned her CDA in May 2018 and went on to earn her Director's Credential from Pinellas Technical College. Mrs. Elizabeth’s past work experiences have included working with children and adults with Autism, Angleman Syndrome, Down Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. She has taught parenting techniques using the Nurturing Program to families involved with the Department of Human Services. Early childhood education has always been her focus; as a teacher of early childhood education, Mrs. Elizabeth understands the impact she has shaping and setting the tone for each child's educational career and beyond. Mrs. Elizabeth has earned an Associate’s degree in Arts, holds a Child Development Associate Credential, a Florida Director’s Credential, and has worked in ECE for more than 10 years.

Mrs. Tami earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, ID. Her love of working with young children comes from her mother who taught her to love and teach each child as an individual. Working with children and helping them learn and grow has always been Mrs. Tami’s dream. She believes children need to have opportunities to be able to explore and figure out how the world works on their own. Mrs. Tami knows that when you give them these opportunities, you are helping them learn that they can be independent even if they ask for help. She also believes that loving the students and treating them with respect is KEY to a successful classroom. Mrs. Tami holds a B.S. in Early Childhood and Special Education, an Achieved National Director Credential, holds a Child Development Associate Credential, and has worked in Early Childhood Education since 2012.

Blanca joined our team in 2017. She is cross-trained in all classes as well as in food safety and service. She knows each and every student in our school and greets all by name. She is one of the strong threads of continuity that form our tapestry of teachers. Blanca has over 30 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, is certified in Food Service, is bilingual in Spanish and English, and has experience with all age groups from Infancy to Pre-K.

Sara joined The Goddard School in 2022 with extensive early childhood experience working with children of all ages. Sara earned her national CDA and works closely with the children in all of our classrooms. Sara brings kindness and a true joy for teaching everywhere she goes. She enjoys teaching by example and promoting learning in everything she does.

Jeni was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Tampa. She is currently enrolled at the University of South Florida studying architecture. She has a true passion for working with young learners and helping each child progress in all areas of their development. In her free time, she loves going to the beach with her family.

Kenzie is originally from Virginia but finished off her high school career, graduating from East Lake High School, in 2022. She has been working in the childcare field since February 2024, joining Goddard in July 2024. Her philosophy for teaching is that all kids should have an equal and safe environment to come to and work in. She strives to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment for all students, to come to by offering kindness and support.

Megan joined Goddard in 2024 after moving to the Tampa area from Orlando. She chose to move back to be closer to family and friends. Megan is an aspiring and enthusiastic teacher ready to continue my teaching career at The Goddard School. She has worked with children of all ages including infants all the way up to their teenage years. Megan has found that teaching and caring for young children is her true passion in life. She is very excited to be a part of The Goddard School and looking forward to getting to know each and every one of your families!