Our Teachers

Jessica is an Atlanta native and grew up in the Buckhead area. She graduated from Georgia State University and joined the legal world as a paralegal after college. Jessica's been with the Goddard School since 2011 and has over 25 years of experience working with children. Jessica has always understood the importance of Early Childhood Education and how critical it is in the life of a young child. She loves being part of such an amazing team of professionals at Goddard Buckhead and enjoys the excitement each day brings.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts Film Long Island University, CW Post Georgia State University Experience: Kellen's resume includes over 20 years of extensive experience in business and education. He is a member of the Buckhead Business Association, JDRF's One Group, and has received recognition as one of Atlanta's best young entrepreneurs. Favorite Children’s Book: Where The Wild Things Are Hobbies: Golf, Watching Sports, Reviewing Scientific Publications, Playing Air Drums Fun fact about me: I’m the Most Fun Person I Know.

Ms. Tamara is our wonderful Executive Director. She has worked in the Early Childhood Development field for nearly 20 years, and has been with Goddard Buckhead since 2018. She’s originally from Long Island, New York and has been a Georgia resident since 2016. She received her Child Development Associate before going on to graduate from SUNY Old Westbury with a BA in Media and Communications. While she's not at the helm of our school, she enjoys working out, traveling, spa days, and spending time with her teenage son and her dog, Frenchie. We love her and are so happy to have her as a part of our Admin team!

Ms. Janae’ is our terrific Director of Operations. She has been with The Goddard School Buckhead since 2019. She is originally from New Jersey, but has decided to make Atlanta her home. She received her Bachelor degree in Psychology, with a focus in Sociology. After 3 years as a teacher at our school, she transitioned into her role as our Assistant Director in 2022 and became Director of Operations in 2024. In her free time, Janae’ enjoys reading, drinking wine, traveling, and spending time with family. We’re so happy to have her on our admin team!

Ms. Gail is our Director of Education and Family Support, after spending nearly 15 years as our Pre-K Lead Teacher. She was born in Richmond,VA and raised in Tucker, GA. She is a graduate of Georgia State University with a BS in Early Childhood Education and a Special Education. She is passionate about supporting the teachers, families, and students at Goddard Buckhead, with a particular focus in social and emotional development. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, hiking, board games, and spending time with her husband. We are so happy to have Ms. Gail as a part of the Goddard Family!

Ms. Beth, the Admin Assistant, is from Seoul, Korea. She was raised in Flemington, NJ. With a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and over 20 years of experience working with children of various ages, Ms. Beth brings valuable skills to her role. She finds joy in hobbies like scrapbooking and Pilates, and her favorite children's book is 'Farfallina & Marcel' by Holly Keller. Ms. Beth treasures time spent with her two children and her husband, and her passion for reading extends even to recipe books.

Our Incredible Kitchen Manager and Infant Support Teacher. We're thrilled to have Ms. Ericca as a part of our team! With 28 years of experience working with infants and 2 years of experience with toddlers, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. Ms. Ericca holds an Associates in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the children's book, 'The Giving Tree'. When she's not working, Ms. Ericca enjoys unwinding and watching sports.

Ms. Chantal is our wonderful Infant 1 Lead Teacher. She is originally from Connecticut, but has lived in Georgia for many years. She has been at Goddard Buckhead since 2020. She originally pursued Criminal Justice, but found Early Childhood Education and loved it! Her favorite part of teaching young children is watching them grow and change over the course of a year knowing that she had a part in it! To quote her... “I love knowing that a child has learned a skill from me that translates to another class. I like to think that I’m creating lifelong learners.” She plans to continue teaching young children and learn new skills in the field. She also plans to travel to new places and try new things that are outside her comfort zone. We are thankful to have this nurturing and dedicated member of our team! We love Ms. Chantal!

Ms. Brea is our amazing Infant 1 Assistant Teacher. She is originally from Piscataway, New Jersey and moved to Georgia in 2010 for college. She attended Clark Atlanta University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations and Master’s in social work. She returns to Goddard having over 6 years of early childhood experience and has a love for infants and toddlers. In Ms.Brea's free time, she loves to travel, attend broadway plays/theater, and spend time with her family and close friends. We love Ms.Brea and are so happy to have her a part of our Goddard Family!

Ms. Yailyn is our amazing Infant 2 Lead teacher! She is originally from Moore Haven, Florida, but has lived in Georgia for the past 3 years. Ms. Yailyn graduated from Technical College in 2020 and has been a part of the Goddard Team for nearly 2 years. She worked in early childhood for several years prior to joining the Goddard team. When not at school, Ms. Yailyn enjoys all kinds of artwork and baking. We are happy to have her here at Goddard Buckhead!

Ms. Keisha is our amazing Infant 2 Assistant Teacher. She is originally from West Palm Beach Florida and recently moved to Georgia with her family. She is currently in school pursuing a nursing degree. She joins Goddard having over 3 years of early childhood experience and a love for children of all ages. She enjoys watching each child grow and their personalities blossom. In Ms.Keisha's free time, she loves to shop, travel, and try new foods. We love Ms. Keisha's bubbly personality and are so happy to have her a part of our Goddard Team!

Ms. Kayland is our wonderful Infant Closer. She is a Georgia native and has worked in the ECE field since 2018. She joined our Buckhead team in 2023 with a love for infants. She loves to watch the babies grow and their personalities blossom. In her free time she enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her daughter. We’re happy to have her as a part of the Goddard team!

Ms. Tiffany is our amazing Toddler 1 Lead Teacher! She is a Georgia native and has lived most of her life here. She has worked with a broad age range of children, from birth-18 years old and has gained an abundance of experience. Tiffany is very passionate about children and has worked diligently in the ECE field since 2005. She is currently pursuing her Child Development Associate. Outside of the classroom, Tiffany enjoys shopping, cooking, traveling, and doing hair. Tiffany is entering her second year at Goddard Buckhead, and we are so happy to have her on our team!

Ms. Kaylon is our amazing Toddler 1 assistant teacher! Ms, Kaylon, who is a Georgia native, obtained a BA in Asian Studies from Kennesaw State College. She joins Goddard for her second year, but has prior years of childcare experience. During her free time, she loves gaming, drawing, and learning new languages. We are very happy to have her a part of our Goddard family!

Ms. Nadia is our fun and creative Toddler 2 Lead Teacher! She is originally from Bear, Delaware, but moved to Georgia in 2016. She currently attends Georgia Gwinnett College where she majors in Elementary Education as she works on pursuing her dreams of becoming a Kindergarten teacher. Ms. Nadia has been at Goddard Buckhead since 2022, and has years of experience working with children, as she nannied and worked at other schools in the past. In her free time, she enjoys singing, painting, and yoga. We love Ms. Nadia and we are so happy to have her as a part of our Goddard Family.

Ms. Jocelyn Rosales begins her second year at the Goddard School Buckhead. She has worked in the Early Childhood field for many years and is excited to continue on as the Toddler 2 assistant teacher. Ms. Jocelyn, who is originally from Peru, is currently working on her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Georgia State University. When Ms. Jocelyn is not working with children or studying, she enjoys pottery and running. We are happy to have her as a part of our Goddard family.

Ms. LeMacy is our amazing Toddler 3 (Young Twos) Lead Teacher. She is a native of Atlanta. (Go Braves! Go United!) She is a proud graduate of Georgia State University with a B.A. in English. She has been with Goddard Buckhead since 2021, but she’s been a teacher and student of children for almost a decade. To quote her…”As a part of ‘the village’ that rears tomorrow's leaders, there is no greater feeling than seeing children develop into kind and intelligent people. I have a dream of writing a children's book series based on each developmental stage and beginning a podcast for primary school teachers.” Her favorite children’s book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. We are so happy to have her as a part of our team!

Ms. Sommer is our wonderful Toddler 3 Assistant Teacher. She was born in Powder Springs, Georgia. Ms. Sommer's experience in early education includes paraprofessional and substitute teaching. Ms. Sommer enjoys walking and making candles. Ms. Sommer's favorite children's book is Brown Bear by Eric Carle.

Ms. Kristen is our outstanding Twos 1 Lead Teacher, and is our longest running employee! She has been with Goddard Buckhead for nearly 15 years. She’s from Pittsburgh (Go STEELERS!), but has called Atlanta home since 2009. She has her B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Child Development and her Masters in School Guidance and Counseling. Her favorite part about teaching is spending time with her students and seeing their minds grow and develop over the years. She has professional goals to gain more knowledge of how children are changing in today's ever-changing society, and is pursuing her second Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She is the proud mother to three boys (12, 11, 6) who take up all of her free time!

Ms. Alex is our terrific Twos 1 Assistant Teacher! She is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ms. Alex's childhood education experience includes assisting her mother at her accredited Chicago preschool. Ms. Alex likes to travel, read, and cook. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" is her favorite children's book.

Meet Ms. Carlene, our amazing Twos 2 Lead Teacher! Originally from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, she holds an associate’s degree and a Child Development Associate certification. With over 12 years of experience working with children, Ms. Carlene is passionate about her job. Her favorite children’s book is Corduroy, and she loves to sing and dance.

Meet Ms. Charliee, our energetic and lively Assistant Teacher for Two’s 2! She’s an experienced educator with five degrees and has been teaching since 2012. Her favorite children’s book is ‘Green Eggs and Ham’, and she’s also a talented actor.

Ms. Dominique is our incredible Bridge Lead Teacher. She is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but has been a Georgia resident since 2008. She attended Kennesaw State College where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education: Birth through Kindergarten. Ms. Dominique loves the Toddler age and has been a loving and nurturing teacher at Goddard School Buckhead since February 2022. Outside of being a mother of 3 handsome little boys, a wife, and a teacher, Dominique loves to sing, watch movies, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. We appreciate and love Ms. Dominique and are happy to have her here at Goddard School Buckhead!

Ms. Colleen was born and raised in Georgia but spent time in Tallahassee, Florida obtaining her Associates of Art as well as working towards her Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University. Ms. Colleen joined the Goddard Buckhead teaching team in November 2021. Ms. Colleen has worked with all age groups in her time at Goddard, and is excited for this role in our Bridge program. In her free time, Ms. Colleen enjoys playing her flute!

Ms. Rashida is our terrific Preschool 1 Lead Teacher. She is originally from Upstate New York and has obtained an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from SUNY Morrisville. Ms. Rashida is a very structured Lead teacher who has taught at our Goddard School for 5 years. In her classroom, you will find a fun filled learning environment, where she takes pride in teaching calming techniques that include child friendly yoga poses and different breathing strategies for our active toddlers. We are so happy to have her as a part of our team!

Ms. Rogine, who goes by Ms. Gina is our new Preschool 2 Lead Teacher. She is excited to step into this role after a year as our Bridge Assistant Teacher. Although new to our Buckhead team, She is originally from Stockton, California and moved to Georgia in 2018 to attend Clark Atlanta, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. When she's not teaching children, she loves to bake and go thrifting. We are excited for her first year as a Lead Teacher and are happy to have her as a part of our team!

Ms. Michelle is our phenomenal Preschool 2 Assistant Teacher. She is originally from Grand Rapids, MI, but moved to Atlanta in 1999 with her husband and children. She is the proud mother of four, and grandmother to one! She has an Associate Degree in Science, and has been at Goddard since August of 2021. Her favorite part of teaching is watching the friends in her class grow and learn every day. In her time outside of school, she loves to spend time traveling, reading, and hiking. Her goals for the future are to continue her education in the world of Early Childhood and continue to enjoy life! We are so happy to have Ms. Michelle be apart of our Goddard Family!

Ms. Sayyidah is our wonderful Pre-K Lead Teacher. She is transitioning from her role as our Preschool 2 Lead Teacher. She is from Staten Island, New York, and she has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. Her experience as a childhood educator includes working in a variety of early childhood centers, as well as a social caseworker at an elementary school. Her interests include hiking and art.

Meet our amazing Pre-K Assistant teacher, Mr. Friday! Mr. Friday is originally from Houston Texas, and moved to Atlanta in September 2023 when he joined our Goddard Family. He graduated from Mississippi State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. He has worked in ECE for 4 years and hopes to extend his love and expertise in s! On Friday’s free time, he loves to read and work out.

Ms. Nidia is an outstanding Spanish teacher! She is a native Spanish speaker, originally from Panama. She has taught Spanish in grades K-6, and has been our Spanish teacher since 2023. She is extremely excited to be a part of your child's learning development and to experience their growth while teaching another language. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Science. Ms. Nidia enjoys going to the movies and bowling in her spare time. We are so happy to have her on the Goddard Buckhead Team!

Mikhya is originally from New Jersey, and has previous experience as an assistant teacher in the preschool field. Her hobbies include anything art related and working out. Her favorite children’s book is Oh, The Places You’ll Go.

Anastasia is a New York native and is currently a student at Georgia State University. She has previous experience as a nanny and at the Boys and Girls Clubs. She’s the oldest of six which gave her lots of hands-on experience with children, even at an early age! While she’s not with us, she enjoys thrifting and community service. Her favorite children’s book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Bellanzy is a New York native, with previous experience as an assistant teacher in the early childhood education field. In her free time she enjoys crafting, yoga, and relaxing. Her favorite children’s book is Charlotte Web.

Anastasia is a New York native and is currently a student at Georgia State University. She has previous experience as a nanny and at the Boys and Girls Clubs. She’s the oldest of six which gave her lots of hands-on experience with children, even at an early age! While she’s not with us, she enjoys thrifting and community service. Her favorite children’s book is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Caroline is from right here in Atlanta, and has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. She has previous experience as a preschool educator in another school setting. While not at school, she enjoys painting, working out, and hiking. Her favorite children's book is Goodnight Moon.