Our Teachers

Rita is excited to open the Goddard School in Annapolis. The philosophy of the Goddard School is what drew her to open her own school. She finished her graduate degree from Howard University and has lived in Maryland most of her life. She is committed to providing a warm nurturing environment with age appropriate fun play based curriculum. She strongly feels it is a privilege to have the honor to impact young minds with stimulating curriculum. She looks forward to showing you her school. "Our children are born with all the wonders they will need. Our job is not to take it away"

Dhvani has been with our Goddard team since May of 2022 and has three years of experience in the childcare field. Dhvani is deeply committed to maintaining a strong connection with parents and the local community. She understands the importance of collaboration between educators and families in creating a holistic learning environment. In her free time, Dhvani can be found going on solo adventures and exploring different cities!

Ms. April comes with her higher education in early childhood education. She has a toddler herself leading to her knowledge and love for taking care of the 'terrible twos'. Her passion (as quite as she is) is so wonderful to see.

Ms. Marina has been with our Goddard team since January of 2022 and has four years of experience in the childcare field. She has a degree in Psychology, Educational Psychology, and is pursuing a degree in School Counseling. She has a very strong passion for child development and education. Her love for early education comes from her own experiences as a child. Young children remind Ms. Marina of the importance of early education. During her free time, she can be found doing puzzles, singing and hanging out with family and friends !

Ms. Emily has been with our Goddard team since January of 2022 and came to us with ten years of experience in the childcare field. Ms. Emily loves cats, football and her seven grandchildren. During her free time, she can be found thrift shopping or taking a nap!

Ms. Leslie is our vibrant 2-Year-Old Turtles Teacher! With a heart full of enthusiasm for early childhood education, Leslie creates a warm and nurturing space for our littlest learners. She has over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, with a Bachelors Degree in family studies and human development. Her creativity, patience, and playful approach ensure that each day is filled with joy, exploration, and growth. Outside of work, Ms. Leslie is the founder of The Benjamin Mario Shadrick Foundation, a non-profit committed to help children all across the globe.

Ms. Iyonna has almost two years experience in early childhood education. She loves working with children. The first time she knew she wanted to teach in early education was when she was in fifth grade. She made it known to an entire audience that she wanted to teach in early childhood education and continues to pursue her goal. Her favorite childhood book was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss!

Ms. Robbi has been with our team since May of 2022.