Our Teachers

Mr. Worley obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Maryland and his Master of Science degree in Engineering from Stanford University. He has Business Administration training from both Georgia State University and The University of Maryland. Mr. Worley has over 25 years of professional experience in Engineering and in Business Administration both at AT&T and at Hughes Network Systems. Mr. and Mrs. Worley have been with Goddard since 2003. Long-time residents of Gaithersburg, the Worleys make their home within a mile of the school.

Mrs. Worley received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from The University of Maryland. She spent the first portion of her career at Continental Insurance in customer relations, and then as a computer programmer and trainer. After owning and operating the Goddard School located in Frederick for five years, the Worleys opened The Goddard School in Gaithersburg in September of 2007. The Worleys have three grown children, who were very active within the Montgomery County Public School System. Their daughter, Katherine, is the on-site owner of their sister school in North Bethesda.

Mrs. Roebuck, our Executive Director, oversees all three of our Sister Schools: North Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring. She has her Elementary Education degree from East Carolina University and spent the first six years of her career teaching in the public schools and then as a Pre-Kindergarten/ Kindergarten teacher in a private school setting. Before joining The Goddard School, she helped open and operate a number of smaller preschool locations in lower Montgomery County. Mrs. Roebuck lives with her husband and two sons.

Mrs. Porter holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from East Stroudsburg University. She previously taught our kindergarten program for seven years and was Goddard Systems "Teacher of the Year" in 2018. She loves “making learning fun for her children so that they are eager and curious about the world.” When not watching the Boston Red Sox play, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Sean, their daughter, Arden and their dog, Buckley.

Mrs. White joined The Goddard School in 2015. She spent the first 7 years teaching Early Preschool and Preschool. From 2020-22 she was our first/second/third grade teacher. She misses the classroom but is enjoying the challenge of helping our school run smoothly! She received her BA in Liberal Arts from Penn State University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and especially enjoys sharing her love of reading with her children. As a teacher, she said the best thing about her job was that she learned new things every day from her students!

Mrs. Wesley comes to The Goddard School in Gaithersburg having taught first grade and Prekindergarten. She holds a BS degree in Elementary Education from Pensacola Christian College with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Wesley says her favorite part about teaching was watching the children come into her classroom excited to learn each day. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband. Her younger daughter, Charlotte, is a Goddard student in our Orioles class!

Mrs. Clerizier joined us in 2018 and has taught Early Preschool, Preschool and Prekindergarten. Along with her administrative duties, she is the lead prekindergarten teacher in our Deer room. She holds a BS from James Madison University and her 90-hr certification. Mrs. Clerizier especially enjoys visits from her former students so that she can see how much they have grown! Her daughter, Gianna, is one of our youngest students.

Ms. Mfuta joined our school in 2015 as a lead infant teacher in our Ladybug room. She serves as our infant/ toddler team leader as well. She holds a BA from Strayer University and her 45 and 90-hr certifications. Ms. Mfuta strives to create a warm and nurturing environment for her babies. She hopes to lay a foundation that will help her students grow to become both smart and independent.

Infants. Ms. Muid is a lead teacher in our Ladybug room. She has over 20 years of teaching experience, a BS in Psychology and her Infant/ Toddler certifications with MSDE. She loves teaching our youngest Goddard students!

Infants. Mrs. Jazayeri joined us in 2008 and has been an integral part of our infant/ toddler program ever since. She is a lead teacher in our Caterpillar room, caring for our littlest Goddard Students. She has a BS in Education and her 90-hr Infant/ Toddler Certification. Ms. Jazayeri’s favorite children’s book is Quilt Story by Tony Johnson, because it reminds her of the dreams of childhood and the love of family. She enjoys seeing her babies grow into “big kids” and loves the hugs she is able to give and receive every day!

Infants. Ms. Qayyum is a lead teacher in the Caterpillar room. She received her bachelor's degree in related arts and child development and has over 10 years of experience working in early childhood education. She lives in Germantown with her family.

Toddlers. Ms. Bahal is a certified teacher through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in Infant/Toddler development and has over five years of experience working with young children.

Toddlers. Ms. Maali joined The Goddard School in 2015 as a FLEX teacher. This allowed her to work with all different ages in our school. She holds a BA in Nursing and her 90-hr certification. No matter the age, Ms. Maali loves singing songs and making everyone smile! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three children and family.

Toddlers. Ms. Andraos joined our school in 2022 as an assistant toddler teacher. She has her 90-hour MSDE certification. She loves both sports and music, a perfect combination for a toddler teacher! When not at school, she enjoys spending time with family, writing stories and illustrating them.

Toddlers/ Early Preschool. BA in Sociology from UMD, Eastern Shore and four years experience. Ms. Kwarteng teaches to make a difference in the lives of little children. She loves witnessing the difference she makes in their lives. When not teaching, she enjoys cooking (she's a foodie), traveling, shopping and boat rides!

Toddlers. 90-hour certification. Ms. Lopez joined us this summer and settled into the toddler program quickly. She particularly likes reading silly books and singing and dancing with her students. Originally from Nicaragua, Ms. Lopez recently made Maryland her new home.

Early Preschool. Ms. Sauma has a BA in Communication Studies from American University. She believes the best part of being a teacher is encouraging her children to use their imaginations and seeing their playful side. Ms. Sauma aspires to make a positive difference in each of her student's lives and enjoys watching them grow.

Early Preschool. Ms. Castellanos holds a bachelors degree from the Higher Institute of Humanities of Tunis. She believes that the most fulfilling part of teaching is nurturing her students' curiosity and watching them gain confidence as they learn new skills.

Early Preschool. Ms. Franklin has her associates degree in Early Childhood Education and six years of teaching experience. She is also Preschool certified by the MSDE. Ms. Franklin eagerly embraces each day at school, relishing the chance to witness her students’ daily discoveries and growth.

Early Preschool. Ms. Cepeda has a BA in Business and 5 years experience. Her favorite part about being a teacher is forming a connection with the children she works with. Vanessa is bilingual and lived in Peru for 10 years. Her hobbies include walking, reading, meditating and organizing her space.

Early Preschool. Ms. Stonestreet has her 90-hour certification and 10 years of experience working with children. She also teaches our gym class. She believes that the most rewarding aspect of her role as an educator is the opportunity to consistently uplift and positively influence the lives of children every day. In her free time, Ms. Stonestreet enjoys reading, coloring and crafting alone and with her four beautiful children.

Early Preschool. Mrs. Bailey is a lead teacher in our Early Preschool program. She joined The Goddard School in 2009, bringing many years of preschool teaching experience. She holds an AA in Early Childhood Education and a BS in Business. Mrs. Bailey creates a wonderfully warm and nurturing classroom for all of her students. She believes that fostering independence and curiosity will successfully prepare her students for preschool. Mrs. Bailey is the mother of two grown children. She loves to ice skate all year round and to visit Nags Head Beach with her family.

Early Preschool. Ms. Adams holds a BFA in Art. Her favorite book is The Great Kapok Tree, by Lynne Cherry. She enjoys its vivid illustrations and the lesson it imparts on the importance of environmental preservation. In her free time, Ms. Adams enjoys crafting, visiting museums and new restaurants, and swimming.

Early Preschool. Ms. Habovda holds a BA in French Philology. Along with French, she speaks four languages fluently. Ms. Habovda treasures the opportunity to witness her students' growth and development.

Early Preschool. Ms. Wasif has her 90-hour MSDE Certifications and eight years of teaching experience in the field of early childhood education. Hinna believes the most rewarding aspect of teaching is unveiling children’s potential. She holds Pete the Cat by James Dean dear for its message of perseverance. Outside of teaching, she enjoys cooking, shopping, and exploring documentaries in her spare moments.

Early Preschool/ Preschool. Ms. Kikaya holds a BA from the Art Institute of Washington and her 90-hr certification. She is also our Yoga instructor. Ms. Kikaya joined us in 2019 and has seven years teaching experience, working with a variety of ages. Ms. Kikaya believes in building lifelong relationships with her students and hopes that they will come back to visit her!

Early Preschool/ Preschool. Ms. Martinez received her BA in Psychology from Trinity Washington University. She is an assistant teacher in our Beaver class and our Spanish instructor. She loves being a teacher because she has the ability to impact children's lives. When not at school, Ms. Martinez enjoys tennis, playing video games and going out with friends.

Preschool. Ms. Roynestad is a teacher in our Fox room, as well as our Preschool Team Leader. She holds a BA in Human Development and Family Science from Messiah College. Mrs. Roynestad joined our school in 2016. One of her favorite children’s books is the Winnie the Pooh series, because they teach the value of friendship. She believes that school teaches children a lot more than literacy and STEM. They learn about friendship and caring for one another. She lives with her husband and her beautiful daughter, who is a Goddard student.

Preschool. Mrs. Dave joined The Goddard School in 2019 and is a lead teacher in our Owls class. She has over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds her 90-hr Certification along with a BS and MBA. Mrs. Dave has a passion for teaching and enjoys preparing creative and meaningful lessons for her little ones. She is very excited to get to know each of her students and their families. She especially enjoys the daily interactions with her students and the stories that they share with her.

Preschool. Ms. Agustin grew up in the Philippines. She has her 90-hour certification and has six years experience working with preschoolers. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, cooking and dancing. An adventurer at heart, she enjoys traveling to other countries!

Preschool. BA in Family Services and eight years experience. Mr. Bottega finds building relationships with each child to be the most rewarding part about teaching. Some of Michael’s hobbies include working out and playing chess! He also has two pet cats and is a huge Ravens fan.

Preschool. Ms. Manandhar has her 90-Hour Certification. She finds joy in crafting and organizing fun, engaging activities that captivate her students' imaginations. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys singing and experimenting with new recipes.

Prekindergarten. Ms. Nelson has a bachelor's in elementary education and a master's in special education from The University of Wisconsin. She worked in the public schools as a teacher for 18 years, teaching grades K, 1, 2 and 5. She recently was a program coordinator for the YMCA. Carol enjoys watching children experience the excitement of learning and having fun while participating in the process. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her archaeologist husband, Jim, her six granddaughters (one, a Goddard student) and cheering on the Red Sox!

Prekindergarten. Ms. Guevara joined the Goddard School last year and has become a wonderful addition. She loves learning new things and enjoys daily experiences in the classroom. In her spare time, she enjoys reading comics, photography, and visiting museums.

Prekindergarten. Ms. Thomas has her 90-hour certification and is currently working towards a degree in Deaf Education. She is our sign language teacher. In her free time, she enjoys expressing herself through drawing and writing. An animal lover at heart, Ms. Thomas shares her home with two cats and two dogs.

Prekindergarten. Ms. Quinones joined our school in 2016 and has had the opportunity to teach toddlers through kindergarten. She is the lead teacher for our Moose class as well as our Prekindergarten team leader. She holds a BA from Liberty University in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Quinones' experience with all age groups allows her to understand how children develop as they graduate from one program to another.

Prekindergarten. Ms. Swink is pursuing her Early Childhood Education degree from Frostburg University. She joined us with four years of experience. She says that she receives a thrill to work with students and watch them "get it" for the first time. She knows that in that moment, she has given the child something that they will use the rest of their lives. When she has spare time, she likes spending it with family and friends. Her daughter is a Goddard student in our Preschool program.

Kindergarten. Ms. Bassett joined our school in 2011 as a Preschool teacher. In 2020, she began teaching our Kindergarten program, bringing her same creativity and ingenuity to our older students. She understands that every one of her children is unique and special, and this challenges her to find new and varied ways to teach each of her students. This is why she was voted THE 2022 TEACHER OF THE YEAR! We are lucky to have her teaching at The Goddard School in Gaithersburg. Ms. Bassett graduated from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland with a degree in Elementary Education.

Kindergarten. Ms Cooley is the assistant teacher in our Kindergarten class. She is also our Kindermusik specialist, working with our children from our youngest twos through her kindergarteners. She currently attends Montgomery College studying Early Childhood and Special Education. Her favorite part about teaching is the positive interactions and relationships she creates with the children. Ms Cooley is an avid collector of dream catchers!

Ms. Zarei is a FLEX teacher, working with all ages in our school. She has a BA in French literature. She lives with her husband, daughter and one year old puppy named Gucci. Ms. Zarei has two years’ experience working with children ages four months to four years old. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, home design, flower arrangements, baking and spending time with family. Her favorite part about being a teacher is watching children grow every day. Her favorite children’s book is, “I Love You to the Moon and Back”, because it shows a parent's love for a child and the importance of making a child feel protected and safe.

An aspiring illustrator and animator, she holds a degree from the Art Institute of Virginia Beach and is pursuing her Masters in Art. She has her 90-hour and Infant/ toddler MSDE certifications. As a talented artist, she spends her free time drawing.

Ms. Abianeh joined our school in 2007 and is a FLEX teacher, working with every age group. She holds a degree in nursing and a 90-hr certification. Ms. Abianeh lives very nearby with her husband and two college-aged students. One mention of her children, and you can see how proud she is to be their mother!

BA in Early Childhood Education and fourteen years experience in teaching and management. Ms. McIntosh teaches to foster a love of learning in young children, believing that every child is unique. She wants to provide safe and stimulating environments where children can explore, discover and grow. She is a mother of one teenaged son, who is entering college in the fall. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and listening to music.

Prekindergarten. MA in Education and BA in Psychology. Ms. Suazo-Galvez has four years experience working with children. She taught prekindergarten and middle school English. She spent several years working with children with special needs as a registered behavioral technician. When not teaching she enjoys bowling with her son and baking.

Masters in Finance. Child Development Associate. 90-hour certified and four years experience. Ms. Kacoutie comes from a family of educators. She teaches to make a positive impact on children's growth and future success. In her spare she keeps busy writing, cooking, reading, movies and volunteering.

90-hour certification. Ms. Brown has three years experience working with children aged from three months to six years. She believes that every classroom should be full of respect, diversity and kindness. She especially enjoys encouraging hands-on learning through music and art. In her spare time she enjoys crafting, sketching and playing every wind instrument!