Our Teachers

Abby Hendren is the Owner of The Goddard School – Lee’s Summit (Lakewood). She and her husband, Shane, have lived in Lee’s Summit for 10 years, and were both born and raised in the area. Abby is originally from St. Joseph, MO, and Shane is a local Blue Springs High School graduate. Their two children, Connor & Cody, will attend their Goddard School, and Abby can’t wait to open and provide a warm, welcoming environment for the families of their community. Abby & Shane met at Missouri State University and their love for outdoor adventures and all things Missouri, will be evident in the decor of the school. Abby has always been passionate about education and knows firsthand the importance, not only of early childhood education, but of the role children’s educators play in their development & learning experience. Abby grew up helping her mom, a now retired early childhood educator, in her classrooms and realized the impact a safe, nurturing environment has on children’s capacity to learn and to WANT to come to school. Abby is passionate about instilling a love for both learning and for school from the youngest age possible, and is incredibly excited to have the opportunity to provide the highest-quality preschool education within a warm and supportive environment.

Ms. Laura is our Director of Operations. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Central Missouri. Ms. Laura has worked in childcare since 2013. She began as an aid in the Blue Springs School District’s before and after school program, while having a second job as a paraprofessional. In 2015, she became the Site Lead for the before and after school program. Ms. Laura has always had a passion for working with children and loves seeing their smiling faces every day! She chose The Goddard School because she believes in their hands-on approach and high quality standards. When Ms. Laura is not at school, she loves spending time with her husband, son and daughter, and their 3 dogs!

Ms. Brandi is our Health & Safety Specialist. Brandi worked for public school cafeterias for 10 years. The last 5 years, she worked as the cafeteria manager with a ServSafe certificate. She received her EMT license in 2009 and was a volunteer firefighter, who visited schools to teach about fire safety. Along with these credentials, she has been a paraprofessional for special needs children, which to this day left a powerful impact so rewarding, that it truly changed her heart to be even more compassionate towards all humans. Ms. Brandi chose a career with Goddard schools because she believes in the core values and the high health and safety standards that the school upholds.

Ms. Amanda has an Associates in Arts and a Medical Assistant degree. She began her career in 2001 in early education. In 2005, she went into MA school and started her MA career in 2006. She worked in the medical field for 12 years and in 2018 she retried to her true passion, Early Education. Ms. Amanda is married and has 3 children Makayla, Isabel and Brayden. She also has a granddaughter, Everlee. In her spare time, Ms. Amanda loves to workout and spend as much time with family as she can. Ms. Amanda chose The Goddard School for the core values and the F.L.EX. framework.

Ms. Alyssa has been in childcare since 2018. She is working towards getting her bachelor’s degree in business management at Northwest Missouri State University. Ms. Alyssa has always had a passion for working with children and has experience in all ages through both nannying and working in childcare facilities. She loves watching children learn and grow through their different stages. Ms. Alyssa’s favorite thing to do outside of work is to travel and exercise. Ms. Alyssa chose the Goddard School because of the warm welcoming environment and the amazing curriculum that is offered.

Ms. Brea has been in childcare since 2007. Shortly after she graduated high school, she started working at a local daycare and she quickly realized that this was her passion. She has been a stay at home mom to her daughter, Brenna, a nanny and worked for the Blue Springs School District. In her free time, Ms. Brea enjoys spending time with her daughter. Ms. Brea chose The Goddard School because of their hands on learning approach. She believes that children learn best when they are able to explore their surroundings.

Ms. Amy has been in child care since 2004. She went to M.C.C where she studied early childhood. Ms. Amy has known from a very young age that working with children is her passion. Ms. Amy is a mom of four. She has two girls with her husband and in 2021 they grew their family and adopted a son and daughter. She has always wanted a large family and adoption was the perfect way to complete their family. Ms. Amy's favorite part about working with children is seeing the world through their eyes. They remind her to remember the little things in life. Ms. Amy chose The Goddard School because of their focus on families as a whole.

Ms. Brooklyn has been in childcare since 2012. Before joining the Goddard family, she worked as a nanny. She received a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara in June of 2022. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Lee's Summit with her family. She plans to go back to school to become a physician's Assistant and her ultimate goal is to work in the medical field and do medical missions over seas where there is great need for medical care. Ms. Brooklyn has a passion for horses. When she moved to Lee's Summit, she began volunteering at a horse therapy organization for children who have a difficult time connecting with people. The high Goddard standards and principles encouraging early academic development attracted Ms. Brooklyn to this position.

Ms. Britney recently graduated from high school and is new to the child care profession. She is eager to learn and build relationships with faculty and families. In her free time, Ms. Britney plays competition softball. She chose The Goddard School because of it's consistent 5 star rating.

Ms. Hailey graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a mother of three children and she and her husband thoroughly love seeing each one of their children learn and grow in their own unique way. Ms. Hailey has tutored young students in both reading and math and is excited to implement a Reading Enrichment program here at the Goddard School of Lakewood! She loves doing crafts in her spare time and is looking forward to bringing that creativity into her classroom. Ms. Hailey chose Goddard for the individualized education and enrichment programs the school encourages their educators to pursue.

Ms. Jenni has been in childcare since 2000. She started working in a childcare facility before starting her own in-home daycare in 2002 to be closer to her own children and nephews. In 2020, she left the childcare profession to take care of family. Ms. Jenni has been married since 1998 and has two daughters- Dakota and Kendra. When Ms. Jenni is not working, she helps her sister take care of their dad who has Alzheimer’s. In her spare time Ms. Jenni likes to go to the golf course with her husband, spend time with her daughters, and work on jigsaw puzzles. In 2021, Ms. Jenni attended her nephew’s Pre-K graduation at the Goddard School. Ms. Jenni was impressed at the difference the Goddard School had made in her nephew’s life and wanted to be a part of the wonderful school. Ms. Jenni chose the Goddard school because of the impact the enrichment programs, such as the phonics tutoring, had on her nephew’s education.

Ms. Jessica received her degree in Early Childhood Education in 2005 from the University of Central Missouri. Ms. Jessica is married with two children, and both have had the pleasure of attending The Goddard School. In her free time, she enjoys camping, going to baseball games, concerts, and spending time with her family. Ms. Jessica has a passion for reading and being creative with art activities. She chose The Goddard School because of their amazing hands-on learning experience and enrichment programs. She has always loved working with children and teaching them using play-based learning!

Ms. Micha has worked with toddlers since 1995. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary/Early Childhood from The University of Central Missouri. She really enjoys working with toddlers and says they are her kind of people! She has no children of her own so working with toddlers everyday brings her great joy. Ms. Micha a lives in Raytown with her husband Jim. She believes in active, hands-on learning in the classroom which is why to chose to work with The Goddard School. She brings her patience, flexibility, creativity and energy to the classroom everyday. It is very exciting for her to be apart of their social, emotional and cognitive development. Ms. Micha believes that communication with parents is key and she is very eager to build a relationship with each family.

Ms. Kat grew up in Kansas City and spent a lot of her summers camping, riding horses and sailing at the lake. Before starting her 18-year career in clerical work in the medical field, she was a nanny for a family with whom she traveled with. Ms. Kat is excited to be back working with children. Ms. Kat spends her time off traveling and watching her children play competitive sports. She really enjoys being part of The Goddard School because of their focus on social and emotional health and creative problem solving. She also loves to see how technology is always being implemented in the daily lessons.

Ms. Nazifa taught for twelve years in an elementary school located in Pakistan. Once she arrived in the United States in 2011, Ms. Nazifa taught at a local Montessori for four years. She loves being involved with kids and witnessing their abilities expand during their time together. She believes learning is vast and unlimited, it gives her contentment and satisfaction to teach! Ms. Nazifa chose the Goddard school because of all of the wonderful things she had heard. Ms. Nazifa felt that this was the place for her to grow and learn herself so that she could encourage the kids to learn and grow more as well.

Ms. Pam has been in childcare since 2002. She has an Associates of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While pursuing her education, Ms. Pam provided childcare in her home. Her experience as a mother of a special needs child has taught her that every day is different and special, so make the most of every moment. Some of Ms. Pam’s favorite things include reading, summertime, listening to her son’s band play music, cookouts, and spending time with family and friends. Ms. Pam chose the Goddard school because she prefers the hands-on learning experiences. She knows there are no two days that are the same; every day is a new learning experience.

Ms. Kimberly has been in child care since 2007. She went to State Fair Community College where she studied Early Education. She started working in her small-town daycare center and has worked at several early education centers through out the years. Ms. Kimberly has experience as a nanny as well. She nannied for a family for 6 years and homeschooled their children before they went to Kindergarten. She chose The Goddard School because the staff are all very happy to teach and learn from each other. After seeing the safe and loving environment, she felt like both her and her daughter could both grow here.

Ms. Tiffany has been a Pre-K teacher since 2003. She studied at Northwest Missouri State University where she received a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, and an Associate’s in Early childhood, SPED and Learning Disabilities. She worked in a MPP/SPED classroom for 6 years. Ms. Tiffany also spent many years coaching competitive basketball and is active in PTA. Ms. Tiffany is married to her husband Bryan. She has a daughter, a son, and a stepdaughter. She loves her dog and 2 cats and is a big fan of Kentucky basketball (Go, Big Blue!). She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and drinking coffee on her deck. Ms. Tiffany chose The Goddard School for their high standard in learning, Phonics tutoring, and their fantastic curriculum.

Ms. Yancey has been in childcare since 2021. She has a background in the food industry, so she is used to a fast-paced environment. Ms. Yancey always wants to improve and make sure that tasks are being done right. She also makes sure that those around her are holding up the high Goddard standards. Even though Ms. Yancey is new to working in a licensed childcare facility, caring for children is not new to her. As she grew up, she spent a lot of time caring for her nieces and nephews. Ms. Yancey really enjoys working with infants and toddlers. She loves to watch their personalities grow. Although Ms. Yancey loves working with children, she hopes to work in the construction field one day with large machinery. Ms. Yancey chose The Goddard School because of their positive communication and collaboration between the teachers and children.

Ms. Isabel has been working in childcare since 2018. Some teachers and students like to call her Ms. Izzi for short. She is currently pursuing her certification in Computer Aided Drafting. She is the oldest of seven and has five sisters and one brother. Ms. Isabel loves to spend her free time in the kitchen trying new recipes as well as having movie marathons to some of her favorite films. Ms. Isabel chose Goddard because of their amazing use of technology. She loves to see how technology is used in their hands on learning experience!

Ms. Shelby has been a preschool teacher since 2016 as well as a nanny for. She plans on furthering her education and studying Child Psychology. Ms. Shelby does not have any children of her own yet but is raising her younger brother. She loves spending time and traveling with her family, watching her favorite sports teams, and doing outdoor activities. Ms. Shelby chose Goddard because of their hands on approach to learning through play, investigation, and discovery.

Ms. Mellany has a degree in elementary education from UMKC. She first began working in early childhood in 1984. She recently retired from teaching in the Raytown school district where she worked in a variety of classroom settings from early childhood to middle school. Her last 23 years with the district were spent in the same elementary school. Her passion for teaching, building relationships and introducing children to the joy of learning led her to seek a post-retirement position in education. She is thrilled to be teaching at The Goddard School!

Ms. Brooke has been in early child care since 2023. She graduated with a degree in secondary Education. She quickly found her passion for the younger toddlers and babies when she joined the Goddard team. She recently moved here from Nevada Missouri with her Fiancé. She chose Goddard because she has always wanted to work in early childhood and believed that Goddard was the best place to be because of their high standards.

Ms. Sky has been working in childcare since 2016. She has experience working with infants and older children. She is currently going to school to become a Medical Billing and Coder. She loves spending her free time shopping and hanging out with friends and family. Ms. Sky chose the Goddard School because of the diversity and hands on learning experiences.

Ms. Casi has been working in early childhood since 2016. She looks forward to furthering her education in child development and psychology. Ms. Casi is a mother to three girls and her hobbies include spending time with her family, water-coloring, being outdoors and advocating for mental health. Ms. Casi chose The Goddard School because of their focus on early education. She is excited to see her students learn and grow!

Ms. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Missouri Western State University and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction Degree from UCM. She has been in the education field since 1984. During her career she has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach and literacy consultant. Ms. Julie's classroom teaching experience spans grades k-5 with the majority spent in kindergarten, First and Second Grade. She also has experience with infants and toddlers as a nursey worker at her church, as well as being a parent and grandparent to 3 children and 3 grandchildren. She loves spending time with her family and watching Chiefs football. Ms. Julie is excited to be working at The Goddard School. She chose Goddard because of their great education team, top-notch curriculum that provides the children with creative hands-on learning experiences, and opportunities to discover and grow through learning.

Ms. Elena has been in childcare since 2011. Before starting in childcare, she worked for the Government in quality control for 10 years where she met her husband in 2008. It was after her son was born that she made the switch to early childcare. She has two children, a son and a daughter. She also has a dog and cat. Ms. Elena loves anything outdoors. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, swimming and bouldering. Some of her favorite trips include relaxing on the beach in Florida and hiking in Colorado! Ms. Elena chose the Goddard School because of the welcoming environment for both families and teachers.

Ms. Aspen has been working in childcare since the fall of 2020, and she is confident and passionate about her chosen career. When she is not at work, Ms. Aspen likes to spend her time being creative and artistic, or cuddling with her cat. Ms. Aspen was initially drawn to The Goddard School's consistent high standards and their reputation for excellence. Now that she is part of the team, she is excited to continue to grow with the school, its staff, and the students and families.

Ms. Jordan has been working with kids since 2015. She has a bachelors degree in education and training and Child Psychology from The University of Central Missouri. She has worked for daycares, private schools and communicative disorder schools. Ms. Jordan loves working with children and helping them grow. She believes that every child is special and unique and being able to help each child grow is the best job in the world! Ms. Jordan loves to travel, going to sporting games and going to the lake. She is the type of person to constantly be on the go with friends and family. She is married and has two boys.

Ms. Vicki is our Brand Ambassador. As an avid road-tripper, hiker, and camper, Ms. Vicki embodies the spirit of The Goddard School – Lakewood. She’s an adventurer with an explorer’s spirit, and has a passion and talent for making our school a welcoming & nurturing environment. From our outside decor to indoor seasonal & holiday decorations, Ms. Vicki’s visions truly make our school feel like a home - warm, fun, and inviting! Ms. Vicki is the proud mom of three grown kids, watched her four grandchildren (plus bonus grandkids) for years, and is famous in our school for her “Grandma Vicki’s Banana Muffins” on our menu. She and her husband, Gene, can be found relaxing on their pontoon boat or cruising down Route 66 pulling a tear-drop trailer. Their adventures often result in even more unique and outdoorsy décor for our school!

Ms. Jodie joined the Goddard School in 2023. She has been in child care since 1983 and has an Associates Degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. She is married and has one daughter and three grandchildren. When she is not at work, you can find her spending time with her family, crafting or reading. Ms. Jodie chose the Goddard School because of their child lead curriculum with hands on experiences. Ms. Jodie's favorite quote is "Don't give up, I believe in you all. A person's a person no matter how small."-Dr. Seuss

Ms. Dani has worked in childcare since 2021. She is currently working towards earning her Associates Degree in Early Child Development. When Ms. Dani isn't working, she enjoys helping with her Sunday school class, reading books, crafting and spending time with her friends and family. Ms. Dani chose The Goddard School because of their hands on experience in the classroom and their compassion for young, developing minds.