Our Teachers

Dr. Susan Monbarren opened The Goddard School in Ballantyne in 2005. She holds her Doctorate degree in Chiropractic Medicine and a Bachelors Degree in Communication. Dr. Susan is directly involved with the everyday operation of the school. She has a great capacity for ensuring Goddard families receive the highest standard in Early Childhood Education. She provides all of the support the school needs to qualify for Goddard’s Circle of Excellence and our 5 Star Licensure. Dr. Monbarren invites you and your family to tour our facility to learn more about The Goddard School in Ballantyne, our nurturing environment and educational curriculum.

Hello! My name is Leslie and I am the Assistant Director for the Goddard School at Ballantyne. I am a native of Charlotte receiving my Bachelor's in Elementary Education at UNC Charlotte and later a level 3 Certification for Administration in Early Childhood Development. I have been involved in the educational field since 2010, taking a special interest in early childhood education. My experiences are in both public and private childcare providing group and individual care. All children deserve to learn in an environment that contributes to healthy social-emotional development and a confidence in themselves and their educational team. I am so proud to be a part of the Goddard School and look forward to working with your family as we build strong foundations for successful academic futures together.

I’m Tana, and I am the Director of The Goddard School-Ballantyne. I am a graduate of Western Carolina where I graduated with honors and hold a Bachelors Degree in Birth to Kindergarten. I also hold a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Studies. I have worked in the field of Early Childhood for 25 years as an Owner, Administrator, and as a Teacher. I joined The Goddard School in 2010, and I love working with our wonderful staff of teachers and of course all of our students. I believe a child’s school experience at an early age forms his/her attitude towards school and sets the pace for the student's lifelong love of learning. The Goddard School is the perfect place for a young child to be introduced to school and develop that positive experience! I enjoy coming to work every day and working with our families and our students. Children have a way of making every day a "Good Day".

Hello! My name is Aleksandra (Alek), and I am the Co-Lead teacher in the Infant room. I grew up in Russia and completed my education there. I graduated from the Social-Pedagogical College in the city of Samara. My degree is in Early Childhood Development and Education. I also hold a degree in Linguistics and I speak three languages (Russian, German and English). I have been in the educational field for over ten years and I have always enjoyed working with young children. I have one child of my own, Paul, who is now 21 and attending college here in Charlotte. I look forward to meeting your child and I am so thankful to be apart of the Goddard School.

Hello, my name is Edna Gillis and I am a co-lead teacher in the infant classroom. I am married with two children, a son (40 years) and a daughter (33 years). I have one grandson who is 19 years old. I enjoy spending time with family, going to the beach and relaxing. I hold a degree in Early Childhood and have been working in childcare for 15 years. I enjoy each child’s face as they discover a new idea or accomplish a new task. I chose to work with The Goddard School because I can tell it isn’t just a job, there is a level of professionalism and respect that you may not see at every school. Our staff have such soft hearts for our children here. I have enjoyed working with my team in the infant room and helping parents (especially our new parents) feel comfortable and informed in a quality childcare environment.

Hello! My name is Shelby Lazenby and I am a lead teacher in the Toddler Classroom. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in public health and a minor in social work. I have always been passionate about the health, safety, and education of the youth in my community. I was drawn to be a teacher at the Goddard School through the philosophy behind our curriculum. Promoting learning through children's interests and play helps children develop cognitively and physically. I want children to find the same joy in school as I do. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading and spending quality time with friends and family. I look forward to getting to know your child and your family!

Hello! My name is Girle and I am the Co-Lead teacher in Preschool 2. I am married with two children of my own. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology that I earned while living in the Philippines. My background is working in special education and I have always enjoyed teaching in the classroom! I have also started pursuing a graduate degree in Special Education that I continue to work towards as a working parent. In addition to teaching, I have had the pleasure of working as a school counselor and learned to foster foundational skills children need to thrive and excel in the classroom. The goal I set for my classroom is providing a space where your child is valued and loved. Welcome to Preschool at Goddard!

Hello! My name is Franny Alvarez and I am a co-teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom. I was raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador and moved to Miami, Florida when I was married in 2000. My Bachelor’s degree is in Science and I hold a certificate in Infant/Toddler Education. I have been teaching children for over 13 years. I have a passion for learning from and working with toddlers. I am so excited to share new ideas and lessons with your child. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Goddard School and look forward to having a wonderful experience with the children and my co-teachers.

Hello! My name is Kelly and I am a co-lead teacher in the Pre-K2 classroom. I am a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I have been a teacher for over 25 years and have always enjoyed the opportunities that being a teacher gives. I take personal pride in promoting each child's developmental skills. I look forward to meeting you and your child and I am very grateful to be a part of the Goddard family!

Hello! My name is Kristina and I am a Co-Lead teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom. I relocated to the Carolinas from upstate New York. I attended Dutchess Community College where I studied Liberal Arts and I earned my degree in Child Development through New York State Educational Incentive Program. I have since obtained my certification as a North Carolina Lead teacher. I have over 24 years of experience working with children of various ages. I have been apart of the Goddard Family since 2012 and I am happy to be a part of your child's education.

Hello! I am Shoma Sengupta, a co-lead teacher in Pre-K 1. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration and I am currently pursuing my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Leadership. I have been working in Early Childcare for over 6 six years. I am a mother of two and proactively manage my time to make as much time for my family as possible. I am also very active in the community with multiple charity organizations. I have had the pleasure to author a book, “Reinforce Positivity in Life” which I was delighted to see sell on Amazon. I enjoy teaching and all of my time with my young students. I enjoy getting to know the children’s learning styles and taking multiple approaches to meet their educational needs. Our classroom has a safe, nurturing and secure environment for each of our students.

HI! My name is Kerri and I am apart of the Resource Team and Food Service Management at the Goddard School at Ballantyne. I have experience and an educational background in business and restaurant management with focus in Safe Serve food practices. I spent many years at home with my two children and that experience, along with my love for children led me to the Goddard school in 2018. Creating a safe learning environment where children can thrive and build healthy relationships in their "village" is very important to me. I am so happy to apart of your child's village!

Hello! My name is Pam and I am a part of the Educational Support Staff. I have extensive experience and training working with children of all ages for over a decade. I am married and have raised three children of my own! I am passionate about the well being and education of all children and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Goddard team and to meet and teach your child!

Hello! My name is Jada, and I am a co-lead teacher in Get Set. I started my career in early childhood as a nanny in 2019. I studied at Winston Salem University, a double major in Psychology. I am the oldest of my siblings and moved to Charlotte to be closer to my grandparents and my mother. I enjoy coloring and painting, baking, and cooking, and binging old TV shows. Goddard offered me the opportunity to advance my career in Early Childhood. I love experiencing the growth and development of children. This field offers rewards in ways that others cannot. The Goddard School has helped me find my calling and I have enjoyed working with amazing families and wonderful co-teachers.

Welcome to First Steps! My name is LaTanya and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Amazing Angelfish (First Steps) classroom. I have over a decade of experience in early childhood working with multiple age groups. Infants and Early Toddlerhood are my favorite ages to work with! I find the most fulfillment nurturing our babies and providing a loving learning environment that promotes their milestones at Goddard. My educational and professional background includes a degree in early childhood development, early childhood administration certifications and I am currently completing another degree in Early Childhood Education. I have also owned and operated an in-home daycare in Monroe. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I have a large family of 10! I enjoy cooking, watching movies and running my small boutique. My favorite new past time is watching my son play for the North Carolina Tarheels every Saturday during football season.

Hello! My name is Romain and I am a co-lead teacher in Preschool 2. I relocated to North Carolina from upstate New York. I am a mother of two boys and I love spending time with my family. I have worked in the field since 2015 and hold a degree in Child Development and I am a certified professional educator. I enjoy the challenge of modifying our lesson plans to reach each child. I chose to work at the Goddard School in Ballantyne because of the reputation we have among educators for providing a program that supports the whole child. I am excited to build a healthy foundation for learning for your little ones!

Hello! My name is Tina and I am a co-lead teacher in the Pre-K classroom. I became part of the Goddard Family in 2021 after moving to Charlotte from Seattle. In Seattle I worked in a Pre-K program which followed a very enriching STEAM program. I hold a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University in India. I hold an additional Bachelor’s degree of Education and I have completed initial training in Early Childhood Education. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to connect with children and work with co-teachers who ensure our classroom is comforting and learning is fun. In my spare time, I enjoy reading books and going for long walks with my retriever, Max. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. I look forward to our partnership as we encourage your children’s love for learning!