Our Teachers

Mr. Mark is the proud owner of The Goddard School located in Anderson Township serving the Forest Hills, Newtown, Amelia, and Cherry Grove areas. He lives in Anderson Twp with his wife Wendy and sons, Eric, Brody and Vaughn. He became the owner of The Goddard School in 2010, largely influenced by his sons’ positive experience while attending this school. Mr. Mark holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in management from the University of Cincinnati. Before joining the School, he worked for nearly 20 years as a consultant for Accenture. Being an on-site owner, Mr. Mark welcomes your comments and feedback.

Ms. Rebekkah (Bekkah) Bennett is our Executive Director, and a 2023 top four finalist for Goddard Director of the Year. As Executive Director, Bekkah manages all new family enrollment, child classroom transitions, and fosters a thriving community environment for families and teachers. She began her career at Goddard in November 2005 as the lead Toddler Teacher before becoming a Director. Ms Bekkah holds a bachelor's degree from Miami University in Physical Health & Sports Studies, where she also spent two years studying Early Childhood Education. A life-long cheerleader, Ms. Bekkah has cheered in three of the largest football stadiums in the U.S. (Ohio State, Michigan, Louisiana State). She is a parent to five children, four of which have attended the Goddard School. When she is not at school, Bekkah enjoys fostering her children's love of competitive sports and coaching tumbling/cheer.

Ms. Kaitlyn brings thirteen years of experience in teaching and childcare. As Education Director, she supports teachers with their professional development, oversees Wonder of Learning implementation, and fosters community and family relationships. Kaitlyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education at the University of Cincinnati - Go Bearcats! She completed a year of student teaching at Maddux Elementary and served as a substitute teacher at Ayer Elementary. While earning her degree and for several years afterwards, she got her start here at The Goddard School in Anderson Township as a resource teacher, then as the Kindergarten Teacher and Summer Camp Administrator! In her free time, she enjoys sewing and sailing with her husband, Jason, and three children. She is a three-time women's national champion in their sailing class.

Ms. Audri has been our amazing Kindergarten teacher for 10 years, giving children an extra year to grow and thrive before entering “big school.” She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with her Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education. After completing student teaching in Milford at Boyd E. Smith Elementary, she joined the Goddard team as a preschool teacher in 2010. After a brief departure to teach Kindergarten at the UMC Child Enrichment Center, she returned in 2015 to teach Kindergarten with us. Ms. Audri has two young children that attend our school, Arlo and Atlas. She enjoys Marvel movies with her family.

Ms. Christal is our Lead Teacher in the Annex Pre-K class and has been with us for nearly 10 years. She is fantastic at teaching the fundamentals of phonological awareness and quantifying, but her biggest strength is Social-Emotional Intelligence. This helped her to earn NAEYC’s Teacher of the Year in 2022! Through inquiry, music, and play, Ms. Christal teaches beyond Ohio standards for Pre-K, giving students an even bigger step-up when entering Kindergarten. She joined the Goddard team in 2016 and later earned her Child Development Associate with us in 2020.

Ms. Katie is our lead Pre-K I teacher. She brings over 8 years of center experience, creating engaging lessons and nurturing care for preschool students. She especially enjoys providing students with enriching art activities, inclusive environments, and helping them to reach their next developmental milestone. Visitors to our school regularly compliment her calming classroom decor, and especially her unique sensory table, which Ms. Katie built with her Dad!

Ms. Ali joined our team in 2015 as a toddler teacher and is currently the lead teacher in the Pre-K II classroom. She earned a Bachelors degree in Theater Arts from Northern Kentucky University. Ms. Ali is a vocal trained soprano and enjoys sharing her love for the performing arts with her students. She loves Disney and recently completed her first marathon there! After school, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, one a Goddard graduate and one a current student.

Ms. Erin R is the lead teacher in the Preschool I classroom. She joined The Goddard School in Anderson Township in December 2010 as a resource teacher across many classrooms. She has since worked her way up from assistant toddler teacher to lead teacher since obtaining her Child Development Associate credential in April of 2018. We love her ability to consistently engage children in the learning process with her creative uses for materials. In her free time, Ms. Erin enjoys art, reading, and volunteering with local community children's programs. In 2023, we welcomed Ms. Erin's daughter Cora, a Goddard graduate, to our resource teacher team, and she has been a fantastic addition to our school!

Ms. Alivia earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education while working at other early childhood centers, before joining us. She is well known around our school for being a calm, gentle presence, no matter what is happening in the classroom. Alivia leads our Preschool II classroom, but her work with children doesn’t stop at the end of her work day – she enjoys spending time with family, especially her five young nieces and nephews. Alivia’s favorite part of working with children is the reward of watching them grow, both as learners and people.

Ms. Tonie leads our Preschool III classroom with her wealth of exciting activities! She began her career with Goddard in 2020, but came to us with over twenty years of experience in early education. She earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College. When she's not at school, she spends every moment she can with her grandchildren, visiting parks and local brunch spots.

Ms. Ava joined our team in early 2023 after working for 5 years as a nanny and at Goldfish Swim School. She has been a fantastic addition to our Get Set team with her enthusiasm and patience and moved into the lead teacher role after earning her CDA. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and spending time with family. Fun Fact: Ms. Ava participated in the junior Olympics for synchronized swimming!

Ms. Christina is the lead teacher in the Toddler I classroom. She began her career with Goddard in 2021 but has worked in early childhood education and care for the past seven years. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. When she is not spending time with her husband and daughter Charlotte, Ms. Christina enjoys baking and playing soccer. Fun fact: Ms. Christina stood outside during a Cat I hurricane!

Ms. Olivia is the lead teacher in Toddler II. After many years of babysitting, she joined our infant team in 2022. In college, she studied social work and did her internship at an animal shelter, providing resources for animals in impoverished homes. She loves reading to our toddlers in the classroom and at home in her free time. Her 4-year-old daughter, Stella, and infant son, Finn, keep her busy outside of school.

Ms. Carlie joined our team as a Resource Teacher in 2022 and quickly stepped in to lead our Get Set II class, where she has taught since. Before joining the Goddard team, Carlie volunteered for many years teaching Sunday School and VBS as well as helping at home with her younger siblings. Carlie enjoys spending time with family and friends outside of school.

Ms. Heather is the lead teacher in Infant I. Heather joined the Goddard team in 2018 with several years of experience. When her toddler, Henley, isn’t keeping her busy, she is completing classes to earn her Child Development Associate credential. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and dog.

Ms. Lina has been our lead teacher in Infant II since 2019, bringing nurturing care, lots of reading, singing, and the infant favorite, bubbles! When she’s not at school, she enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and at sporting events. Her Goddard graduates attend IHM, while her youngest kick starts her education here with us.

Ms. Nadia is a Resource Teacher and Kitchen Coordinator. She began her tenure with the Goddard School 24 years ago as the assistant Infant teacher, after relocating from Pakistan. She became an American citizen in 2005 and a year later, moved her daughter to be with her in the US. Ms. Nadia holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Education from the University of Punjab, Lahore Pakistan. Students of all ages enjoy lunches from Ms. Nadia and her amazing Yoga lessons where they adventure through seasons and places, learning different poses along the way.

Ms. Lauren is the assistant in our Kindergarten class. She spent most of her life in the South, but moved to Cincinnati when her oldest son, Grayson was born, to be closer to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Lauren joined the Goddard team in April 2022, right after earning her Associates of Applied Science. She enjoys spending time with her family and sneaking in podcasts in her free time.

As a mom to three boys, Ms. Kali is always on her toes and nothing surprises her. Her joyful, calm nature has been an asset to our infant rooms since she began with us. Ms. Kali is also a proud plant parent to an array of succulents and other indoor plants. In her free time, she enjoys being outside and watching Disney movies, her favorite is Wreck It Ralph.

Ms. Bri is the assistant teacher in our Preschool I classroom. She joined our talented team in 2017. She brings three years of experience from another center prior to Goddard. In her spare time, Ms. Bri enjoys spending time with her husband, extended family, and their four dogs!

Ms. Cait is the Assistant Teacher in the Advance PreK classroom. She has several years of experience working with young children as a nanny. While earning her associates of arts at UC, she completed courses in differentiation and cooperative learning. Pre-K students love her bubbly personality and calming techniques.

Ms. Emily joined our team in August 2018 as the assistant Pre-K teacher while completing her education. Emily obtained her CDA credential in 2020 after beginning her studies at Live Oaks for Early Childhood Education. Ms. Emily considers herself a lifelong learner and regularly pursues ongoing professional development, especially on the topic of neurodivergent children. When she's not at school, Emily spends most of her time with her son, a student in our preschool classroom. She also enjoys cooking, crafting, and traveling in her free time.

Ms. Mai is one of our Assistant Teachers. She graduated from Sac City College with a certificate in early childhood education. With over four years of experience, she always maintains a calm presence in the classroom. In the classroom, she enjoys read-alouds and working with small groups. When Ms. Mai is not at school, she enjoys traveling and crafts like candle and jewelry making. Her favorite food is anything spicy!

Ms. Elana is the Lead Teacher for our School-Age "Kids Club" Program, providing students with enriching, but most importantly, fun activities after school. Throughout the day, she visits other classrooms with her STEAM cart, bringing hands-on activities to spark curiosity for a lifetime. Elana comes to us from a highly regarded Goddard School in South Carolina, where she taught for four years. She has also completed college coursework in Elementary Education.

Ms Chy is the assistant teacher in our Preschool 1 class. She got her start at The Goddard School in 2020 as a resource teacher, assisting with each of our age groups before finding her home in Pre-K. She has an Associates degree, heavily focused on child learning and development and studied education at Grant Career Center as a high schooler. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and completing 3D puzzles.

Ms. Kat graduated from Northern Kentucky University with her bachelor’s degree with a focus in education. In her free time, she enjoys painting pet portraits and landscapes. She draws inspiration from some of her favorite overseas destinations, particularly Venice, Italy. Ms. Kat believes play is vital to children’s learning and development.

After joining us for many years as a Goddard summer camper, Ms. Cora returned to provide the same enriching experiences to our current students. During the school year, she joins us in the afternoon after completing her school work at the University of Cincinnati in English. Her bubbly, patient personality has been a great addition to our Get Set classes! When she’s not at school, Cora enjoys reading novels.

Ms. Olivia came to us with several years of experience working with infants and toddlers to develop routines and relationships with the youngest learners. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and cats, camping and kayaking. Fun fact: Ms. Olivia is a Goddard graduate!

Ms. Natalie has 5 years of experience providing nurturing care to children and adults as a private caregiver and nanny. She enjoys establishing customized routines for each child and leading educational activities. Her favorite Disney movie is the Princess and the Frog.

Ms. Kat opens the school age program each morning, as well as being the assistant for the Summer Explorer program. She joined our Goddard team in 2021 with ten years of care experience in a preschool setting. She was also previously a nanny. In her free time, Ms. Kat enjoys traveling with her husband, Tony, and their three German shepherds. They enjoy live music events and go for motorcycle rides!

Ms. Rupa is our fantastic Pre-K Team Assistant, helping to prepare our four year olds for Kindergarten and beyond! She joined our team in 2021 with many years of experience working with young children from private tutoring in India to a teacher's assistant here in Anderson. Rupa is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys cooking and participating in an Indian singing group.