Our Teachers

Welcome to The Goddard School in Doylestown! My name is Lisa Heckmann, and I have been the proud owner of this highly-rated, early learning establishment since 2003. Each time you and your children enter our doors, you will be surrounded by all that our Circle of Excellence School, professional faculty, and quality programs have to offer. As a mother of three wonderful children and a grandmother, I understand the importance of meeting each child’s individual needs. For this reason, we strive to provide each student with high-quality, differentiated instruction that incorporates engaging, hands-on experiences on a daily basis. Our school is also a nurturing environment, designed to educate the whole child and to foster a lifelong love of learning.

Caroline Farrell is our Director of Operations. Caroline offers a wealth of knowledge and leadership to our faculty, children and families. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Temple University and her Master's Degree In Social Work from Bryn Mawr College. Caroline is passionate about creating a fun, safe, and nurturing environment so that the children and staff enjoy coming to school each day.

Julie Tilley initially joined our Goddard Family as our Pre-K 1 teacher. After gaining some experience in a Goddard classroom, she was promoted and became our Director of Education in July 2022. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Elizabethtown College, along with a certification in Pre-K through 4th grade. Julie has worked in early childhood education for 6+ years. She believes every child has a unique approach to learning. When asking Julie what she loves about working at The Goddard School, Julie shared, "I love working with young children because they are always ready to try something new. It is exciting to help mold the minds of our future leaders and I am grateful to be able to watch your children learn and grow each year!”

Ms. Anastasia is currently enrolled in her CDA program at Northampton Community College. Ms. Anastasia has experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and is a mother of three wonderful girls! When asked what she loves about working in early childhood education, she shared, “I love working with young children and helping to develop their minds."

Ms. Marissa has her associate's degree in early education from West Chester University and has been working in childcare for over 6 years. Before joining the Goddard School, she was a nanny and owned her own in-home childcare facility. Ms. Marissa believes the most effective learning is play based. She believes play-based learning not only engages the children, but also builds a stronger relationship between the children and educators. When asked what her favorite part of working with children is, Ms. Marissa says, "My favorite part is nurturing them and of course, baby snuggles!"

Ms. Elizabeth holds her bachelor's degree from Holy Family University in psychology with a minor in childhood studies and mental health. She has worked in childcare for over 2 years and enjoys incorporating music into the classroom. Ms. Elizabeth believes early childhood education is important for children's social and creative development. When asked about her favorite aspect of working with children she says she enjoys "seeing them grow and be proud of their ability to accomplish things independently."

Ms. Firuza has her Bachelor's and Master's degree from Khujand State University. She has been working in child care for over 9 months and is also a mother to three beautiful daughters. Miss Firuza believes early childhood education helps children socialize, learn how to communicate, and master independence. When asked what she loves about teaching, Miss Firuza said, "I really like working with children." She enjoys playing and helping them explore their surroundings.

Ms. Jojo is the Lead Toddler Teacher. Jojo has a CDA and dedicated the last 20 years to teaching children. Miss Jojo believes a school and classroom should provide a safe, caring environment where children can speak their minds, blossom and grow. One of Ms. Jojo's favorite things about working with children is the look of excitement they have when they learn something new.

Ms. Meghan is excited to be a teacher here at The Goddard School. Prior to joining us, she has been working with children for over 5 years. Ms. Meghan was a teacher at the Before and Aftercare Program in the Hatboro Horsham School District. Ms. Meghan believes working in the early childhood education field is so rewarding. She loves watching the students learn and grow! When asked about what makes teaching so special Ms. Meghan said, "providing young children with a strong educational foundation during their formative years is very important, and I am proud to be a part of it."

Ms. Cathy has been an important part of our Goddard Team since 2003! She has been our Lead Teacher in our Get-Set Room for over 19 years and loves working with 2-year-olds! Cathy finds the Get-Set room both challenging and rewarding. She looks forward to the many years to come and hopes to be a part of The Goddard team for a very long time. Cathy has earned her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Ms. Linda joined our team at the Goddard School as our Preschool co-teacher in 2014. Linda graduated from Northampton Community College with her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Over the past twenty years she has had the opportunity to work with children of varying ages, from Infants through Pre-Kindergarten. Linda feels that helping children develop new skills socially, emotionally, and academically in an environment that treats each child as an individual has always been an important and wonderful part of her life.

Ms. Samantha has been working in childcare for over 3 years. She believes early childhood education is important because it sets children up to be their best selves. She believes children learn so much at a young age and early child education helps teach them independence and social skills. When asked why she enjoys working with children, Ms. Sam states, "What I love about working with children is seeing how proud of themselves they are when learning something new."

Ms. Hailey holds her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Immaculata University. She started with us right after she graduated college and has been with us since September 2022. Before joining us at Goddard, she helped take care of her younger brothers and was a substitute teacher. Ms. Hailey believes children are naturally curious. She enjoys being able to help them explore that curiosity as their teacher. When asked about her role as a teacher Ms. Hailey said, “Young children need a safe and nurturing environment to grow, learn, and play in and I am thrilled to be able to provide that for them.”

Ms. Stephanie holds her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Elementary Education at Lycoming College. She also has a Master’s of Science degree in Education from St. Joseph’s University with a concentration in Special Education and Reading. Ms. Stephanie believes it is her job to provide the foundation for her students' future learning and success. She believes early childhood education fosters intellectual curiosity, problem solving skills, language and communicative skills and creativity. When asked about her role in the children's development she said, "By investing in early childhood education, we can provide children with a solid foundation and empower them to reach their full potential in later stages of life." Ms. Stephanie has shared that working with children in early childhood is truly a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It brings her immense joy to witness the growth and development of young minds firsthand.

Ms. Maybellene is currently attending MBIT for early childhood and is working towards her CDA. She has a great passion for teaching and enjoys working in early child care. When asked what she loves about teaching she says, "I love that children are new to the world, because it means I have the opportunity to guide them to be the best possible version of themselves."

Mr. Devian is working towards his degree in sociology and worked at a Goddard School in New Jersey prior to joining us. He loves seeing children flourish as they learn from their own experiences and the challenges they face. Mr. Devian believes his role as an educator is to allow "the children to feel seen and heard so they can blossom with their academic, fine and gross motor, and emotional growth."

Ms. Lux is currently working towards her degree in Early Childhood Education from Bucks County Community College. Ms. Lux believes children create an exciting, interactive environment. She loves being able to provide a positive impact on their lives. When asked about why she enjoys working with children she says, "I love having the opportunity to watch them grow and use their imagination in numerous ways."