Our Teachers

Christina is our on-site owner and proud parent of two sweet boys who grew up in The Goddard School. "As a parent and previous teacher, I know the importance of providing an environment that stimulates growth in each individual child in a way that engages their love for learning on a daily basis. I'm looking forward to introducing you to our energetic and dedicated staff in the near future!" Christina is originally from Roanoke, VA and has a love for the outdoors. She attended VCU and received her Master's degree in Education along with a degree in Deaf Studies.

Ms. Emily is one of the directors here at Woodlake Goddard School. She joined Goddard in 2009 and has worked in just about every age group from infants to school age. She loves supporting little minds to grow and learn. Ms. Emily enjoys reading, running, and playing volleyball in her spare time. When she is not here at work, you can probably find her either on the hiking trail, at a campsite, or spending time with her husband, daughter, and their dogs.

Ms. Tara joined our staff in 2021 as a Lead Teacher and most recently joined our front office staff. She has been working with children for many years and is First Aide and CPR/MAT certified. Her favorite thing about working with children is seeing the world through their eyes it reminds her to slow down and enjoy the little things.

Ms. Natalie is one of the Office Administrators here at the Woodlake Goddard School. She enjoys creating a welcoming environment for families, staff, and children. Ms. Natalie thrives in providing children with interactive classroom settings and has her CDA in Infant/Toddler and Preschool. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and conquering escape rooms.

Back in the Fall of 2022, Ms. Rachael joined our Goddard Family as one of our Pre-Toddler teachers, and quickly made her way into the front office. Ms. Rachael genuinely enjoys how every child brings a light to this world and could not be happier than to be surrounded by our future generations!

Ms. Lori joined our Infant classroom in the winter of 2023. She came to us with experience caring for multiple age groups since 2006. She loves watching children grown and develop into their own each day. Ms. Lori cannot wait to meet your family!

Ms. Kaitlyn came to us with 2 plus years of experience working in childcare. She is AED, First Aide, and CPR trained and certified. Ms. Katilyn looks most forward to seeing the growth of her students while working cohesively with her team!

Ms. Alyssa joined our team in the Spring of 2023. She works primarily with our infant and first steps classrooms as an assistant teacher. Ms. Alyssa comes from a large family with plenty of experience taking care of younger siblings. She enjoys watching her students meet new milestones!

Ms. Michelle is the lead teacher in our Bunnies classroom and comes to us with 30 plus years of experience in childcare with all age levels. She enjoys learning, reading, and taking care of children. "When given the opportunity to teach children at a young age, you yourself are learning from them, and I love learning."

Ms. Michelle is one of our Pre Toddler teachers and has been at our school since the Fall of 2022. She is a Chesterfield native and teaches Sunday School on the weekends. You are sure to hear her sweet songs throughout the hallways as her class walks to the playground in the mornings and afternoons. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family.

Ms. Daniela loves working with children because their enthusiasm and curiosity makes every day exciting and rewarding. Seeing their growth and helping shape their understanding of the world is a privilege that brings immense joy and fulfillment.

Ms. Kelsey comes to us with a love for story time and art projects. Her favorite thing about coming to work each day is seeing the smiling faces of all of her students.

Ms. Marin comes to us with invaluable experience of raising her own two children who now currently attend The Goddard School. She has previously worked in children's ministries and enjoys making weird crafts and speaking in silly voices. Ms. Marin can be observed creating lessons that inspire the children to become curious, life-long learners.

Ms. Madison joined our team as a resource teacher helping out in a variety of our classrooms. She is currently attending VCU for nursing and enjoys watching children grow both academically and socially!

Ms. Samantha came to us with 8 years of Early Childhood Education experience and 6 years of experience specifically in the Twos classroom. She enjoys working with children because nurturing their natural curiosity opens her up to a whole new world of creativity! She joined our team at the start of 2024 and has been leading our Two's class ever since.

Ms. Samara joined our Goddard Family early in 2024 in our Twos classroom. She has volunteered in her church's children's program since she was 12 years old and now has 7 plus years of professional experience including ABA therapy and a juvenile detention center. Ms. Samara believes in treating others with kindness and doing hard things. Most days, you'll find her singing and dancing along with her students!

Ms. Riley joined the Goddard family at the start of 2024 and is currently an assistant teacher in our Twos class.

Ms. Shelitta comes to us with 30 plus years of early childhood education. Her passion is helping young students and families find their love of learning and to navigate the transitions that come with it. You can find Ms. Shelitta in our PreK classroom playing games, ALL music, and finding the joy in everything!

Ms. Ari joined our team back in 2023 as a lead teacher in our bridge program. She came to us with plenty of experience, but what really sealed the deal was her infectious smile and engaging lesson plans!

Meet Ms. Leila! She joined our team in 2021 and is one of our lead teachers in our bridge program! Leila has been working with children ever since she can remember and loves knowing that they are happy and healthy!

Ms. Jasmine joined our team in 2021 as one of our lead Preschool teachers. She is in the process of obtaining her CDA in Early Childhood Education and pursuing her bachelor's in mathematics. Ms. Jas' favorite thing about working with children is providing them with tender love and care.

Our Goddard School was fortunate enough to have Ms. Karen join us early in 2024 as an assistant teacher. She has helped out in PreK as well as our School-Age program. Ms. Karen came to us with years of experience as a volunteer EMS member and enjoys helping shape the young minds of tomorrow!

Ms. Bri joined our team at the start of 2022. Since then, she has been the lead in our school-age program, assisted in kindergarten, and is now leading her own preschool classroom. One of her favorite parts about teaching is watching children's imaginations come to life. Ms. Bri has her bachelor's in education and her master's degree in nutrition. In her free time, Ms. Bri enjoys working out, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Kylie is one of our Two's teachers and has been with the Goddard school since 2023. She is from South Carolina where she received her associate degree in technology and cosmetology. She has two years of experience subbing in the public school system and has also been a nanny. Ms. Kylie is excited to get to know her students and build relationships with each of them.

Ms. Gabi is one of our fantastic School-Age teachers who is currently working on her Biology degree at Virginia Commonwealth University!

Mr. Carlyle has been with Goddard since 2022. He is one of our fabulous bus drivers and handy men.

Ms. Clarissa joined our staff in 2021 as a Resource teacher assisting in our various classrooms. Ms. Clarissa's favorite thing about working with children is that they are full of surprises and love expressing themselves. She believes one of the most important things a teacher can do is teach children to be kind to one another.

Coach Randa has been part of the Goddard family since early 2023. They are currently a student at VCU pursuing their bachelor's in communication arts. Coach Randa loves to work with children of all ages and can't wait to build relationships with them.

Ms. Ann has been with The Goddard School since 2022 and is one of our lead Pre-K teachers. She loves teaching and can't wait to see how much growth her students make. In her spare time, she loves to bake and spend time with her family.

Ms. Ashley is one of our fantastic PreK teachers. She has dedicated years to caring for children and while doing so, she has attained her cosmetology license. Her one true passion is working with children which is what brought her to us! In her free time, you can find her crafting for her family and her classroom!

Ms. Emma joined the Goddard Family early in 2024. She came to us with years of experience teaching Irish Dance. Ms. Emma is one of our part-time resource teachers who can be found helping in various ways around the school.

Ms. Eileen joined our team back in 2023. She has an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Human Services and Pre-Social Work. Ms. Eileen also has eight years of experience in childcare. She is so excited for the opportunity to get to know her students and how they learn best in the classroom!

Ms. Shaquita has been a part of The Goddard School since 2012 and is currently one of our Preschool teachers. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and is a Virginia State Qualified Lead Teacher. Ms. Shaquita has certifications in Pediatric CPR, First Aid, and Emergency Medication Administration. Her favorite thing about working with children is teaching them and watching them learn and grow.

Ms. Maria has been working with children for just over a year and brings her nurturing spirit and experience with her own three children to our school. She is one of our resource teachers who spends time in each classroom, getting to know each age-group. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga and gardening. Maria loves watching her students meet each of their milestones. In three words, Maria can be described as patient, respectful, and honest!

Ms. Amaya joined our team back in 2023 as an Assistant Teacher in our preschool program. Since then, she has become part of our resource team which spends time helping out in all of our classrooms. She enjoys science experiments and teaching her students to think outside of the box. In her spare time, she likes to read, paint, and cook!

Meet Ms. Keona! She joined our team in 2021 as our Assistant Teacher to our Leaping Lions class after working with children for 5 years. Keona enjoys working with children because she loves watching them learn and forming relationships with the families! In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, spending time with her dog, going to the gym and working as a medic for the Army National Guard!

Ms. Kyleigh recently joined our team as she gains experience in education. She is attending college to become a teacher one day and what better way to fulfill that role than to work with our students here at The Goddard School!

Mr. Peter, who is a recent retired Chesterfield County Public School teacher, came to us at the start of the 2024/2025 school year to lead one of our Pre-K classrooms. His ability to captivate his classroom and instill lifelong lessons is something you'll have to come see for yourself!