Amrita & Paul Dandona - Owners The Goddard School®, located in Bloomingdale’s well known Stratford Mall, is owned by Amrita and Paul Dandona. The School has been in operation at this location since January 2008. They are committed to helping families make a fully informed decision about the future of their children's education and socialization. Amrita and Paul understand that parents want to be certain they have made the best choice for their child. As parents, they understand the importance of creating a loving, caring and nurturing environment for children to learn and grow – both at home and at school. Their school creates an environment that will cultivate a lifetime love of learning and for each child to reach their fullest potential. The first few years in a child’s life are very crucial in laying a good foundation for the future. Their program helps children in these formative years make strides in achieving developmentally appropriate milestones on physical, emotional and social levels. Amrita and Paul sincerely hope that you and your child will become a part of the Goddard family. They are looking forward to offering your child the best possible learning experience during their early years, and to sharing in their healthy growth and development.
Karen M.- Director Karen graduated from National Louis University with a Bachelor of Art degree in Education and Psychology. She has over sixteen years of experience as a director in the childcare industry. In addition, she was a substitute teacher in the U-46 school district, taught gymnastics and worked in property management. She began her career in the early childhood development field in 1988. After fifteen years in the industry, Karen stepped away for a short time to substitute in the public school district and property management. She soon realized where her passion was, with younger children. She gets very excited watching the growth and development of the children and faculty and enjoys being a part of providing the care and education parents desire for their children.
Jessica G.- Office Assistant and Floater Jessica recently received an Associate's degree from Harper College. She is continuing her education to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at National Louis University. She has always wanted to be a teacher and loves children. Jessica came to Goddard in January 2011. Jessica assists the Director and helps in classrooms where needed.
Dana W. - Cook Dana attends the College of Dupage where she is earning a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child Psychology. She has always had a passion for teaching children. There are many reasons why Dana became a preschool teacher. Dana believes that children are like clay, and as a teacher she can help mold them into wonderful students and adults. Her reason for becoming a teacher is that she simply loves children and their positive energy and that they really want to learn. Dana wants to make a child’s first experience in school a good and positive one. “Children are like big books filled with blank pages and ready to be written in. They have such a desire to learn and their curiosity for everyday life situations is overwhelmingly refreshing. I am honored to be a part of your child’s first learning experience and I will make it one they will never forget,” adds Dana. Dana is cooking for our school now, she loves coming up with new ideas and making delicious meals for the little ones.
Judy C. - Infant Judy graduated from Rosary College (now Dominican University) with a Bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition with her graduate work in Behavioral Psychology. She began her career working with children in 2000 at the Medinah Elementary School. She has worked with children from infants through school-age and has found it very rewarding! She is most passionate about creating and empowering lifetime learners within a safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate classroom environment. Judy began working at The Goddard School in November 2011. She is very grateful to be able to make a difference in the lives of children each day.
Pat K. - Infants Pat comes to Goddard with over nineteen years(1992) experience working with all age groups from infants through school-age. However, her favorite is the infant group. She attended Harper College for early childhood and earned a Child Development Associate certificate. She is excited to be working with children and watching them grow and develop. "Their smiles are always what make coming to work a joy," adds Pat.
Janelle H. Infants
Janelle graduated from Benedictine University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Previous to working at The Goddard School (January 2012), Janelle has worked with children at both a day camp and an after school program through Boy Scouts of America. She has also completed a tremendous amount of volunteer work over the years through her church working with children ages 3-13. In 2009, Janelle was an intern at the DuPage Children’s Museum. She enjoys working with children and is excited to be a part of the Goddard team!
Nicole W. - Pre-Toddler Nicole graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education and a double minor in Special Education and Psychology. She has also worked in the Summer Camps in the Park District with ages ranging from infants to 5th grade. She began working with children in 2005 and has been with the Goddard School since August 2010. She enjoys working in the pre-toddler room and being a part of their everyday learning and development!
Katie H. - Pre-Toddler
Katie has worked as a nanny since she was in high school. She first started working at The Goddard School at another location in 2004 and then transferred to our facility in August 2010. She attended NIU for Early Childhood. She enjoys working with the young children and has worked in every classroom.
Liz B. - Toddler Liz began working with Infants and Toddlers in 2005. She has her CDA through Ellis University with an Infant/Toddler/Two endorsement. She started with the Goddard School in April 2010 and is the lead teacher in the Toddler room. She enjoys working with children of all ages and is looking forward to having her own in the future.
Katie C. - Pre-Toddler Katie loves working with children. She graduated from Elmhurst College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She then went on to get a Master's degree in Elementary Education from National-Louis University. Katie has a lot of experience working with young children. Not only was she a summer nanny for an eight-year-old, she was an early childhood teacher's assistant in District U-46 for two years and is currently also teaching the early childhood program at Independence in Bartlett. As you can see, Katie has a lot of knowledgeable work experience when it comes to children, and is a great asset to our team. She is an afternoon floater.
Claire B. - Toddler
Claire began working in the early childhood field in 2006 in Hawaii and continued in August 2010 when she joined out team. She is currently working on finishing her degree in Early Childhood Education. She has experience working with children ages six weeks to six years. She is excited being a part of the Goddard team and in the Toddler Room.
Paulina W. - Get Set
Paulina began her teaching experience in the Early Childhood field in 1995. She has a Child Development Associate (CDA) degree as well as a degree in Early Childhood Education from Harper College. Paulina began at the Goddard School in August 2008. She loves working with young children and being a part of their overall development and is committed to providing excellent care for young children. "I am grateful and proud to be part of the Goddard School,” adds Paulina.
Krystel G. - Get Set Krystel has completed her Child Development Accreditation (CDA) and is persuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been working in the field since 2006 in every age group as well as being a lead Pre-school teacher for 2 years. Her background consists of teaching in a licesned facility, a nanny, a tutor and as a shelter volunteer. Krystel is also a licensed cosmetologist since 2009. She is very passionate about "working with the children to achieve their highest potential, to have an amazing learning experience that will have a lasting lifetime impact on their lives." Krystel has always dreamed of becoming a teacher, "our children are the most important things in our lives, we need to make sure that every child has the opportunity and knowledge to strive and become better than us, they need the love and nurturing guidance from parents and teachers to achieve their goals and become successful. I am proud to be a part of their first educational experience."
Tansey D. - Preschool Tansey has a long history of working in the education field with young children. She started in her career in 1998 working with infants. Throughout the years, she has worked with every age group. She has been with Goddard since February 2010. She earned a degree in Early Childhood Education at the College of DuPage. She is still continuing her education to stay up to date in the field.
Brigette P. - Preschool Brigette has completed two years of schooling in Elementary Education at Loyola University - Chicago, and looks forward to earning her Child Development Associate degree. Her experience, which began in 2000, lies in the private realm as an infant nanny and as a scribe and caretaker for special needs teens. She joined our team in February 2011. Brigette enjoys combining the research and knowledge available regarding young children with the fact that they have a unique viewpoint of the world to create the best possible care and education for your children.
Giulia V. - Pre-Kindergarten I Giulia graduated from Elgin Community College with her Associate degree in Arts. She loves children so much that she changed her major from Graphic Advertising to Education. Giulia has been working with children since 2005. Giulia started with The Goddard School in July of 2007 and helped assist in the opening of our school which was in January of 2008. She has worked with every age group. As a result, she is familiar with and comfortable working in many of the different classrooms at our school. "There is always something new you can learn from the children," adds Giulia. “Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. It requires long hours, patience, and care.”- Horace Mann
Jessica C. - Pre-Kindergarten I Jessica has her Associate degree from the College of DuPage. She is continuing her education and even seeking her CNA. She began working with children in 2007 and has been with us since December of 2010. She has had many experiences with all ages from infants through school-age.
Sandy D. - Pre-Kindergarten II Sandy teaches in our Pre-K classroom. She graduated from North Central College in Naperville with a Bachelor degree in Psychology. Sandy also has an Associate degree from the College of DuPage. She is teacher qualified through the State of Illinois and is also director qualified. Sandy has been teaching since 2004 and been with The Goddard School since April 2008. Sandy adds, “I have always loved children and look forward to having fun with them and helping them learn and grow.”
Angela T. - Kindergarten
Angela started her career in Early Childhood in 1997 in the high school work program and continued ever since. She earned her Associate's degree in Early Childhood from Triton College and has continued her education at Concordia University. She has worked with children ages toddler through school-age. She began working at the Goddard School in February 2009 in the Kindergarten prep room and is now teaching our full day Kindergarten program. She loves teaching and it shows in her classroom.
Evangaline - Afternoon Floater
Evangeline graduated in May 2011 with an Associate in Liberal Studies with credits in Early Childhood. She began working with children in 2006 at Prairieview Elementary School and continues as a substitute teacher for School District U-46 and District 93 for different age levels from Pre-K to high school. “I have a passion for educating children,” says Evangeline.
Dana G. - Substitute Dana graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in English and Cinema Studies minor. She has over three years experience working in private childcare. Her background also includes experience working as a private nanny. She has been with us since January 2011. Dana truly enjoys being a part of the growth and development of the children in her classroom and looks forward to guiding them along as they learn more and more each day. (currently she is on maternity leave and subbing for us)