Amber O’Brien: Owner - Ms. Amber is the owner of The Goddard School® located in Forest Hill. She is the proud mother of three children- two daughters and one son. She attended Gettysburg College in southern Pennsylvania. She majored in English and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Gettysburg is also where she met her husband of 22 years, Dave. After completing her degree, she immediately started to pursue her Master's degree in Reading Education from Towson University while teaching third grade at Nottingham Elementary in Oxford, Pennsylvania. In college, she had a dream that she would open her own school. This dream began with the education of her children and developed into the opening of The Goddard School located in Forest Hill. The theme of the School is Reading, and Ms. Amber looks forward to sharing her love for reading with each child entering the doors.
Alissa Harritt: Education Director - Ms. Alissa is the proud mother of two children who attend Goddard. She graduated from Mount Saint Mary's College in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Since then, Ms. Alissa has pursued many continuing education courses in Early Childhood Education. For the past ten years, she has worked in the education field as a teacher, mentor, trainer and consultant. Ms. Alissa started as the Education Director for Goddard in June of 2009 and absolutely loves what she does! She feels that she works with an amazing staff and is inspired by the children in our school every day. As the Director, Ms. Alissa oversees the implementation of the curriculum in the classroom and maintains various state and Goddard standards. She looks forward to working with you and your children as we start an exciting new year together!
Kahla Zimmerman Substitute Director Ms. Kahla is our Substitute Director and has previously worked in our 1-2 year old classroom. She graduated from C. Milton Wright and has her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Harford Community College. She earned her 90-hour preschool certification, her school-age certification, her 45-hour infant and toddler certification and is CPR/First Aid certified. Ms. Kahla has worked in childcare for five years and wouldn’t imagine doing anything else!
Amanda S. - Ms. Amanda has worked with children for six years. She has her 90-hour certification and recently earned an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education as well as her Associate of Arts degree in Special Education. Ms. Amanda began working at Goddard part-time and is thrilled to now be a full-time Teacher with the infants.
Brenda J. - Ms. Brenda is a teacher in our Pre-K classroom. She graduated from Harford Community College and received her Associate's degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. Ms. Brenda has worked in the childcare profession for 19 years and has taught preschool for the last 9 years.
Debbie R. - Ms. Debbie looks forward to a rewarding experience working with the children in one of our Pre-K classrooms and continuing her education at Goddard. She believes every child can be taught and finding the way they each learn may be a challenge, but she strives to help them be successful. She and her husband have lived in Forest Hill for over 20 years with their three children. She has taught Sunday school for several years and was the director there for three years. Ms. Debbie is excited for the opportunity to share in the teaching experience and continually strives for excellence.
Erin Y. - Ms. Erin is excited to be a new member of The Goddard School located in Forest Hill! She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Maryland, College Park. While attending school, she worked at a NAEYC-accredited, on-campus preschool as a student aid for two years, assisting teachers with daily activities and interacting with children and their families in a positive and nurturing environment. Over the years, Ms. Erin has also babysat for children of different ages, obtained her 90 hour certification in child development and is senior staff qualified. Ms. Erin is one of the teachers in one of our Preschool classrooms.
Rebecca O. - Ms. Rebecca graduated from North Harford High School where she took part in the Cooperative Work experience program. She now attends Harford Community College to pursue her degree in Secondary Education. She is very excited to be a part of Goddard's team as one of our afternoon Little Bear teachers!
Cindy R. - Miss Cindy's interest in working with children began when she was a teenager in 1975. She attended Essex Community College obtaining an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. In her previous job, from which she is retired, Miss Cindy worked as an advocate for children of all ages from 1988 to 2006. During this time, she attended numerous child-related seminars. Since her retirement, she has been anxious to return to work with small children. It is Miss Cindy's belief that every child's potential is only limited by their dreams. Ms. Cindy is a great part of our Pre-K team here at Goddard.
Allison W. - Ms. Allison is one of our fantastic Preschool teachers here at The Goddard School. Ms. Allison has a degree from West Chester University and also has three sons of her own.
Marleah H. - Ms. Marleah attends Harford Community College and is working toward her Associate of Arts degree, majoring in Early Childhood Education. Her experience includes working as a nanny for two children and, during her senior year of school, participating in a work-study program and interning in the preschool classroom at North Harford Elementary School. Ms. Marleah is a positive person and enjoys learning new things. Becoming a teacher has always been her dream, she is a great teacher in our 2 year old room!
Tara F. - Miss Tara graduated from Elizabethtown College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, with a concentration in early childhood education. She has taught for four years in both public school and daycare. Miss Tara is thrilled to be working with the Pre-K children, families and staff here at Goddard!
Lisa C. - Miss Lisa has a Bachelors degree from Towson University and a Masters degree from John Hopkins in elementary education. She holds an Advanced Teaching Certificate from the State of Maryland and is certified as a reading specialist. Miss Lisa taught the 3rd grade in Baltimore County for 7 years while raising her own children. She enjoys being a teacher here at The Goddard School in one of our Pre-K classrooms!
Jen M. - Miss Jen has a Bachelors degree from Loyola College and will have completed her pre-school certification by January. Miss Jen has worked for Head Start and St. Joseph's Child Development Center in Towson. She loves being around children and looks forward to continuing here at Goddard in our 2 year old room!
Kathleen S. - Ms. Kathleen has her Bachelors Degree from Mary Baldwin College where she majored in Graphic Design and Painting. She also has her Post-Baccalaureate teaching certification in Art Education Pre-K-12 as well as Elementary Education 1-6, and her 90 hour certificate. She taught second grade at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School for three years. She worked at Goddard during the 2006-2007 school year and is very excited to return to the Goddard family in our 2 1/2-3 year old room!
Ashley H. - Ms. Ashley has her AA degree and attended Harford Community College for 2yrs in the Elementary Ed/ Special Ed program and then at Stevenson University for 1 year in the Elementary Education program. She has experience working with Elementary age children for 8 years as well as 2 years experience with toddler and preschool age children. Ms. Ashley loves seeing the children each day and is a great part of the 1-2 year old room!
Rebecca R. - Ms. Rebecca enjoys working with children everyday, hoping to create a positive impact on their lives. She loves working with all the age groups as a floater, and especially loves watching the infants grow through the first stages of their lives.
Taylor Ms. Taylor graduated from C. Milton Wright High School where she took part in the Early Childhood courses and earned her 90 hour preschool certification. She is now attending Harford Community College to further a career in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys being able to wok with the children everyday and loves that she is able to work with all age groups as an afternoon floater.
Linda P. Ms. Linda has received her 90 hour preschool certification and has been with our school for 1 year! She loves being able to nurture and teach the children and is one of our wonderful floaters that helps out around the school.
Kristen W. Ms. Kristen is one of our teachers in our Bookworms classroom and also helps out in all of our other rooms as well. She is currently working towards earning her AA degree from Harford Community College and has her pre-school certification and her infant/toddler certification. She has been working with Goddard for about six months and is a great asset to our team!
Ms. Lara B. Ms. Lara has recently joined our Goddard team as one of the teachers in our 2 year old classroom. She has earned her Bachelors Degree in English and Education and has 3 years experience working with children!
McKenzie V.- Ms. McKenzie has recently joined our Goddard team as one of our teachers in our Little Bears Classroom. She has her AA degree from Harford Community College and looks forward to continuing her education. Ms. McKenzie loves working with children and is excited to watch the kids learn and grow each day!
Meghan M. Ms. Meghan recently joined us as one of our Terrific Toddler teachers. She attended Delaware University where she completed some education courses and is currently working towards earning her 90-hour preschool certification! Ms. Meghan loves working with children because she loves watching them grow and learn.
Lauren N. Ms. Lauren is one of our teachers in our Little Bears classroom. She is currently working towards her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and has her 90 hour preschool certification. Ms. Lauren has three years' experience working with children and is excited to be a part of The Goddard School!
Abby K. Ms. Abby is one of our teachers in the Terrific Toddlers Classroom and loves working with this age group! She graduated from Fallston High School and looks forward to starting college in the near future. She is CPR/First Aid certified along with Pre-School certified. We are very excited to have Ms. Abby as part of our Goddard team.
Stacy A. Ms. Stacy earned her master's degree in elementary education from West Virginia University and is now our Darling Ducks teacher. She has two years of experience working with children and loves watching the preschoolers discover and learn new things each day.
Cathy P. Ms. Cathy recently joined our Goddard team as the co-teacher for our Helping Hens classroom. She has received her bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston and is also Infant/Toddler certified, Pre-School Certified and School-Age certified. Ms. Cathy has seven years of experience working with children and loves the joy children bring to her life!
Natalie D. Ms. Natalie is one of our teachers in our Terrific Toddlers classroom and holds both her Pre-School and Infant/Toddler certifications. She is currently working towards earning her associate's degree in early childhood education from Harford Community College and loves coming to work each day to play with our toddlers!
Britney T. Ms. Britney recently joined our Goddard team as the co-teacher in our Itsy Bitsy classroom. She holds her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and looks forward to pursuing her Bachelors degree in the near future. Ms. Britney is CPR and First Aid certified with 4 years of experience working with children. She loves the infants and is excited to get to know each of them!
Katelyn C. Ms. Katelyn is one of our afternoon floaters helping us out around the entire school! She is working towards graduating high school and looks forward to learning how children grow and learn. Ms. Katelyn holds her EMT certificate and is also CPR and First Aid certified.