Anoula and Don McCarren - Owners -
Anoula and Don are dedicated to sharing the Goddard experience and growing all the children in their care into responsible, caring and academically successful children. Anoula brings extensive experience in child care with children ranging from infants through preschool. Furthermore, she has worked in a variety of human services functions and has a Masters Degree in Management. Don spent 38 years in the health care industry and the last seven years as an Assistant Professor of Business at both Knoxville College and Lincoln Memorial University.
Suzanne Davidson - Curriculum Director -
Suzanne graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Child Development. She lived in Florida for 10 years where she has worked with children from Infants through School-age. Suzanne has been a Floater, Teacher, Assistant Director as well as a Director. Suzanne enjoys hiking and being outdoors as well as spending time with her husband and daughter!
Ann - Assistant Director -
Ann graduated from Western Illinois University. She has worked in childcare in every aspect: infants to school-age, even as a director. When not teaching she volunteers for the American Red Cross and the Knox Area Association for the Education of Young Children. While not busy doing other things, Ann enjoys spending time with her son and the rest of her family.
Dawn - Co-teacher -
Dawn has worked with children for nine years. She has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Pellissippi State. She has a lovely daughter, and in her spare time away from Goddard, Dawn enjoys reading books, planting and tending to her herbs and vegetables and, most importantly, spending time with her daughter!
Tonya - Co-Teacher -
Tonya studied Marriage Family Human Development at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She is currently studying Early Childhood Education at Pellissippi State. Tonya has worked in child care for eight years and has worked at a Goddard School in Ohio.
Nathan - Substitute -
Nathan played football at Northwestern College and graduated with a degree in Exercise Education in. After working as a substitute teacher and coach, Nathan realized his passion for teaching and returned to school. In 2007 Nathan graduated from St. Cloud State University with a teaching degree in Physical Education.
Amanda - Co- Teacher -
Amanda first gained a Bachelor's in Studio Art and Art Education from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Amanda now also has her Masters Degree in Education from Loyola College in Maryland and has experience in Montessori classrooms. She comes to The Goddard School with an affection for early childhood learning and a desire to foster a love of learning in all children.
Samantha - Co-Teacher - Samantha graduated from The University of Tennessee in 2001 with a degree in
Psychology and Child and Family Studies. She has worked in every aspect of childcare, including
being a Director, for over 14 years.
Geena - Co-Teacher - Geena is currently attending Pellissippi State Community College to receive her degree in Child and Family Studies. Geena has worked in childcare for two years and could not imagine doing anything else.
Kayla - Co-Teacher - Kayla was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. She is currently attending Pellissippi State Community College to receive her associates in Early Childhood Education. Kayla hopes to pursue her bachelor's degree in Science. She really enjoys being around children and helping them grow and learn in every aspect. Kayla loves music, traveling, Christmas and any Tennessee sport.
Brittany H. - Co-Teacher - Brittany was born in Seymour, but has recently moved to Knoxville. She is currently attending Pellissippi State Community College to receive her Associates in Early Childhood Education. Brittany has coached softball the past few summers for children ages 7 - 13. She is very excited to be working with children and is ready to make a difference. Brittany loves the beach, movies, Abuelos and the Tennessee Volunteers.
Brandee - Co-Teacher - Brandee is originally from middle Tennessee. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Tennessee Technological University in Agriculture with a concentration in Animal Science. She has previous preschool teaching experience. Brandee received her Master's Degree from University of Phoenix in Elementary Education K-8. When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son.
Karen - Co-Teacher - Karen was born in New Jersey, but moved to Florida when she was eleven. She moved to Knoxville shortly after receiving her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of West Florida. She is currently working on her Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University. When Karen is not teaching, she enjoys volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol. Her other interests include spending time with her husband, family and friends. She also enjoys boating and photography.
Jenni - Co-Teacher - Jenni holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Development and Learning from Maryville College. Jenni has worked in the field of education for over five years, one year as a teacher working with special needs students in a preschool setting and about five years in a daycare environment working with infants to preschool-aged students. Jenni is originally from Eastern Pennsylvania and has lived in Tennessee about five years.
Contessa - Floater/Substitute - Contessa is currently enrolled at Tusculum College in the Elementary Education program and is due to graduate in December 2011. She has always loved children and knew early on that she wanted to affect their lives and be a positive role model for them.
Contessa is very passionate about what she does.
Geraldine - Co-Teacher -
Geraldine recently moved here from Cleveland, Ohio, where she retired after 30 years of teaching in the East Cleveland City School District. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Geraldine has her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. She states, “I chose to become an elementary educator because it is the sincere joy of my heart to be greatly involved in the growth and development of young children.”
Sarah C. - Floater -
Sarah graduated from Mars Hill College in 2000 with a degree in Social Work. She has over 10 years of experience working with and nurturing children. Sarah worked for the Little Gym for 5 years and loved helping build motor skills in a fun and nurturing environment, while fostering enhanced emotional, intellectual and social skills. She is deeply committed to promoting healthy and successful physical and mental development of children. Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, running and watching football and basketball.
Stephanie - Assistant Teacher - Stephanie has been married since 1989. She has four children, two boys and two girls. Stephanie attended nursing school at Roane State. She worked at Parkwest
in surgery and then in labor and delivery. She has worked in childcare since 2000.
Stephanie has recently graduated from Roane State.
Ana - Floater -
Ana is originally from Klaipeda, Lithuania. She is currently attending Pellissippi State Community College to receive her Associate’s degree in Child Psychology in spring of 2011. Ana will be transferring to UT in the fall of 2011 to pursue a major in Child Psychology and a minor in Education. She has worked at a gymnastics center for children for over two years and has a lot of experience with children of all ages. Ana is ecstatic about working with children and being a positive role model for them at all times. Her other interests are art, live music, healthy lifestyle, hiking, traveling and reading.
Hillari - Co-Teacher - Hillari is originally from California, but moved to Seymour, TN in 1991. She graduated from Carson-Newman College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She has been working with children since 2007 and has loved every minute of it. When Hillari is not working, she is taking pictures, playing with her four dogs and camping when the weather is nice. She teaches Sunday School and classes at the church she attends.
Elizabeth (Liz) - Co-Teacher -
Elizabeth is originally from Nashville but has lived in Knoxville for the past four years. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville in May 2011 with a degree in English Literature. Elizabeth loved East Tennessee so much, she decided to move here permanently. She is planning on starting work on a Master's in elementary education in the next year. Elizabeth absolutely loves teaching at The Goddard School and cannot imagine working anywhere else. When not at School, Elizabeth enjoys hiking, reading, painting, and playing with her dog, Bella.
Elizabeth - Co-Teacher -
Elizabeth graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2005 with a Bachelor's degree in English. She enjoys teaching and has spent several years working with children from infants through teenagers. Her experience includes several years of toddler and pre-K teaching in Knoxville and teaching kindergarten, elementary and middle school English classes in South Korea. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling. She is very happy to be expecting her first child in February 2012.
Sarah A. - Floater -
Sarah was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. She has been working with children since 2005 as a nanny. Sarah is a student at Pellissippi State where she plans on graduating with an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education in May 2012. Sarah loves children and enjoys spending time teaching them. When she is not at School or attending classes, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to church and watching movies.