Faculty Bios

School Owners -
Miss Michele Michele, the on-site owner, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Botany and Environmental Science at Miami University in Ohio. She wanted to operate a business that plays an important role in the community by providing an outstanding service for busy parents. “I think our ongoing experience as parents will help us be in touch with and appreciate the needs of our families. We are excited to own a business that is centered on our most important priority – family,” adds Michele. Michele and Daryl Clark became the owners of The Goddard School® located in Lake in the Hills in May of 2008. They are also the proud parents of two active daughters and recognize the importance of providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all children. Their family is the basis for the reason they chose Goddard, and they are happy to be able to provide Goddard’s outstanding program to the children in the Lake in the Hills community. As working parents, the Clark’s and their daughters had a great experience with The Goddard School® at another location where they witnessed the Goddard program in practice. They were delighted to watch the developmental strides their little girls made at The Goddard School® during this time, including the bonds they made with other children. They look forward to sharing the same experience with you at their school.

Miss Marianne -
Miss Marianne is our Director at The Goddard School® located in Lake in the Hills. She joined our team in May of 2008. Marianne attended college and majored in Marketing. After a successful career in retail management, she returned to college to complete the coursework necessary to become teacher qualified. She continued her education even further to achieve director qualifications. Marianne has been working in the education field since 1987 and looks forward to continuing her career at The Goddard School®.

Miss Cyndi - Miss Cyndi is our Assistant Director at The Goddard School® located in Lake in the Hills. She joined our teaching team in the infant room in October of 2006 and was promoted to the position of Assistant Director in May of 2008. Cyndi earned an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at McHenry County College and has worked in the field since 1997. “After working and observing in several different settings and facilities, I became very picky in choosing my workplace. The high standards and quality program offered at The Goddard School® met all of the expectations I look for,” adds Cyndi.

Miss Ashley - Miss Ashley joined our teaching team at The Goddard School® located in Lake in the Hills in July of 2008. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from National-Louis University and an Associate’s degree in Science from McHenry County College. In an early childhood setting, the children are growing and learning in many ways. As a teacher, Ashley enjoys watching each child grow and learn in this very important stage of their life. “I chose to join The Goddard School® team because of the high value they place on Early Childhood Education,” adds Ashley.

Miss Patty - Miss Patty teaches in our Monkeys classroom and joined our team in October of 2007. She has a Bachelor’s degree and is certified to teach Kindergarten through grade nine. Her background includes thirty-four years experience teaching in a first grade classroom. Patty retired but really wanted to return to a job in the field of education. “I chose preschool because I wanted to see where children truly begin their learning experience,” adds Patty.

Miss Marie - Miss Marie joined our team as Support Staff in May of 2008. Now she works as a lead teacher in our infant program.  She has earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) specializing in infants and toddler. She has such a passion for helping children and loves the feeling of knowing she is doing something good for children during these important developmental stages.

Miss Betty - Miss Betty teaches in our Koalas classroom and joined our teaching team at The Goddard School® located in Lake in the Hills in August of 2008. She attended Kirkwood Community College in Iowa, was a stay at home mom for thirteen years, and a Kindergarten aid at a Christian School in Crystal Lake for seven years before joining our school. Betty and her husband have a son and two daughters. They will soon find themselves as "empty nesters" so spending time with little ones is a joy for Miss Betty!

Miss Shelley - Miss Shelley returned to Illinois after spending five years in northern Colorado and is excited about being a new mom. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Lake Forest College. Miss Shelley has worked over ten years with children ages two to thirteen. She has been involved in various areas in education including teaching a private Kindergarten class, running before and after-school programs, coordinating special events, running summer camps, organizing community service projects and implementing a recycling program.

Miss Kim V. - Miss Kim joined The Goddard School in September 2009 in the position of Classroom Support. She likes the experience of working with all the children in the school. Miss Kim is a valuable asset to our school because she brings years of experience providing high quality in-home care for children from infancy to first grade.

Miss Pat (Mrs. K) - Mrs K. is our Kindergarten (Kangaroos) teacher and has worked with children for approximately thirty-six years. She has been a counselor for the Chicago park district, substitute teacher, preschool teacher, preschool director with a faculty of fifteen, and a Kindergarten Teacher. She also initiated the "Circle of Friends" after-school program for Dundee Township Park District and created and implemented "Pollywog Camp" for four- to six-year-olds. She joined the Goddard team in 2008 and she truly believes in the philosophy of learning through play. Mrs. K lives in Lake in the Hills with her husband and daughter.

Miss Kim S. - Miss Kim joined The Goddard School in January of 2009 and teaches in our Tigers classroom. She earned a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction and is working on her second Master's degree in Child Development. Prior to teaching at The Goddard School, Miss Kim taught first and third grades in Cary for seven years. She also has two children who attend our school.

Miss Lindsey - Miss Lindsey, a teacher in our Lions classroom, joined The Goddard School in October 2008. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She enjoys being outside and feels it is important for children to be exposed to the outdoors and fresh air every day.

Miss Saba - Miss Saba, a teacher in our Penguins classroom, joined The Goddard School in May of 2010 after twelve years of experience in the field. She earned a Master's degree in International Relations from Pakistan before changing careers to be with her children. Miss Saba has earned her CCP and is recognized as a Certified Childcare Professional by the National Child Care Association.

Miss Laura - Miss Laura, a teacher in our Penguins classroom, joined The Goddard School in September of 2010 after spending two years teaching Child Development courses to high school students. She graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and is currently furthering her education by working on a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

Miss Laura L. - Miss Laura spent two years studying Special Education in college. She has been working in the field of early childhood education for over thirty years. As a support teacher in our school, Miss Laura loves working with children of different ages. She enjoys watching them grow and learn. She loves their excitement and the smiles on their faces when they learn something new.

Miss Tiffany - Miss Tiffany is attending McHenry County College to earn her Associate's degree in early childhood education. Her position is teacher assistant and support in all of our classrooms. Miss Tiffany is excited about her developing career in early childhood. She has always wanted to work in this field. She loves the perks of seeing children's smiling faces every day she comes to work.

Miss Sheryl -
Miss Sheryl is our lead teacher in our second infant room, the Turtles. Sheryl has her CDA and nine college credit hours in early childhood education. Miss Sheryl has loved working with children since the start of her career in 1998. She prides herself in being a "natural" with children, especially our youngest students.

Miss Ashley B. -
Miss Ashley earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University.  She is a lead teacher for our Get Set program in the Frogs classroom. She has always wanted to be a teacher since she was about five years old. Miss Ashley says, "Young children possess so many wonderful and enriching qualities. To watch them grow and be excited about new things that they discover is extremely powerful and rewarding."

Miss Sarika -
Miss Sarika holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemistry. She is a teacher in our preschool program. Her background is diverse having lived in India and moved to the United States. Prior to working at Goddard she was a teacher of young children for four years. In addition to enjoying her time with her students, she loves spending time with her husband and three children.

Miss Maryclare Miss Maryclare started at our school as a substitute teacher. While covering a maternity leave she became an integral part of our school family. Now she and Miss Ashley share the lead teacher responsibilities in our Tiger classroom. When she is not at our school, Miss Maryclare keeps very busy working to finish her degree at Kendall College in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special Education.

Miss Mandy Miss Mandy joined our school as a substitute teacher and has now found a more permanent role as a part time assistant teacher in our Frogs classroom. She loves working with the toddlers and is known to be especially gentle and patient. When not at Goddard, Miss Mandy is busy caring for her daughter and assisting at her husband's medical practice. She is also completing additional Early Childhood Education courses at McHenry County College.