Owner -
John R. Coe Jr.
Eleven years ago I signed a contract to open The Goddard School® located in Medford, New Jersey. Nine years ago (August 1999) it became a reality. It started slowly because there weren't many kids at first, but through hard work and dedication our reputation started to grow. Then unfortunately, at times we had to turn some children away - there were so many children we couldn't enroll everyone! I thank my wonderful, experienced, educated and loving staff! But back to my biography.... I’ve been married to my wife Rosemarie for 34 years, we have three wonderful children, a daughter 33 years, a son 29 years and another son 25 years. We also have fabulous granddaughters; an 8 year old, a 5 year old and a new baby not yet 1 year old.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics from The Pennsylvania Sate University 1970
Work Experience: 25 years of fixed income trading and sales on Wall Street in New York City.
Military: U.S. Army, stationed in Germany 1970-1972
Also: I love to read and really, really love to travel!!
Director -
S. Renee Powell
My mother always told me to "Find something you love to do, and then find someone to pay you to do it." I was able to do that! I have always had a love for children. With this love I pursued a Bachelor's of Science degree in Education from West Chester University. After graduation, I worked in the public schools as a substitute. I then worked for a textbook publishing company, but I missed the children! So in 1994 I started my preschool life at the Burlington County Y! When The Goddard School® located in Westampton was opening, I knew I needed to work there. In 1999, I had returned from working in Yellowstone National Park, when John Coe called to tell me about his school (he had dialed the wrong number!) I knew this was where I was meant to work. I enjoy seeing the children everyday and being a part of a program that provides not only a great curriculum, but a wonderful learning environment. On a personal note, my husband and I were married in July 2000. We are the proud parents of two sons, who join me at school each day. We have two dogs, a cat, and two cockatiels. I enjoy spending time with my family, we particularly like to visit the beach or zoo. I enjoy traveling but just don't have much time for it lately!
Jaime Stanton, Assistant Director - Growing up in Altoona, PA (near Penn State) I never expected to find myself anywhere near New Jersey. But when my fiancée said, “How do you feel about moving to New Jersey?” I said, “Not good.” Now we've lived in New Jersey for six years and I can’t imagine my life not being here. I graduated from Penn State University with a BS in Child and Adolescent Psychology and started working at The Goddard School® after being in New Jersey for three months. I started as an Assistant Teacher in the toddler room and became Lead Teacher one year later. I was the Lead Teacher in the toddlers room for four years and recently took the position of Lead Teacher in the Get Set class. Last year, I was promoted to Assistant Director. I have a little boy of my own that attends Goddard with me, which is wonderful. My favorite activities are reading, watching movies and spending quiet evenings with my family. The Goddard School® has become a second family to me and I cherish everyday I have with people who truly care about each other. I enjoy seeing all those smiling faces each morning and having the comfort of dropping my son off with some of the best people I know. It is a good thing my husband got a job in New Jersey or I would have missed out on meeting some of the best people I have ever met.
Kim Burke, Assistant Director - I’ve always loved being around children. After high school I tried different occupations including being a Field Consultant for the Subway Development Corporation but I soon realized that I was not going to be happy until I was working with children. I started working at Goddard in 2003 and I can’t imagine working anywhere else. The children, parents and staff are wonderful. I’m currently the Lead Teacher in the First Steps classroom and I absolutely love it. I can honestly say that there is never a dull moment in our class. I’ve been married to my husband and high school sweetheart since May of 2005. We have a wonderful little girl, who is two-years old and another baby girl born in February of 2009. I am currently working on my Associate's degree and, although it’s a late start, I’m enjoying the college experience. I love spending time with my family as well as reading and playing sports.
Sammy Miller, Assistant Director - I began working at The Goddard School located in Medford in May of 2008 and love it! Now I am working with the younger three-year-old children in the Preschool 1 room and we are having lots of fun! I worked at The Goddard School located in Westampton for seven years as a Lead Teacher in the Infant and Preschool rooms as well as a Co-Director. I have an Associate's degree in Education. I've always been fascinated with babies and children. During high school I even took a two-year Child Care Course that required writing lesson plans for three- and four-year old children that we would teach for a few hours a day, a couple days a week. My two children, a four-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, attend Goddard with me. My husband and I live with our two children in the area. We enjoy activities that are outside including four wheeling, riding quads and camping.