Employee of the Month: Miss Anisa
Our May employee of the month is Miss Anisa. She is extremely dedicated to making Goddard the best preschool! She often comes by on the weekends to repaint rooms and steam clean the carpets. She is constantly trying to improve our school from new menu items, to new curricular resources, to playground equipment. We really appreciate all that you do for the families and faculty at Goddard - thank you!
Onsite Owner - Anisa Ali chose to own The Goddard School located in Saint Charles because she wanted to be able to create a warm, nurturing, educational environment for children. Early childhood education is the foundation for learning and impacts the future success of each child as they enter elementary school and beyond. Education has always been an important aspect of Anisa's life and being able to influence children's early love of learning is a perfect fit. Anisa has a MBA from the University of Chicago and Bachelors and Masters degrees from Michigan Technological University in Environmental and Civil Engineering.
Director - Ms. Heather Ms. Heather has worked in the education field for fifteen years and is putting her experience with young children to work while being a part of the management team at Goddard. She is always excited to meet and get to know our new families and maintains wonderful relationships with our existing families as well. Ms. Heather has been with Goddard since 2006. She has a certificate in Administration from North Carolina Central University, an Associate's degree in Education from Waubonsee Community College and is finishing a degree in Education at NIU. Heather looks forward to helping each child build a strong foundation which will support them as they grow and develop to their fullest potential.
Little Angels - Infants - Ms. Kim graduated from Elgin Community College with an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education. Kim was a toddler teacher with Goddard for three years before moving to the infant room. Ms. Kim has been part of the Goddard team since 2007. "It has been a joy for me to form relationships with the children and faculty at Goddard," adds Kim.
Little Angels - Infants - Ms. Amanda has been working at Goddard since 2008. She is completed her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Ms. Amanda has worked in most of the classrooms but, most recently I have been in the Little Angels room. She loves working with all the children!
Little Angels- Infants Ms. Kara is very excited to return to the Goddard team after leaving to finish her Teaching Certificate from Northern Illinois University. Ms. Kara is a lead teacher in the Little Angels class, she loves working with infants and watching them grow.
Little Angels - Infants Ms. Kari is a Lead Teacher in the Little Angels and Water Lilies classrooms. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. Ms. Kari has been working in the infant room and she is very excited to also join the Water Lilies team and get to know all the children and families. Ms. Kari has been a Goddard team member since 2011.
Kitty Cats - First Steps - Ms. Cassie has been working with children for fourteen years. She loves working with her favorite age group, Toddlers! She enjoys being with them as they grow and develop, and feels honored to be part of their lives. Ms. Cassie is completing her degree in Early Childhood Education from Elgin Community College and has been a Goddard team member since 2011.
Kitty Cats/Ducklings - First Steps/Toddler - Ms. Gina T. is a teacher in both our Ducklings and Kitty Cats classrooms. Ms. Gina has her Child Development Associate's specializing in infants and toddlers. She is also attending College of DuPage working on her Associate's degree. Ms. Gina is an asset to our team and has been a Goddard team member since 2011.
Ducklings - Toddlers - Ms. Danielle has enjoyed working in the Ducklings classroom since 2006 and has recently joined the management team as well. She has been teaching Toddlers for over nine years and found her niche. Ms. Danielle believes that this age group is rewarding and so fun to teach. She completed her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from College of DuPage. Ms. Danielle enjoys working at Goddard and values the relationships she has developed with our children, families and faculty! "I am also looking forward to joining the management team in the office a few nights a week," adds Danielle.
Ducklings - Toddlers- Ms. Bridgette loves being in the Toddler classroom. She is completing her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education at Elgin Community College. She has two years of experience working with young children and believes a play is the brain's favorite way to learn! Ms. Bridgette has been part of the Goddard team since 2011.
Ducklings - Toddler Ms. Marlo is excited to join the Ducklings classroom in the afternoons. Ms. Marlo has her Child Development Associate. She has many years of experience working with children of all ages. Ms Marlo believes that every child is unique and learns in a different way.
Water Lilies - Get Set Ms. Kari is a Lead Teacher in the Little Angels and Water Lilies classrooms. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Northern Illinois University. Ms. Kari has been working in the infant room and she is very excited to also join the Water Lilies team and get to know all the children and families. Ms. Kari has been a Goddard team member since 2011.
Water Lilies - Get Set Ms. Korrina joined our Goddard team in 2012, she is very excited to join our Get Set room. Korrina has an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Elgin Community College. Korrina has many years of experience working in a preschool setting. Korrina adds, "I think all children deserve to be in a learning environment where they feel special."
Apple Cottage - Preschool - Ms. Gina D. has been a Lead Teacher in our Apple Cottage classroom since 2005. She has taught two-year-old to thirteen-year-old children for thirteen years. Gina has two teenage children - a son and a daughter, and served as a Girl Scout Leader for several years. Ms. Gina has also volunteered in public schools and the park district, helping the children and teachers in her children’s classes. Gina has a Child Development Associate's degree (CDA) in Early Childcare. She enjoys teaching and watching the children in her care interact with her and each other. "I love seeing children progress socially, physically and academically, and look forward to meeting you and your child," adds Gina.
Apple Cottage - Preschool Ms. Krista is very exited to be a Lead Teacher in the Apple Cottage Classroom. She has an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Elgin Community College and has 10 years experience teaching preschool. Ms. Krista adds that she loves each childs unique qualities.
Bunnies - Preschool 2 - Ms. Kelsey is very excited to be a lead teacher in our Bunnies class! She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Kelsey has several years of experience working in Early Childhood Education. Her favorite thing about working with children is that each day is different and exciting! She loves to learn and try to instill a love of learning in her students by implementing engaging, hands-on lessons and activities that help foster imagination and creativity! Ms. Kelsey has been a Goddard team member since 2010.
Bunnies - Preschool 2- Ms. Janette is a lead teacher in the Bunnies classroom. Ms. Janette has an Associate's degree in Early Childhood Development and has been teaching for eighteen years. Ms. Janette brings such wonderful creative ideas into the classroom for the children, they can't help but be excited and engaged. She loves to see children have "light bulb" moments, when they have learned a new task or mastered a new developmental milestone. Ms. Janette has been part of the Goddard team since 2011.
Squirrels - Pre-Kindergarten - Ms. Melissa is excited to join the Goddard family. Ms. Melissa is a Missouri native with sixteen years of experience in the preschool field. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Development from college of the Ozarks near Branson Missouri. Ms. Melissa says, "I feel that learning should be fun and I try to plan activities that I am excited about because excitement is contagious!" Ms. Melissa welcomes families to approach her with any questions or concerns they may have. Ms. Melissa has been part of the Goddard team since 2010.
Squirrels - Pre-Kindergarten - Ms. Annemarie has been part of the Goddard team since 2005 when the school first opened. She has had the pleasure of teaching in our Junior-Kindergarten class. Ms. Annemarie has been teaching preschool for twenty-one years and has the ability to develop long lasting relationships with both the children and their parents. Annemarie truly enjoys co-teaching with Ms. Melissa. She attended Queensborough College working towards a degree in Education. "It's a pleasure working at Goddard and I love my Junior-Kindergarten class," adds Annemarie.
Enchanting Forest - Kindergarten - Ms. Michelle is very happy to be part of the Goddard family since 2008. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from National Louis University in Elementary Education and is excited to use her education to teach the children in the Kindergarten classroom. She has worked with children for seven years and loves every minutes of it. It’s a joy for Michelle to watch children learn and grow, knowing that she played a small part in their lives.
Assistant Teacher - Mr. Frank graduated from St. Charles East High School and is currently attending Elgin Community College. Mr. Frank is an Assistant Teacher in our School-Age classroom and also helps out as needed in some of our Preschool classrooms.
Cook/Teacher - Mr. Joe is our wonderful cook. You will be shocked when you realize that the children will actually eat their vegetables! Mr. Joe has been a preschool teacher for eight years and started cooking a couple of years ago and found that he loves it! Mr. Joe loves the interaction with the children, so you will often find him on the playground playing with them. Mr. Joe is also fluent in Japanese, so if your children come home with some new and interesting sounding words, you know where it came from.
Substitute - Ms. Vanessa is excited to join the Goddard team as a substitute. Vanessa is finishing her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education at Collage of DuPage. She has many years of experience supervising children of all ages.
Teacher Assistant -Ms. Giselle Ms. Giselle joined us in 2012 as an assistant teacher, she has 2 years experience working with children and has always wanted to be a preschool teacher like her mom, she is currently pursing her Child Development Associate,
Substitute - Ms. Desiree has been with us since 2011, she started out in the preschool classrooms but now helps us out in all the classrooms while finishing her Degree at Northern Illinois University.Ms Desiree has a passion for teaching and it really shows!