Welcome to The Goddard School in Doylestown! My name is Lisa Heckmann, and I have been the proud owner of this highly-rated, early learning establishment since 2003. Each time you and your children enter our doors, you will be surrounded by all that our Circle of Excellence School, professional faculty, and quality programs have to offer. As a mother of three wonderful children and a grandmother, I understand the importance of meeting each child’s individual needs. For this reason, we strive to provide each student with high-quality, differentiated instruction that incorporates engaging, hands-on experiences on a daily basis. Our school is also a nurturing environment, designed to educate the whole child and to foster a lifelong love of learning.

Caroline Farrell is our Director of Operations. Caroline offers a wealth of knowledge and leadership to our faculty, children and families. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Temple University and her Master's Degree In Social Work from Bryn Mawr College. Caroline is passionate about creating a fun, safe, and nurturing environment so that the children and staff enjoy coming to school each day.

Julie Tilley initially joined our Goddard Family as our Pre-K 1 teacher. After gaining some experience in a Goddard classroom, she was promoted and became our Director of Education in July 2022. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Elizabethtown College, along with a certification in Pre-K through 4th grade. Julie has worked in early childhood education for 6+ years. She believes every child has a unique approach to learning. When asking Julie what she loves about working at The Goddard School, Julie shared, "I love working with young children because they are always ready to try something new. It is exciting to help mold the minds of our future leaders and I am grateful to be able to watch your children learn and grow each year!”

Ms. Betsy is one of the Assistant Teachers in the Infant Classroom. She has extensive experience as an Infant Teacher and loves helping the littlest learners! She believes that infants learn best in a loving and nurturing environment. When asked about why she loves teaching, Ms. Betsy says, "By getting down on their level and bringing sensory-rich experiences to them, infants develop curiosity and imagination. It is so rewarding to watch them grow and develop into young toddlers and I feel lucky to be a part of that growth!"

Ms. Eija feels lucky to be a part of the Goddard School. She says it is a safe and fun environment for the children to learn and grow. Ms. Eija has been a nanny for over three years and enjoys watching the children grow up. When asked about why she loves working with children she said, "I love watching each child develop their own individual character through learning and playing."

Ms. Anastasia is currently enrolled in her CDA program at Northampton Community College. Ms. Anastasia has experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and is a mother of three wonderful girls! When asked what she loves about working in early childhood education, she shared, “I love working with young children and helping to develop their minds."

Ms. Riley is currently working towards her Infant/Toddler and Preschool CDA. She has over five years of experience in different childcare settings. When asked why she chose to pursue early childhood education Ms. Riley says, "I have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children's lives, and that is what makes this an incredibly fulfilling field to work in. My passion for nurturing young minds and helping them learn and grow is what motivates me every day." In her free time, she loves watching the Phillies and going to Target!

Miss Firuza has her Bachelor's and Master's degree from Khujand State University. She has been working in child care for over 9 months and is also a mother to three beautiful daughters. Miss Firuza believes early childhood education helps children socialize, learn how to communicate, and master independence. When asked what she loves about teaching, Miss Firuza said, "I really like working with children." She enjoys playing and helping them explore their surroundings.

Ms. Jojo is the Lead Toddler Teacher. Jojo has a CDA and dedicated the last 20 years to teaching children. Miss Jojo believes a school and classroom should provide a safe, caring environment where children can speak their minds, blossom and grow. One of Ms. Jojo's favorite things about working with children is the look of excitement they have when they learn something new.

Ms. Meghan is excited to be a teacher here at The Goddard School. Prior to joining us, she has been working with children for over 5 years. Ms. Meghan was a teacher at the Before and Aftercare Program in the Hatboro Horsham School District. Ms. Meghan believes working in the early childhood education field is so rewarding. She loves watching the students learn and grow! When asked about what makes teaching so special Ms. Meghan said, "providing young children with a strong educational foundation during their formative years is very important, and I am proud to be a part of it."

Cathy has been an important part of our Goddard Team since 2003! She has been our Lead Teacher in our Get-Set Room for over 19 years and loves working with 2 year olds! Cathy finds the Get-Set room both challenging and rewarding. She looks forward to the many years to come and hopes to be a part of The Goddard team for a very long time. Cathy has earned her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Linda joined our team at the Goddard School as our Preschool co-teacher in 2014. Linda graduated from Northampton Community College with her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Over the past twenty years she has had the opportunity to work with children of varying ages, from Infants through Pre-Kindergarten. Linda feels that helping children develop new skills socially, emotionally, and academically in an environment that treats each child as an individual has always been an important and wonderful part of her life.

Ms. Kristen has been working with kids for 20 years and she holds her bachelor’s in human services from Chestnut Hill College. Ms. Kristen believes a safe and nurturing environment is crucial to the success of a child. She believes no two children are the same and what works for one may not work for the other and that is okay. When asked why she enjoys working with children she said, “I love how curious and eager to learn children are. I enjoy fostering their innate curiosity.”

Ms. Nina has her PA teaching certificate for Pre-K-Grade 4 and PA teaching certificate for Special Education Pre-K-Grade 12. She has been working in childcare for over 2 years. Nina believes every child is unique and their education should be individualized to fit their needs. She says education should be an engaging and hands on experience lead by the students’ curiosity and interests. When asked why she enjoys working with children she states, “I love working with children because it is so rewarding watching and guiding children figure things out and have that Aha Moment!”

Ms. Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible Mission and has 16 years of experience teaching in both academic and childcare classrooms. She thoroughly enjoys being in early childhood education because of her love of teaching and enjoys the energy and unique abilities children have. When asked about her role as a childcare provider, "I believe it is my role to provide a calm and enjoyable environment that is conducive for learning, through both playtime and structured learning." In her free time, Ms. Nancy enjoys being with her family as well as gardening and spending lots of time outdoors.

Ms. Hailey holds her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Immaculata University. She started with us right after she graduated college and has been with us since September 2022. Before joining us at Goddard, she helped take care of her younger brothers and was a substitute teacher. Ms. Hailey believes children are naturally curious. She enjoys being able to help them explore that curiosity as their teacher. When asked about her role as a teacher Ms. Hailey said, “Young children need a safe and nurturing environment to grow, learn, and play in and I am thrilled to be able to provide that for them.”

Ms. Stephanie holds her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Elementary Education at Lycoming College. She also has a Master’s of Science degree in Education from St. Joseph’s University with a concentration in Special Education and Reading. Ms. Stephanie believes it is her job to provide the foundation for her students' future learning and success. She believes early childhood education fosters intellectual curiosity, problem solving skills, language and communicative skills and creativity. When asked about her role in the children's development she said, "By investing in early childhood education, we can provide children with a solid foundation and empower them to reach their full potential in later stages of life." Ms. Stephanie has shared that working with children in early childhood is truly a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It brings her immense joy to witness the growth and development of young minds firsthand.

Ms. Lux is currently working towards her degree in Early Childhood Education from Bucks County Community College. Ms. Lux believes children create an exciting, interactive environment. She loves being able to provide a positive impact on their lives. When asked about why she enjoys working with children she says, "I love having the opportunity to watch them grow and use their imagination in numerous ways."