Our Goddard School Teachers

Ms. Penny graduated from Rutgers University. She worked as a Software Engineer for five years. She opened the school after searching for a quality preschool environment for her own child. She and her husband, Yuri, now have six children. Ms. Penny loves watching the daily interactions between staff and children, and knowing that the children are in a positive learning environment. She is the original owner of this location, opened in 2008. She is proud to be the onsite owner and help support the best teachers in Early Childhood Education.

Crystal is the Education Director at our school. She has been a part of our Goddard family since August 2012. She has her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Plattsburgh State University. She taught in the preschool for many years before becoming the Director. Her favorite part about working in early childhood education is being around the children, they can guarantee that everyday will be filled with smiles.

Ms. Maressa is the Assistant Director at our school. She has been a member of the Goddard Family since November 2021. She originally was raised in Japan, and Moved to Arizona in 2007. Ms. Maressa obtained her Bachelors in Psychology and Bachelors in Criminology/Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University in 2021. She has worked with multiple childcare and respite care agencies since 2013, and has always been fascinated with young children grasping their passion of learning and exploring. Her favorite part about working in early childhood education is being around the children and watching them understand more and more of their personality, identity, and capabilities.

Ms. Breanna is the Lead teacher in the Koalas Infant program. She moved to Arizona from Hawaii, and have been living in Arizona for about 8 years. She has been a member of the Goddard Family since August of 2021, and she has 5 years of experience working with children of all ages. She obtained her Associates Degree in Education, and is currently working towards her Bachelor's in Early and Special Education. In her spare time, she likes to work out, go on road trips, and spend time with her two daughters. She looks forward to working with you and your child as well as being a part of their first steps in their journey to learn!

Ms. Jazie is the Assistant teacher for our Koalas Infant Program. Ms. Jazie is an Arizonian born and raised, and has been working in childcare for over 9 years. In January of 2020, Ms. Jazie received her Child Development Associate, and she is also in the works of obtaining her bachelors in Elementary Education! Her favorite part about working with children is watching them learn and seeing their progression. One of Ms. Jazie's favorite hobbies is painting, and her passion is to teach children and the new generations to come! "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin

Ms. Emily is the Assistant Teacher in the Koalas classroom, and joined the Goddard Family in October 2025! She has been working in Childcare since 2020. She is originally from Michigan! Ms. Emily has a background in Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, but grew up right near the 45th parallel in a small coastal town called Charlevoix. Growing up in Northern Michigan has given her so much love for the outdoors, and enjoys her free time hiking and camping with her husband and their pups! During the Arizona summers, Ms. Emily also enjoys her time reading or baking! Her favorite quote is "Absurd times call for absurd amounts of love".

Ms. Caitlin is the Lead Teacher in the Penguins Classroom! She is from Arizona born and raised! She has lived in phoenix most of her life, but lived in Tucson while completing her Bachelors in Psychology. Her favorite part of working in Childcare is providing a safe environment for children to thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog and cat, and loves to swim.

Ms. Dianne is the Assistant Teacher in the Chameleons Twos program. She has been with Goddard in Chandler since January 2020, but joined our Gilbert location in July of 2023. Ms. Dianne has a true passion for working with children and values the growth they experience when supporting them academically, emotionally, and socially. Ms. Dianne is proficient in Tagalog and enjoys baking and playing video games!

Ms. Sydni is the Lead Teacher for the Toddler Chimps Classroom. She has been a of member of the Goddard Family since May of 2022, and has 7+ years of experience working with children from infants to elementary school-aged children. In her free time, she loves listening to music, spending time with her animals, and loves the K-Pop band BTS! Her favorite part about working in early childhood education is giving the children a safe-space and second home, and seeing the children express joy and free spirit.

Ms. Wulan is the lead teacher in our Macaws Toddlers program. She has her Child Development Associates or CDA from the National Credentialing Program. She loves showing toddlers new and exciting things and teaching them the importance of play! She is also trilingual in English, Korean, and Indonesian. Ms. Wulan has been part of the Goddard family since August 2016. "Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."

Ms. AnnMarie is the assistant teacher in our Macaws Toddler program, and she has been a member of the Goddard Family since January of 2021! Originally from Brooklyn New York, she moved to Arizona in 2008, and has been in the childcare career field for 15+ years (and home care for 8 years). One of her main goals is to encourage a fun and safe environment for the children to thrive in. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing them learn, grow, and laugh. She also loves how children can make her rainy days completely better and makes her heart happy. She is a proud mother and grandmother, and values her time with her family dearly. "One day at a time!"

Ms. Rebecca is the Lead Teacher for the Twos program Chameleons Class! She has 10+ years of experience working with children and has been in the Goddard Family since June 2023. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them grow and creating as many "lightbulb" moments as possible. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and cats, hiking, shopping, and watching movies.

Ms. Jasmine is the Assistant Teacher for the Chameleons Class. She has been a member of the Goddard Family since April of 2023. She is originally from Southern California and lived in Montana and moved to Arizona in 2019. She obtained her associate in arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing them excited about simple things and everyday things that adults overlook. Ms. Jasmine loves to travel, run with her dog and take care of her chickens and ducks.

Ms. Jessica is the Lead Teacher for the Zebras Class! She is originally from Aurora, Colorado, and moved to Arizona in 2010. Ms. Jessica has been a member of the Goddard family since March 2025, and has 5+ years of experience working in Childcare! She is currently a student at Grand Canyon University obtaining her bachelor's degree in early childhood education. In her free time, she enjoys walking her dogs and going to the movie theaters! Her favorite thing about working with children is seeing the children grow and learn everyday as it is rewarding to watch them discover new things and develop their personalities. "The future of the world is in my classroom today!" - Ivan Welton Fitzwater

Ms. Markeda is the Assistant Teacher in the Zebras Classroom. She has been a member of the Goddard family since May 2024. She is originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas and a year after graduating high school she enlisted in the U.S. Army - active duty and served for 7 years. Now, she is a Sergeant in the Army Reserves. While on active duty she began her education to earn her degree in Early Childhood Education. Her favorite part about working with children is interacting with them and seeing them grow and learn every day. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring Arizona with her daughter.

Ms. Teya is the Assistant Teacher for the Zebras classroom! She is originally from Idaho, and moved to Arizona in 2007! She has been a member of the Goddard Family since June of 2025, and she has been working in childcare since 2018. She is also licensed as a post-partum doula and has a great passion for helping and caring for others. One of her favorite things about working in childcare is incorporating art into the children's everyday lives, and expanding their minds to grow their creativity! She loves being able to allow children to be themselves, and to inspire them to never be afraid to express themselves!

Ms. Leanna is our Tigers Lead Teacher in our Bridge Program! She has been childcare all her life, starting as an oldest sibling to two brothers, then gaining more experience going into Sunday School, and becoming a professional nanny after High School. She was born and raised in Arizona. Ms. Leanna loves working in childcare because she still has all the room to utilize her free-spirited and childlike energy, while also helping and teaching the future generation! She hopes to one day use her musical theatre knowledge to become a drama teacher! She loves musicals, dance parties, arts and crafts, and singing songs with all of her friends!

Ms. Taylor is the Tigers Assistant Teacher! She joined the Goddard Family in September 2025 and is a mother of three! She is originally from Connecticut but has lived in Arizona most of her life. She enjoys spending most of her free time with her family, and almost always have a book in her hand, she loves to read! Ms. Taylor's favorite part about working in Childcare is building relationships with the children and watching them reach that "ah-ha!" moment. Her biggest goal is to help the next generation learn to love reading, and her favorite quote is "Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be".

Ms. Kenna is the Lead Teacher for our Dolphins Classroom! She has been working in childcare since 2020, and she is currently attending Arizona State University for her bachelor's in history. Ms. Kenna was born and raised in Kansas City, has also lived in Colorado, then moved to Arizona in 2021. During her free time, she enjoys reading, playing video games, swimming and hiking. One of her favorite things about working in childcare is getting to bond with the children and making fun crafts!

Ms. Sofia is the Lead Teacher for our Pre-K program, the Polar Bears classroom! She joined the Goddard Family in October 2024, and has 8+ years of experience in childcare and education. Originally from Columbia, she moved to the US in 2013 and obtained her Master's in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University. Her favorite thing about working with children is seeing the children's excitement when they achieve new milestones! In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, spending time listening to music, reading, and snuggling her cat!

Ms. Jan has been a member of the Goddard family since April 2024. She is originally from Kentucky, and has lived in North and South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia before moving to Arizona in 2000. Ms. Jan has over 12+ years of experience working with children. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing the excitement on their faces when they learn something new and accomplish something on their own. In her free time, she enjoys making art, practicing yoga, or watching a good movie.

Ms. Star is one of our resource teachers working with ages 6 weeks through five years old. She has been a part of our Goddard family since December 2018. Her favorite thing about being a teacher is playing with the children.

Ms. Majoba is a Resource Teacher here at The Goddard School. She is from Kabul, Afghanistan, and attended Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. She has 15 years of childcare Experience, and she is dedicated to support emotional, social, and academic development of young children. Ms. Majoba speaks 5 languages; English, Farsi, Arabic, Pashto, and Urdu/Hindi! She enjoys spending time with the children while they engage in activities that encourage learning.