Our Goddard School Teachers

We are excited and proud to be a part of the Goddard School. As the On-site owners, we are committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in this community. We believe in making our school a home away from home for the children. We are parents to two children and recognize the importance of a safe and nurturing learning environment. Our goal is to provide a strong foundation for our children, and we are thrilled to be a part of the Coral Springs-Parkland community. We believe family is the basis for why we chose Goddard and are happy to be able to provide Goddard’s outstanding program to the children. We look forward to welcoming you and your children to the Goddard family.

I was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City. Returning home I noticed the lack of ESL for young children in the Dominican Republic, this inspired me to become a teacher 27 years ago. I founded a bilingual school which continues to thrive. After many rewarding years I returned to the United States, eager to continue making a difference in the lives of children and families. I believe every child is unique and has individual needs, I always try to awaken their interest in learning in a fun, organized and respectful manner. Throughout the years, I have completed various professional development courses, e.g. "Identifying Children with ADD", "Classroom Management", "Fun Math", "Teaching Through Music", and many more. I have an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education at Broward College and hold a Director's credential with the state of Florida. When I'm not working , I enjoy spending time with my three children and three grandchildren!

I am a Broward County, FL native! When I was younger, I loved taking care of children. I was babysitting by the age of 12, then naturally went into childcare at the age of 16. I have worked with all ages from 6 weeks to 12 years old throughout my early childhood journey. I took a break to take care of my mother, then entered into the medical field. After having my 3 children and being a stay-at-home mom, I entered back into the childcare field in 2017 as an assistant director, teacher, and bus driver. I obtained my Florida Child Care Professional Credential (CDA) and Directors Credentials in 2021. I became a Director in Training and ultimately a Director. I enjoy being a Director for early childhood to help guide young minds at the start of their journey in education. I enjoy assisting and training teachers through the day-to-day operations and their professional development. I am excited to bring my knowledge to Goddard as well as learning something new during my time here.

Education is a part of my life since I was very young. During my college days, I worked in afterschool and creativity workshops. I graduated in 1996 with Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Visual Arts. I have 25 years of experience in education. In Venezuela, I worked for the Central University of Venezuela where I had the opportunity to educate people studying PreSchool Education. That is where my passion grew for working in a PreSchool environment and to be a part of this sweet and important stage of a child's development. I have always believed that it is very important for learning to be fun. It is my strong belief that the teacher is a role model for kids and as teachers we should try to give the best of ourselves.

Hello! My name is Yuvelyn Rincon, I am Venezuelan, a Sociologist by profession and have been in this country for six years. I have my Child Development Associate certificate. I am a very quiet person, but observant of my surroundings. I am a reliable person, but above all I am very sincere. I have two children, which allowed me to experience and learn about the care, education, and upbringing of children. In my country, I practiced my profession for ten year and for me it is a beautiful thing to study the behavior of children in our society. Here in the United States, I have dedicated myself to working with children for the last two years and without hesitation I can say how gratifying it has been for me to do my analysis just like before. Now I am using this information to improve and accentuate my knowledge and thus continue to grow as a person and as a professional. Being a teacher’s assistant has given me much more knowledge than I imagined. I love being able to work with children.

Hello, my name is Paulina Gonzalez. I am very excited to be a teacher at Goddard School of Parkland. I am very passionate about children. It is blessing to see how these children grow and learn from all of us. I am honored to have an opportunity to be part of this school and helping these children to grow every day.

My name is Patricia Arevalo, but I go by Ms. Patty. I am originally from El Salvador but moved to Florida less than a year ago. I love to work with kids and have two of my own. However, they have grown into men now. Christian is 27 years old, and my youngest Diego is 23 years old. I am glad to have the opportunity to help and work with babies and children again. I enjoy coming to the Goddard School of Parkland every day. I have my AA degree in Early Childhood Education.

My name is Silvia Torres. I am originally from Colombia and a proud mom of a 19 year old son and a 10 year old daughter. They inspire my passion for early childhood education. I hold an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in the field since 2004, supporting young children in their social, emotional, and developmental growth. As an Early Childhood Educator, I focus on creating warm, safe, and engaging environments where children can explore, discover, and build independence through meaningful play. I value nurturing positive relationships, encouraging curiosity, and helping each child feel seen, heard, and cared for. My approach blends creativity, patience, and developmentally appropriate practices to support the whole child. I am excited to be part of The Goddard School in Parkland and look forward to collaborating with families and my teaching team to create joyful, enriching, and developmentally meaningful learning experiences.

Hi, my name is Gladys Hurtado! I am from Cali, Colombia, but I moved to South Florida more than 22 years ago. I have two beautiful daughters, who are all grown up now! I have over 8 years of Early Childhood Education experience and I’ve loved every single year. I have my Child Development Associate certificate for Infant and Toddler aged children. I am excited to join Goddard School as a teacher. It is such an honor to be a small part of every student's growth and development here at the Goddard School in Parkland! Some of my favorite things to do are cycling and relaxing at the beach.

I am an extreme believer in ‘Family comes first’, thus, my goal for my class is to ensure that each and every family is a priority. As the mother of a beautiful daughter, I completely understand that your needs and your child’s needs come first. I want parents to feel comfortable talking to me and getting feedback about their child. I would consider myself very understanding and compassionate. My parents are from Brazíl and Portugal which allows me to accommodate to both Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking parents along with English speaking parents. I have my Child Development Associate credential and over 10 years of experience working with children of various ages, which has given me great insight into how to provide a safe and fun learning environment for children.

Hello, I’m Iris Diaz. I was born in Honduras. I was raised in Belgium and New York City. I have been a resident in Coral Springs for over 20 years. During that time, I spent some time organizing local events, working with veterans and, the community. I’m a therapist. I have an associate degree in paramedical and spa training. It’s a pleasure to be able to give nurture, care, and knowledge to my students. Each day is special and rewarding!

I was born in Long Island, NY but moved to Coral Springs, FL when I was seven years old. After graduating from Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS, I decided to move to the west coast of Florida to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. I am a hardworking, dedicated individual. I am friendly, helpful, and polite with a good sense of humor. I am also very good at remembering names! During my free time you will find me either at the gym, at home watching TV, or out eating. My passion for education came at a very young age and has continued growing through the years. This is why while attending FGCU I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Child & Youth Studies. I have over five years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education in both teaching and administration. Being the Director of Education at The Goddard School of Parkland has been an integral part of my journey and continues to teach me. I have my CPR/First Aid certification and Director Credential for both Florida and Goddard

Hello I’m Jasmine! I have my Child Development Associate credential in Early Childhood. I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to work with the Goddard team to provide your child with the utmost care and attention. Before joining Goddard, I worked with children ages 4-11 at the Miami Childrens Museum. I’d describe myself as a very colorful person who enjoys encouraging creativity and positivity through play and storytelling. I look forward to working with you to ensure your child’s happiness and success here!

My name is Matrice Fields.I was born and raised in Pompano Beach and I am a mother of two beautiful girls. Family is very important to me. I have over 7 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. I have earned my FCCPC Birth-Five, a National CDA Credential, Director Credential and have completed several other special certification/training courses. I am dedicated to the social and emotional development of each child in my care. I understand all children are unique and learn differently and have learned to recognize a child's preferred learning style to make sure every child is being taught. My goal is to ensure every child receives the best care and education he/she deserves.

Hello, my name is Lilibeth Pena. I was born in Cuba. I moved to Boca Raton when I was 15. My happy place is the Beach. I been working with kids for 7 years. What motivates me every day while working with children are their smiles and big hearts while learning and playing with friends. I believe in developing a child's emotional needs first. When a child is emotionally secure and open to learning, there is a greater likelihood of students reaching higher levels of achievement.  I enjoy communicating with parents so feel free to ask me feedback about your child. 

Hello, my name is Tyann. I have worked in childcare for over 20 years. I have taught all ages from infants to school aged children. I have my Bachelor's Degree and Directors Credential for early childhood education as well as various other childcare trainings. I am looking forward to my time here at The Goddard School getting to know the children in my care and their families.

Hello! My name is Shermoni. I enjoy working with young children. I recently finished my Child Development Associate credential so I can make a difference in the lives of children in the Early Childhood Education setting. Helping children realize and reach their potential is amazing to me. I am excited for my time at Goddard School, the impact I can have on our students, and to grow as a teacher.

My name is Bernice Meyers-Artis, and I am proud to be a part of The Goddard School of Parkland. I have a FL CDA and over 30 years of experience working with children. I’ve always known I wanted to be a teacher, even when I was young. I love teaching and all of the exploring, learning, and fun that takes place in the classroom. I was born in St. Croix, Virgin Island. However, I grew up in Brooklyn, New York where I started my studies in Early Childhood Education and began my career in teaching. In 1989, I moved from the cold weather and made Florida my home. I am the proud mother of three amazing children, grandmother to 7 vibrant grandkids. I believe in hands-on teaching and purposeful learning in early childhood. My strength is creating something out of nothing, for everything in a child’s sight is a learning tool. Teaching is my passion! I am looking forward to many wonderful days with the students, parents, and faculty.

Welcome! My name is Ms. Kaitleen, and I study at Palm Beach State College. I'm earning my associate degree in psychology and recently earned my Child Development Associate credential. I started working with children when I was fifteen when my older sister had my nephew. Which inspired me to have my first job as an afterschool teacher for second through fifth grade. I chose to work at The Goddard School because I wanted the experience of working with younger kids and helping them develop and grow. I help children develop better socialization skills such as sharing, cooperating, respecting, and relating with others. I am excited to teach kids, make them appreciate going to school, and give them a sense of security.

I am a Pre-kindergarten teacher with a master’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood from Mississippi State University. In addition, I have over seventeen years of teaching experience in the USA and a Florida Educator’s Certificate. I recognize that every student learns at a different pace. For this reason, I respect the unique learning styles of my students. I believe that the classroom is a bi-directional learning environment in which the teacher, teaches the students, and the students teach the teacher. Finally, my teaching ideology is to build self-esteem at a young age, by praising them for every accomplishment. I accomplish this goal by continually reminding them of my teaching motto, which is “never give up, always keep trying.”

Hi, my name is Carrie Donlon. I have a passion for providing children with a productive, fun, and safe educational environment. I have experience in childcare through babysitting and being a nanny to many children between the ages of 1-12. I am currently in school pursuing an education in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I am excited to bring my love for educating to The Goddard School and its students.

Hello! My name is Stephanie. I am a mother of three- two sons and a daughter- and the loving pet parent of two fur babies. I have been working in Early Childhood Education since 1998. I have my Child Development Associate credential. I absolutely love teaching and developing young minds. My favorite part of my profession is helping young learners build a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond through nurturing guidance, creative curriculum and lesson planning, and developmentally appropriate practices. I am committed to fostering a safe, engaging, and inclusive learning environment where your children will feel supported and inspired to grow socially, emotionally, and academically.

Hi! I am Ms. Ankita. I have my Child Development Associate credential. I'm enjoying every bit of this new phase of my life. Raising my daughter has inspired me to be a part of the childcare field. Teaching has always been my passion; I see myself learning and growing more in this field. In a previous opportunity, I worked with ages infants to VPK. I loved being around the children in an educational yet fun environment. It helps to encourage me to continue in this profession. Thanks to the Goddard team I get to be a part of this journey now.

My name is Ariadna Garavito, I am from Colombia. I am very excited to be a part of the Goddard School. I started working with children before I had children of my own. My education and passion for working with children continued to grow as I completed my studies obtaining my CDA. I love being able to teach, guide, and watch them grow in a unique way.

Hi there! My name is Kaylah Dixon, and I have a strong desire to assist others. I recently finished my course for my Child Development Associate credential. I'm pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Service at Palm Beach State to better understand how I can educate myself about the needs of those around me. To obtain experience in this field, I have worked as a teacher's assistant in schools, volunteered at churches, and babysat. I love assisting in overseeing classroom activities, helping with lesson planning, and getting students interested in learning. I am enthusiastic about encouraging creativity and inquiry while building inclusive learning environments. I'm excited to contribute my knowledge of effective classroom management and engaging students to a vibrant teaching team. I give the children in my care my all and do everything in my power to support the families. Today's children are our future.

Hi, my name is Milan. I am excited to be a part of The Goddard School team to learn more about early childhood education. I enjoy going to each classroom to assist in teaching the children how to learn through play and hands on experiences.