Our Goddard School Teachers

Hi! My name is LaKayla, and I am thrilled to serve as the On-Site Operator at The Goddard School of Temple Terrace. Originally from Iowa, I moved to Tampa in 2021. I am also the proud parent of a wonderful daughter who attends our school. As both an administrator and a parent, I bring a unique perspective to my role, allowing me to better understand and support the needs of our children and families. I have worked in the early childhood education field for nearly nine years, beginning my career as a teacher and growing into an administrative leadership role. I am dedicated to creating a positive, inspiring environment where children, families, and staff feel supported, valued, and empowered every day.

Hi! I’m Caybren, and I am incredibly excited and honored to serve as the Director of The Goddard School! Growing up in a military family gave me the unique opportunity to live in different places across the country and connect with people from many different backgrounds. Coming from a large family, I have also always been surrounded by children, which helped shape my passion for early childhood education and creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to grow. As Director, I am committed to supporting our teachers, building strong relationships with our families, and ensuring that every child receives a positive, nurturing, and meaningful experience each day. I believe a strong school community is built through communication, teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to our children. I look forward to getting to know each of you and watching your children learn, grow, and thrive at The Goddard School!

Hi! My name is Maria! I was born and raised in Venezuela. In 2018, I moved to Florida with my family. I have one son who is my pride and joy! I've worked in childcare in Florida for the last few years with infants through 2-year-old children. Infants are where I feel the happiest! I'm excited to work here at The Goddard School. Thank you for allowing me to care for your infants, they are all amazing!

Hi! My name is Miguelina, and I am originally from the Dominican Republic. I am a proud mother of two beautiful daughters and a loving grandmother to three wonderful grandsons. With 17 years of teaching experience, specializing in infant care, I am deeply passionate about nurturing children and supporting their early childhood development. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and spending quality time with my family.

Hi! My name is Catherine, and I am so happy to be a part of The Goddard School family. I was born in Peru and spent 35 wonderful years there with my parents and sisters. After getting married, I moved to Tampa in June of 2007 and began a new chapter with my husband. Since then, I discovered my passion for working with children, and it has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my life. I have 14 years of experience caring for infants in a childcare setting and truly love nurturing and supporting babies as they grow and develop. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, shopping, watching movies, and relaxing with word puzzles.

My name is Alaina, and I am so excited to be a part of The Goddard School family. I bring three years of childcare experience from my time as a nanny and as a recreation leader with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation. I studied public relations and advertising at the University of South Florida, where I discovered that working with children is truly where my heart and passion lie. I grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio, and have called Tampa, Florida home since 2015. In my free time, I enjoy being creative, crafting, and spending time with my cats. I am deeply committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and joyful environment where every child feels confident, supported, and excited to come to school. I look forward to meeting you and supporting your child as they grow, learn, and blossom into their very best selves.

Hello, my name is Katy. I am so grateful to be a part of the Goddard team! My native country is Venezuela and my first language is Spanish. My passion is kids. I’m blessed to be able to work each day with your children. We work on letters, colors, numbers, sharing and potty training! My favorite activity with the kids is singing in Spanish and dancing. I love to see their smiles. Thank you for allowing me to care for your children and watch them learn and grow. Gracias!

Hello! My name is Maddi, and I also go by Madison. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, and I am a proud parent of two children, ages 5 and 7. I completed four years of Early Childhood Education in high school and have continued my professional development by working toward obtaining my DCF certifications. In addition, I bring four years of experience working as a teacher. This is my first opportunity working with Goddard, and it has truly been a rewarding experience so far. I am grateful to be part of this team and look forward to continuing my journey in education alongside all of you.

Hi! I’m Mackenzie, and I grew up as a military child, which gave me a love for exploring and discovering new things. I enjoy bringing that same sense of adventure and curiosity into the classroom and creating fun learning experiences for children. I have been working as a teacher since 2024 and enjoy helping children learn, grow, and explore the world around them. I earned my Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in 2025, continuing to build my knowledge and skills in early childhood education

Hi! My name is Vali. I’m bilingual in Spanish and English. I moved to the United States from Venezuela with my two sons in 2023. The Goddard School is a wonderful school! I am happy to work with children of all ages. In my free time, I enjoy being outside in nature. My favorite activity is horseback riding.

HI! I am Ms. Marlene. I've been in childcare since 1993. I started at my church preschool and found my passion. It's very rewarding each and everyday to watch the children learn and grow. It's important for me to stay up to date on new training. I'm always willing to learn more along my journey. I've been married for over 35 years! I have one son and two daughters. I'm looking forward to grandchildren! I love spending time with family, traveling and shopping. I'm excited to be here at The Goddard School. Thank you for the opportunity to love and teach your children each and every day!

Hi! My name is Ms. Melody, and I am so excited to be part of The Goddard School family! I have always had a passion for working with children and love creating a classroom where every child feels safe, loved, encouraged, and eager to learn. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé and our three cats, visiting Disney and other theme parks, going to the movies, and expressing my creativity through coloring, painting, and other artsy activities. I have been working with children since I was 14, when I started my own Saturday babysitting group, later served as president of Best Buddies in high school, and have worked in preschools since 2018. I attended the University of Florida for two years before transferring to the University of South Florida, where I am completing my degree in Elementary Education.

Hello, my name is Jeffrey Coates. The children know me as Mr. C. I was born and raised in Boston, MA. I have always had a persistence to push myself to do my best. I recently graduated with Honors with my Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have over 20 years experience working with children. I believe "together is better". I instill the importance of using our words, choices, and actions to influence ourselves and others in a helpful manner. I live by three things: Love others, do great things, and be a bucket filler!

Hello, my name is Danielle Nelson. I have been teaching preschool since 2013. I currently have my National CDA and I am working on my degree in Child Development and Psychology. Before working in a center based childcare center, I worked in a group home as a Behavior Tech, helping children with special needs. In my free time I enjoy reading and writing, with hopes of one day becoming a children’s author. The most rewarding thing about teaching for me is when a child has grasped the knowledge that they have learned from my classroom. I am very excited to be a part of the team at The Goddard School and I look forward to doing great things!

My name is Sushama Patel and I am so glad to be a part of the Goddard School faculty. I have been in this profession since 1995. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Children’s Education and hold a Master’s degree in Economics from India. I worked as an elementary school teacher for 16 years and as a Vice-Principal for 4 years in India. I have also volunteered at local preschools and gained a wealth of knowledge through those experiences. Working with children is the most important part of my life. I have spent 23 years with children and hope many more to come. I can’t imagine my life without helping shape children as they give me inner peace and happiness.

Hello! My name is Ms. Chetra. I was born in Guyana which is located in South America. I came to the United States in 1982 and lived in New York for 9 years. I then got married and moved to Virginia to start a family. Recently, I have relocated to Florida to be closer to my daughter. I have worked in childcare for nearly 30 years and have been with Goddard for 20 years. I have a passion for working with children and I am grateful that I get to do what I love everyday.

Hi! My name is Isabella, and I am originally from Venezuela. I have lived in South Florida for 15 years and grew up surrounded by younger children, which helped me develop a caring and patient nature from a young age. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have over three years of experience working with children of different ages, beginning while I was still in high school, and I enjoy creating a fun, safe, and positive environment for every child. I earned my Child Development Associate credential and am currently attending the University of South Florida as I continue my education and grow my career in early childhood education.

We pride ourselves in maintaining a safe, nurturing environment so your children can thrive and learn in a school with professional educators whose top priority is ensuring the health and safety of each student. For details on our standards and practices, please click

We pride ourselves in maintaining a safe, nurturing environment so your children can thrive and learn in a school with professional educators whose top priority is ensuring the health and safety of each student. For details on our standards and practices, please click here.