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 Argentina 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!

Hi - my name is Ms. Yanilza! I was born in The Dominican Republic. I lived in Utah for 20 years and moved to Tampa, Florida in 2013 with my husband and five amazing kiddos! I studied Interior Design in college and realized that working with children as an Early education Educator is what makes me happiest. Education is my passion for myself and others. I love working with your children - Thank You!

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.

Ama Manu, also known as Candie, is a woman dedicated to growth and learning. With four years in the educational sector and eight years as a seasoned book editor, her excellent communication skills led her to serve as the public relations officer for her husband's business before passing the role to a successor. Her commitment to education drove her to complete an intensive cybersecurity boot camp, earning a comptia security+ certification. She further expanded her expertise by obtaining certifications as a scrum master, project manager from the University of Central Florida, and Registered Behavior Technician. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's Degree in cybersecurity and has aspirations to obtain a PhD. Despite her academic pursuits, her love for children remains unwavering, and she continues to impact young lives as an educator. Candie and her husband are sought-after speakers for relationships and conferences, gaining recognition on social media platforms.

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!

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.

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.