Our Goddard School Teachers

I have the pleasure of being the On-site Owner. I am from outside of Boston, MA, and moved to Atlanta after graduating from Tulane University with a BS in Marketing and Management to become an elementary school teacher in Atlanta Public Schools. While teaching, I earned my M Ed in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University. I enjoy sharing my love of learning and passion for education with our faculty, parents and caregivers. All children are capable of learning and have the desire to learn. I am committed to creating a safe and healthy place for children to learn through inquiry; to creating a school where children are taught by educators who have a passion and a drive to guide them to achieve their dreams. My husband and I have have two children; a daughter who attended through Pre-K and is currently thriving in high school, and a son who attended the infant through Pre-K program is extremely success in his upper elementary school years.

I am Bindu and my husband is Murli Reddy – the owners of The Goddard School. As The Goddard School® owners, we are committed to providing the best early childhood development experience for your children. We are looking forward to this opportunity to positively impact our community. Our family has always set a high priority on education and we evaluated different opportunities to start our own school. The Goddard School’s absolute commitment to quality and leadership in delivering the best environment for young learners led us to partner with Goddard Systems Inc.(GSI). We have lived in Atlanta for over eighteen years and I have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and an MBA from the Goizueta Business School, Emory University. I have previously consulted and managed software projects for Fortune 500 companies. Murli has a Master's degree in Computer Science from Alabama A&M University and is one of the founders of a successful software services company located in Sandy Springs, Georgia. We are blessed with three children, who attend The Westminster Schools. We are actively involved in their education and all around development.

I look forward to working with your children and watching them grow at The Goddard School! I attended Atlanta Technical College, where I received a diploma in Early Childcare and Education. I have over six years of experience working with children of all ages, but most recently worked at a private preschool in the two-year-old classroom. I enjoy seeing the smile on their face as they learn new things and have new experiences. I am originally from Atlanta and have been married for over fifteen years. I have three children, two sons and a daughter, and enjoy spending time with my family in my spare time. My favorite children's book: "Ten Apples Up on Top"

My name is Ms. Ashley, I have been working in early childhood education for a few years. Before I started working in childcare, I had experience as a PSR teacher at my church and later found how much I enjoyed working with children. I graduated high school and have since been working. A fun fact about myself is one of my hobbies is deadlifting and my favorite children’s book is “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.

My name is Jacalyn and I am originally from Chicago. I attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta and majored in Early Childhood Education and a minor on Nursing with a concentration in Pediatrics. I have worked in the field of Education for over forty years, including working in a Director’s capacity for thirty-five years. I enjoy spending time with my four adorable grandchildren who keep me on my toes. I am an advert jazz and gospel listener. One of my favorite movies is “Walk to Remember” with Mandy Moore. My hobbies include shopping, decorating, puzzles and completing word searches. A fun fact about Ms. Jacalyn is that she is an excellent cook! Her favorite children’s book is “Jabari Jumps” by Cala Cornwall (A Motivational Story of Courage).

My name is Melvina (Ms. Vee). I have worked in the early childhood educational field for over twenty years. I am a mother of two, and grandmother of nine. I have experience working with students of all age groups, ranging from six weeks to sixteen years. My primary goal is to make sure that each child receives the academic, social-emotional growth for development. I have my Diploma in Early Childhood Education. My favorite food is soul food and seafood. I love Gospel music and Hallmark movies. My hobbies are singing, line dancing, skating, swimming, crocheting and spending quality time with my family. I love playing football with my grandsons. My favorite children’s book is “Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?”

Yolanda has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years and is joining the Goddard Austell faculty as the Lead Faculty member for the Get Set program with our older two-year-old students. When she is not educating young children, she enjoys listening to R&B, jazz and Gospel music or watching scary or thriller movies. When she spends time outside, she enjoys walking and fishing. Her favorite food is soul food and her favorite children’s book is Broken Crayons Still Color.

Ms Ebony has been a teacher in the early childhood education field for nine years. She has always had a passion for working with children. When she is not teaching, she enjoys swimming, skating, journaling and reading. Ms. Ebony’s favorite children’s book is No David! By David Shannon.

My name is Dezire Brown. I was born and raised in Georgia and graduated from Osborne High School. I have worked in early childhood education for two years. During my first year in early childhood education, I learned caring, nurturing, and teaching children comes easy to me. My favorite group of students to teach are two-year-olds. There is never a dull moment when it comes to them. Growing up I was a cheerleader. Cheerleading was my passion I started at the age of 5 and continued up until I graduated high school. During high school I was a competitive cheerleader. I traveled to multiple states to compete against other teams. I have another secret to tell you. The secret is that I am a sneaker head I love shoes. When you see me in the hall you will notice my shoes. The brands that I like are Jordan, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Vans, and Reebok. Lastly to wrap this up my favorite children’s book is Junie B. Jones. I look forward to getting to know about you and your amazing children.

My name is Mrs. Markethia Bankston. Or as the kids call me, Ms. Tia. I am a mom of 3 and it is an honor to teach your preschoolers. I attended Valdosta State University then Kennesaw State university, obtaining a degree in Political Science. However, I quickly learned education is my passion. I have worked in the education field since 2013, with special education being my main focus. I love eating Mexican food, the purple bag of Skittles. When I am not teaching, I enjoy baking, shopping at Target and watching horror movies. I love the lavender sent and listening to R&B. A fun fact about me, I am terrified of reptiles, but I like to hike. I also love to take beach trips and riding four wheelers. My favorite children’s book is “Where The Wild Things Are.”

My name is Yasmeen Skeete, also known as Ms. Yazz. I have over eight years of experience in early childhood education and hold certification in ECCE. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and have worked with children ranging from six weeks to six years old. As both an educator and a mother, I know the importance of creating a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive. My own children attended The Goddard School, which makes being part of this community especially meaningful to me. I value open communication and look forward to partnering with your family to support your child’s growth and development.

For over 20 years, Ms. Hayden has had the pleasure of creating engaging and nurturing classrooms for young learners. She is passionate about helping each child discover the wonder of learning and believes in tailoring her approach to meet their individual needs. Ms. Hayden is a lifelong learner who earned her degree in Elementary Education from Tennessee State University. She specializes in innovative teaching strategies, often bringing fun technology and creative projects into the classroom. Her experience extends globally, enriching her lessons with diverse perspectives. Her dedication to community service, recognized by the President's Volunteer Service Award, demonstrates her profound commitment to making a positive impact. Above all, Ms. Hayden is honored to be a part of The Goddard School and is excited to partner with you to make your child's school experience a happy and successful one.

I have been an Early Childcare Teacher for over 16 years, with extensive experience in nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning. Educational Background: I currently hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and am actively working towards earning my Master's degree in Education. I absolutely love the "Llama Llama" series! The stories resonate deeply with both me and the children I teach, making them a favorite in my classroom.

I have over six years of experience in the early childhood education industry and twenty-five years of experience in the information technology industry. . Prior to joining the Goddard School, I had worn various hats, including Toddler Teacher Assistant, Preschool Teacher Assistant Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) administrator, and Staff Assistant at a number of Early Childhood Education Centers. Prior to retirement, I worked 25+ years in different areas of the Information Technology industry for multi-Fortune 500 companies. I enjoy cooking and spending quality time with my family and friends.

My name is Ms Cayce and I have recently joined the Goddard family. I hold a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Theater from the University of South Alabama. I spent the past 18 years at home raising and homeschooling my 3 children. My oldest recently left home to attend college. In my free time I enjoy reading books, hiking, camping and walking my dog. I am excited to get to know your children and participate in their growth and learning here at Goddard.

Hello everyone, very pleased to meet you all. My name is Kamiel Rice. I am from Atlanta, Georgia and the youngest child of four. I graduated from Osborne High School. Before becoming a full-time teacher, I worked in a restaurant and later as an assistant/representative for Kool Smiles dentistry. I found my love for teaching in 2018 when I started working with one-year old students. I’ve always loved being around children and watching them grow, learn, and be themselves. Making sure the little ones are happy and safe makes me happy. My favorite children’s book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I love this book because it explains a cycle of life. You can’t avoid change, but change can always be a good thing. We must take chances in life to grow and be better. Here’s a few of my favorites: Movie: Coco Foods: Seafood, pizza, cheesecake. Music: Jazz, R&B, country. Pet: Jellyfish. Hobbies: Skating, arts crafts, sewing, and doing makeup.

My name is Kendall, and this is my first year in early childhood education. I am really excited to be working at Goddard – Austell and doing something I love! I graduated from McEachern High School and will be attending school for radiology to later become an ultrasound technician. My favorite foods are chicken tenders, fries and lemon-pepper wings. I enjoy painting, going to the gym and reading books. My favorite movie is “The Hate You Give” and my favorite children’s books are those by Dr. Seuss.

¡Hola a todos! Me llamo Señora Salsalita y soy maestra de español en La Escuela Goddard. Hello everyone! My name is Mrs. Salsalita and I am the Spanish teacher at The Goddard School. This year marks my 13th year teaching Spanish to our precious children here. I am originally from Columbus, Ohio and I earned my B.A. in International Studies with a minor in Spanish, and a M.Ed. in Foreign Language Education for preschool to twelfth grade both from The Ohio State University. I have taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in private and public schools for a grand total of 24 years. In addition, I continue my online language business for children to adults as well. My hobbies are singing, global dancing like Tahitian hula, ballroom, country line dancing, belly dance, and Bollywood; reading culinary and travel memoirs; learning other languages; and most importantly, creating content for my learners. I also enjoy playing in the park with my husband and our dog, Picasso.

My Name is Ms. Cynthia and it’s a pleasure working at the Goddard School. Working with the one-year-olds warms my heart; their little smiles are like a breath of fresh air which I love when I see them every morning. I am from a Caribbean / West Indian background; please fell free to ask me which Caribbean Island, I always love talking about my country. I love traveling, cooking, baking and shopping. My favorite store is Macy’s. I love music and although am a Caribbean native, I love Country and Western. One of my favorite books I love to read to the kids is “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? “. Their little faces always light up and that tells me they are enjoying the colorful pictures and it’s contents. And finally just to mention I love to play Tennis and can also play the Keyboard/Piano.

My name is Chantel and I have worked in early childhood education for 28 years, with the experience of working with all age groups. I graduated from NJROTC Academy High School, located in St. Louis Missouri. Later in life, I attended American Public University where I received my TCC in Early Childhood Education. My favorite food is seafood, when I am not at work, I enjoy bowling, walking, reading and watching action and drama movies. I like to be entertained by a good comedy show for fun and laughter. My favorite children’s book is “Chica, Chicka, Boom Boom.”

My name is Haleigh. I am excited to be a part of the Goddard family! I was born and raised in Atlanta. My career goal is to become an Early Childhood teacher. I currently attend college classes to pursue this goal. I am planning to attend West Georgia to finish obtaining my degree. I am excited to see where this journey takes me! My hobbies include photography and cosmetology.

My name is Ms. Vanessa. I’ve been a teacher for a few years. I hold a BA degree in International Relations with a minor in Tourism Management. My favorite moment in teaching is watching my students achieving milestones for the very first time. That sense of accomplishment makes it worthwhile to continue teaching. Fun Facts about me: I love to read; I love to learn about new cultures and places; I am multilingual; My favorite color is black; I am a huge fan of TMNT and Lord of the Rings trilogy and Good Food is life. Looking forward to a fantastic school year!