Meet Our Goddard Family

Our expertly trained and experienced teachers and staff blend the highest standards in early childhood education and development with nurturing care to help your child have fun while growing physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.

Careers

If you want to help shape the hearts and minds of young children in a fun, nurturing environment, we’d love to have you work with us! We’re always looking for great teachers to join our family.

Check Out Our Job Listings

Warm, Nurturing & Highly Trusted

Learning happens best in a warm and nurturing environment, which is why our teachers take the time to make sure your little one feels safe and cared for every day to help them develop a lifelong love of learning. 

Expertise & Skills

Our caring teachers are highly experienced in the best methods to support your child with teachable moments of exploration, discovery and learning each and every day. 

  • Ms Jean

    Ms Jean

    Owner
    Jean Croft is the onsite owner for The Goddard School in Cumming. Known simply as Mama Croft to her 8 grand children, Ms. Jean has been working in early childhood education for more than 40 years, and opened this campus in 2006. This is the only Goddard School that Jean is a part of, and making this place the most loving, nurturing and educational environment for its students is her heartbeat and passion. Several of Jean's grand children started as infants on this campus and went all the way through the Goddard School program before seeing great success in elementary school and beyond. Jean is obviously extraordinarily passionate about working with young children, and it is a joy for her to see them learn and grow so much day after day and year after year. In her spare time you can often find Jean at her grandchildren's ball games in Georgia and around the southeast. Jean hopes to meet you and your family very soon when you come in for your tour of The Goddard School!
  • Mr Shawn

    Mr Shawn

    Owner
    Shawn King is a long time Goddard School owner, and opened this location in 2006. Shawn and his wife Pam have three children, Shelby, Ryan and Lexi who are all graduates of The Goddard School's program. The Kings founded their first school in 2000. The Cumming location is the 4th school the Kings opened and represents the completion of all the things they learned over the years. It is truly a campus as opposed to your typical childcare center, featuring a state-of-the-art gymnasium with a rock wall, elite outside areas with specialized surfacing, a STEAM Learning Center and more. During a tour of this one of a kind preschool campus, you can discover all of this and more first-hand. But the heart of The Goddard School program is the experienced and talented faculty that deliver cutting edge education programs for your child. While touring the school, you can observe the multi-sensory approach in action for maximizing your child's learning FUNdamentals!
  • Ms Courtney

    Ms Courtney

    Director of Operations
    Ms. Courtney is our director of operations and has been at this Goddard School since it's beginning in November, 2006. Courtney has been working in early childhood education since 1991, when she was just a teenager. Obviously, she loves young children, and it brings her great joy and pleasure to see them grow and learn. Though Courtney doesn't have children of her own, she has been a big part of raising her God son, now a college student at the University of North Georgia. It is her passion to make sure every child is receiving the very best from Goddard's amazing faculty each and every day!
  • Ms Traci

    Ms Traci

    Director of Education
    Ms. Traci has been one of our finest educators since 2011, and has been a teacher since 1987. Ms. Traci is originally from Rome, GA, but has been living in the Cumming area since 1998. Traci graduated from Shorter College in Rome with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She is happily married with four grown children. Education is a family affair for Traci, as both of her girls have worked for The Goddard School, and her older daughter Maggie is currently a special educator. Maggie made Traci a grandmother, having her first child Chloe in November, 2021. After spending 9 years leading one of our Pre K classrooms, Traci is now our Director of Education, ensuring that all of our faculty and classrooms are delivering the very best Goddard School learning environment.
  • Mr Bryan

    Mr Bryan

    Business Admin
    Mr. Bryan has been working with us since he was 16 and a high school student at Forsyth Central High School. But Bryan has been around The Goddard School for most of his life, since he was an after school student here and is also Ms. Jean's oldest grandson. He will be graduating from UNG in May, 2023 with a business degree and has done just about everything on our campus from assisting the front office team and the business office, as well as maintenance, supporting teachers, and much more. He believes that children are most successful when there is a true partnership between the family and The Goddard School. We all work together to ensure Goddard Graduates excel in not just their education, but their overall life.
  • Ms Leigh

    Ms Leigh

    Lead Teacher - Infant
    Ms. Leigh joined the Goddard Family in 2019 and is our Infant Lead Teacher. She has a bachelors degree in Sociology with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys reading, scrap booking, and cooking. Ms. Leigh is passionate about caring for infants and ensuring their needs are met and they are nurtured.
  • Ms Pam

    Ms Pam

    Assistant Teacher - First Steps
    Ms. Pam has been with us since 2010, and all of those years have been spent doing an amazing job with our precious babies. She is one of the most loving, nurturing people you'll ever meet, so caring for infants is a perfect fit for Pam. She believes the best way to create a wonderful learning environment is through lots of love. She can't wait to meet you and your baby!
  • Ms Caroline

    Ms Caroline

    Assistant Teacher - First Steps
    Ms. Caroline joined our Goddard family in 2022 and is mainly assisting in our First Steps classroom for young toddlers. She came to us with more than 5 years of experience working with young children in various other environments. She loves leading children by example makes a huge impact on their learning.
  • Ms Taylor

    Ms Taylor

    Lead Teacher - Get Set 1
    Ms. Taylor joined our Goddard Family in 2018, and now leads our Get Set 1 classroom for young 2s. She has 3 children: Adalyn, PJ, and Weston, all of whom are Goddard School students. She came to The Goddard School with experience working with young children in other community settings. She believes patience and understanding are the keys to being a great educator.
  • Ms Hannah

    Ms Hannah

    Assistant Teacher - Get Set 1
    Ms. Hannah joined our Goddard Family in 2021 and has been a wonderful assistant teacher in our Get Set 1 classroom for young 2s. Before The Goddard School she had experience working with young children babysitting in the community, as well as doing hair for young girls at beauty pageants, one of her favorite hobbies. She is currently working on a degree in Early Childhood Education.
  • Ms Mary

    Ms Mary

    Assistant Teacher - Get Set 1
    Ms. Mary joined our Goddard Family in 2018 and is the assistant teacher in our Get Set 1 class. She has experience working with young children in a different private setting and has taken many Bright from the Start courses. Ms. Mary believes in the importance of making sure you are teaching each, individual child on their own level. She would love to meet you and your family soon!
  • Ms Jessica

    Ms Jessica

    Lead Teacher - Get Set 2
    Ms. Jessica is one of the most gifted early childhood educators you will ever meet. She has been with us since 2007, and almost all of those years have been leading our Get Set 2 classroom for middle 2 year old children. Ms. Jessica has her CDA degree and has a special gift for working with that uniquely challenging 2 year old stage. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, be outside, and enjoy time with her husband and two children, Lottie and Freddie, both of whom are full time Goddard School students.
  • Ms Victoria

    Ms Victoria

    Assistant Teacher - Get Set 2
    Ms. Victoria joined us in early, 2018. She has experience working with young children at her local church and is one of our outstanding Get Set 2 assistant teachers. As a teacher, Ms. Victoria believes in building the minds of our next generation.
  • Ms Mary Ann

    Ms Mary Ann

    Assistant Teacher
    Ms. Mary Ann joined the Goddard Family in 2020 as an assistant teacher. You'll find her in Preschool Red, and various other classrooms around the campus. She has a bachelors degree in English from UGA. She came to us with nearly 20 years of experience working with children at her own ballet and dance studio. Ms. Mary Ann understands children will learn best when they know you love and respect them individually.
  • Ms Brenda

    Ms Brenda

    Lead Teacher - Preschool Red
    Ms. Brenda joined our Goddard family in early, 2022 and is doing an amazing job leading our Preschool Red classroom! She has her Child Development Associate's degree along with a business degree from Wayne State University. She came to us with more than 10 years of education experience, both elementary and preschool. She brings a huge heart and lots of love to her classroom and understands that children are most successful in a loving, fun, and exciting learning environment. She looks forward to meeting you!
  • Ms Ashton

    Ms Ashton

    Lead Teacher - Preschool Green
    Ms. Ashton joined our Goddard Family in 2021 and is doing an amazing job leading our Preschool Green classroom. She is currently working on her CDA and came to us with experience as a private nanny and baby sitter. Ashton creates a wonderful classroom where children feel safe to learn and reach their full potential. She can't wait to meet your family!
  • Ms Cathy

    Ms Cathy

    Lead Teacher - Pre K Blue
    Ms. Cathy is another one of our long term educators, having joined our Goddard Family in 2007. She has her CDA degree and has been working with young children since 1996. Ms. Cathy currently leads our Pre K Blue classroom, where she does an amazing job making sure students are ready to experience great success in our Kindergarten program or as they start in another outstanding public or private school in this area. She has been married to her husband Kevin since 1996 and they have 3 grown daughters, who have all enjoyed working for The Goddard School over the years. She also became a grandmother in 2021. We love Ms. Cathy, even though she's a big Ohio State Buckeyes fan!
  • Ms Karen

    Ms Karen

    Lead Teacher- Summer Camp A-2
    Ms. Karen is another one of our many long term educators, having joined the Goddard Family in 2008, just a couple of years after the school opened. She currently assists Ms. Cathy in Pre K Blue, but you may also find her helping in various other classes around our campus. She has completed her CDA degree. Ms. Karen lives in Cumming, and has one grown son Joey, and one grandchild Riaan. Karen has been in early childhood education for more than 20 years. She loves watching the children grow, develop, and learn through play. She finds working at the Goddard School to be fun and extremely rewarding!
  • Ms Haley

    Ms Haley

    Lead Teacher - Summer Camp B
    Ms. Haley joined our Goddard Family in 2019. She led our Toddler classroom for several years, and is currently doing an amazing job leading our Pre K Red classroom. She has her Bachelor's Degree in education and a Master's Degree in Christian Education. She brings more than a decade of experience working with young children to our faculty. When she's not here, she loves reading, antiquing and the great outdoors. Ms. Haley can't wait to meet you and your family!
  • Ms Lindsey

    Ms Lindsey

    Floater
    Ms. Lindsey joined our Goddard Family in 2022 and is currently attending North Forsyth High School. She is one of our wonderful afternoon floaters, so you will find her assisting in various classrooms. Lindsey believes a great learning environment is built on love and trust, and that young children should have fun while learning!
  • Ms Emma

    Ms Emma

    Assistant Teacher/Floater
    Ms. Emma joined our Goddard Family in 2022 and is the daughter of Ms. Kathy, one of our wonderful Infant room educators. Emma is currently attending Florida State University, so she works for us during school holidays and breaks. You'll see her assisting in a variety of classrooms throughout the school when she's with us.
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