Our Teachers

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!

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!

Our Business Manager, Ms. Jaclyn, joined The Goddard School as Assistant Director in 2023 after she and her family relocated to Georgia from Kauai, Hawaii. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's Degree in Human Development. She has over 15 years of experience in the early education field in various settings including the US Navy Child and Youth Programs where she worked as Training and Curriculum Specialist and Kauai Head Start where she worked as a Program Manager. She is passionate about the early childhood field and believes it is our job to help children develop a lifelong love for learning. In her spare time, Ms. Jaclyn enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two sons - Andrew and Benjamin - both who attend The Goddard School.

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 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.

Hi! I'm Ms. Hannah and I joined the Goddard Family in 2017 as a Lead, and I am excited to be back working for Goddard as the Assistant Director. I have several years experience in the Assistant Director role and I have an associates degree in another field. With the right balance of love and challenge, these precious children learn so much. I look forward to meeting you and your kids soon!

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 has been with us since 2010, and all of those years have been spent doing an amazing job with our precious Infants and Young Toddlers. She is one of the most loving, nurturing people you'll ever meet, so caring for Infants and Young Toddlers is a perfect fit for Pam. She believes the best way to create a wonderful learning environment is through lots of love.

Ms. Taylor joined our Goddard Family in 2018, and now leads our Young Preschool classroom for older 2's - Young 3's. She has 3 children of her own: 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 joined our Goddard Family in 2021 and has been a wonderful assistant teacher in our Young Preschool classroom for older 2's - younger 3's. 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. 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 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 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 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. 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 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 mostly Preschool classrooms, but you may also find her helping in various other classrooms 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. Kiran joined the Goddard Family in 2023 as an Infant Assistant and quickly worked her way to First Steps Lead. She has her Bachelor's in Commerce and Masters in Business Administration from India, but feels that working with children is her desired path. She has worked with children for several years and is a loving mother to her own children. She believes that every child she be loved and cared for and that it is a teachers job to prosper learning.

Mr. Alex has been with The Goddard School since Spring of 2023. He is currently our PreK Red Assistant Teacher and is seeking his Elementary Education Degree. Alex has been a Firefighter, and EMT and has experience with children working with his church’s youth group. Alex believes that children should be taught to not give up easily. Teachers should teach children to express themselves, how to solve problems, and social skills.

Ms. Leah joined us a the Preschool Green Lead Teacher in 2024. She has her Bachelor's of Education in Social Studies along with being Montessori certified. Leah has worked with children since she was 16 years old in a multitude of settings. She believes children learn best by getting involved. They learn by doing and being hands on.

Ms. Lekia joined us in early 2023 all the way from New York. She started as a Toddler Assistant Teacher and is now Leading our Toddler 2 class while pursuing her CDA degree. She has experience working with children of all ages in various childcare facilities as well as babysitting her nephew. Lekia believes that all children should be loved and nurtured along with being taught as many new things as possible.

Ms. Olivia came to us in Spring of 2024 as an Assistant Teacher for all ages. Olivia is currently in school seeking her Degree in Psychology. She has experience working with children as a babysitter within her community. She believes every student deserves a fair chance to be able to learn and grow, so it is her job to ensure they all receive that opportunity.

Ms. Faith came to us as High School student at the end of 2022. Faith is currently in college and returns during school breaks. Faith has experience working with children working in her local church. She believes that teaching should be geared towards the understanding that the child has and each child has different learning styles.

Ms. Sarabeth joined our school in early 2024 as an afternoon Assistant Teacher for all ages. Sarabeth is currently in High School and has experience working with children as a babysitter and a camp counselor. She believes that if the learning experience is made fun then the children can grow and prosper.

Ms. Savannah has experience working with children as a babysitter within her local community. She believes that all children deserve a safe and stable learning environment with a teacher who encourages them to thrive and become their best selves.

Ms. Sonal became our Kindergarten Teacher in August of 2023. She has her Masters in Technology and has experience working with children in a multitude of different settings. She believes that every child is unique in their own way and it’s a teacher’s job to help each one of them discover their own strengths and talents. Sonal believes children learn these traits through a fun learning environment.

Ms. Sophia joined us in late 2022 as a High School student working with all ages. She is currently in College and works as often as possible during school breaks. She has experience working with multiple ages of children within her church. She believes that all children learn differently, and lessons should be tailored to fit each child.