Our Goddard School Teachers

Hello, I'm Nitin Joneja, owner of the Goddard School in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. We are excited to be part of this community and in providing premier quality education and experience for your children. Before opening The Goddard School, our experience ranged in Finance, HR, IT and Operations. We invite you to come visit our School and meet our exceptional staff including our Director, Lead Teachers, Assistant Teachers, and Support Team.

Hi, I'm Liza Longobardi. I am married with 3 wonderful children. I have a degree in Computer Technology and took Early Childhood Education and Human Resource Management at the College of Lake County. I have been in the early childhood field for over 13 years. I have always had passion working with younger learners and believe that early childhood experiences are crucial in their development. I keep myself updated with current trends, research and studies in early childhood development thru webinars, trainings, and professional development opportunities. I aspire to create a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for everyone. I'm happy to be part of the team and looking forward to collaborating with all of you.

Ms. Bre joined our team in 2021 and has also been working with children since 2021. She earned her Child Development Associate and is excited to be Lead Teacher qualified! You can find her in the young toddlers classroom working with some of our youngest learners. When asked what she likes about working at The Goddard School, Ms. Bre said she enjoys watching the children develop personalities as they get older. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family and going to music events.

Ms. Christina joined our team in 2023 and has been working in Early Childhood Education since 2004. She is currently attending Harper College through their fast paced program to receive her Associate’s Degree. Next year, she hopes to attend the University of Arizona to earn her Bachelor’s Degree. You can find her working with our two-year-olds in the toddler classroom. She enjoys getting on the child’s level and learning about them and the extraordinary individuals they are. She loves watching the children grow and understand the curriculum and ask her about more things they want to learn about. She is very big on family partnership. If you have any question or concerns about your child, she wants you to know you can reach out to her anytime. In her free time, she hangs out with her friends, husband, and puppies. She hopes to have a child of her own soon!

Ms. Vandana joined our team in 2021 and began working with children in 2008. She earned her Master’s in psychology and also earned her Child Development Associate credential to be lead teacher qualified. You can find her working in our infant classroom with our youngest learners. While working at The Goddard School, Ms. Vandana enjoys supporting children’s learning and growth, interacting with children, and building parent partnerships. In her free time, she likes to relax and rest.

Ms. Nina joined our team in 2022 and has been working with children since 2021. She is currently working on earning her Child Development Associate credential and will be done in October 2023. Ms. Nina said she loves learning more and more about how to help children explore and succeed at new milestones in their lives. You can find her working in our First Steps classroom with the children that have just transitioned from infants. In her free time, she loves to travel and explore new cities. She is a mom to a cat named Potato, and she loves spending time with her family and friends!

Ms. Lupe joined our team in 2022 and has been working with children since 2022 as well. She plans to take classes to become Lead Teacher qualified in the upcoming year. You can find Ms. Lupe working in our Young Toddlers classroom with some of our youngest learners. She enjoys working at The Goddard School because she gets to see the children learn, grow, and master new skills. In her free time, she spends time with family and friends, practices lashing, and choreographs from time to time!

Ms. Hisako joined our team in 2021 and has been working with children since 2011. She earned a home economics degree in Japan and a massage therapist and health education from the National Holistic Institute in the United States. You can find her in the kitchen, but she has maintained her training which allows her to fill in as an Assistant Teacher when needed. When asked what she likes about working at The Goddard School, Ms. Hisako said she enjoys watching the children learn and grow. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Hi, my name is Anjani. I started working with children since 2013. I have a Bachelor in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Education in Mathematics. I completed my Preschool Child Development Associate credential early of this year. I am so happy to here at The Goddard School Buffalo Grove. I like to spend my free time with family.

Ms. Hari Priya started working with children since she was in college. She has a bachelor's degree in electrical and Electronic Engineering. Working with children and helping them grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually is her passion. You can find Ms. Hari Priya in the Young Preschool (Get Set) class. She spends her free time doing crafts, listening to music, and cooking for her family.

Ms. Jackie joined our team in 2023 and has also been working with children since 2023 as well. She will be attending Purdue University this fall, majoring in Biomedical Health Sciences. You can find her mainly in our Preschool 1 classroom supporting the lead teacher. She loves getting to know all the kids and says that each day is full of surprises!