Our Goddard School Teachers

Sheryl is the Owner of the Goddard School located in Elgin. Sheryl’s inspiration to open the school came from her daughters, Sophia and Emma, who are now Goddard graduates. Her Master's degree in psychology coupled with her experience of working at the American Academy of Pediatrics allows her to truly appreciate the importance of providing a solid foundation for young children. She believes taking care of children's hearts, bodies and minds gives her the opportunity to make a difference in their future and the future of all of those who are touched by them. This together with helping families find balance in their lives has inspired her to offer the BEST early childhood education program.

Hello, my name is Sue, and I am the Director at The Goddard School. I am proud to have been part of this school since 2009, just three years after it opened. With a career in early childhood education that began in 1985, I bring decades of experience and a deep passion for supporting children, families, and educators. I hold a degree in Early Childhood Education and became the director of The Goddard School in 2020. I am honored to lead a dedicated team committed to providing a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for our students. I have an amazing husband of 37 years and am the proud mother of two children. My daughter, Allison, is 30 and lives in Los Angeles, where she works for American Airlines. My son, Cameron, is 23 and recently earned his MBA in Finance and Business Analytics; he currently works at Argonne National Laboratory. I look forward to many more years of growth and success here at The Goddard School.

Ms. Autumn has been working in childcare since 2023. She graduated from Dundee Crown High School in 2023. She enjoys being an assistant in the younger classrooms because she loves to watch them grow and meet those developmental milestones. In her free time, Autumn loves to shop at Woodfield and watch new series on Netflix.

Ms. Kate joined Goddard in 2023. She has her Infant/Toddler CDA credentials since 2023. She has working in childcare since 2021. She loves to teach because she loves building relationships with her students. She is the middle child in her family of 5 siblings and loves spending time with her 2 nephews. In her free time, Ms. Kate likes to sleep, shop and binge new shows on TV.

Alicia joined our Goddard family in September 2022. Alicia has her Infant/Toddler CDA. She has been working with children for the past 4 years. Alicia has 7 younger siblings that she loves and cares for. She loves children and hopes for the opportunity to continue to nurture and educate in her future endeavors. On her down time, Alicia enjoys going on coffee runs , reading and spending time with her family.

Lela Graf joined our school October 2021. She has two years of experience in early childhood. A mom of a sweet boy named Jax. She is dedicated to helping children learn and discover new things as they grow and develop. Lela received her Infant/Toddler CDA in Spring 2023 and her Preschool CDA a few months after that. Lela is married to her husband Tyler in 2019 and is extremely family-oriented. She likes to bake and create fun activities for her students.

Ms. Heather joined our school October 2021. She is one of our co-lead teachers in the Moose Mountain classroom. She has her Early Childhood Education degree from Elgin Community College and has been teaching in the field for 7 years. Ms. Heather two daughters named Zoey and Lily. She has been married to her best friend for 7 years and has two rescue dogs. Ms. Heather enjoys being outside with her family, camping, and exploring new places.

Jazmin joined Goddard in June 2022. She received her CDA for Preschool in Spring 2023 to become a Lead Teacher. While in the classroom, Jazmin enjoys being with the children and watching them grow and develop. She shares their excitement when they accomplish a goal and make new discoveries. When not at Goddard, Jazmin loves being outdoors and with her pet cat (Wicho) and dog (Rey).

Ms. Megan is a lead teacher in our Kindergarten Prep classroom. Ms. Megan Joined our Goddard team in 2018. She has a BA in Early Child and Elementary Education from Ashford University. Ms. Megan has worked with preschoolers with disabilities for 13 years. She has been teaching in early childhood for over 25 years.

Ms. Rhea joined Goddard March 2023 and is the lead teacher in our Toddler room. She is originally from the Philippines but lived in Europe for 7 years before moving to the United States 5 years ago. Rhea's first job in the US was working at a Montessori school. That wonderful experience, in addition to being an Aupair in Europe, is where she realized her love for early childhood. Rhea earned her CDA and continues to study early childhood education from Illinois State University. She lives with her husband of 5 years in Elgin along with her son Tice. Rhea likes to hike, travel, build with Legos and enjoys seafood.

Ms. Kourtney has been a Lead Teacher at Goddard since 2019. She has lead both the Toddler classroom and the Young Preschool classroom, and is now our new Kindergarten teacher since the Fall of 2023. She has her Associates in Elementary Education and Special Education, her Bachelor's in Communication Disorders and Sciences, and her Master's in Special Education. Ms. Kourtney welcomed her baby boy Braden in December 2023! In her spare time Kourtney likes to spend time with he family, shop at Target and sleep!

Printa joined our Goddard family February 2022 as our kitchen manager. She comes with 7 years of experience working in the food industry. Printa is a mother of 4 children and to a wonderful puppy named Buddy. She enjoys watching movies, camping, and doing anything that involves nature. When Printa isn't at work, you can find her listening to music or hanging out with family. She is very excited to be working at Goddard and being around the little ones.

Ms. Kim is a lead teacher in our Kindergarten Prep classroom. Ms. Kim has an Associate’s degree in early childhood education from Elgin Community College. Ms. Kim has been part of our Goddard family since 2014. In 1992, Ms. Kim began teaching preschool in a childcare setting. She has two children and a goldendoodle with her husband. Ms. Kim enjoys sitting by the firepit with her family, listening to her children play instruments and being by the ocean or waterfalls. Ms. Kim believes every child who enters her classroom will always have a special place in her heart forever.

Ms. Mariah joined Goddard in 2023. She is a Co-Lead Teacher in our Preschool room. She is new to teaching and is excited to learn more about child development. Ms. Mariah earned her Preschool CDA in 2024 through the in-house CDA training program at Goddard. She is the oldest daughter of 3 siblings and enjoys going to the gym, reading, baking and shopping.

Ms. Riya joined Goddard in 2023. She has her Early Education Degree from McHenry County College. She loves working with children because she loves getting to know them and watching them grow. Ms. Riya enjoys spending time outdoors and doing crafts such as bracelet making and painting. She loves to try new things and experience new adventures.

Ms. Briauna joined Goddard in August of 2023 and is a Floater around the school. She has her High School Diploma and has been working with children since 2022. She is attained her CDA in July of 2024. She enjoys teaching because she loves to watch the children reach their developmental milestones and gets joy from spending time with the students. In her free time, Ms. Briauna enjoys crocheting and likes to watch movies.

Kailee joined Goddard November 2022. She attained her CDA in early 2024. She loves getting to know all of the wonderful children at school while watching them grow and develop! Kailee is the oldest of five siblings. She enjoys reading and journaling. In her free time, Kailee enjoys spending time with family and friends and finding new shows to binge watch.

Ms. Maria joined our Goddard team in 2024. She graduated from Larkin High School in 2016 and has taken several Early Childhood Education classes from NIU. She works in our Infant Program and states that she loves teaching young minds and enjoys instilling a love of school and learning into their lives. In her free time, Maria likes to spend time with her family and go to the gym.

Ms. Zulka joined the Goddard Team in 2024. She has a degree in biomedical engineering. She loves children, especially toddlers because she loves to watch them grow and meet developmental milestones. She has a daughter named Shree and bought a new house in 2024. She has family in India and likes to visit them frequently.

Jaedyn joined our teaching team at Goddard March 2024 and is one of our lead teachers in the 2 year old room. She has an Associate Degree from Kishwaukee Community College. Jaedyn comes to us with a passion for teaching and is excited to watch her little friends grow and develop. In her spare time, Jaedyn loves to spend time with her families 7 dogs and visit with her niece.

Ms. Noelle joined the Goddard family in 2024. She has been in child care since 2021. She supports our 2 year old program and hopes to attain her Infant/Toddler CDA certificate. She loves to see children learn and grow! She says that "their innocent minds remind her of the good in the world. Kids teach us as much as we teach them". In her spare time, she likes to read books and write as well as play video games.

Ms. Alexsa began her journey with Goddard in 2025. She attained her Infant/Toddler CDA in Summer of 2024 and provides support and care for our Toddler room. She loves to teach because she gets to be a part of the children's growth and development. Her mission is to provide a safe place for children to learn and grow.

Leslie joined our Goddard family April 2025. She is currently taking college courses to earn a teaching degree. Leslie offers amazing support to our infant class. She has a passion for teaching and enjoys every minute in the classroom. Leslie loves to experiencing the moments with the infants when they reach their milestones both big and small.