Our Teachers

Ms. Kimberly is the Senior Director. She has her degree in Administration in Early Childhood Education. Kimberly has twelve years working in the education field, seven of which are in management. She has extensive experience working with children on the autism spectrum as well as a wide variety of behavioral needs. Kimberly also has experience with Equine Therapy and getting state accreditation. Certifications: CPR, First Aid, Food Manager Certificate, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Severe Allergy Training, Gateways Director Credential 1, Special Needs Inclusion.

Ms. Lisandra is the Director of Operations. She has been a Goddard parent since 2014 and started working for the school in 2018. She earned her Associate’s degree in Applied Science from Triton College in 2005, her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Joliet Junior College in 2023 and is currently completing her Bachelors'' Degree in Early Childhood Education from Illinois State University. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Safety Manager Certification, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, CDA Infant/Toddler, ECE Levels' 1,2,3 & 4 Credentials, Infant Toddler Levels' 1,2,3, & 4 Credentials, Director Credential Level 1

Ms. Deanna is a Lead Teacher, the Curriculum Coordinator and also helps in the office. She has over 35 years of experience working with young children. She has an ECE Level 1 Credential. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Medication Administration and Epinephrin Administration.

Ms. Amanda is the Lead Teacher in the Cuddly Crabs classroom. She has over 12 years of experience working with children. She earned her undergraduate certificate in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Inclusion Training.

Ms. Jamilyn is a Lead Teacher in the Playful Puffers Classroom. She has over 14 years of experience working with children. She earned her High School Diploma from Joliet Township High School, and has her Lead Teacher Cerdendial from the CDA Council. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Ms. Kelsey is a Lead Teacher in the Tiny Turtles Classroom. She has been working with children since 2014. Currently working toward her Early Childhood degree at Western Illinois University. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Medication Administrations and Mandated Reporter

Ms. Sarah the Lead Teacher in the Singing Seahorses Classroom. Ms Sarah comes to us with 4 years experince working in a daycare facility. She has experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handlers, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Inclusion Training

Ms. Bianca is the Lead Teacher in the Gleeful Guppies Classroom. She has over 15 years working with children from daycare, to summer camps, kids sports, and even volunteering at public schools, 4 years specifically at Goddard. She has a Bachelor's Degree from Concordia University in Human Resource Management. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Ms. Rachel is a Lead Teacher in the Jolly Jellyfish Classroom. She has been working with children since 2016 through her high school early childhood program and WILCO. Ms. Rachel just earned her Lead Teacher Credential- CDA. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Serve Allergy Training, Medication Administration Training, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Ms. Nicole (Nikki) is a Lead Teacher in the Super Starfish Classroom. She has over 7 years of experience working with children. This is her first time working in a Pre-School center. Ms. Nikki has her associate degree in early childhood development from Joliet Junior College. Ms. Nikki recently earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood from Illinois State University gratuating Summa Cum Laude! Certifications: Food Handlers, SIDS Mandated Reporter, Shaken baby Syndrome.

Ms. Livi is an Lead Teacher in the Play Puffers Classroom. This is her first time working in a childhood center, but has over 10 years of working with children. Ms. Livi has her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education From Joliet Junior College. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Ms. Felipa is the Assistant Teacher and she helps in all of the classrooms. She comes to us with 17 years of experience working with children. She has worked in the public schools as a paraprofessional and she is cook certified. Certifications: SIDS, Shaken baby, Welcoming Each and Every Child, Illinois Early Learning Guidelines.

Ms. Danielle is the Lead Teacher in the Mighty Manatee classroom. She has 10 years of experience in the Early Childhood field. She has her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from the College of DuPage. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Ms. Jade is the Assistant Teacher in the Mighty Manatees classroom. This is her first time working at a center and she is wonderful with the children. Ms. Jade would like to become a Lead Teacher and grow her skills to one day have her own classroom. Certifications: Shaken baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated reporter and food handlers.

Ms. Lisa is a Lead Teacher in the Super Starfish Classroom. She comes with over ten years experience working with children in the classroom. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Walden University. She holds her bachelors degree in Early Child Development with a concentration in preschool. She has been a lead teacher in PreK, a Kindergarten Assistant, and an Assistant Site Coordinator for an afterschool program. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Ms. Audrey is a Lead Teacher in the Dancing Dolphins room. She has 15 Years experience working with children. She graduated with honors with her Bachelor's from Rasmussen College. She has her Early Intervention Developmental Therapist Credential. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Special Education from Greenville University. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Medication Administration Training, Severe Allergy Training, Food handlers, SIDS, Shaken Baby Training and Illinois Gateways Level 5 Credential's in ECE and ITC as well as a Gateways Level 1 IDC.

Ms. Sarah is a Lead Teacher in the Jolly Jellyfish classroom. She has over 6 years of experience working with children. She is currently going to school at Joliet Junior College to receive her certification in Early Childhood Education. Certifications: CPR and First Aid, Food Handler, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Ms. Lisa is our Kitchen Manager who has her Lead Teacher credential. She has an Associates Degree from Clinton Community College and has been working with children for 32 years. Certifications: Kitchen Managers certificate, CPR and First Aid, Allergens, Mandated Reporter.

Ms. Natalie is an Assistant Teacher in the Singing Seahorse classroom. She comes to us with 2 years of experience working with children. She is looking foward to starting her CDA in Early Childhood this fall. Ms. Natalie is certified in Shaken Baby Sydrome, First Aid/CPR, Mandated reporter, SIDS, and Food Handlers.

Ms. Hailie is a Lead Teacher in the Gleeful Guppies classroom. She has 4 years’ experience with working with children. Ms. Hailie graduated from Plainfield Central Highschool in 2022 and earned her lead teacher credential from the CDA council. Ms. Hailie is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, First Aid/CPR, Mandated reporter, SIDS, and Food Handlers.

Ms. Kaitlyn is a Lead Teacher is the Puffers classroom. She has 1 year experience in Early Childhood. She graduated from Joliet Jr College with her Degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Kaitlyn is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, First Aid/CPR, Mandated reporter, SIDS, and Food Handlers.

Ms. Vanessa is an assistant teacher in the Tiny Turtles classroom. She comes to us with 8 years experience working with children. She is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated Reporter and Food Handlers. She looks forward to getting her CDA to become Lead Teacher here with Goddard.

Ms. Gail is a Lead Teacher in the Dancing Dolphins classroom. She has 30 years experance working in the Early Childhood field and she is currently taking classes at Joliet Junior college to finish her degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Gail is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated Reporter and Food Handlers.

Ms. Abby is a Lead Teacher here at The Goddard School. She has 1 year experience in the Early Childhood field. Ms. Abby is working towards her associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Joliet Junior College. She is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, First Aid/CPR, Mandated reporter, SIDS, and Food Handlers.

Ms. Patty is an Assistant Teacher in the Cuddly Crabs Classroom. Ms. Patty has been working at Goddard for a year. Ms. Patty has been working with kids for over 5 years and working in a preschool setting for a year. Ms. Patty is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated Reporter and Food Handlers.

Ms. Denise is an assistant teacher in the Cuddly Crabs Classroom. She has been working at Goddard for one year and comes to us with a year experience in an early childhood course setting. This is Ms. Denise's first time working in an Early child development center. Ms. Denise is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated Reporter and Food Handlers.

Ms. Shae’la is an Assistant Teacher that helps in all classrooms. You will see Ms. Shae’la at the end of the day helping with closing the school down each night. Ms. Shae’la has over 10 years experiences working with children and her has over a year experience working in a Pre-School setting. Ms. Shae’la is certified in Shaken Baby Syndrome, SIDS, Mandated Reporter and Food Handlers.