Our Goddard School Teachers

Dave & Jen Collins are proud to bring their passion for education and child development to The Goddard School of Eldersburg. As on-site owners and parents themselves, they are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and fun environment where children can learn, grow and thrive! Mr. Dave’s background includes teaching Elementary School, training with Sylvan Learning Center, supporting Goddard Schools Nationwide and owning the Goddard School of Edgewater. Ms. Jen holds a Master’s in Elementary Education and has spent nearly 20 years teaching fifth grade. Together, they have four sons- one currently attending Goddard- and are dedicated to ensuring every child feels loved, supported and is excited to learn each day. They believe that who a child becomes is as important as what they know!

Ms. Jen has been in public education as an Elementary School Teacher for the last 19 years and is excited to become a part of the Goddard Eldersburg community! Watching children learn new things and seeing their faces light up is the best part of education- especially in early childhood! When she is not in a school, Ms. Jen enjoys spending time with her husband, Dave, and their 4 sons- Brendan, Ryan, Logan, and Declan.

Ms. Morgan has held many titles in her time at Goddard since she joined us in 2011 and was promoted to the Leadership Team in 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She has experience working with all age groups, but primarily has worked with children ranging from 3 through school-age. Her main goal as a member of the Leadership Team is to create a warm and welcoming environment for both families and teachers! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as coaching cheerleading.

Ms. Sam is one of the Directors here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She has worked in childcare for over 10 years and holds her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Towson University. Ms. Sam also holds her School Age and Preschool certifications and has experience teaching Kindergarten, Pre-k, 2's, and special needs. While she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and her son, Paul. Her main goal as part of the Leadership Team is to continously motivate our teachers and make the classroom experience the best for our families. She loves to be a lending ear to her team and willing to help with whatever is needed. Ms. Sam loves the relationships she has formed with her team, families, and the children. Ms. Sam looks forward to many more exciting times ahead here at The Goddard School!

Ms. Melissa has been enjoying coming to work at Goddard since 2007! She has held many titles throughout her tenure including having been a part of the Administration Team from 2015-2019. She proudly returned to Goddard in 2024, now as a Mom of two herself. Melissa has her B.A. from Salisbury University in Communications & Media Production with a minor in Vocal Music and her Infant & Toddler certification from Howard Community College. Melissa is also a professional singer and actress in the region. Her goal as a member of the Leadership Team is to use her background in music and drama to add sparkle, magic and a little silliness to every day, to make unforgettable family memories at our school. What she enjoys most about our school community is, being a part of each families story and the staff members that have become family.

Ms. Kate has been in child care for over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has worked with children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 6th grade. She is infant/toddler, pre-school, and school age qualified. Ms. Kate has been married for almost 17 years, and has a beautiful step-daughter and granddaughter. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, photography, and painting when she is not teaching. Ms. Kate loves watching young children make connections in their world. It’s rewarding to observe them master everyday skills that we as adults take for granted.

Ms. Kelly is a passionate educator with nearly 15 years of experience teaching in the Howard County Public School system. Kelly holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as advanced graduate credentials in Elementary and Special Education. Kelly is excited to join the Goddard family, having been part of the community since enrolling her oldest son in 2021. Kelly will support educators and team leaders in implementing a high-quality, developmentally appropriate curriculum while fostering instructional consistency and strong classroom practices. Kelly is committed to empowering teachers, strengthening the overall educational experience, and ensuring every student builds the academic, social, and emotional foundations needed for Kindergarten success and beyond.

Ms. Heather is a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator with a strong commitment to fostering the growth and development of young children. She is currently pursuing her degree in Human Ecology at the University of Maryland, focusing on Child Development, to deepen her understanding of how children learn and thrive in their environments. With an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Communications, Ms. Heather brings a well-rounded skill set to her classroom, allowing her to support diverse learning needs and create a nurturing, inclusive space for every child in her care. Her enthusiasm for creating meaningful connections with children and her dedication to their educational journey are at the heart of her teaching philosophy. When she’s not teaching, you can find her researching, crafting, or attending her son’s extra curricular activities. She cannot wait to greet your little ones at the door each morning awaiting a fun day of exploring!

Ms. Catie is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary/Middle Special Education from Towson University. Ms. Catie has been working with children of all ages for the over 10 years. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as looking at cows. In her spare time, Ms. Catie coaches cheerleading at Liberty High School and loves bonding with her stepdaughter, Ali! Ms. Catie is excited to provide a fun and nurturing environment for all Goddard kiddos!

Ms. Rebecca is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and has been with us since 2013. She holds both her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Rebecca is in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in Family Science from Towson University. In her free time, she loves to babysit, practice photography, go to concerts, and read. Ms. Rebecca’s favorite part of being a teacher is making a positive impact on the lives of each child and their family.

Ms. Amy is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Amy is the proud mom of 3 girls and the grandmother to 3 wonderful grandchildren. Her career in Early Childhood Education started over 20 years ago. Ms. Amy's goals for children are to have fun and to treat each moment as a teachable moment. She will work hard to continually create a warm, loving, and inviting environment.

Ms. Kennedy has worked with children since 2015 and holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Randolph-Macon College. She is currently finishing her Masters Degree in School Counseling and dedicated a semester internship to working with people with autism. Her favorite part of teaching is learning from her students and watching them embrace their uniqueness! In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, coaching Varsity basketball, going to coffee shops and spending time with friends and family.

Ms. Peggy is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been with Goddard since November 2019 and has been in the field since 1986. Ms. Peggy has worked extremely hard to obtain her Infants/Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age and Director certifications. She became a teacher because of her love for children. Seeing the children get excited when they learn something new pushes her to keep being a positive role model in the students lives.

Ms. Abbye is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She attended Coastal Carolina University to start her early childhood education and finished at Howard Community College where she obtained her Preschool Certification and continues to further her education! Ms. Abbye is a mommy to a little boy named Reece who also attends the Goddard school. She also loves to garden, spend time with her family and do home improvement projects. She is very happy to be teaching her friends at Goddard!!

Ms. Diane is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications and has been a preschool teacher since 2017. Ms. Diane enjoys spending time with her granddaughters as much as possible! She also enjoys crocheting and pencil coloring books. Ms. Diane is very happy to be a Goddard School teacher.

Ms. Jen is a Lead Teacher in our Savanna Smilers classroom and has her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. She has been in childcare for twenty years, both as a nanny and in centers, and has worked at Goddard since May of 2021. Ms. Jen has a beautiful daughter, Rebecca, who is in Elementary school. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her daughter outside. Ms. Jen and Rebecca both really enjoy Goddard and feel right at home.

Ms.Caitlin is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Albright College as well as an Infant and Toddler certificate. Ms.Caitlin has been working with children of all ages for 10 years. She most recently worked with autistic toddlers and preteens. When she’s not teaching, you can find her reading or hosting a game night with her family and friends. Ms.Caitlin loves animals and is a mom to her dog, Potato and cat, Gumbo. She is ecstatic to work with the Goddard team to support your amazing and entertaining children!

Ms. Lauren is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has worked in the childcare setting for the last 14 years and currently holds her Associate’s degree in General Studies as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Ms. Lauren is currently in the process of obtaining her Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She has both her Preschool and Infant/Toddler certifications. Ms. Lauren absolutely adores working with children and loves seeing them constantly learning new things while at school. During her downtime, outside of work, Ms. Lauren loves to watch sports, go hiking, and playing with her Doberman puppy!

Ms. Kristen is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been an educator for over seventeen years and has been with The Goddard School for ten years, five of which here at the Eldersburg location. Ms. Kristen is passionate about teaching and enjoys shaping the hearts and minds of our future leaders. From a young age, she knew her life would be dedicated to teaching young children! Ms. Kristen has been married for 13 years and is a mom to two wild and wonderful boys, ages 20 and 6. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her kiddo’s play sports, crafting, and traveling. Family and teaching is her life!

Ms. Miranda is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. Although she has recently started her teaching journey, she has been a stay at home mom to her 3 wonderful children for 13 years! Ms. Miranda’s goal is to create a safe and loving environment for all children that are in her care and is excited to see them thrive while gaining new skills as they grow older. In her spare time, Ms. Miranda loves hiking, board games and gardening! She is very eager to make an impact on the little ones in her classroom and build strong relationships with all.

Ms. Kaylie is a Lead Teacher at The Goddard School. She earned her B.S. in Early Childhood and Special Education from Juniata College in 2025. Her teaching journey began with an internship at Carrolltowne Elementary in high school, followed by student teaching experiences in college at Southside Elementary in both Kindergarten and learning support classrooms. She loves helping children grow and watching their unique personalities shine. Outside of school, Ms. Kaylie enjoys cheering on Washington D.C. sports teams, traveling, walking her dog Roscoe, and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Mary is a Lead Preschool Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been working as a teacher at the Goddard School since 2018. She has taught many different age groups, but Preschool is her favorite! Ms. Mary is originally from Missouri where she attended William Woods University and majored in Elementary Education. Ms. Mary also holds her Preschool and School-Age certifications. She has two beautiful daughters and a wonderful son-in-law. When she is not busy teaching or spending time with her family, she enjoys learning to cook Greek dishes, cake decorating, and gardening. Ms. Mary enjoys planning fun, educational activities and watching the children's faces light up with excitement and their little brains fill with curiosity and questions!

Ms. Tangie is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant & Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Tangie has been in childcare for 12 years and enjoys working with all ages of children but infants and toddlers are her favorite. She enjoys all the cuddles and watching them experience new things for the first time! When she is not working, Ms. Tangie enjoys reading, and spending time with her daughter Haleigh.

Ms. Heather is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and has been teaching in the early childhood setting since 2016. She holds both her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. When she is not at school, she loves to craft and has her own small business selling custom clothing and accessories! Ms. Heather has two dogs and her husband, Caleb, whom she loves spending time with in her free time. Her favorite part about teaching is seeing the growth in each child, watching them accomplish their goals and preparing them for Kindergarten!

Ms. Sheena is coming to the Goddard School with over 20 years of experience as a lead teacher, and a Bachelors degree from Towson University. She has worked with infants through high school aged children, but really thinks preschool is the most fun! Ms. Sheena is creative, values communication with families, and loves reading with her class. Her favorite children's books are Pete the Cat and anything by Eric Carle. Ms. Sheena is also married with 2 daughters, and enjoys reading, arts and crafts, and baking.

Ms. Izzy has been working in childcare and education since she was in high school! After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies, Ms. Izzy worked as an environmental educator before joining the Goddard team in 2026. Her favorite part of teaching is watching her curious students gain new skills and interests every day. In her free time, Ms. Izzy enjoys spending time with her family, exploring outside, drawing, and watching all the movies she can!

Ms. Arianna is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She recently graduated from Century High School and plans to go to community college to pursue a career in Education. In her free time, Ms. Arianna loves to spend time with her family and friends. She chose to work in childcare because she enjoys spending time with children and learning more about their development.

Ms. Laura is a Lead Pre-K Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg She has worked in childcare since 2006 and has been at the Goddard School since 2020. Ms. Laura graduated in 2012 from Stevenson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. One of her favorite parts of working with young children is being able to make connections with each and every one of them. She also enjoys watching them grow over throughout each year. Ms. Laura is a proud cat mama to her two fur babies, Casper & Zelda. When she is not working with children, Ms. Laura enjoys traveling, tap dancing, diamond art and latch hooking. Ms. Laura has been to five countries, Italy, Greece, England, Germany, and Austria! She hopes to add more to the list soon!

Ms. Mikayla is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and primarily works with our infants! In her free time, Ms. Mikayla loves to spend time with her friends and family . She chose to work in childcare because she loves watching the kids grow up and learn new things everyday and she loves the happiness they bring to her everyday at work. Fun fact, Ms. Mikayla attended Goddard when she was a young girl!

Ms. Chloe moved to Maryland from South Florida in August of 2025. She has been working with students since 2016 aging from 3 through 10. Ms. Chloe loves watching the kids grow and achieving new milestones. In her free time, she loves relaxing on the beach and hanging with family and friends.

Ms. Elaina is the Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds a teaching certification for Grades PreK-3. She loves music, arts and crafts, and her cat named Birdie. Ms. Elaina aims to create a fun and welcoming environment where children can develop their academic, social, and emotional skills.

Ms. Susan is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School. She has worked as a teacher in Elementary Education for the last 25 years. Ms. Susan received her Bachelor’s Degree at California University of Pennsylvania and holds her preschool certification. She taught first grade for five years and Pre-K for twenty years at local private schools. Ms. Susan has really enjoyed her years as a teacher and the highlight for her was to see the academic growth her students made throughout the year. Teaching can be exhausting, but very rewarding! In her free time, Ms. Susan enjoys long walks, bargain hunting, and going out to eat with her husband and sons.

Ms. Julia has been in the education field since 2023! She is a current student at Carroll Community College majoring in Visual Arts with a minor in Education. She plans to transfer to Towson University to earn her Bachelors and become an art teacher! In her free time, Ms. Julia enjoys creating art and spending time with her friends.

Mr. John is our bus driver throughout the academic school year! He also is a friendly face to our kids throughout the day when he is not on his bus runs. Mr. John enjoys helping in all of the classrooms and being a "Poppy" to all of the kids. In his spare time, he is a local DJ and you can find him singing karaoke wherever he goes!

Ms. Bella is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School. She is currently a student at Howard Community College and is majoring in Radiology. Ms. Bella loves seeing the children laugh and smile and that is her goal each and everyday at Goddard. She hopes to grow strong bonds with all the children and create a loving and safe environment for all.

Ms. Taylor is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and currently attends Liberty High School. She previously attended summer camp at Goddard starting at age five! She is now excited to be helping and teaching in the same environment where she was when she was a young girl. In her spare time, Ms. Taylor is a member of the Liberty High School Varsity cheerleading team and has been dancing & cheering for many years! She enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her 2 dogs, and is very excited to build relationships here at Goddard!

Ms. Bette is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She graduated from Towson in 1971 with a BA in Elementary Education and currently holds her Preschool and School-Age certifications. She substituted in the school system from 1981-1990, and then began working in childcare. Ms. Bette has worked with all ages, infant through school-age and has been at the Goddard School since 2013. She is married and has raised two boys. In her free time, Ms. Bette enjoys reading all kinds of books as well as knit very simple patterns and takes piano lessons.

Ms. Kendall is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School. She has been working at the Goddard School of Eldersburg since the fall of 2021 and is a student at Carroll Community College. Ms. Kendall loves watching the kids grow into their personalities and see their accomplishments!

Ms. Alaina is a student at Chapelgate Christian Academy where she is a member of the soccer and lacrosse teams! She hopes to further her education at Michigan State University to become a teacher and commercial real estate agent. Fun fact- Ms. Alaina used to be a student here at Goddard! She loves working with the students each day and being a part of their everyday lives.

Ms. Kate is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is a recent graduate of Penn State University earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She plans to continue her educational journey to obtain her Masters in Speech Pathology. Ms. Kate loves meeting new kids and is excited to work with them as well as gain experience here at Goddard. In her free time, Ms. Kate enjoys spending time with friends and going to the gym.

Ms. Kaylyn has been in the childcare setting since 2022! She is currently attending Carroll Community College and majoring in Special Education. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing the children understand what they are learning! In her spare time, she likes to sow with her friends and spend time with family.

Ms. Abby is high school student at Glenelg Country School committed to the University of Oregon who loves working with kids. She grew up loving Goddard, it was her favorite place to be as a child. Ms. Abby hopes to create the same fun, safe, and happy memories for the children at Goddard that she once had here.

Ms. Sofia is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is currently a student at Carroll County Community College, and plans on transferring to a four-year institution to major in marketing. Ms. Sofia’s interests include baking, painting, fashion, and sewing. She has been babysitting since she was 13 years old and enjoy seeing the different personalities shine through all the children. One of the achievements Ms. Sofia is most proud of is the 2023 fashion show she was a part of for the Career and Technology Center Fashion Program. Ms. Sofia is so excited to be a part of our school and make a difference in the children’s lives.

Ms. Charlene is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been here at The Goddard School since 2004! She enjoys working with the children and believes their minds are like sponges that can absorb everything around them. Ms. Charlene is the proud mother of a daughter and a son as well as a grandmother of five beautiful grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to surround herself with family and friends as well as go on walks and watch movies.

Ms. Grace is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She currently attends Liberty High School and is set to graduate in June 2025! Ms. Grace plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania to major in Nursing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, shopping, and the beach. Fun fact, Ms. Grace attended Goddard when she was younger and is very excited to be working here!

Ms. Brenda is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She graduated from South Carroll High School where she studied Early Childhood Education. Following graduation, she became a professional nanny where she provided private care for children for several years before raising a family of her own. Ms. Brenda has been on our Goddard School Team since 2010. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Ms. Raven is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. In the past, she has worked privately babysitting infants and toddlers, and has continued that passion working as an Assistant Teacher in Reef Roamers. Ms. Raven is a graduate of Century High School and is attending the University of Maryland, College Park in the fall and spring studying Government & Politics and Russian Language & Culture. In the future, she plans to pursue her certification in infant and toddler education. Ms. Raven has a strong passion for serving families and being able to nurture and influence young individuals. In her free time, she enjoys staying fit, watching TV, and spending time with friends.

Ms. Maggie is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is a recent graduate from the University of Maryland where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood/Special Education. Ms. Maggie will be beginning her teaching career in the Fall of 2025 in Carroll County Public Schools! She enjoys working with children because she is able to watch them grow and see the differences that each day offers. Outside of working with children, Ms. Maggie enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and watching/playing sports.

Ms. Sadie is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She attends James Madison University and is pursuing a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Teaching ESOL. Ms. Sadie graduated from Century High School with her Preschool certification in 2021. She also holds her Infant/Toddler certification! Ms. Sadie strives to create a nurturing and loving environment for the babies in her care!