Our Goddard School Teachers

My name is John Pelicano. I hold a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in Business Management and Marketing. I also hold my Early Childhood Education 45 and 90 hour certifications through additional Early Childhood Educational college course work. I am First Aid and CPR Certified Infant-Adult and trained in Disaster preparedness. We are so thankful for all of the families who place their trust in the Goddard School Urbana Stone Barn every day, playing a part in the future of their children.

I earned my degree from UMBC and began working for early intervention with children on the autism spectrum, which led me into my career in Early Childhood Education. I started as a classroom teacher with Goddard in 2016 and joined the Urbana-Carriage Hill location in 2020 as a Pre-K teacher. In 2024, I was promoted to Director and opened this beautiful location, Stone Barn. Outside of work, I am a boy mom. I love to go to concerts and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. I love being a part of the Goddard family here at Stone Barn.

I am a dedicated education professional with over 20 years of experience creating nurturing, engaging, and supportive environments for children to learn and grow. I earned my degree from Hood College in Early Childhood Education, where I developed a strong foundation for my future work in the field. Beyond my career, I am a proud wife and mother of two, balancing family life with my passion for early childhood learning. My family and I love vacationing at Deep Creek Lake, where we enjoy the outdoors and quality time together. I am excited to bring my experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to the Goddard School community here in Urbana and look forward to being part of a team that values the growth and well-being of children.

I have always been interested in Early Childhood Education, although my career did not start in the field. I have an Associate's Degree in Law from Katherine Gibbs College, 25+ years as an Administrative Assistant and 15+ years of office management experience in the medical field. I am a mother of 4 children. My oldest is grown and my younger three are 14, 13, and 11. I enjoy finding time for myself, taking naps, and good coffee. I love being a part of the positive and nurturing environment throughout the school, fostering the growth and development of both the children and the staff.

I have been working in Infant & Toddler Childcare since 2020 but have been working with children of all ages since having my first child in 2003. I have my Infant & Toddler CDA. I am a mother to 3 beautiful children. I look forward to carrying and loving your children like my own.

I have been with The Goddard Schools since 2017. I hold my 90 hour Infant/Toddler and 45 hour School Age certifications; as well as my Medication Administration, CPR/First Aid and many more. I am a mother to a wonderful son and *brand new* twin baby girls. I enjoy spending time with him and having fun! I love that the Stone Barn family supports my son here at our school as well. I am excited to help your children learn and grow!

I live in Frederick, Maryland. I’m a proud mom of two children, Aarav and Avaya. My love for working with kids led me to a career in childcare. I’m certified as an Infant/Toddler teacher by the Office of Child Care (OCC) and have over four years of experience. I enjoy creating a warm, safe, and fun environment where children can learn and grow. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and enjoying Indian and Nepali food.

I have been teaching for over 16 years. I was inspired by my own children to begin teaching and love being an infant teacher. I have my Associate's Degree in Education, a CDA in Child Development, and enjoy continuing my education through a variety of courses. I am a mother to four beautiful children. A fun fact about me is that I get to work with my daughter every day because she is an aide here. I look forward to teaching here every day and love being a part of the Goddard family.

I hold both Infant & Toddler and Preschool certifications from the state of MD. A fun little fact about me is I own six cats and my favorite kid's book is Knuffle Bunny, on weekends I play Dungeons & Dragons. I love being a part of the Stone Barn family!

I am the Founder of Natamu School of Sri Lankan Traditional Dance in Washington, DC. With a strong background in both early childhood education and performing arts, I have dedicated my career to nurturing young learners through movement and cultural expression. I have extensive experience as a Lead Teacher in preschool settings. My background also includes positions at the Academy of Performing Arts - Sri Lanka Foundation in Los Angeles and several public schools in Sri Lanka, where I combined my expertise in dance and early childhood development to create engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences. I have completed all necessary early childhood education certifications, including the 90-hour Preschool Activities certification, Child Growth and Development certification and Infant and Toddler Care Certification from Frederick County Community College.

I am enjoying meeting all of you and your children as one of the Ducklings teachers. I just started in February but have learned so much already! I have an associate degree in engineering but chose to work with children because of my passion for interacting with them. I have two kids—a 13-year-old boy and a daughter who will turn 7 in May. Some of my favorite activities include painting and doing crafts with my children at home. I cannot wait to continue to grow here at Stone Barn!

I graduated from FCC in May 2019 with a Certificate of Accomplishment for Preschool and School Age. I've been in early childhood education as a teacher for 5 years. As a teacher I am dedicated to creating engaging learning activities and providing individualized support to children with diverse needs. I am currently studying with a program called "Level Up Academy" to pursue a career as a business entrepreneur. My goal is to help people achieve their life goals. I enjoy dancing Salsa. Art is my favorite hobby and has helped me be more creative with children. Art taught me to engage in creative activities to help children connect different ideas and emotions into our classroom. "If You Give A Pig A Pancake" is my favorite childhood book! My hope is to impact the children I work with through creating a nurturing, positive environment for growth and development.

Teaching and learning have always been my greatest passions. I believe that children learn best in an environment where they feel safe, respected, and loved. Over the years, I have learned that kindness, patience, and positive relationships are the foundation of every child's growth, regardless of their age or background. My goal is to create a classroom where every child feels confident to explore, ask questions, and celebrate their achievements. I enjoy helping children build not only academic skills but also confidence, curiosity, creativity, and compassion. Watching children grow, discover new abilities, and develop a love for learning is the most rewarding part of my career. Favorite Children's Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

I work in childcare because growing up my mother had her own daycare service and I always admired the way she cared for children. I knew from a young age that is something I wanted to do as well. My biggest accomplishment is that I also have a child who is a Goddard kid as well. With that being said, it will always be my top priority to care for all of your children as if they were my own and prioritize their education to help prepare them for there futures once graduating my class.

I earned my 90 hour preschool certification by completing the Child Development program and all required MSDE training. After graduating, I used my certification to work in childcare before becoming a mother. I have always loved children, and being a part of them growing and learning. Being able to be a part of that is a special experience. I feel called to continue caring for and teaching young minds in the many ways they learn. I feel songs are a fun engaging way to grab the attention of busy young minds and get them directed to one focal point. I like to use songs for particularly busy transitions or while students are waiting patiently for the next task to begin. One of my all-time favorite nursery rhymes to sing with little ones is ‘Five Little Monkeys’. (Otters from summer camp loved this one) I believe so much learning can come from reading. Two of my favorite children’s authors are Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. My favorite book is ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’.

Originally from Ghana, I am grateful to be given this opportunity to work at the Goddard school of Stone Barn. I have a Bachelors in basic education at the university of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Prior to joining the Stone Barn family, I had experience working as a co-lead teacher at the Goddard school of Kirkland and other preschools in Washington state. My favorite activities to do with children is circle time and arts. My favorite children's books is The Sandwich Swap by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah . When I am not in school, I love to spend time with my family and cooking new recipes.

I am passionate about fostering a love for learning in young children. My teaching experience includes working with older children both internationally and in the USA as a volunteer. My teaching journey has spanned both international settings and the USA, where I have had the opportunity to work with older children as a volunteer educator. Now, as an early childhood educator, I am committed to fostering a warm and engaging environment that nurtures curiosity, exploration, and growth. I strongly believe that a teacher’s role is to be a facilitator—guiding children through their learning experiences while encouraging them to discover their own interests. Transitioning into early childhood education has been an incredibly rewarding experience, allowing me to focus on the crucial early years of development. I am passionate about hands-on, play-based learning, which helps children build essential skills, gain confidence, and develop independence in a fun and meaningful way.

I’m a mom to two kids, Zoya, who is starting middle school, and Zyaan, who is in 3rd grade. I have about six years of teaching experience in both elementary and preschool classrooms, and I truly love working with little ones. Being a mom has taught me that even children from the same household can have VERY big and very different personalities!I believe every child brings something special to the classroom and deserves to be celebrated, nurtured, and surrounded with love as they learn and grow. My husband is a professor at UMD, and we also have two one year old golden doodles, Romeo and Benji, who keep us on our toes! In my free time, I love cooking, listening to music, and spending time with my family. ??

I have been an Early Childhood Educator for 10+ years now. I fell in love with the idea of teaching during my time as a Camp Counselor for a Summer Camp session that was being held at a nearby Montessori School in Silver Spring, MD. This experience came full circle when I later accepted a pre-K teaching position for the school year at that same school! This was the start of my fascination with the benefits of a classroom designed with the Montessori Method close in mind. I also spent some time as a Lead Teacher for a Mandarin Immersion school in Washington, D.C. During my time there I sharpened my knowledge and ability to incorporate various cultural, natural, textile, and sensorial elements into any classroom setting. I also learned a variety of ways to begin introducing a child to a new language, foster the continuation of a language they already know, and how to meet a child who may struggle with speech / language as a whole. I am so excited that my journey has led me here.

I have a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Information Technology. I am certified and have experience in working with preschool and school age students. I love to help children bloom and grow. I understand that each student has their own strengths, and I encourage them to help achieve their goals. I have a 10-year-old son, and I understand as a parent we come up with different concerns and questions related to our child's growth and learning. I would love to help you with all your questions and concerns.

My previous experience in corporate training has provided me with an understanding of different learning styles and strategies. I’m passionate about creating a fun, inclusive and innovative educational environment. When I’m not at school, you may find me on a baseball field, soccer field or attending another one of my children’s activities. My goal is to cultivate a positive learning foundation for your child!

I have been working in childcare for over a year and am currently working toward completing my 90-hour certification. I believe in fostering an environment where every child feels encouraged to explore, grow, and make wonderful memories. As a mother of an 8-year-old, I understand the importance of creating a safe, fun, and creative space where children can thrive. I love reading and enjoy incorporating creative activities that help children develop their imagination and skills. I am excited to be part of your child’s learning journey!

I am a dedicated educator passionate about early childhood learning. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree, a postgraduate diploma in Business Management, and a 90-hour Preschool certification from Montgomery College. I love incorporating arts and crafts, cooking, and hands-on activities to make learning fun and engaging for young children. My goal is to create a nurturing and stimulating environment where kids can explore, grow, and develop essential skills. Outside the classroom, I enjoy cooking, creating henna art, fruit and vegetable carving, traveling, and discovering new creative inspirations.

I hold a four-year degree in engineering and have always had a passion for learning and problem-solving. To pursue this passion professionally, I completed my 90-hour certification in early childhood education. My journey into early childhood education began when I became a mother to my wonderful 6-year-old daughter, which deepened my appreciation for child development. I love creating engaging learning experiences that nurture curiosity and confidence in young children. I am excited to be part of The Goddard School and to support the growth and development of each child in my care!

I have been working with children for over 16 years. I have my 90 hour certification in both Preschool & School-Age and am working on my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education. I enjoy being a teacher and am grateful to be able to continue to support each of my children in their development.

I am a highly enthusiastic and creative infant and toddler teacher with a passion for nurturing young minds to help them grow. I have my 90 hour certification in Early Childhood Education. I am a mother of two children; I teach them so many things and I also am learning from them everyday. I am a dedicated and passionate teacher with more than a year of experience nurturing young minds.

I am excited to be a part of this great team and be able to help grow little minds. Most of my career has been in sales, until my grandchildren came in 2015, when I decided to take a step back and focus on my four grandchildren during their early years. I learned so much during their first few years and discovered my passion for teaching and being with children. I realized every child learns differently and needs love and patience. In 2021, I started my journey to getting my child development & early childhood certifications. I am very passionate, devoted and eager to work with all of your children here at Stone Barn. My favorite book is "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?" and I enjoy playing Chinese Checkers with my family.

I am a junior at Urbana High School and I am a part of their child development program. I am a setter on the Urbana varsity volleyball team. I plan to go to college to pursue my degree in psychology. One of my favorite moments I’ve experienced while working with children was watching a student achieve a goal they had been striving towards. They had been working very hard with me to achieve their goal and it was truly inspiring to see their hard work pay off. I am passionate about supporting children as they grow, helping them to develop the confidence and independence they need to thrive. My favorite children's book is “Harold and the Purple Crayon” written by Crockett Johnson. My favorite children’s game is “Duck Duck Goose” and my favorite children’s song is “The Wheels on the Bus”.