Our Goddard School Teachers

Ross Flax is the owner of The Goddard School of Rockville, which he proudly opened in October 2003. A Philadelphia native, Ross holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Temple University and brings decades of entrepreneurial experience and a deep passion for early childhood education to his leadership. Ross began his journey with The Goddard School in 1997, opening his first location in Columbia, Maryland. Since then, he has successfully established three additional schools in Clarksburg, Bethesda, and Tysons Corner—each founded on his commitment to quality, community, and the developmental needs of young children. Married to his wife Sandra since 1987, Ross is also the proud father of two Goddard School graduates, Gabriela and Harrison. His personal and professional dedication to the Goddard mission is reflected in every aspect of the schools he leads, ensuring families receive the highest standard of care and education.

Ms. Jenn brings a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to her role as Center Director at The Goddard School. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Frederick Community College and has been a devoted early childhood educator since 1996. Since stepping into leadership in 2001, Ms. Jenn has served as a trusted Director in the Frederick area, combining her deep knowledge of child development with strong family partnerships and team support. She joined The Goddard School of Rockville in July 2013, where she continues to lead with heart, ensuring a nurturing, high-quality learning environment for every child and family in our community.

Mrs. Courtney Anderson serves as the Director of Education at The Goddard School of Rockville, bringing over a decade of experience and a deep commitment to early childhood excellence. She holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education Administration and has been a dedicated member of the Goddard family since 2013. As both an educator and a parent of three children who all attended The Goddard School, Courtney brings a unique perspective and heartfelt understanding to her role. She is passionate about supporting families through every step of their childcare journey and ensuring each child’s experience is enriching, nurturing, and joyful. Courtney is always available to answer your questions and guide you in making the best educational choices for your child.

Ms. Lynda Walker serves as the Assistant Director at The Goddard School of Rockville, bringing more than a decade of experience in early childhood education. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Frederick Community College and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree to further her commitment to educational leadership. Lynda supports the administrative team in a variety of essential roles. As a proud mother of four and grandmother to two, Lynda brings both professional expertise and heartfelt compassion to her work. She is excited to be a part of the Goddard Rockville family and looks forward to fostering meaningful connections with children and their families.

Ms. Stef brings passion, creativity, and over 15 years of experience to her role as the Music Enrichment Teacher at The Goddard School of Rockville. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, she holds her 90-hour preschool, infant, and toddler certification in Child Development and Curriculum. Since 2005, Ms. Stef has been inspiring young minds through preschool music and movement programs across the Washington, D.C. area. In addition to her classroom teaching, she runs a private home studio where she offers piano, guitar, and voice lessons. As a mother of four and a lifelong musician, Ms. Stef believes that music is for everyone and that its benefits reach far beyond the classroom. Her teaching blends classical, contemporary, and global influences—from Beethoven to the Beatles, Coltrane to the Clash—sparking joy, curiosity, and creativity in every lesson. She is thrilled to share her love of music with the Goddard Rockville community!

Ms. Yaudith is the Spanish Enrichment Teacher at The Goddard School of Rockville, where she brings language to life through engaging lessons that introduce children to simple Spanish words, phrases, and elements of Hispanic culture. With over 14 years of teaching experience and a nurturing, patient approach, she inspires young learners to embrace new languages with curiosity and confidence. A proud mother of three, Ms. Yaudith believes in modeling patience and understanding in every interaction. Her goal is to create a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel encouraged to explore, speak, and enjoy the beauty of the Spanish language and the richness of Hispanic traditions.

Ms. Wei Xue is the Chinese Enrichment teacher at The Goddard School of Rockville, bringing a rich background in language education and cultural exchange to our students. Born and raised in China, she graduated from Xinjiang University in 1994 and spent over 20 years teaching middle school students before immigrating to the United States in 2013. Since then, Ms. Wei has continued her passion for education by teaching Chinese to young learners at various Chinese schools. She is deeply committed to helping children build fluency while fostering a love for the Chinese language and culture. Her greatest joy is watching her students grow in confidence and skill as they begin to express themselves in Chinese. Ms. Wei’s warm and engaging teaching style inspires students to embrace new languages with curiosity and enthusiasm.

Mr. David is the Physical Education Teacher at The Goddard School of Rockville, where he brings energy, expertise, and a lifelong passion for sports to every class. He is a certified and licensed coach through the U.S. Soccer Federation and has been inspiring young athletes since founding High Score Soccer in 2016. Through his company, he has worked with children from toddlers to teenagers, promoting physical development in a fun, supportive, and healthy environment. At The Goddard School, Mr. David leads a dynamic Physical Education program that emphasizes movement, confidence, and play. His lessons incorporate fun clinics and age-appropriate activities that help children develop key gross motor skills—including balancing, traveling, and manipulative movement—while fostering enthusiasm for physical fitness. Mr. David is passionate about helping every child discover the joy of movement as part of a well-rounded, active lifestyle.

Ms. Tanner is a Mississippi native who has devoted her life to advocacy through dance and the performing arts. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Psychology. During her collegiate career, Tanner trained on scholarship with Giordano Dance Chicago and Visceral Dance and served as the co-director of the Dance Alabama Film Festival. Upon graduation, Tanner performed internationally with Creative Studios by NCLH on Regent Seven Seas Cruises and was featured in works by Patti Wilcox, Chase Benz, and Brittany Stewart. She then went on to serve as Assistant Cruise Director, performing with world-renowned guest entertainers and choreographing works on the onboard entertainment team. We are eager to offer dance at Goddard Rockville under the direction of Tanner!

Ms. LouAnn is our yoga enrichment instructor. She has a background in early elementary education and psychology and is 200-hour certified. She also holds a 140-hour certification for Warriors and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. She is passionate about the mind-body connection and loves vinyasa flow yoga. In class, students will flow, strengthen, and breathe together. Ms. LouAnn loves working with preschoolers, especially blending the wonder and joy that yoga and mindfulness bring with the magic of that age and stage of life!

Ms. Kim is our Art Enrichment instructor. She loves bringing in different elements of the art classroom, using outside the box materials and focusing on developing the confidence of the artist inside all of us. As Bob Ross say, there are no mistakes in art, just happy accidents! And, Ms. Kim would add, lots of fun!

Ms. Ramona is the Head Cook at The Goddard School, bringing over 15 years of experience in food service to our school community. She holds a certified food handler credential and is passionate about preparing healthy, balanced snacks that help fuel our students’ learning and growth. Each day, Ms. Ramona ensures our children are served nutritious snacks made with care. Her dedication to quality and her warm presence in the kitchen play an essential role in creating a nurturing and supportive school environment. We are grateful for all that she brings to our tables—and our hearts—every day.

Mr. Eric is a dedicated educator in our Kindergarten program and serves as the Curriculum Mentor for our teaching staff. With a strong foundation in early childhood education, he holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential as well as a 90-hour certification in Child Development with a focus on preschool and pre-k curriculum. Mr. Eric is passionate about creating engaging, fun, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that prepare young learners for academic success. As a mentor, he supports fellow educators in implementing high-quality curriculum and instructional strategies across our school. His commitment to excellence and leadership in curriculum development make him an invaluable part of the Goddard Rockville community.

Ms. Joyce is a teacher in our Infant Program. Ms. Joyce has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since we first opened our doors in 2003! Ms. Joyce received her 90-hour Early Childhood Certification, and 45-hour Infant/Toddler Certification.

Ms. Jen is a teacher in our preschool/bridge program. Jen has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since 2008. She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Education Management and 90-hour Early Childhood Certification.

Ms. Eunice is a teacher in our preschool/bridge program. Eunice has her 90-clock hour certification and 45-hour certification in Early Childhood Education. Eunice has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since 2017.

Ms. Fatima is a teacher in our infant program. She is currently pursuing her CDA and has taught at Goddard Rockville since 2019.

Ms. Andrea is a teacher in our preschool program. Ms. Andrea earned her B.A in Fine Arts and has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since 2021.

Mr. Kenneth (Kenny) is a teacher in our Bridge program. Kenneth has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since 2021.

Ms. Mitra is a teacher in our two-year-old program. Ms. Mitra has been working in the early childhood since 2017. She is currently pursuing her degree in Psychology.

Awat is a teacher in our infant program. She has been teaching for several years and obtained her infant & toddler certification.

Ms. Adrianna is a teacher in our pre-k program. She has been in the early childhood field since 2012 and obtained her 90-hour certifications.

Ms. Siby is a teacher in our infant program. She earned in her infant and toddler certifications and has been in the education field since 2019.

Ms. Fern is a teacher in our pre-k program. She has been in the early childhood field since 2013 and earned her degree in Early Child Development and Secondary education in Mathematics.

Ms. Liz is a teacher in our toddler program. She earned her associates degree and her infant and toddler certifications. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and her CDA. Liz has been in the education field since 2019.

Ms. Karen is a teacher in our pre-k program. She earned her bachelor's in education and psychology and has been in the early child educational field for the past ten years.

Ms. Sarai is a teacher in our two-year-old program. Ms. Sarai has over ten years teaching experience in the early childhood educational field. She obtained her 90-hour certification in addition to her CDA.

Ms. Lesly is a teacher in our twos program. She has been in the early childhood field since 2017 and earned her 90-hour preschool certifications.

Ms. Wan is a teacher in our toddler program. She graduated from Bejing International Studies University with a bachelor's degree in art and has been in the educational field since 2023.

Ms. Mya is a teacher in our preschool program. She has been in the early childhood education field since 2021 and earned her 90-hour certification.

Ms. Erica is a teacher in our toddler/twos bridge program. She has been in the early childhood field since 2021 and received her 90-hour certifications, with a focus on preschool development.

Ms. Jasmine is a teacher in our preschool program. She has been in the early childhood field for the past eleven years and obtained her associate's degree in early childhood education. She is currently pursuing her Bachler's degree.

Ms. Jay is a teacher in our toddler program. She has been an early childhood educator since 1998. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and teaches adults English as a Second Language.

Ms. Chiquanda is a teacher in our toddler/twos bridge program. She earned her CDA and has been in the early education field since 2017.

Ms. Milenie is a center support, helping all classrooms in a variety of capacities. She has been teaching at Goddard Rockville since 2016. and earned her bachelor's degree in mass communication and 90-hour certification in early childhood. She currently works for MCPS.

Ms. Sabrina is our afternoon part-time teacher, primarily supporting our preschool program in a variety of capacities.

Ms. Yolanda is our afternoon teacher in our infant program. She obtained her bachelor's degree of science in Business Administration. She has been in the early education field since 2011.

Ms. Joanne is a teacher in our toddler program. She obtained her bachelor's degree in human services from Purdue Global University and her CDA. She has been in the education field since 2018.

Yescenia is a teacher in our Twos program. She has been in the early childhood field since 2016 and earned her toddler and preschool certifications.

Ms. Nayereh (Simin) is our center floater and supports our school in a variety of capacities. She has been in the educational field for over 20 years and earned her 90-hour infant & toddler certifications.

Ms. Jacky is our center support, helping our school in a variety of capacities. She is currently pursuing her degree and has been in the early childhood field since 2023.

Ms. Danielle is a floater, supporting our school in a variety of capacties. She earned her bachelor's degree in mass communications and journalism from Salisbury University.

Ms. Zaria is our center support staff. She is currently pursuing her degree and has been teaching children since 2021.

Ms. Jounia is a teacher in our Bridge program. She has been in the Early Childhood profession for 27 years both locally and internationally. Jounia earned her Montessori Certificate and an Associate in Early Childhood Development.

Ms. Ebony is our center support staff. She has been in the educational field since 2016 and earned her 90-hour certifications. She currently works for MCPS.

Ms. Navy is a teacher in our pre- program. She has been in the education field since 2019, teaching in public schools. She earned her degree in Child and Adolescent Studies.

Ms. Martha is one of our Floaters at The Goddard School. Martha has been with us since 2014. Mrs. Martha is happily married and has two children and two grandsons! She has taught for six years in Peru, her home country. She hopes to demonstrate confidence, respect, kindness, and creativity.