Our Goddard School Teachers

Welcome to The Goddard School located in Grand Rapids! I am proud to be the on-site owner and love being a part of The Goddard School Family. I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. My goal is to provide the highest quality education and care in a warm loving and safe environment where every child feels valued. I opened the school in 2008 to be a part of a business that positively affected the development of happy and confident young children. My husband and I have learned from our own four children how greatly important quality Early Childhood is to their foundations as they experience later years in school and life.

Cheryl’s commitment is to provide families with a safe and secure environment in which your child will learn and grow throughout their early years of education. Degreed in Early Childhood Education from Northern Michigan University, Cheryl uses her expertise to work collaboratively with the teachers to provide a well balanced fun educational experience for all children that attend The Goddard School, Grand Rapids. Cheryl’s vision of The Goddard School over the last 16 years is to provide a well-balanced fun educational experience for all of the children.

Sherri has been an important asset to The Goddard School for 16 years. Her bubbly personality, love for children, and creative energy not only assists in running the school but helps make the school a superior experience for children and families.

With over 20 years of experience working with young children, Ms. Amber has been a valued part of The Goddard School for more than 6 years in the Infant classroom. She believes that every baby develops at their own pace and is passionate about meeting each child where they are to support their growth. In the classroom, you’ll often find Ms. Amber engaging little ones in art and sensory activities, reading stories, or enjoying time outdoors. She especially loves watching children explore new experiences, whether it’s discovering textures through play or trying new foods for the first time!

Cheryl is a mother to three grown children, and a grandmother to ten young children, who are the loves of her life that keep her very busy. Cheryl earned her degree from Maryville University and has been part of The Goddard School since opening in 2008. She loves working in the Infant classroom because it’s a nurturing and loving environment.

Barb holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been actively involved in the field for over 47 years. Her experience includes roles as both a Director and Teacher, working with children from Infancy through Pre-Kindergarten. Barb loves spending time with the infants and can often be found on the floor singing songs, playing, and sharing stories with them. A fun fact about Barb: she and her husband travel all over the country playing Bridge, and she has earned the title of Bridge Life Master.

With a degree in Psychology and over seven years of experience working with children, Ms. Cassandra brings both knowledge and compassion to the classroom. Her background includes behavioral therapy with children ages 2–12, giving her a strong understanding of how to support each child’s unique needs. Cassie believes every child deserves a learning environment where they feel safe, supported, respected, included, and encouraged. She knows children learn best when they are having fun and engaging with exciting materials and experiences, and she is dedicated to providing that environment every day. At The Goddard School, you’ll often find Ms. Cassie using her imagination and joining in play alongside the children.

Ms. Gail is a vibrant and energetic addition to our amazing infant team. With a bachelor’s in science occupational safety and health, she loves to celebrate every milestone and new skill completed in the classroom. Ms. Gail welcomes all families with a warm and welcoming smile and loves to get to know all families! After having 11 years of experience with kids and 2 of her own, Ms. Gail has found a big passion for enjoying every snuggle possible with the babies. A fun fact about her is that early in her life she lived in Puerto Rico!

With a huge love for babies, Ms. Alana is one of our amazing teachers and a part of our Infant teaching team. You can always find Ms. Alana on the floor playing and singing to our babies, as well as celebrating every milestone and success with so much enthusiasm. Her love for singing and dancing stem from a passion in musical theatre which she participated in throughout school. Ms. Alana has been a part of our Goddard team for 2 years and we have appreciated every second!

Ms. Kim brings over 7 years of experience as a dedicated Early Childhood professional and holds a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has a true passion for working with toddlers and loves creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage curiosity and independence. One of her favorite parts of the day is reading with the children and sparking their imagination through books. She also enjoys taking the class outdoors, where children can explore the world around them and discover new things. Ms. Kim believes that trying new experiences builds confidence and nurtures independence, helping children grow into capable and confident learners.

With 12 years of educational experience, Ms. Heather is an amazing addition to our Toddler A classroom. She loves to plan hands-on experiences for the kids that allowfor them to explore their curiosity in a safe and fun way. From art projects to sensoryplay, Ms. Heather does an amazing job at making sure every kid has a memory eachand every day they leave our building.

Ms. Kat is a part of the amazing team that teaches our toddler friends! With 20 years of experience, Ms. Kat is an excellent example of how curiosity and exploration can be turned into amazing educational experiences for our young minds. You can find her at the front of their circle time utilising silly voices and gestures to engage the kids within any story book. You wouldn’t be surprised at her amazing story telling skills after knowing that she has her master’s degree in Renaissance Literature in Performance and performs live shows with the Piegan Creek Shakespeare Company.

Ms. Jessica is one of our amazing assistant teachers within our Toddler B classroom. She has worked at Goddard for over 3 years but has kids of her own that give her a lifetime of experience! Ms. Jessica is a vital part of our Toddler B class because her favorite part of her day is getting to capture the amazing moments of circle time, art projects, working on hands on skills, and so much more for you as parents to get a first-hand view into your kid’s daily lives at Goddard. A fun fact about Ms. Jessica is outside of teaching children she is also a cosmetologist and has been for 26 years!

Ms. Joy is a wonderful member of our teaching team who brings over 15 years of experience to the classroom. Her favorite part of each day is dancing, singing songs, and making bubble time extra magical for the children. She also loves sharing plenty of big snuggles and helping every child feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. Ms. Joy's energetic and caring personality creates a fun, welcoming environment where little ones can grow and explore with confidence. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys exploring on motorcycles and is always excited to try new foods and snacks, bringing her adventurous spirit into everything she does!

Ms. Claire is a wonderful part of our Two’s A teaching team who brings 3 years of experience working with children into the classroom. She is halfway completed with her bachelor’s degree in education and is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for every child. Her favorite part of the day is leading fun and creative art projects, where little learners can explore their imaginations while building confidence and fine motor skills. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Claire loves all kinds of crafting hobbies, especially needle felting and sewing. Her creativity and passion for hands-on learning help make every day engaging, colourful, and full of discovery for our students.

With 5 years of experience working with children, Ms. Gabby brings creativity, compassion, and enthusiasm to the classroom each day. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work and enjoys helping children learn through hands-on experiences. Her favorite classroom activity is creating art projects, giving children the opportunity to express their creativity while building confidence and important developmental skills. When she's not at school, Ms. Gabby spends her weekends volunteering with horses, combining her passion for helping others with her love for animals. Her caring personality and dedication to each child make her a wonderful part of our school family.

Ms. Sydney is a member of our Two’s A teaching team who brings 3 years of experience working with children to the classroom. Her favorite part of the day is hosting exciting bubble parties that fill the room with smiles, laughter, and opportunities for hands on fun. She loves creating joyful experiences that keep children engaged while encouraging them to explore and play. A fun fact about Ms. Sydney is that she spent 8 years as a competitive cheerleader! Her energetic personality and enthusiasm help make every day in the classroom fun, active, and full of excitement for our little learners.

With over 6 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Emily is currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood. She believes that every child is unique and brings their own special strengths to the classroom. Using her experience and passion for teaching, Ms. Emily encourages confidence, independence, problem-solving, and a lifelong love of learning in her students. Her favorite moments in the classroom are when she’s engaging with children in creative arts and sharing stories through books. Whether through painting, crafting, or reading together, Ms. Emily finds joy in watching children explore, express themselves, and grow each day.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and over 5 years of experience working with children, Ms. Unika brings both knowledge and passion to the Two’s B classroom. Her charismatic yet calm energy creates a welcoming environment where children feel encouraged to be curious, explore freely, and engage with the world around them. Ms. Unika’s goal is to spark a lifelong joy in learning while helping children build self-confidence and develop their natural curiosity through asking questions and trying new things. Some of her favorite activities with the children include creative arts and hands-on exploration, where she loves to see their imaginations and independence shine.

With a degree in Art, Science, and Special Education, Ms. Christina brings over 23 years of experience working with children. Her background includes teaching in public schools as well as coaching soccer and track, giving her a well-rounded perspective on both education and child development. In the Preschool A classroom, Ms. Christina’s approach centers on building meaningful relationships with each child. She believes that when children feel safe, confident, and loved, they are best able to learn and thrive together. One of her favorite parts of the day is circle time, where the class gathers to learn as a group, share special moments, and strengthen their sense of community.

With over 15 years of experience within educating our youth and a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Education from Texas State University, Ms. Rebecca is a wonderful addition to our Preschool A classroom. Throughout the day you will see Ms. Rebecca engages in amazing art projects with the kids, as well as being a part of many dramatic play-acting scenarios. One of Ms. Rebecca’s favorite activities is to sing many silly songs to make learning fun and engaging! A fun fact about Rebecca is she lived in Poland for 3 years before joining our Goddard teaching team.

Ms. Emily is a part of our Preschool B teaching team and has an amazing passion for creativity and storytelling! She shines through in everything she does with our young learners. With 12 years of experience working with children, she creates a welcoming classroom where imagination and curiosity can flourish. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in art history and a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, bringing a unique artistic perspective to her teaching. Her favorite part of the day is story time, where she loves capturing children's imaginations and encouraging a lifelong love of books. A fun fact about her is she has an amazing ability to create a song for everything possible! She also has travelled to 15 different countries, giving her countless stories and experiences to share that inspire children to learn about the world around them

Ms. Danielle brings a calm presence and a love for the creative arts to the Preschool B classroom. She holds a degree in Media, Information, and Film, and enjoys guiding children as they explore a variety of art mediums, as well as learn and discovering through outdoor play. Danielle values building individual connections with each child by creating a safe and welcoming space where they feel comfortable, learn through play, and enjoy fun, meaningful experiences with their classmates and teachers.

With a Master’s degree in Education and over 16 years of teaching experience, Ms. Sandra brings both expertise and passion to the classroom. Her background spans Kindergarten, Special Education, Young Fives, and Pre-Kindergarten, giving her a well-rounded perspective on early learning. Known as each child’s number one cheerleader, she encourages students to believe in themselves and discover how capable they are as independent learners. Her favorite part of the day is working in small centers, where she gets to witness the joy children feel when they accomplish a goal on their own. Ms. Sandra provides motivation, sets healthy boundaries, and inspires children to grow into independent learners and problem solvers by helping them recognize their own potential.

Ms. Payton is a creative and caring member of our teaching team who loves making learning fun for every child! With 2 years of experience working with young learners, she enjoys creating engaging classroom experiences that encourage curiosity and imagination. Her favorite parts of the day are arts and crafts projects and interactive learning centers, where children can explore, create, and learn through hands-on play. A fun fact about Ms. Payton is that she loves bugs! Whether it's discovering insects outside or sharing interesting facts about the tiny creatures that help our environment, she enjoys inspiring children to appreciate the wonders of nature.

Ms. Annie is one half of our wonderful Junior Kindergarten teaching team! Ms. Annie has 6 years of teaching experience with children, but she also has two young kids that bring her so much joy on a daily basis. You can always find Ms. Annie helping kids explore their creative sides by diving into activities that stem from curiosity and interest in a wide range of educational topics. One of Ms. Annie’s favorite things to do in the class is 30 second dance parties to help get out extra energy and wiggles. After being in the class during the day, Ms. Annie loves to come home to her own kids and host fashion shows and read fun stories.

Ms. Mikayla is a wonderful member of our teaching team who brings enthusiasm and adventure into every day with our little learners! With 5 years of experience working with children and currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in education, she is passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences. One of her favorite things to do in the classroom is teach children about animals and encourage them to explore the outdoors, helping spark their natural curiosity about the world around them. Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Mikayla worked as a zookeeper, making her the perfect person to inspire exciting conversations about nature and the amazing animals we share our world with!

Ms. Mimi brings warmth, imagination, and a love of learning to our classroom each day! As an addition to our resource team and with 2 years of experience working withyoung children, you can find her playing peek-a-boo with our toddlers, or coloring with our PK kids! She enjoys creating a nurturing environment where every child feels excited to learn and always receives many hugs as she walks in the door. Her favorite part of the day is story time, where she loves bringing books to life and encouraging a lifelong love of reading through storytelling. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Mimi has a passion for ceramics and enjoys creating unique pottery pieces, showcasing the same creativity and patience that she brings to her work with our little learners.

Ms. Christina is a wonderful addition to our resource teaching team and can be found within any classroom throughout the day! Her favorite part about being in the classrooms is having dance parties with any age group, to which she continues outside of work by attending many concerts. While being at Goddard for the past year, she has also been working on her bachelor’s degree in social work at Grand Valley State University!

Ms. Madison is a fantastic member of our teaching team who brings 5 years of experience working with children into the classroom. Her favorite part of the day is joining in dramatic play adventures and putting on fun puppet shows that spark imagination, creativity, and plenty of laughter. She loves encouraging children to express themselves through play while creating a positive and engaging learning environment. A fun fact about Ms. Madison is that she was a contestant on American Idol! Her love of performing shines through in the classroom, making every day exciting and memorable for our little learners.

With a master’s degree in Elementary Education and 36 years of experience inspiring young learners, Ms. Renee is a wonderful addition to our resource teaching team. She loves visiting classrooms throughout the building, and you can often find her singing songs, dancing, and sharing joyful moments with our little ones. Her warm and caring personality helps every child feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged to learn. When it comes to giving hugs and spreading love, she is an absolute professional—something she has perfected with plenty of practice from her seven grandsons! We are so grateful to have her positive spirit and caring heart as part of our school family.