Our Teachers

Lindsey Moore is the On-Site Owner of The Goddard School Grand Rapids (Southwest). Lindsey holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University, and she has twenty years of business and non-profit management experience. As a mother of three young sons, Lindsey recognizes the importance of providing a consistent and strong curriculum in a safe and nurturing environment. She loves her work and is committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for children in the community! Lindsey and her family enjoy spending time together outside, hiking, biking, wakeboarding and downhill skiing, and being active within the Byron Center community!

Brittany started her career with The Goddard School as the Infant Lead teacher when the school opened in 2015. She was promoted to Assistant Director in early 2017 and Education Director in June of 2018. Brittany and her husband Brett have two sons, Boone and Edison, who also attend The Goddard School. They live near downtown Grand Rapids and enjoy participating in community events, like summer concerts at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Their family also enjoys spending time outdoors, especially camping and swimming.

Miss Mandie began working for The Goddard School when we first opened in 2015 as an Assistant Toddler teacher. Since then, she has been promoted, first to Lead Teacher in our Get Set and Preschool classrooms, and then to Assistant Director in 2017. Mandie has an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Arts, with an emphasis on Youth Ministries, from Frontier School of the Bible. She has extensive experience with young children, including six years as a nanny and four years at other child care centers. Mandie also researched, developed, implemented, and ran her own licensed daycare center in the state of Wyoming. Mandie has a daughter and a step-son.

Miss Justine has worked for our school since 2019 and she was promoted to Assistant Director in 2023. In addition to supporting the Infant program, Miss Justine works to train new teachers, conduct observations in other classrooms, and fulfill temporary roles when needed throughout our entire school. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University. She has been caring for children since high school as both a nanny and childcare teacher. She enjoyed taking American Sign Language courses in college and loves seeing children communicating with it. Miss Justine is a proud mom of three, and she and her husband enjoy taking trips with their family to the beach and up north.

Miss Jackie joined our Infant Program teaching team in 2024. She has had the honor of teaching for twenty years and finds great fulfillment in working with infants and their parents during the first year. Miss Jackie is married with two children and in her free time she enjoys the arts- reading, painting, and drawing. She enjoys walks in nature and playing with her cats, as well as spending time with her family.

Miss Hafiza joined The Goddard School in April 2018. She is an assistant teacher in our Infants classroom. She loves spending time with little children and is often seen singing, reading, and playing with the babies. Since joining The Goddard school, Miss Hafiza has completed professional development focused on infant care, as well as other aspect of child development. Miss Hafiza has raised three of her own children with love and care and has more than 10 years of experience in providing child care for family and friends. Miss Hafiza loves to walk on trails, cook ethnic dishes, entertain and host friends and family at her loving home.

Miss Heidi joined our team in 2024 after a career in Computer Science. In addition to working as an assistant teacher, Miss Heidi teaches water aerobics and in her free time enjoys swimming. She is married with three grown children, and she takes care of her elderly father. Miss Heidi is learning to quilt and loves to play with her three cats!

Miss Grace has been a member of our team since 2017 and currently serves as the Lead teacher in our Toddlers I classroom. In 2021, she was promoted to Toddler Program Lead allowing her to support and ensure program efficacy and continuity throughout the Toddler program. After discovering a passion for early childhood education through teaching swim lessons and working as a nanny, Grace joined the Goddard School looking for a more professional opportunity to work with and make an impact on young children. She obtained her Child Development Associates in 2020. In her free time, Grace enjoys reading and hiking. She is married and has a son and daughter who also attend The Goddard School!

Mylene has been a part of our team since 2023. She comes to us with experience as a teacher in other early childhood programs, we well as a lifeguard and swim instructor. In her free time, Mylene enjoys crafting, and spending time with her family and pets. She enjoys visiting back to her home state of Washington to see family, including her niece!

Miss Laura began working for The Goddard School in January 2024. She is an Assistant Teacher for our Preschool classrooms. Before joining our team, Laura gained experience through nannying and working in the early childhood setting. She has five children between the ages of 17 and 4. Laura enjoys traveling, painting, and spending time with her children.

Miss Maddie joined our team in 2024. She received her undergrad in Liberal Arts at Thomas More College and has experience with children and families. Maddie has four sisters and enjoys biking, going on walks, spending time with friends, and reading educational books.

Miss Sandra joined our teaching team in the summer of 2023. She is originally from Brazil and moved to the US to gain experience in an English speaking country for a promotion opportunity in the school she taught in, but she fell in love and got married and is now living in Grand Rapids! Miss Sandra has a bachelor's degree in teaching and brings a lot of enthusiasm for creative art to her students.

Miss Bridgette joined our team in 2021! She is an Assistant Teacher in our Toddler program. She has experience working in other childcare centers as well as running her own in-home care. She is married and has eight children. She enjoys getting together with her large family and walking along the beach collecting Petoskey stones.

Miss Carina has been a part of our team since 2021! She has worked as an assistant teacher in our Infant and Toddler programs. She has several years experience working in childcare, in addition to nearly 10 years experience working with children as a babysitter and nanny. Carina loves babies most, but enjoys working with children of all ages. She has a love of the arts, specifically film, drama, and music and she loves to sing. Carina also loves to attend concerts, paint and draw.

Miss Erica joined our team in 2024. She has been working with children since she was twelve and spent time interning at Children's and Families' Ministries. Erica is the female founder of an all girls troop in the Boy Scouts and enjoys hiking, camping, being outside, and spending time with her dog.

Emylie joined our team in 2024 as an assistant in our Twos department. She has a year of experience in early childhood, as well as lifelong experience with siblings, nieces, and nephews. Before coming to Goddard, Emylie spent 2 years traveling to different schools taking yearbook photos, which is where she discovered her passion for working with children. She loves to read and enjoys sharing that love with the children in her life.

Sammie joined our team in 2024. She has a Bachelors in Communication Studies from Grand Valley State University and 8 years of experience working with children as a counselor at summer camp. Sammie is the youngest of four and the proud aunt to one niece and one nephew. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outside, hanging out with friends and family, swimming, and reading.

Miss Sarah joined our team in 2021! She is pursuing a degree in social work at The Community College of Allegheny County. She has prior experience working with children in both an educational setting for her coursework as well as through babysitting. Besides having a passion for working with children,Miss Sarah loves to bake in her free time!

Ashia joined our team in 2024. She has worked in her aunt's in-home daycare center in the past. Ashia is an only child and has a dog named Sneakers. In her free time, she enjoys painting, building Legos, going on hits, baking, and cooking.

Miss Amanda has been a part of our team since 2019 and has held both assistant teacher and lead teacher positions in our Toddler and Preschool programs. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2021 with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice & Psychology. Amanda enjoy hanging out with her friends, crocheting, spoiling her cat Princess and visiting her family on the east side of the state.

Miss Jenna has been a part of our team since 2021! She is currently studying Psychology at Grand Valley State University after spending two years studying at Ferris State. She has several years of experience babysitting and a few years of customer service working at Panera Bread. Jenna has two younger brothers. In her limited free time, Jenna likes to travel and spend time with her friends and roommates.

Miss Sol joined our team in 2024. She has experience volunteering in the nursery at her church. Sol loves music, singing in choirs, and doing outdoor activities.

Miss Amanda joined our team in 2021! Miss Amanda is the Lead Teacher in our Pre-Kindergarten classroom. She has a Bachelor's degree from Florida State University in Family Child Sciences with a minor in Education. She and her husband moved to Michigan in 2021. She worked in a preschool setting in Florida as well as an in-home daycare in Michigan previously. Miss Amanda loves exploring what Michigan has to offer, especially the water sports and activities and visiting Silver Lake to ride quads. She and her husband Ryan purchased their first home in the spring and got married in September 2022!

Mr. Eric joined our team in 2024. He graduated from Michigan State with a fine arts degree. Prior to joining our school, Mr. Eric worked for the Children's Learning Place in Chicago also teaching PreKindergarten. Eric and his wife relocated back to Michigan in pursuit of teaching jobs. Eric plays instruments and enjoys music in addition to video games and movies. He also loves to spend time with his family, including his cat Luna!

Miss Morgan is currently attending Michigan State University working toward a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. She enjoys being with friends and family, shopping, going to the beach, and traveling!

Miss Annelyse joined our team in 2024. She has two years of experience working with young children at another center. She is passionate about animals, insects, and children and enjoys bringing her love of nature into the classroom. In her free time, Annelyse enjoys writing, art, and working on her novel.