Our Teachers

Hello Parents and Parents to Be! I’m the proud On-site owner of The Goddard School in Edina. l graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Cell Biology and a minor in Finance. After working in the pharmaceutical industry for 5 years and becoming a mother to our first child, we decided to relocate to Minnesota. Minnesota has been my home now for over 15 years. I have 3 amazing children and am proud of all their academic and extracurricular accomplishments. I value the importance to make learning fun and to encourage social and emotional growth in order for future success in school, college, and in life beyond. As an avid volunteer in our schools and community, I have instilled compassion and empathy in my children and have shared with them the importance of sharing and caring for others. I am committed to partnering with every parent in the Goddard family, so your children can grow and learn in a safe, loving, and encouraging environment!

I am delighted to be teaching at The Goddard School again! My first teaching position was with The Goddard School in Franklin, Tennessee; joining the Edina team is a bit like coming home. I enjoy reading, traveling, trying new restaurants, and watching British television. I have a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, and a Master's in Teaching & Learning, Early Childhood. As an educator, it is my responsibility to provide a supportive, nurturing environment with well-rounded developmental activities appropriate to each child's intellectual, emotional, and social needs. I believe children need opportunities to gain self-sufficiency, confidence, and social skills through discovery and creative exploration. My goal is to equip each child with a lifetime of curiosity and investigation while building self-esteem and an enduring love of learning.

Hello, Families! I am Amy, the Director of Education, here at The Goddard School. I received a Bachelor's of Science in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Birth-5 years; and then a Master's of Science in Human Development, Child and Family Studies; focusing on Early Childhood Education. Throughout graduate school, I had the opportunity to serve as a Mentor Teacher as the Fishback Center for Early Childhood Education in the South Dakota State University Laboratory Preschool. My absolute professional joy is supporting new educators in discovering their unique talents and abilities and applying those in the classroom. I have over 16 years of professional education experience and am dedicated to using my knowledge and skills to ensure each child receives the highest-standard of education. On a personal note, I am from Maryville, Tennessee and have been transplanted in the Midwest since 2003. I live in Apple Valley with my husband, our three children, and our cat Ripley.

Hello! My name is Cal and I am very excited to be working at The Goddard School in Edina. I have been working in Early Childhood for a little over 7 years and I have enjoyed it immensely. I have been lucky enough to work in both infant rooms and am now working as the Resource Assistant to provide all families with a easy and wonderful experience as soon as they walk through the door. I am also currently working towards getting a degree in Biology. I am married and have the sweetest little cat named Sora. In my free time I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and playing sports. My favorite color is yellow and my favorite food is Native American tacos! I am thrilled to be a part of the Goddard School Family!

Hi, I'm Katy! I am so happy to be working at The Goddard School in Edina. I began working in childcare while I was still in high school. I love teaching infants and have over 20 years of providing care for the littlest of learners. I have earned a CDA Certification for Infants & Toddlers. I grew up in Illinois, however I have lived in Bloomington, MN since 2011. In my spare time I enjoy crafting with my Cricut machine and I recently took up crocheting! I look forward to getting to know all of the families here and our little friends!

Hi I'm Ms Maria! I'm from Portugal and I recently moved to Minnesota to follow my passion in teaching Early Childhood Education. I have a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology, but my ultimate goal is to always work as an Educator and help children thrive. I couldn't be more excited to join the Goddard School of Edina team in honoring each child's individuality and supporting and nurturing their development. I look forward to meeting all our families!

Hello, I'm Rozanna, and I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and moved to Minnesota in the middle of 2021. I'm a mom of three kids born in 2014, 2016 and 2018. I enjoy cooking, baking, and sharing. I enjoy breadmaking the most, because of the kneading process. I speak English, Malay, basic Korean and understand some Urdu/Hindi. I love hanging out on the beach and parks, fishing, and taking long walks. I'm fascinated by documentaries of past civilizations and intrigued by the different cultures in the world. I read a lot of subtitles, as I watch a lot of dramas and movies in different languages and also enjoy making digital art. I have a bachelor's degree in English, specializing in teaching English to speakers of other languages. My passion is in infant care with a focus on social-emotional development. I'm excited to contribute and be a part of the lives of little ones as well as the families in The Goddard School of Edina

Hi! I'm Ms. Chloe and as a mother of a young child, I understand the importance of a helping hand and a resourceful community. Being a parent is the most rewarding and challenging job I have ever faced. While I am still new here, I can say with absolute certainty that I have never been happier to have found a place for my daughter to continue her early education. This experience has filled me with hope and reassurance, and I am committed to providing the same experience for your children. I will strive to give them the best care possible and ensure their health and safety while you work. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting you and your children, and to the opportunity to be a part of their early education journey.

Hi! My name is Ms. Yulia, I am a new Toddler Teacher here at The Goddard School of Edina. I am not new to toddlers though, as I have now been working with my little friends for two years! I found a strong passion for helping little minds grow and seeing the joy on their faces as they learn something new. In my free time, I like to relax and try new things, spend time with friends, listen to music, and make the most of every summer day. I am excited to create new relationships and expand young minds while having a lot of fun!

Hi! I'm Ms. Emily! I am a Lead Teacher in the Hippos/Twos room. I have worked with two to three year old's for the last 5 years. I have many years of working with children outside of the Early Education age group as well, but the younger age groups are my favorite! Outside of work, I am a mother of two young girls, ages 6 and 1. They take up most of my free time, but that leads to lots of fun! My youngest daughter is a student here at The Goddard School of Edina! I look forward to watching and helping our students grow and develop new skills as well as connecting and supporting our families along the way.

Hi! My name is Ms. Anna but our students call me Ms. A! I am so excited to be a team member at The Goddard School of Edina. I am the second youngest of 16 children I have been working in childcare for 3 years and have been a nanny for over 4 years. I love working with children and love helping in classrooms. I also love watching our students grow and enjoy their thirst for knowledge! During my free time, I love to hike and travel. I also manage a horse farm when I am able to. I love being outdoors. I look forward to continuing to get to know all of the students and their families.

Hey Everyone, my name is Jared! Some call me Mr. Jared or Mr. J, and most recently I have obtained the prestigious title of: Dad and Husband! I have been teaching for over 4 years now and I've enjoyed every year of it (Yes, even the pandemic filled ones!) My goal is to make sure every child that walks through the door of the classroom has a chance at having an amazing time learning and actively wants to come back and do it all again the next day. I am currently working towards my CDA. I look forward to incorporating the Goddard way of teaching, as well as getting to know all of the kiddos and family members I may encounter!

Hi There! My name is Ms. Katie and I am so excited to be a part of the Goddard team here in Edina! I have worked with kids since I was 15 and have always enjoyed it! I recently received my CDA in Preschool education. Some of my favorite hobbies are rollerblading, being out in nature, spending time with family and friends, and crafting. I can't wait to continue making memories with everyone here at Goddard!

Hi! My name is Ms. Lexie. I have worked in childcare for over five years and most recently, I graduated from Dakota County Technical College with my associates degree in Early Childhood Education. I'm passionate about teaching young minds and I absolutely love watching students as they develop and grow in the classroom. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my boyfriend, baking desserts for my family and friends, or snuggling on the couch with my three cats, Tilly, Olive, and Oscar while reading a good book.

Hello! My name is Nariela, aka Ms Gen! I am so excited to join The Goddard School in Edina! I have a 2 year old and she is an energetic and happy little toddler. I have been working with children since I was in High School. When I'm not working, I love going on walks, reading books, and if I have enough time playing some video games. I am working towards a Child Development Associate Certificate and am excited to enhance my career in this field. I look forward to getting to know all the students here.

Hi! My name is Ms. Alexia and I am so thankful to start here at the Goddard School of Edina, I have been amazed at how much love surrounds the children at Goddard. I decided to change my career path and work towards getting my CDA to further my knowledge in childhood development. I love new challenges in life and the experience that come along with it! I look forward to all of the opportunities ahead and achieving my goals while helping your children grow and achieve theirs! I can't wait to meet you all!

Hello! My name is Ms Ann Marie and I am thrilled to be at The Goddard School of Edina. I've been here for over two years now and I enjoy helping out in all of the classrooms as a Teachers Aide. I have two young girls myself. In my free time I am a part-time ice skating instructor and I embrace the outdoors whenever I can!

Hi, I'm Ms. Joan. I'm thrilled to join the Goddard team as the Yoga Enrichment Specialist. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business with an emphasis in Psychology. My career was spent in Human Resources with a strong side interest in Yoga. Receiving my Yoga Fit certifications led to adult teaching for the last 14 years. I'm excited to bring those skills to Goddard to work with a slightly younger group of students!

Hi! My name is Ms Dreneisha, or Neisha for short! I have over 2 years of work experience in the food service industry and I am excited to take on the role as the Kitchen Coordinator at The Goddard School in Edina! I am born and raised in Minnesota. During my free time I like to hang out with my family and travel whenever I can. I am a mother of 2 children and I have a 13 year old daughter and 11 year old son. I love going to all their activities and they keep me busy!