Our Goddard School Teachers

Brant and Nicole Dennis are the owners of The Goddard School of Minnetonka. Nicole, the onsite owner, graduated from Bethel University with her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She went on to receive her Master’s of Education from St. Mary’s University. She taught in the elementary classroom in the Robbinsdale Area School District for 20+ years. Nicole is excited to continue to educate children, connect with families, and lead a team of amazing staff at the Goddard School of Minnetonka. Brant graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Finance degree and is employed at Landscape Structures (LSI). LSI builds playgrounds and therefore this school will be equipped with 2 high-quality, fun playgrounds! As parents of 3 children, they know the importance of creating a trusting, nurturing, safe, and high-quality program to all families in the Minnetonka and surrounding communities.

Jaiden has been in the Early Childhood Education field since 2008. Throughout her experience she has spent time as a Preschool Teacher, Assistant Director, and Director. She has been a member of the Minnesota Childcare Association since 2018. As a member, she's visited the Minnesota state capital to discuss relevant early education topics and advocacy with policy members and state leaders along with attending yearly meetings with colleagues to discuss advancements in the Early Childhood Education field. She loves her career in Early Childhood because every day with little learners presents a new adventure! She has 3 young boys of her own and as a family they love to spend time outdoors, have Chipotle movie nights and take road trips. She is so happy to be a part of the Goddard School of Minnetonka family and looks forward to watching your children grow and learn during their educational journey here!

Ms. Tia began her love for teaching at the age of 18 and was given the privilege to lead her own classroom after 6 months of working in the field. She soon moved to California where she worked with students from infancy to school age. She has an associates degree in child and adolescent education where she held a spot on the President's list for multiple semesters. She chose the field of early childhood education as she's always had a passion for teaching, and because she wants to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. In her free time Katia likes to hike and enjoy nature as well as painting and traveling!

Ms. Abby holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She has been working with children since 2011. Abby's father was an elementary school principal and her grandfather was an arts professor. Teaching has always been a big part of her life and she looks forward to continuing her career here at Goddard! Her favorite children's book is, "Those Can Do Pigs". In her free time, Abby loves to spend time painting, drawing baking and knitting!

Ms. Autumn has been working with young children since 2015. She holds an associate's degree in Child Psychology and is a licensed esthetician. Autumn has always loved children and grew up knowing she would one day become a teacher. Her favorite thing about the early education field is forming connections with children and their families while watching her students learn and grow! Autumn's favorite book is, "Fancy Nancy". In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her cat, Jelly and traveling the world!

Ms. Liz has been working with children since 2013. Liz also has her ServSafe Kitchen Manager certificate. She also holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Her passion for for working with children began when she started babysitting at ten years old. She enjoys watching the children as they learn new things. Her favorite book as a child was "Corduroy". In her spare time Liz enjoys spending time with her two children and streaming any new drama series.

Ms. Joann has worked in Early Childhood Education since 2015. She has cared for children ranging in ages six weeks to five years. Joann received her infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential in 2019. Working in this field is such a joy for her. She loves seeing children's imaginations emerge and seeing the wonder in their eyes as they learn new things. She is excited to show our littlest learners how wonderful the world can be!

Ms. Theresa has been in the early education field since 1998. She received her infant & toddler program Child Development Associate certificate in 2015 from Rasmussen college. Theresa has spent her career as a lead infant teacher. She enjoys the opportunities to help many first time parents! She is a mother of 3 children and 6 step children along with 7 grandchildren. Theresa loves the early childhood field and wouldn't change her career for anything!

Ms. Laura graduated from Maple Grove High School in 2021. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate certificate which she received in 2024. Laura chose to work in the childhood development because she enjoys watching children make new connections while learning. She has always wanted to provide a safe nurturing space for children to be themselves and is excited to do that through teaching at Goddard!

Ms. Marzi has worked in early childhood education since 2018. She has spent time caring for children of all ages from babies to pre-k. Marzi holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Her favorite age group to work with is infants as she loves the joy and love they bring to the world! She loves to sing "Mr. Sun" to the infants in her classroom. Outside of Goddard, her and her husband are working to restore an old-school car.

Ms. Monet has worked in early childhood education since 2012. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Monet has had the amazing honor of working with all ages from 6 months to 12 years! Her favorite thing about working with young children is being able to facilitate the fun activities that they enjoy along with watching them learn and grow. In her free time, Monet enjoys yoga and studying as a self love/lifestyle counselor.

Ms. Kayy has been working in the early childhood education field since 2020. She is currently working towards completing an infant & toddler Child Development Associate's credential. Kayy enjoys creating a space where children feel safe and have fun. She considers herself to be a patient, energetic and passionate educator. Her priority is building meaningful connections with every child she cares for. In her spare time, Kayy likes to dance, write poetry and write music.

Ms. Papiya began working with young children in 2012. She is currently pursuing an infant & toddler Child Development Associate certificate. She holds a bachelor's degree in textile technology from the Government College of Engineering & Textile Technology in Serampore, West Bengal India! After completing her degree she worked as a private tutor for 4 years. Her favorite part about working with young children is getting to spend quality time while getting to know them. In her spare time, Ms. Papiya enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter!

Ms. Sam has been in the early childhood education field since 2019. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Sam loves working with infants and toddlers because of all the milestones they achieve during that time in their lives. Her favorite children's book is, "Green Eggs and Ham" and her favorite children's song is, "Baby Bumblebee"!

Ms. Martha has been in the early childhood education field since 2018. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Martha has also completed her associate's degree in early childhood education at Minneapolis Community and Technical college. She's originally from Mexico and upon coming to the United States, she had a goal of studying english and working with children. Martha's favorite age group to work with is infants as she enjoys singing with them. Her favorite children's book series is, "Pete the Cat"!

Ms. Tina began her career in early childhood education in 2021. She is currently pursuing an infant & toddler Child Development Associate certificate. Most of her experience has been working with toddlers, her favorite age group, as she enjoys their curiosity, energy, and eagerness to learn. Tina loves being part of children's important milestones and finds it rewarding to watch them grow, gain confidence, and develop new skills each day. She is committed to creating a nurturing and engaging environment where every child feels supported and encouraged to thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, trying new hobbies, and making the most of new experiences.

Ms. Tiahna has been working with young children since 2022. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Growing up she was always the girl to babysit in the neighborhood. During her teenage years she went on to volunteer at a childcare program. During her time spent there, she discovered her passion for working with young children! As time progressed she began working at a childcare program as a toddler teacher. Her favorite children's song is, "Listen and Move". Tiahna's favorite classroom activities include dancing and creating a comfortable environment for all children to thrive!

Ms. Kassidy has been working with young children since 2017. She really loves the toddler age and is currently pursuing her infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Kassidy's favorite part about being an early childhood educator is seeing how much children learn and grow within such a short period of time. It's always been on Kassidy's heart to care for little ones and she's looking forward to continue her life's passion here at Goddard. In her spare time Kassidy enjoys painting with acrylics and spending time with her husband, Lucas.

Ms. McKayla has worked in the early childhood education field since 2023. Her favorite part of teaching children is doing science experiments and watching the kids "light up". One of her favorite books as a small child was, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?". McKayla thoroughly enjoys her career in ECE and couldn't imagine doing anything else!

Ms. Martha has been working with young children since 2021. She is originally from Venezuela. She has a marketing degree from Venezuela and she completed her infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential in 2023. Her favorite part about working in early childhood education is having an impact on children's lives while watching them grow. In her free time Martha enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book and spending time in nature!

Ms. Rajashri holds a master of arts degree and a bachelor's degree in education. She has been working with young children since 2023. Ms. Raj has also spent the last five years teaching children dance to children for holiday and festival events. Her favorite thing to do with young children is to dance. She's looking forward to bringing her skills to Goddard Minnetonka!

Ms. Ali has been working in early childhood education since 2021 and is passionate about helping young children learn and grow. She holds a child development diploma from Hennepin Technical College. Ali especially enjoys watching each child's unique personality develop and seeing their creativity shine through everyday play and exploration. Ali loves building positive relationships with children and creating a supportive environment where they feel encouraged to express themselves, gain confidence, and discover new interests. Her favorite children's books are, "Corduroy" and "Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom".

Ms. Sami began her professional career working with children in 2020. From a young age, she has always connected with young children. This inspired her to pursue a career working in early childhood education. Her experience as a teacher has further strengthened her passion for helping children learn, build confidence, and succeed. Her favorite children's book is "Goodnight Moon", and her favorite children's game is Hungry Hungry Hippos.

Ms. Esther began working in early childhood education in 2020. She received her Child Development Associate credential in 2026. Esther has always been passionate about teaching and learning. She loves to see children grow in their confidence and skills. Esther loves to read and her goal is to help children foster a love for books! Her favorite children's book is, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie".

Ms. Sunaina has a bachelor's degree in education from M.D. University in Rotak, India. Her career with young children began in 2004. She lives in Eden Prairie with her husband and their twin girls. Sunaina lovingly goes by Ms. Siya to her students. She loves to talk and play with children and she says they fill her with happiness. Her favorite children's song in Indian is "Mera Lyar Ki". Siya enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters along with painting, cooking and doing arts & crafts.

Ms. Erin began working with preschool aged children in 2024. Growing up she was a babysitter and nanny for many families. In 2025, Erin received her preschool CDA credential. She chose to work in early childhood education because she was inspired by teachers throughout her educational journey. Erin's passion is to create a space where all children feel valued, supported and loved. In her spare time she enjoys reading a good book, baking and going to the park with her pup, George.

Ms. Mara has been working with preschool students since 2016. She holds a preschool Child Development Associate credential. Her absolute favorite thing about working with young children is getting to know them as individuals. Mara enjoys discovering skills students need assistance with and strives to build their confidence. In her free time Mara likes spending time with family & friends, traveling and lake days!

Ms. Esmeralda has been working with young children since 2009. She received her preschool Child Development Associate credential in 2024. Her passion is working with young children and being a part of their learning journey. Her favorite thing about teaching is making children happy!

Holly has been passionate about working with children from a young age. She recently graduated from UMD with a bachelor's degree in K–12 Art Education. She began nannying in 2020 and in 2022 started working in an early childhood education setting. She is passionate about helping children express themselves through art while building confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking skills. She believes creativity is essential to every child's growth and strives to inspire imagination, problem-solving, and self-expression. Holly is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, nurturing classroom where every child feels valued, supported, and empowered to learn, create, and grow.

Ms. Kamyra graduated from Hopkins high school in 2024. She holds an infant & toddler Child Development Associate credential. Her childcare experience consists of 4 years nanny experience and 2 years teaching Sunday school. In Kamyra's opinion, integrity is the most important aspect of caring for a child! Her all time favorite children's book is, "The Lorax". She's watched the movie numerous times and enjoyed sharing the movie with her nanny kiddos. Ms. Kamyra loves to watch children learn through social interactions as it is a privilege which has inspired her to pursue an education in the early childhood field. She's driven to guide kiddos by example and is beyond excited to play a part in their growth!

Ms. Nadia graduated high school in June of 2023. During her senior year, she was a teacher's assistant in a kindergarten classroom for three months. During that time she found that early childhood education is a field she's passionate about. She loves watching children learn and she's always looking for ways to expand their knowledge. Nadia's favorite thing do to with students is read books to them. Through reading books, she's found that students begin to express interest in letters and vocabulary. Her favorite children's book is, "Goodnight Moon".

Ms. Jess comes to Goddard with a background in hospitality. She will be assisting school-wide in each of our programs. One of the most impactful and important life experiences for Jess was when she became a mother. She has three children of her own and is so excited to spread her love to the students here at Goddard!

Ms. Asho holds a preschool Child Development Associate credential. She started working with children in 2020. She's worked with all elementary age groups and adults with disabilities as well. She enjoys working with children because this field is so fun and rewarding!

Ms. Alexis has been working with children since 2022. She holds a ServSafe Kitchen Manager certificate. Although Alexis has spent time with students of all ages, preschool children hold a special place in her heart. She chose to work in the early education field because she is passionate about creating nurturing environment for kids to thrive! She has a firm belief that each child is a genius in their own way and she is dedicated to helping them recognize their own potential. Ms. Alexis' favorite book is, "Who You Were Made to Be".

Ms. Emily has been working with young children since 2015. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology of law from the University of Minnesota. Her career in early childhood education began while working in her mom's in-home daycare. Her passion continued to ignite while working at the Child Development Laboratory school on the U of M campus! In her spare time Emily enjoys watching old western movies, practicing ballet and completing puzzles.

Ms. Marne has worked in various fields but she has chosen early childhood education because it's her favorite! She believes that this field is rewarding and worth while, not just a "job". In high school and college Marne enjoyed an educational experience as an exchange student in Norway. It was there that she learned a new language! Her favorite children's book is, "Sam and the Firefly". In her spare time, Marne enjoys spending time with her two adult children!

Abbey began her career in early childhood education in 2024. Her passion for early childhood development was inspired by her adoptive parents, who are both educators in the Twin Cities. As a first-generation college graduate and former UMD soccer player, Abbey brings dedication, teamwork, and a strong work ethic to the classroom. Abbey enjoys building meaningful relationships with children and helping them develop confidence during their early years. Her favorite children's book is "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch.