Our Goddard School Teachers

Callie Voelz is the owner of The Goddard School of Rochester, MN. Callie graduated from Byron High school and went on to college at Winona State University and graduated with a Bachelors in Education with an Early Childhood Specialty. She left her 12 year career in Real Estate to pursue her dream of owning a Goddard School. Before working in real estate Callie worked Retail management and taught 6th grade for several years. Callie currently lives in Mantorville with her husband Kyle and 2 children Harper & Max and their dog Mingo. When she’s not working she enjoys being with her family at their cabin and golfing. She is so excited to bring The Goddard School to Rochester and use her experience and education to provide the best experience possible for students, families and staff.

Sara is excited to be the Director at The Goddard School of Rochester. She is originally from Rochester, graduating from Mayo High School. She received her bachelor's from Iowa State University in Child and Family Services. She has been in the Early Childhood field for over 22 years with her most recent position as Center Director for 9 years. She is looking forward to bringing a new level of quality care to Rochester! When she's not working, she enjoys spending time at home with her husband, her teenagers Kinsley and Easton and her cats, Oreo and Comet. Their lives are full of energy and activity with football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball year round! She also plays Volleyball when time allows. She's looking forward to getting to know your family and creating an environment where The Goddard School of Rochester will soon feel like another part of your family. Building a strong community within our center brings her great joy!

Miss Kerstyn is honored to serve as the Assistant Director at The Goddard School. She grew up in Fargo, ND and earned her Bachelor's degree in English Education from NDSU. She holds an active teaching license and has over 12 years of experience working with children of all ages. Kerstyn spent two years teaching in South Korea and also lived in Oregon before returning to the Midwest. She is passionate about building strong relationships with children and families while fostering critical thinking and a love of learning. Miss Kerstyn is dedicated to creating positive, engaging environments where every child can thrive. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling and spending time outdoors with her family.

Miss Sonja is the Curriculum Coordinator and will be supporting the center in many ways, from helping in the office to spending time in classrooms. She has been working in center-based childcare since 1985, including 27 years at her previous center. Sonja has 3 children, 5 grandchildren, and a dog named Timber. In her free time, she enjoys crafting, fishing, and spending time with her family—especially if sushi is involved! She is excited to be part of the Goddard team and to support children, families, and staff.

Miss LeeAnnA has been happily married for 9 years and is a proud mom of three. Her culinary journey began in 2007, and she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2009. Since then, she has built a diverse and fulfilling career in the food industry. LeeAnnA spent over five years cooking in an assisted living home, gaining valuable experience in nutrition and compassionate care. She also spent several years in management with Starbucks inside Target, where she honed her leadership and customer service skills. For the past seven years, she has found her passion cooking for early childhood education programs—nourishing young minds and helping build a foundation for healthy habits.

Miss Sherry is married and has 3 children — a son and twin daughters. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University and has over 25 years of experience in the infant program. Sherry is dedicated to making sure parents feel comfortable bringing their little ones to her classroom and confident that each child will be well cared for. Her goal is for every infant to feel safe, loved, and nurtured. Outside of work, Sherry enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Minnesota Vikings, reading, and attending concerts and musicals. She is excited to get to know each family and to care for their little one.

Miss Ella has been working in childcare for about 1.5 years, but she has grown up around young children for most of her life. With her mom owning and operating an in-home daycare for the past 11 years, Ella gained lots of experience helping care for kids of all ages. She enjoys creating a fun, safe, and nurturing environment where children can learn and grow. Along with her passion for childcare, Ella is currently attending college to become a Dental Hygienist. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. Ella is excited to be part of each child’s learning journey and looks forward to getting to know every family.

Heather is a proud mom of 3 children, 3 stepchildren, and a grandmother to 3 wonderful grandchildren. She has been working in childcare for over 35 years and absolutely loves helping children grow, learn, and reach their milestones. When she’s not in the classroom, Heather enjoys watching basketball, football, and baseball, camping, and spending time with her family. She is so excited to be your child’s teacher this year and looks forward to partnering with you to support their growth!

Miss Ashley grew up on a farm near Rock Dell, just southwest of Rochester, and is the oldest of five children. Her love for caring for others began early through helping with her siblings and babysitting for local families. Although she earned an Associates in Vet Tech, her passion for working with children led her to pursue a career in childcare instead. Ashley began working in childcare in 2007 and has over 18 years of experience! Ashley is passionate about helping children grow, reach developmental milestones, and discover their unique personalities.

Miss Mackenzie has been working in childcare for the past 7 years, primarily with infants and toddlers. She loves working with this fun and busy age group and enjoys watching children grow, learn, and discover the world around them. In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys spending time with her two dogs—taking them for walks and snuggling on the couch. She also loves creative and artsy hobbies and is always trying something new, such as watercolor painting, crochet, and creating miniature builds. Mackenzie is excited to get to know each family and support every child in her classroom as they grow and learn.

Miss Dezarae has over six years of experience in early childhood education, primarily working with toddlers. She is also a proud mom of four children and finds great joy in witnessing children's special "firsts" Dezarae is passionate about creating a "home away from home" where every child feels safe, comfortable, and cared for. She is committed to helping children lean and grow while providing a nurturing and supportive environment. Miss Dezarae values strong communication, patience, safety and consistent routines. She looks forward to building connections with children and their families.

Miss Ema was born and raised in Rochester and loves traveling to different states and big cities, especially Los Angeles, New York City, and her favorite, Chicago! She is currently attending GCU and working towards becoming a psychologist. Ema has cared for children from a young age, beginning with her younger brothers. Her experiences with children of different ages and needs have grown her passion for childcare. Ema enjoys helping children feel happy, supported and cared for. Outside of work, Ema loves reading, dancing, singing, cooking and baking. She also loves spending time with her mini poodle, Coquito, who enjoys playing catch and snuggling on blankets. Miss Ema looks forward to getting to know each child and family!

Miss Skylar grew up in a busy household with six siblings, which helped foster a love for children from an early age. At just 10 years old, she earned her babysitting certificate. Her experience caring for her three younger siblings has strengthened her passion for working with children and getting to know each one as an individual. Over the years, she has developed qualities such as patience, creativity, a soft-spoken nature, and strong problem solving skills. Skylar hopes to continue caring for children and families in the future by following her dreams to become a NICU nurse!

Miss Elizabeth is excited to get to know each child and family at The Goddard School! As a mom of three, she understands how important it is for families to have someone they can trust and who truly cares for and connects with their child. Elizabeth is a caring, patient, and positive person who is passionate about creating a safe, loving and fun environment where children feel comfortable and supported. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, knitting, crocheting, journaling, and playing video games. Miss Elizabeth looks forward to creating meaningful connections and make each child feel valued and cared for every day!

Miss Adrianna (Anna) has lived in Rochester her entire life and is the youngest of three siblings. She has been working in childcare since 2018 and truly loves this age group. Miss Anna is passionate about building meaningful connections and is excited to get to know both you and your child. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, singing, being involved in her local church, and baking.

Miss Dayviona, who goes by Day, grew up in North Carolina and has lived in Rochester for almost three years. She is currently studying to become an X-ray technician and enjoys playing the flute in her free time. Miss Day is a proud aunt to six nephews and one niece, and her lifelong experience around children inspired her to pursue a career in child care. She has been working in the field for almost a year and loves helping kids learn and grow in a fun, supportive environment.

Miss Sara has been working in childcare for about three years, and for the past couple of years she has mainly worked with preschoolers. She enjoys watching children learn, grow, and get ready to go off to school. Sara has three siblings and loves playing with and caring for her little sister. She was born in Guatemala but has lived in Pine Island her whole life. She is currently attending college to earn her degree in elementary education. In her spare time, Sara enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading a good book, watching the Minnesota Vikings, and coloring. Her two favorite children’s books are Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and The Cat in the Hat. She also loves animals and has two cats at home named Simba and Toby.

Miss Jennifer has worked in a childcare setting for nearly two years and has always had a heart for caring for others. She spent much of her teenage years working as a nanny and was blessed to be a stay-at-home mom for 11 years. She is the proud mother of five wonderful children, ages 3 to 18. Jennifer holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) certification and has a deep passion for nurturing children with love and respect. Her goal is to ensure every child and family feels seen, heard, valued, and supported. She believes each child’s unique personality should be nurtured individually and strives to create a developmentally appropriate environment where both children and parents can truly thrive.

Miss Jessica was born and raise here in Rochester. She is a mother of 4 beautiful children and a grandmother of 2. She has been an early educator since 1986 and have been in many roles. Miss Jessica is excited to be the Preschool teacher as her love for teaching has grown immensely. Jessica loves to work out and currently training lifting weights. She thrives in making her classroom a microcosm of comfort, stability and always having an open door! She looks forward to each day and what it can bring, as well as what she can bring to make her students day the best it can be!

Miss Heidi is excited to welcome you and your child to the preschool classroom. She brings several years of experience in early childhood education, working with children from infancy through Pre-K. Heidi believes these early years are foundational and is passionate about creating a classroom that is warm, structured, and emotionally safe. Miss Heidi believes children thrive with predictable routines, clear expectations, and trusting relationships. In the classroom, there will be a focus on independence, social-emotional growth, problem-solving, and a love of learning. Miss Heidi looks forward to partnering with families to support each child’s growth and help them feel confident, capable, and proud.

Miss Annie has been working in childcare for 1.5 years and is so excited to be part of the team. She is a proud mom of three daughters—twin girls who attend here and a 16-yearold. Annie loves helping children learn and grow each day. In her free time, she enjoys going on adventures with her daughters and creating lasting memories together. Annie is looking forward to getting to know each family and supporting the children as they grow.

Miss Ani has always loved being around children and supporting their learning and growth. She began babysitting at age 14 and quickly discovered how much she enjoyed caring for children and learning their unique personalities. Having a younger brother also played an important role in shaping her passion for working with kids. She strives to create a safe, loving, and supportive environment where children feel comfortable being themselves and confident each day. In her free time, she enjoys playing softball and volleyball, being part of a team, and spending time with friends. Ani looks forward to the future with hopes of starting a family and pursuing a career in dentistry.

Miss Piper has lived in Rochester her entire life and is the middle child of four siblings. Childcare has always been an important part of her life. Her mother has operated an in-home daycare since she was 4 years old, along with her sister working in childcare gave her a strong foundation and appreciation for the field. Piper has developed a passion for helping others, especially children. She enjoys creating meaningful connections with families she serves. Her future plans is to get a degree in Social work. She is excited to learn and grow alongside the children in her care while helping create a safe, supportive and engaging learning environment where every child can thrive.