Our Teachers

Our teachers blend the highest education standards with nurturing care to help foster well-rounded child development.

Careers

If you want to help shape the hearts and minds of young children in a fun, nurturing environment, we’d love to have you work with us! We’re always looking for great teachers to join our family.

Check Out Our Job Listings

Warm, Nurturing & Highly Trusted

Learning happens best in a warm and nurturing environment, which is why our teachers take the time to make sure your little one feels safe and cared for every day to help them develop a lifelong love of learning. 

Expertise & Skills

Our caring teachers are highly experienced in the best methods to support your child with teachable moments of exploration, discovery and learning each and every day. 

  • Mr David

    Mr David

    Owner
    Mr. David and Ms. Valerie have been proud owners of the Goddard School in Matthews since 2019. Mr. David graduated with a Bachelors in Communication and has over a decade of experience in Financial Operations and Relationship Management. Mr. David is proud to have two Goddard graduate children. Mr. David loves football and is a diehard Buffalo Bills fan!
  • Ms Valerie

    Ms Valerie

    Owner
    Valerie and her husband, David, became the owners of the Goddard School of Matthews in May 2019. Valerie has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, a Master’s in School Administration, is National Board Certified and holds a Certificate in Curriculum & Supervision. Coaching and working with teachers is Valerie’s passion along with seeing children grow socially, emotionally, and educationally.
  • Ms Mikaela

    Ms Mikaela

    General Manager
    Ms. Mikaela is the General Manager at our school and has been with us since August of 2020. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Dramatic Arts. During her time with Goddard, Ms. Mikaela has gotten her Lead Teacher credential and her Early Childhood Administrator credential. Throughout high school she worked at theatrical summer camps which is where she found her passion for working with children. She thoroughly enjoyed being a toddler teacher at the school and has loved getting to help the school thrive as the Director of Operations from 2021-2023, and now as the General Manager since Fall 2023. Her favorite children's book is "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" by Eric Carle because when she was a one-year-old teacher, it was the children's favorite book. It provides great opportunities to learn colors and animals and for children to participate in their reading experience by making animal noises and identifying what is on each page.
  • Ms Virginia-Lynn

    Ms Virginia-Lynn

    Director of Education
    Ms. Virginia is the Director of Education at our school and has been at our school since January of 2022. She has been in the Early Childhood Education field since 2013 and received her AA in Early Childhood Education in 2021. She was a Lead Teacher in one of our prekindergarten rooms before moving into administration in January 2023. Ms. Virginia is originally from Vermont where she began her teaching career. Ms. Virginia enjoys being outside with her dog, Pearl, reading, and traveling with her husband. Ms. Virginia and her husband were thrilled to welcome their first baby, Roland, in the fall of 2024! Ms. Virginia sees Early Childhood Education as an ever-growing field which gives her the passion and drive to learn something new everyday. Ms. Virginia's favorite children's book is "The Rainbow Fish" because she really loves how the feeling and meaning of sharing towards others is portrayed in the book. She also loves the colors and art used to share the story.
  • Ms Kabrina

    Ms Kabrina

    Director of Operations
    Ms. Kabrina is the Director of Operations at our school. She has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Social Work and she began her Early Childhood Education career in 2019. Ms. Kabrina is originally from Illinois but moved to North Carolina in 2019. She was an infant teacher at a different Goddard school for 1.5 years before coming to join us at the Goddard School of Matthews in June of 2021. She was a Lead Teacher in one of our toddler rooms before moving into administration in January 2022. She enjoys gardening, refinishing furniture, and doing embroidery in her free time. She has a wonderful family that includes her husband, Kyle, her pup, Ludo, and their sons Jeptha and Crew! Her favorite children's book is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein.
  • Ms Hannah

    Ms Hannah

    Assistant Director
    Ms. Hannah is an Assistant Director at our school and has been with us since February of 2023. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2016 with her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Hannah taught kindergarten and first grade for seven years before deciding to transition into the field of early childhood education. She was a Lead Teacher in one of our prekindergarten rooms before moving into administration in January of 2024. She enjoys spending time outside with her family, reading books, and drinking coffee. Ms. Hannah's favorite children's book series is "Pete the Cat".
  • Ms Brittany

    Ms Brittany

    Assistant Director
    Ms. Brittany is an Assistant Director at our school. She has been at our school since August of 2017. She was a Lead Teacher in our infant room before moving into administration in the summer of 2023. Ms. Brittany was the Teacher of The Year winner for the Southeast Region of Goddard Systems in 2021. Ms. Brittany is currently enrolled at CPCC pursuing an AA in Early Childhood Education. Her favorite children's book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar as it is one of the many books she read to her son, Avery, when he was younger!
  • Ms Taylor

    Ms Taylor

    Administrative Assistant
    Ms. Taylor is an Administrative Assistant at our school and has been with our location since April of 2021 but has been with Goddard since September of 2019. She was a prekindergarten teacher prior to moving into administration in the summer of 2024. She got her Associate's Degree in Elementary Education in 2019 and completed her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education through Liberty University in 2023. Ms. Taylor is from New York and enjoys playing guitar and traveling. She has two sweet dogs and loves decorating for the holidays! She adores her sweet son and is so happy that he can come to school with her! Her favorite children's book is "Where The Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak.
  • Ms Destiny

    Ms Destiny

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Destiny is a Lead Teacher in our Guppies (infant) classroom and has been at our school since September of 2018. Ms. Destiny obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in 2023. Ms. Destiny's favorite children's book is Dr. Seuss' "Oh, the Places You'll Go" as she believes that the more you read, the more success you'll have and the more places you'll go in your journey of life.
  • Ms Chantera

    Ms Chantera

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Chantera is a Lead Teacher in our Guppies (infant) classroom. She was at our school from 2014-2020 and rejoined us in April of 2024. She received her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Development in 2012 and has been in the Early Childhood Education field since. Ms. Chantera loves caring for and nurturing the minds of young children, while helping them grow and develop physically. Ms. Chantera has one daughter and they enjoy all things Disney together! Ms. Chantera's favorite children's book is "Chika, Chika, Boom Boom" because it allows her to introduce the letters of the alphabet in a fun, rhythmic way to young scholars.
  • Ms Nayeli

    Ms Nayeli

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Nayeli is a Lead Teacher in our Starfish (toddler) classroom and has been with us since November of 2022. Ms. Nayeli completed her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2024. She loves working with children, especially the one-year-olds, and loves being able to apply what she learned through her degree into the classrooms each day. Ms. Nayeli's favorite children's book is "corduroy" because she enjoys reading it to her class.
  • Ms Elizabeth

    Ms Elizabeth

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Elizabeth is a Lead Teacher in our Starfish (toddler) classroom and has been at our school since February of 2024. Ms. Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Systems from the University of Puerto Rico. She has been in the early childhood education field since 2018. She has taught in both English and in Spanish. Ms. Elizabeth’s favorite children’s book is “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” because she likes that it motivates children to participate in reading.
  • Ms Daisy

    Ms Daisy

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Daisy is a Lead Teacher in our Rainbowfish (toddler) classroom and has been at our school since February of 2023. Ms. Daisy studied at UNC Pembroke and has previous experience working in early childhood centers and summer camps. She loves working with children and has fallen in love with the toddlers at our school! Ms. Daisy hopes to one day have homes and centers for children in need as her passions are working with children and helping people. Ms. Daisy's favorite children's books are "If You Give A Mouse A cookie" and the "Junie B. Jones" series. She likes the "Junie B. Jones" series because no matter what, Junie B. Jones was always herself and willing to learn a lesson.
  • Ms Melinda

    Ms Melinda

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Melinda is a Lead Teacher in our Rainbowfish (toddler) classroom and has been with us since July of 2022. After high school she attended Campbell University for two years. When she had her first son, Ms. Melinda became a stay at home mom while taking online classes. In 2021, she had her second son, and in 2024 she had her daughter. She is currently in school to get her BS in Business. Ms. Melinda loved being a stay at home mom, but is excited to be working in the Early Childhood Education field! Seeing her kids grow everyday is what motivated her jump into this field. She says that nothing compares to being a part of a child's growth and development. Ms. Melinda's favorite children's book is "Chika Chika Boom Boom," because it is a fun way to learn your ABC's and it's her son's favorite!
  • Ms Meridith

    Ms Meridith

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Meridith is a Lead Teacher in our Clownfish (twos) classroom and was at our school from 2021-2023 and returned to us in August 2024. She joined the education field at the beginning of 2014. Ms. Meridith graduated from West Virginia University in 2013 where she studied early childhood and psychology and majored in communication studies. Ms. Meridith worked as an aide out of college helping mentally challenged adults function in everyday life while doing activities they enjoyed. In 2014, Ms. Meridith began working at a center for children on the autism spectrum where she earned her registered behavior technician (RBT) certificate. She learned excellent tools for helping children manage their emotions and effectively communicate their wants, needs, and feelings. Ms. Meridith enjoys spending time with her husband and their four boys. Her hobbies are long distance running, reading, and visiting her parents on Oak Island with all of her boys.
  • Ms Amber

    Ms Amber

    Lead teacher
    Ms. Amber is a Lead Teacher in our Clownfish (twos) classroom. Ms. Amber was drawn to the filed of Early Childhood Education because of her brother and his experiences in early childhood. Ms. Amber loves being able to be a positive and loving role model for young children. She is working to receive her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Bachelor's in Psychology. Ms. Amber's favorite children's book will always be "Rainbowfish" because she grew up reading it in school. It was one of the first books she read to her class when she began teaching!
  • Ms Shelby

    Ms Shelby

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Shelby is a Lead Teacher in our Jellyfish (bridge) classroom and has been with us since June of 2024. She was previously a lead teacher at Grace Christian Child Development Center. Her want to love and nurture children started at a young age, as she's the second oldest of six children. In August 2022, Shelby and her husband welcomed their son, Brady. Ms. Shelby and her family recently moved to the Matthews area to be closer to family. Ms. Shelby and her son are excited for their new school! "No David!" is Ms. Shelby's favorite children's book because it shows how curious kids can be.
  • Ms Joanna

    Ms Joanna

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Joanna is a Lead Teacher in our Jellyfish (bridge) classroom and has been with us since July 2024. Ms. Joanna has her Associate's Degree from CPCC. Ms. Joanna's passion is helping children grow socially, emotionally, and academically. She has eight years of experience with Union County Public Schools and has fifteen years of experience with leading a toddler room. She has also coached Girls on The Run and youth cheer programs for five years, focusing on the growth of the entire child, while having fun. She has three children of her own, ages 21, 19, and 12, who have furthered her love of early childhood education. Ms. Joanna's favorite children's book is "The Book With No Pictures" by B.J. Novak because it engages young children through laughter and imagination. The reader is tasked with using silly voices and saying ridiculous statements, captivating the audience with engaging creativity and exiting interaction with story time.
  • Ms Meredith

    Ms Meredith

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Meredith is a Lead Teacher in our Stingrays (preschool) classroom and has been with us since March of 2023. Ms. Meredith graduated from High Point University in 2019 with a degree in Strategic Communication. She has lived in Maryland most of her life but decided to move to Charlotte, NC a few years after graduation. She has always loved working with kids and has a passion for helping them learn and grow. Ms. Meredith's favorite children's book is "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" because her parents would read it to her almost every night when she was a child.
  • Ms Kelsey

    Ms Kelsey

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Kelsey is Lead Teacher in our Stingrays (preschool) classroom has been at our school since February 2024. She has been involved in the Early Childhood Education field since 2011. She started as a part time aid at a local preschool while enrolled in college courses. Ms. Kelsey is a mom of two awesome kiddos and has been married to her husband , Graham, for almost 12 years. She has a passion for learning, reading, dancing, and meeting new people. One of the things that Ms. Kelsey loves most about the field is watching kids experience joy when they learn something new. One of Ms. Kelsey's favorite children's books is "Find Your Happy" by Emily Coxhead. She loves this book because it reminds her that big feelings are good and that happiness comes to us in so many ways.
  • Ms Rosalyn

    Ms Rosalyn

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Rosalyn is a Lead Teacher in our Sea Turtles (preschool) classroom and has been with us since May of 2023. Ms. Rosalyn joined the field of early childhood education in 2017 because she has a strong passion for working with children and helping them grow. She has worked with kindergarten, first grade, and second grade students, but the early childhood age groups have her heart. She is a mother who loves to read to children and interact with families. Ms. Rosalyn loves building relationships with the families of the children in her class so they can collaborate to help the children grow and thrive. Ms. Rosalyn's favorite children's book is "I Am Enough." She loves this book because it is about a girl that shows her self confidence and kindness. This is something she wants to help her students achieve everyday.
  • Ms Mary

    Ms Mary

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Mary is a Lead Teacher in our Sea Turtles (preschool) classroom and has been with us since July 2024. Ms. Mary has over 30 years of experience in the early childhood education field and she says being in the classroom is her "happy place." Ms. Mary has two adult children, one of whom has gone to heaven, and one grandson. She recently got married and was blessed with four more children and two more grandchildren, with another one on the way! Ms. Mary enjoys crafting, reading, and napping. Ms. Mary's favorite children's book series is the "Bear Snores On" series by Karma Wilson because it is fun to read and helps children with listening and comprehension.
  • Ms Cameron

    Ms Cameron

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Cameron is a Lead Teacher in our Narwhals (prekindergarten) classroom and has been at our school since May of 2022. Ms. Cameron started her journey in early childhood education in 2017 and is currently getting her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is originally from Houston, Texas but moved to NC in 2017. Some fun facts about Ms. Cameron include that she played violin for twelve years and that she has a giant cat named Bert. Ms. Cameron's favorite children's book is "Where The Wild Things Are" because her mom used to read it to her every night before she went to bed.
  • Ms Carolina

    Ms Carolina

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Carolina is a Lead Teacher in our Narwhals (prekindergarten) classroom and has been with us since May of 2023. Ms. Carolina has been working in the early childhood education field for 16 years, including some time working in Montessori schools. She loves to sing and dance and is very passionate about cooking and traveling. Ms. Carolina loves the outdoors and is always excited for a good game of football. Her biggest accomplishment is her son who was born in 2020 and is her whole world! Her favorite children's book is "Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day" by Jamie Lee Curtis because it is so fun to reach to children!
  • Ms Mekenna

    Ms Mekenna

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Mekenna is a Lead Teacher in our Sharks (prekindergarten) classroom and has been at our school since October 2023. She is originally from South Carolina and moved to Charlotte in 2023. She went to school at Clemson University and earned a degree in Criminal Justice. Mekenna continued her education and received a Masters in Forensic Psychology. In 2020 she realized she had a passion for working with children and began working at a childcare facility in SC. She loves getting to see the children grow and learn each day. Ms. Mekenna's favorite children's book is "The Giving Tree" because it teaches us to love and serve one another.
  • Ms Alissa

    Ms Alissa

    Lead Teacher
    Ms. Alissa is a Lead Teacher in our Sharks (prekindergarten) classroom and has been at our school since June 2023. Ms. Alissa is currently attending Central Piedmont Community College to obtain her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is originally from from Orlando, Florida but moved to Charlotte, NC in 2019. Ms. Alissa has worked with children in all different capacities over the past five years, but she has fallen in love with being in the classroom. Ms. Alissa loves to get the children in her class excited about learning by bringing things to their level and implementing what interests them. Ms. Alissa’s favorite children’s book series is “Dick and Jane” because her preschool teacher used to give them to her to read during nap time.
  • Ms Kristi

    Ms Kristi

    Kitchen Manager
    Ms. Kristi is our Kitchen Manager and has been at our school since April of 2022. She has been working with children of all ages for many years. She has spent some time babysitting, participating in Vacation Bible School, and Sunday school. She enjoys cooking and baking and has also been working in restaurants. Her adoration for children and cooking has led her to pursue a new passion in early childhood education. She is looking forward to lots of fun and exciting time spent teaching the children in our school to also have a love for cooking. Her favorite children's book is "Corduroy." She like the lesson that this book is trying to teach children; that everyone deserves to be loved and there is something good to be seen in everyone.
  • Ms Eboni

    Ms Eboni

    Assistant Teacher
    Ms. Eboni is an Assistant Teacher at our school and has been with us since April of 2022. Ms. Eboni graduated from UNC Charlotte with a major in health systems management in 2024. She was born in New Jersey. She enjoys working with children and is excited to support them as they grow. In her free time, Ms. Eboni likes to listen to music, shop, spend time with her dog and family. Ms. Eboni's favorite children's book is "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."
  • Ms Lourdes (Luli)

    Ms Lourdes (Luli)

    Assistant Teacher
    Ms. Luli is an Assistant Teacher at our school and has been with us since February 2024. She was born in Havana, Cuba where she got her Bachelor's Degree in History. Ms. Luli is a proud mother of two boys and finds joy in nurturing her garden, indulging in movie nights and reading books. Her life is a vibrant blend of heritage and family. She found her inspiration to work in the field of Early Childhood Education through a combination of personal experiences and a deep-rooted belief in the importance of shaping young minds during their formative years. Ms. Luli's favorite children's book is "The Cat in the Hat." She loves this book because of the way that it catches kiddos attention and teaches them.
  • Ms Frances

    Ms Frances

    Assistant Teacher
    Ms. Frances is an Assistant Teacher in our school and has been with us since August of 2022. Ms. Frances was born in Lancaster, SC but grew up in Waxhaw, NC. She is the mother of four grown children. She has three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Before she started working in the early childhood education field in 1990, she was a substitute teacher and bus driver for Union County Schools. She has worked with children all her life and feels like it is her life's calling. She has worked as a Sunday school teacher, received teacher of the year for Idlewild Baptist Child Development Center at the Baptist Teachers Conference, and spent last October out west with her youngest daughter hiking and sight seeing.
  • Ms Linda (Lala)

    Ms Linda (Lala)

    Resource
    Ms. Linda "Lala" is a Resource Teacher at our school and has been with us since June of 2018. She earned her degree from Penn State and McKeeseport Hospital School of Nursing. She has her RN Credentials in Pediatric Trauma Advanced Life Support, Adult Advanced Life Support, is a Certified Nurse, and has 39 years of experience at Emergency ER and Advanced Care. Ms. LaLa has two sons (Andy and Jonathan) and 2 grandchildren (Virginia and Oliver). She enjoys shopping, reading and doing puzzles. Ms. LaLa's favorite children's book is "The Night Before Christmas".
X Twitter Facebook Linkedin Email Search Arrow Circle Left Arrow Circle Right Arrow Right Caret Down Location