Our Goddard School Teachers

Dr. Susan is the Co-Owner of The Goddard School of Waxhaw and The Goddard School of Ballantyne, where she has been the Onsite Owner since opening in 2005. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine.

Leland is Onsite Co-Owner here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! He holds a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. He has business and recruiting experience as the former General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Scouting Director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leland is also the CEO of Baseball Dream Makers, where he helps players of all ages develop into confident adults!

Ms. Anna is the Executive Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University and has over 20 years of experience in education! A favorite quote of hers "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn," by Benjamin Franklin. Anna's educational philosophy is a child-centered approach, in which the child makes decisions based on their interests and teachers facilitate learning through open ended questions.

Ms. Robin is an Assistant Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been working with children since 2021. A fun fact about her is that she loves to crochet! Robin's educational philosophy is that teachers should be an intentional person in the lives of their students. Comfortable, safe children are set up for success when asked to learn new things.

Ms. Suzanne is an Assistant Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Master's in Special Education from Long Island University and was Director at our sister school in Ballantyne from 2010 to 2014. A favorite quote of hers is "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires," by William Arthur Ward. The educational philosophy she leads by is that teachers should first form a relationship with their children, so that they can be challenged in an environment where they feel loved and cared for.

Ms. Jessica is the Curriculum Coordinator here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from Towson State University. She has been teaching since 1992! A favorite quote of hers is "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” by Nelson Mandela. The educational philosophy Jessica leads by is that children should feel important, worthy and loved, with plenty of opportunities to engage and explore.

Ms. Isabelle is a Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is certified in Montessori Education and has eight years of experience in Early Childhood. A favorite quote of Isabelle's is "Play is the work of the child," by Maria Montessori. Her educational philosophy is that children learn most through engagement. With our littlest learners, she emphasizes making secure attachments and laying a healthy foundation for development.

Ms. Marybeth is a Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community College and has 20 years of Early Childhood Experience. A favorite quote of Marybeth's is "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." The teaching philosophy she leads by is to love and nurture all her "baby friends" in a safe and supportive environment. She believes in creating a stimulating classroom to encourage exploration and discovery.

Ms. Aleighya is a Lead Teacher in the First Steps Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Health and Human Services from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A favorite quote of Aleighya's is "Nothing is impossible. The world itself says I'm possible," by Audrey Hepburn. The educational philosophy she leads by is that all children should have a loving and safe environment for learning.

Ms. Audri is the Kitchen Manager here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community and still helps out in the classrooms when not doing her kitchen duties. A fun fact about her is that she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and making shirts. The educational philosophy Audri leads by is that all children are different. Teachers should help each child with a unique approach and to the best of their ability.

Ms. Sonya is a Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds an Associates in Early Childhood Education from Mormana University in Istanbul, Turkey. A fun fact about Sonya is that she knows four languages: English, German, Turkish, and Arabic! The teaching philosophy she leads by is that every child deserves care, love, and good education. A relationship with security and trust between teacher and child is most important for learning.

Ms. Viktoriia is a Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Baikal University in Russia. A favorite quote of Viktoriia's is "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." The educational philosophy she leads by is that teachers should never forget they were once a child. You can never give a child enough love and care!

Ms. Martina is a Lead Teacher in the Toddler Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community College and has a Bachelors in Social Security Insurance from Germany. A favorite quote of Martina's is "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart," by Helen Keller. The teaching philosophy she leads by is to inspire, engage, and demonstrate for children rather than tell them facts.

Ms. Courtney is a Lead Teacher in the Toddler Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is Certified in Early Childhood Education with a specialty in Infant/Toddler Care through Central Piedmont Community College. A fun fact about Courtney is that one of her favorite things to do is laugh. The teaching philosophy that she leads by is that all children can and will learn if they are provided the proper resources and opportunities!

Ms. Taylor is a Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She has a bachelor's in psychology from Coastal Carolina University. A fun fact about Taylor is that she loves to read and paint. The teaching philosophy she leads by is that children must be taught how to think, not what to think!

Ms. Cindy is a Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is NC Lead Teacher Certified! A favorite quote of Cindy's is "The influence of a good teacher can never be erased." The teaching philosophy she leads by is that students learn best when they feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe.

Ms. Madhuri is a member of our Educational Support Team here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a master's in Business Administration from Barkatullah University in Bhopal, India. A fun fact about Madhuri is that she loves to dance and cook! The teaching philosophy she leads by is that education should nurture curiosity, encourage creativity, and prepare students to adapt in a changing world.

Ms. Taylor is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is NC Lead Teacher Certified and is currently pursuing her associates in Early Childhood Education at South Piedmont Community College. A fun fact about Taylor is that she usually reads over 100 books a year! Her teaching philosophy is that education should nurture curiosity. A teacher's role in the classroom is to create an environment full of support and love.

Ms. Krupa is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She has a Bachelors in Accounting and is Certified in International Montessori Education! A fun fact about Krupa is that she loves spending time with her family and wants to take a vacation to her home country to refresh her memories. The educational philosophy she leads by is to create a positive classroom environment that fosters a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and self-directed learning.

Ms. Samantha is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Masters in Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University. A fun fact about Samantha is that she loves to take early morning walks and bake bread! The educational philosophy she leads by is that every child is unique, capable, and deserving of a learning environment that nurtures their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

Ms. Shelly is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is a Certified Pediatric Medical Assistant. A favorite quote of Shelly's is "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us." The teaching philosophy she leads by is to create self-sufficient learners that know how to use the resources around them.

Ms. Alexis is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 1 here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Human Service Studies from Queens University and has lived in the Waxhaw area for 19 years! A fun fact about her is that she rides a Harley Davidson. The educational philosophy she leads by is to first understand the why behind behavior. This helps inform teaching through play and redirection practices!

Ms. Tammy is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds an Associates in Early Childhood Education from Stanly Community College. A fun fact about Tammy is that she has been teaching since 1996 and has lived in the Waxhaw area for over 40 years! The educational philosophy she leads by is that every child is a unique and not only capable of learning but also succeeding.

Ms. Angela is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She has a Bachelors in Health Science from Brenau University and is NC Lead Teacher Certified. The educational philosophy that she leads by is to teach with positivity in all areas and meet each child where they are at developmentally.

Ms. Kioshia is a member of our Educational Support Staff here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw primarily supporting our Infant and First Steps classrooms! She attended Coastal Carolina for Exercise Sports Science. A favorite quote of Kioshia's is "If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more. If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough," by Oprah Winfrey. The teaching philosophy she leads by is that children learn best through play and exploration.