Our Goddard School Teachers

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!

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.

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. Margie is an Assistant Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Clemson University and is an NC Level III Administrator. A fun fact about her is that she has traveled all over the United States including Alaska & Hawaii as well as Bermuda! The educational philosophy Margie leads by is that children learn best through play, exploration, and positive relationships.

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. Erika is a teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds some college from the University of Missouri. She is excited to be rejoining our Goddard Family after a short move to Kansas City and brings back valuable experience as our kitchen manager of ten years. The educational philosophy Erika leads by is that play is the most important work of the child.

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. 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. 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 and recently received her SC Lead Teacher Certification. 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. Victoria is a member of our Educational Support Staff here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw, primarily supporting our First Steps Classroom. She is high school graduate and has been working with children for one year. A fun fact about Victoria is that she is originally from Brazil and speaks three languages! The educational philosophy she leads by is that children learn best through love, patience, and positive guidance.

Ms. Maggie is a Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She recently graduated with her masters degree in Clinical Psychology from North Carolina Central University. Maggie is a long time resident of the area and joined the Goddard Family in 2025! The teaching philosophy she leads by is that a child's family are their first teachers. By supporting the entire family, teachers can set their students up for success.

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. 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. Margarita is a teacher in the Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Masters in Management and Design from Baikal Economic and Legal Institute. A favorite quote of Margarita's is "Children are the flowers of life." The teaching philosophy she leads by is that the most important thing a teacher can do is love their students.

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. 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 PreKindergarten 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 PreKindergarten 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. Ebony is a Lead Teacher in the PreKindergarten 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Chowan University. A fun fact about Ebony is that she plays multiple instruments and loves to build puzzles and lego sets. The educational philosophy she leads by is that we are a child's safe place! Their upset or angry feelings are helpful communication from them.

Ms. Aleighya is a Lead Teacher in the PreKindergarten 2 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.