Our Goddard School Teachers

Nicole Harrison is the Owner of The Goddard School of West Orange, Livingston, and East Hanover (opening in late 2026). As a mother of 4 children, she has always understood the importance of early childhood education. Nicole has a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health as well as a teaching degree in Physical Education and Health. She has many years of experience working in business prior to her teaching path. Nicole and her team are committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in the community. Our unique nurturing approach will give your child the opportunity to develop into a joyful, confident learner who is prepared for success in school and in life.

Hello Goddard families! I’m Eric Alders, On-Site Operator for the soon-to-open East Hanover. With over 25 years of mentoring children to become confident, joyful individuals, I’m honored to support the Goddard School community. For 15 years, I owned two martial arts schools, teaching enrichment programs at daycare and early childhood centers, earning recognition in the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame for teaching excellence. As a General Manager at Starbucks, I led six high-volume locations, managing teams of up to 40 while ensuring safe, welcoming environments—skills I now apply to uphold Goddard’s high standards. As a father of twin daughters who thrived at Goddard, I deeply value early education. Married to my college sweetheart, I’m committed to creating nurturing spaces where every child shines. I look forward to partnering with our families to ensure your child’s safety, education, and happiness!

We are thrilled to welcome Jessica DeJong as Director of our new Goddard School in East Hanover. Jessica brings over 20 years of experience in education, including 10 years as a Director at a private Montessori school, where she led operations, mentored teachers, and built strong relationships with families. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education of Young Children from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona. Jessica is passionate about creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, happy, and excited to learn. Outside of work, Jessica is a proud mom to Brayden, a baseball enthusiast, and Brynn, a competitive cheerleader. She loves cheering them on, spending quality time with family, and traveling. Jessica looks forward to bringing her experience, passion, and dedication to early childhood education to East Hanover and welcoming our very first Goddard families.

Hello, my name is Madeleine. I graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in Creative Writing. One of my early jobs after graduation was working for a literary agent whose focus was children’s books. This interest in children’s literacy and education then brought me to Hunter College where I earned a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education with a thesis on early literacy. I taught for 10 years at a preeminent Reggio inspired preschool in Manhattan. While there, I was sent to Italy to study Reggio techniques where the philosophy originated, as well as to numerous schools across the country to present and learn about educational theories. Since moving to New Jersey, I have worked with various schools across the state, providing in-class STEAM lessons as well as professional development for teachers and administration. I come to The Goddard School of East Hanover, West Orange, and Livingston as Early Childhood Education Specialist, bringing my passion, experience and knowledge.