Our Teachers

Amy has been in early childhood education administration for almost 25 years and working with children for over 30 years. She has been working with The Goddard School for almost 20 years. First she was an Educational Director at a brand new location before opening this location in 2013. Amy has her degree in Elementary Education from Rowan University and is an NJ State Certified Teacher. Amy is a mother of six children, ranging from seven years old to mid 20s. She is always accessible and loves being a resource to our families in the areas of early childhood education and parenting. Ms. Amy loves traveling especially going on cruises and visiting Disney World. Additionally she is avid runner and has run several half marathons and five marathons including the iconic NYC Marathon in 2021, Marine Corps in 2019, Chicago in 2022, Berlin 2023 and Walt Disney World in 2024.

Ms. Renee joined our team in 2019 with 10 years of experience working with children on The Preschool/Pre-K level. She joined our team as an assistant teacher before earning a promotion to a Lead Preschool Teacher in early 2020. For the 2020-2021 school year she was our Kindergarten teacher and in 2021-2022 she was our Lead Pre K II teacher before moving into the role of Director of School Operations in July of 2022. Ms. Renee has earned her Bachelor's Degree in English from William Paterson University. With William Paterson she completed many education courses including completing a practicum. She is a mom to one son. Ms. Renee is CPR/First Aid certified as well as trained in Medication Administration and Allergy Readiness.

Ms. Nina joined our team in 2022 as our Director of Curriculum with over 16 years of experience working within Early Childhood Education. Ms. Nina has proven her ability time and time again as she grew from an assistant director to a lead teacher to an assistant director before joining our team as director. She possesses a vast knowledge of the development of children and of ways to foster their development. She possesses her Early Childhood Development Credential.

Mr. Brandon is our Lead Pre-Kindergarten I Teacher but is our school's Assistant Director in the afternoons. Mr. Brandon holds his Child Development Associate Credential with a focus in Preschool. Mr. Brandon joined our team in 2018 and was an assistant teacher before being promoted to Lead Pre-K Kindergarten I Teacher for the 2018-2019 school year. He was promoted to Assistant Director in June 2022 in addition to continuing his dedication to our Pre-K I Classroom. Prior to The Goddard School, Mr. Brandon was an after-school theatre teacher and camp counselor. He also has eight younger siblings, so working with children is second nature for him. In addition, Mr. Brandon is CPR and First Aid certified. Mr. Brandon is also trained in Diversity & Multiculturalism as well as Child Care Center Management.

Ms. Shaniqua is our Lead Infant Teacher. Ms. Shaniqua joined our team in 2016 and is the mother of two boys. Ms. Shaniqua has been dedicated to our school and our littlest learners for the past 6 years! She attended Passaic County Technical Institute where she did major in Early Childhood Development. Prior to joining our team, she provided in-home care to many children under the age of 5. Ms. Shaniqua is CPR and First Aid certified, as well as Safe Sleep trained.

Ms. Glory, as she is referred to, joined our team originally back in 2016, but returned to our faculty in 2021! Ms. Glory graduated from Passaic County Community College in 2015 with an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She recently completed her Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Management in 2022. In addition, Ms. Glory possesses her Child Development Associate Credential. She has been working with children for over 12 years! In addition to being Lead First Steps Teacher, she helps in training & mentoring new faculty members.

Ms. Neli joined our team in 2019 with over 3 years of experience working with children within the New York Department of Education where she was a Group Leader and Activity Specialist. Prior to being our Lead Preschool II teacher, she was our Assistant Pre-Kindergarten I Teacher and our Virtual Learning Teacher during the 2020-2021 School Year. She is CPR and First Aid certified by the Red Cross. Ms. Neli is also certified on Foundations in Health and Safety by the Early Childhood Education and Training Program and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. When she is not at school, she enjoys spending time with her cat and her dog.

Ms. Kaylee is our Lead Get-Set Teacher. She joined our school in 2019 with 4 previous years of experience working with children from ages 2-4. In addition to her teaching experience, Kaylee has also worked at All Care Rehabilitation. She has also recently graduated from Montclair State University with her degree in Family Studies! Ms. Kaylee is known for her positive energy and creativity in the classroom!

Ms. Sandra was with our school from 2014 to 2018 and rejoined the family in 2022. She she has her CDA, as well as several years of previous teacher assistant experience. She has been working with children since 1985 with experience in taking care of infants and toddlers.

Ms. Paula joined our team in 2018 with 16 years of previous experience as a teacher assistant and an office assistant with another school. Ms. Paula is CPR & First Aid certified, Safe Sleep Training, and as well Medication Administration Certified. Ms. Paula has also completed several continuing education courses to further her professional development.

Ms. Grecia joined our team with six previous years of experience working with children. She was awarded as our school's Teacher of The Year for 2023-2024 based on parent nominations! Prior to joining our team, she was a Youth Development Specialist/Front Desk Coordinator at the Boys and Girls club, as well as a caregiver for a family. She is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Child Advocacy and Policy at Montclair State University. She also has completed training in Allergen Safety.

Tyler brought with him valuable experience as an assistant teacher when he first joined our team in 2022 while he was a student at Montclair State. Prior to taking on his newest the role of Lead Pre-K II Teacher, he worked closely with our older classrooms as an all-school assistant. He also has experience as a Lead Teacher back home in his own state of Maryland. Tyler holds a Bachelor's Degree from Montclair State University and was recognized as our Teacher of The Month in March 2023!

Gia joined our team with experience at a school in Montclair. While with that school she was both the Assistant Preschool Teacher and the Afterschool Teacher. Gia has attended both Bergen Community College and Monmouth University. She is AED, First Aid and CPR certified.

Mr. Kevin joined our team with previous experience as a Preschool Assisting Teacher in another corporate center. Mr. Kevin has his BS from The University of Bridgeport in Human Services and Psychology. While at The University of Bridgeport he was part of the Honors Program as well as participating in the Student Leaders Institute, where he earned an Emerging Leaders Certification. Mr. Kevin was also our February 2023 Teacher Of The Month!

Ms. Amiyah joined our team after volunteering at a school for two years. She is currently attending William Patterson University with a major in Early Childhood Education. She loves to play music and dance along. She even graduated from Rosa Parks High School of the Arts! She was our January 2023 Teacher of The Month! She is excited to be a part of our team and interact with all of these little smiling faces each day.

Ms. Madison joined our team with seven years of experience. She has Education Studies from High Point University as well as her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Granite State College. She has several years of volunteer experience through High Point University including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America & Head Start. She has been working as an Assistant Teacher since 2019

Ms. Fran joined our team with over 27 years of experience working with Pre K children. She was with another school for 23 of those years until that facility closed. She is CPR & First Aid trained as well!

Ms. Charizma joined our team in 2024. She brought to our faculty a year of experience assisting in an infant room at large center. Prior to working with children she did work in customer service where she had earned various promotions and accolades.

Ms. Sam joined our team in 2023. She brought 2 1/2 years of assistant teacher experience in Early Childhood Education and worked with a large center similar to our setup. Ms. Sam graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Child and Adolescent Psychology. Prior to joining the Pre-K teaching team, Ms. Sam was our Lead First Steps Teacher. She prides herself on her great communication with families.

Ms. Serena joined our faculty in 2024. She brought to our team experience as a Co Teacher in at child care center, as well as experience as a dance teacher for children as young as two years old.

Ms. Tianna joined our team in 2024. She brought with her experience at another center working with toddlers! Tianna is CPR & First Aid certified as well.

Ms. Jennifer joined our team in 2024 with one year of child care experience. Additionally she posses leadership ability as she was previously a co manager in retail. She is CPR & First Aid certified!

Ms. Marie has been with our school since we opened in 2013! Marie now has over 35 years of experience working with infants and toddlers. She was employed by a corporate child care center for 15 years prior to 2013, where she attended many workshops on early childhood education. She also is trained in Safe Sleep for Infants. You can find Marie's friendly face assisting in our Infant and First Steps classrooms each morning!

Melissa joined our team in 2022 in a supportive role assisting in all of our classrooms during the morning hours. Now she primarily does assist our First Step classroom, but will assist in other rooms when needed. She came with over twenty years of experience working with children in various capacities. She is also a mom of three!

Misty joined our team with extensive experience in early childhood education. Misty attended Passaic County Technical Vocational Schools in the Child Development Program. Misty also was a Preschool Teacher Assistant teacher for three years in the Center for Family Resources Head Start program. She also volunteered as a mentor for children with special needs. Finally, Ms. Misty achieved the SkillsUSA Early Childhood Education State Gold Medal in 2020. Ms. Misty is currently working on completing her CDA Credential and attending college. Ms. Misty assists with all age groups during the summer and winter while on break from college.

Jalynn joined our team with previous experience working as a private nanny since 2018. She is excited to gain additional experience in a group setting while applying the loving and nurturing experiences while being a nanny.

Ms. Arianna joined our team with extensive experience as an assistant teacher. She has worked in two previous preschool environments providing care and education to children 0 to age 5. She is also CPR & First Aid certified and completed several continuing education courses in Early Childhood Education related topics.

Ms. Mary has been working with children since 2018 as a caregiver for infants to young teens. She is a graduate of East Side High School and is currently in school to become a dental hygienist.

Ma-Kayla joined our team in 2024 and has been working with children since 2019. She was most recently a toddler teacher assistant, but also has experience has nanny. She is CPR & First Aid certified as well.

Alex joined our team in 2024 to assist in all of our classrooms in the afternoons. She came to us with experience with children including babysitting as well as assisting in a large center environment. She is CPR & First Aid certified. She is currently a senior at West Essex High School and participating in the work study program.

Ms. Jazmin is a senior at West Essex High School. She joined our team with two years of experience working in the nursery school with her church.

Ms. Jennifer joined our team in 2024. She is the mother to two sons, one in college and one in his senior year of high school. She has previous experience working in a preschool setting as a lead teacher and assistant teacher. She is returning to the field after taking the time to be at home and raise her two children.

Ms. Leslie joined our team in 2024. Prior to joining team she was a Youth Development Specialist with the Boys & Girls Club since 2015.