Our Teachers

Mr. Harsh & Mrs. Mona Shah are the owners of the Goddard School of Lyndhurst. As parents themselves, they understand the importance of early childhood development. Mr. Harsh has come from a background in Accounting and Finance, while Mrs. Mona has come from a background in Education and Public Health. Taking their years of experience, they took the journey to be a part of something larger than themselves and joined the Goddard Family. They are committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment, as well as providing the highest quality preschool experience in the Lyndhurst and Bergen County Community.

Ms. Samantha has been with the Goddard Franchise since 2013. She has had the pleasure of working at a Goddard School in New York as well as in California. She has her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and over 10 years of experience working in the early childhood field. The majority of those years were with children ages 3 months to 7 years old. She is a firm believer that a quality education experience is the driving force behind building life long learners.

My name is Mrs. Abir. I have been working with children for over 10 years in a school and day care setting. I am bilingual speaking in both English and Arabic. I have a passion for teaching and caring for children. I have always been surrounded with kids my whole life including raising my own 3 daughters. One of my strengths is to listen to children and being able to understand them and their needs. I believe listening to children and making sure they are heard and understood is one of the most important things about being a teacher. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi Goddard families, my name is Ms. Dayanara! I am currently in school, working toward earning my bachelor’s degree in radiology. I have been working in the childcare field for over 9 years, and I have experience working with all age groups. I am very passionate about teaching children and guiding their growth; I truly enjoy helping them meet their milestones! During my free time, I love spending time with my family. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

My name is Mrs. Linda and I have worked with children for the last 35 years. I am an early childhood trained teacher. I am a mother of 3 boys. I am a happy positive person and love children. I am happy to be apart of The Goddard School where I will be able to nurture the wonderful children who will be in my care. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi my name is Gabriella Marie and I have been in childcare for four years now! I started in the field of childcare because of my passion for helping kids grow and succeed. My primary goal when working with children is to lead with care and unconditional love. I am pursuing a career in psychology, with the goal of earning both a master’s degree and eventually a PhD. My interests include cooking - both old family recipes and new ones, fashion, skin care & makeup, and floral decor! I look forward to meeting all the wonderful families here at Goddard, and I can't wait to inspire the students and watch them grow! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi! My name is Miss Michelle, and I am very excited to be joining First Steps. I have been working in Preschools for 8 years now. I’m currently in school to get my associate degree in childhood education with one year left. I was born in the Dominican Republic, but I’ve spent almost my whole life here in New Jersey and New York. My two favorite things to do other than teaching is reading a good book and being in nature. Teaching is my passion, and I’m a goal-driven professional educator with a solid commitment to the social and academic growth and development of every child. I am very excited about all the fun and interesting learning opportunities the babies will have! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi families, my name is Ms. Lilly! I graduated from high school and took a few college courses while living in North Carolina. I moved to New Jersey and decided to pursue a career in childcare. I chose to pursue a career in childcare because I have a passion for helping children learn and grow; their smiles and laughter fill every day with such joy I have one year of experience working with children in all age groups, and I look forward to furthering my career while working with your children! In my free time, I enjoy reading, picking up new hobbies (piano and knitting/crocheting), and spending time with my pets (my cat and two dogs)! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

My name is Ms. Isabella. I have 6 years of experience working with children ranging from infants to 6 years old. I am currently in college to get my degree in early education. I have a very happy and positive outlook on everything I do and enjoying working with children. I am excited to be part of the Goddard Family and look forward to teaching and watching my students grow. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi there! I’m Miss Dionna and I am happy to be a part of the Goddard School as an Assistant Teacher! My experience working with children ranges from working as a babysitter for about four years, as well as working in the public and charter school system for the past three years. My passion for education comes from my mother, who has been in the teaching field for more than 13 years! In addition to that, I come from a multicultural background with mostly African American & Puerto Rican ancestry and distant Irish and Caribbean roots. With such a big family, I grew up constantly being surrounded by children. I love to learn, and I genuinely enjoy helping children learn as well. I am currently working on earning my degree in fashion design, and I have also taken courses focusing on early childhood development. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

My name is Ms. Sandra. I have over 8 years of experience working with young children. It wasn’t until I became a full-time nanny that I found my love for watching children learn, grow & prosper every single day! I not only get to watch it in the classroom with your children every day but now also while raising my own daughter, who also attends and loves being at the Goddard School! I am dedicated to making my classroom feel warm & welcoming to not only all my students but their families as well! I am happy being part of the Goddard School and am looking forward to creating long-lasting bonds with every single family in my classroom! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi, my name is Ms. Nicole! I am a student at Rutgers University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Education. Since I first started working with children 6 years ago, I knew that teaching is the career for me. Being the oldest cousin in my family, I have always had a passion for caring for children. I love being a part of children’s milestones, and seeing them grow physically and academically. I am following in my mom’s footsteps as she has been a middle school teacher for 30+ years! I am looking forward to creating fun and happy memories for your little ones! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hello, I'm Marisela, an experienced educator with a passion for shaping young minds. With five years of dedicated service in the field, I've had the privilege of inspiring and guiding students to reach their full potential. My commitment to fostering a love for learning and creating a positive classroom environment has been a driving force in my career. I believe that education is the key to unlocking endless possibilities, and I'm excited to continue this journey with PS1. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi! My name is Ms. Bianca, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Goddard School of Lyndhurst team! I earned my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; in the Fall, I will begin my studies toward earning my master’s degree in social work. I have two younger siblings who I absolutely love taking care of, which has in turn made me become interested in studying child behavior and now, as a teacher. Aside from caring for my siblings, I have over two years of experience working with children, ranging from toddlers to pre-kindergarten. I enjoy helping children learn every day and guiding their growth. In my free time, I love strength training, reading, and running – I’ll be running my first half marathon this Fall (2024)! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

My name is Ms. Tania and I have 6 years of experience working in a daycare facility in Rutherford NJ. I have earned my bachelor's degree in exercise science from Kean University as well as a minor in youth coaching. I enjoy working with children and watching them grow every day. Children are our future! I care about my students. The most important thing is that they feel welcomed and loved. I am very energetic and into a variety of sports, which I also plan on bringing into the classroom. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

My name is Mrs. Jone and I am working with the children in Pre-K. A little bit about me. I have been a teacher for 18 years, working with students of all ages. My husband and I have two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, who have gone on to be very successful young adults, each choosing a field where they can use their creative strengths. I think one of the most touching and satisfying moments recently was when my son thanked me for teaching him how to think outside of the box. I have many interests and talents such as floral, interior design, fashion, cooking, music, and gardening. I look forward to meeting all the families, working with the children, enhancing their educational experience here at The Goddard School. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hi my name is Miss Sophia! I have a background of working with children from infant to 2 years old for a little over 3 years! I am currently in school working on getting my associates degree. I’ve always loved children because each child is never the same and getting to watch them grow and be a part of their development just makes me happy! I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.

Hello, I’m Ms. Ermira! I have my bachelor’s degree in the field of Philology. My favorite book is “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and my favorite quote from this book is “All grown-ups were children, but only few of them remember it”. This quote strongly depicts my approach as a teacher and is the reason why I chose to pursue a career in working with children. Prior to becoming a part of the Goddard of Lyndhurst team, I had experience working with middle-school aged children. As a teacher, I find it is important to listen to and understand each of my students; those two virtues have followed me through my professional integration. In my free time, I enjoy reading and writing. My favorite place to be is always near the sea, it reminds me of home. I am CPR/First Aid, Safe Sleep, Severe Allergy, Administering Medication and Child Abuse certified.