A graduate of Columbia University’s Teachers College and The Pingry School where also she taught English, leadership, and mindfulness for ten years, Laura's vision is that "the classroom should simultaneously prepare our children for the world and make the world better." To serve this mission, in Millburn and Maplewood Goddard Schools, “we help our children become strong, empathetic communicators who thrive in diverse communities.” While many may overlook the importance of the first five years, Laura understands that this is the critical time when we establish the foundation and trajectory of a person’s whole life. In fact, "moment for moment there is no bigger impact we can make on a person's life, and the world, than the first few years" says Laura. "Goddard Maplewood is not just a daycare, we are a school that seeks to transform the world, one child at a time." Laura is the mother of five young daughters and cares for all children as her own.

As Director, Meredith brings 20 years of experience to the Goddard School of Maplewood having worked for both NYC Charter Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education. She has been a Principal, an Assistant Principal, a Curriculum Director, an Academic Coach and a Classroom Teacher. Over the years, Meredith has impacted the growth of hundreds of teachers and students by leading professional development in her schools, presenting at numerous educational conferences, and through her work as an adjunct professor at Hunter College in NYC. A graduate of Rutgers University and Montclair State University, Meredith has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and certification as a Reading Specialist and a School Supervisor. Meredith is honored to serve the children and families of Maplewood and looks forward to building a safe, warm and nurturing school community.

As the Director of our school, Mary has been working with children and teachers for more than thirty years. Prior to joining Goddard, Mary served as an Executive Director in a Charter School, a Director of Professional Development, a Chief Academic Officer and a Director of Curriculum and Instruction in an education management organization. Through the years, Mary provided professional development for principals and teachers in the use of research-based instructional practices, bilingual and dual-language instruction, data analysis to increase student achievement, curriculum planning and behavior management, and other topics that impact teaching, learning and school operations. Mary says: “First and foremost, young children need a safe and nurturing environment to explore and learn through fun experiences. As an educator, I strongly believe in creating an engaging environment where children are offered a variety of experiences that instill in them a life-long love of learning.”

Ms. Lisa is a Lead English Teacher in our Infant Classroom with a bachelor’s in psychology and a Certification in Montessori. She became an infant teacher after college and fell in love with the fast pace, high energy, and loving atmosphere. “I love to see my students progress when they start in my classroom and become active toddlers.” When asked about why she loves our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, she says it provides opportunities for children to explore their natural curiosity while engaging in activities that help them develop more knowledge and skill. In terms of working at Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Lisa loves that the school is bright, beautiful and clean – a great environment for children and teachers to learn and play together!

Ms. Dilcia is a Lead Spanish Teacher in our Infant Program with coursework in Modern Languages and experience working with young children. “I grew up with School as my second home, and for me to play an important role in our children’s lives fills my heart with happiness.” When asked about her favorite area of the classroom, Ms. Dilcia explains that when children look in the mirror, they love to see their own facial expressions and those of others. “I can see children’s sense of self-awareness and social-awareness growing in a practical way, even as we study these things in our Social Emotional Curriculum – Life Lesson Library.” Ms. Dilcia’s favorite time of day is when they read books to the children – which is all day! “When we read, children listen and look, touch the book, smile, laugh and talk. It is a very nice way to build bonds with our children as they learn and grow.”

Ms. Aileen is a Lead Spanish Teacher in our Toddler & Preschool Program. With more than a decade of experience and an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Aileen When asked about why she loves our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, she says “it is inquiry-based, student-driven, and play-based which are three of the most important elements in an intentional and high-quality early-childhood education program. Her favorite time of day is both Large Group Gathering Time and Small Group Centers because both provide students with the perfect blend of structure and freedom. When asking Ms. Aileen what excites her most about the trilingual curriculum at Goddard Millburn, she says, “I see the children developing important skills such mental flexibility and critical thinking which improves their ability to learn anything.”

Ms. Jada is an Assistant English Teacher in our Infant and Toddler program. “I became a teacher because I love watching children learn and grow. Being a part of their learning process is exciting and gratifying.” When asked what she loves about our curriculum, “Wonder of Learning” she mentions that children are given more autonomy than in a traditional program. Children must use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. “It taught me children are far more capable at solving a problem without assistance than I realized. Allowing them time and space to do things on their own promotes their self-confidence and independence.” In a recent project, children documented the life-cycle of a butterfly using multi-media (watercolors, pompoms, pipe cleaners and more!) and their fine motor skills. With regards to working at Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Jada says “everything we do has purpose and reason. I enjoy working with our dedicated faculty.”

Ms. Emily is a Lead Mandarin Teacher at Goddard Maplewood. With experience teaching young children and a Bachelors Degree, Ms. Emily not only loves to teach language but also share her culture with students. In a recent project, children studied the twelve Chinese Zodiac signs which capitalized on their inherent interest in animals. “When I find ways to connect what they know to something new, it feels like a great accomplishment as a teacher.” When asked about her favorite area of the classroom, Ms. Emily talks about our Library area. Children can browse through books and select those that seem of interest to them. They can share a book experience with others or enjoy it quietly on their own.

Ms. Krista is a Lead English Teacher in our Toddler & Pre-School Program. With nearly a decade of experience and a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Krista is dynamic, nurturing, hardworking and inspirational. When asked about why she loves our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, Ms. Krista says that “it gives the children an opportunity to question and explore so many different topics.” Her favorite time of the day is Learning Lab because she gets to watch children process things they’ve learned and apply them in new ways. In terms of why she loves Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Krista says, ‘this is a unique school that has given me the opportunity to grown and learn along with the children.”

Ms. Yihan is an Assistant Mandarin Teacher at our school. With a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, Ms. Yihan is a warm and engaging teacher who believes that creating a nurturing and safe space is the first step in teaching and learning. She believes the role of a teacher is to "help every child believe in themselves and their capacity to overcome challenges." She wants her students to feel comfortable making mistakes, "Making mistakes is part of the learning process, and we cannot learn as long as we are afraid to make mistakes." "I want my students to have confidence in themselves as they learn new things (including Mandarin!), so they can share their light with the world!"

Ms. Sheena is a Lead Spanish Teacher in our Pre-School Program. With a Bachelors of Psychology and several years of experience working with children in educational childcare, Ms. Sheena says that “being a teacher is rewarding! I love seeing kids get excited about learning!” When asked what she loves about our curriculum, “Wonder of Learning,” she says it provides incredible support to teachers. It guides teachers in creating meaningful and intentional activities that relate to developmental goals for each child. It focuses on social-emotional development, in particular, which is so important in the first few years of life. Her favorite area of the classroom are the Evidence of Learning boards since students can admire their work which builds self-confidence and pride.

Ms. Natalie is an Assistant Spanish Teacher in our Toddlers Program. With an Associates Degree is Social Sciences and several years experience working with young children, Ms. Natalie became a teacher because “I enjoy being a part of their growth process. It is rewarding to know I have made a positive mark on their lives.” When asked why she loves our curriculum, “Wonder of Learning,” she says that “it allows children to explore many topics which are of interest to them, and they learn so much while having fun.” Her favorite time of day is mealtime because all the children eat together in a family style experience and she can talk one-on-one with each child. “Having the children sit all together while having a beautiful view out of our large classroom windows makes everyone happy.”

Ms. Jessica, an Assistant English Teacher in our Toddlers Program, has a Bachelors in English and several years experience working with young children. She became a teacher because “I love seeing the impact that I am making on a daily basis and observing the children flourish and grow.” When asked about why she loves our curriculum, “Wonder of Learning,” Ms. Jessica focuses on the importance of student-driven inquiry and hands-on-experiential learning. Her favorite time of day is Learning Lab because it allows her to observe and connect with each student as she guides them in the learning process. In terms of Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Jessica feels that there is great support for teachers and a culture of teamwork in our important mission together.

Ms. Jah’Makea is an Assistant Resource Teacher. “When I walked into Goddard Maplewood, it felt like I jumped into a children’s world. The school is decorated with inspiration and color, and everything is clean, organized and child sized.” Her favorite time of day is at the playground because she loves to run and play alongside the children. Sitting on the grass, running around, helping them go down the slide, laughing and talking together, creates strong bonds and great memories. In terms of our trilingual curriculum, Ms. Jah’Mekea appreciates how children are not only learning language, but also cultivating an open-mindset which allows them to approach differences with curiosity rather than fear.

Ms. Makayla is an Assistant Spanish Teacher in our Infant Program. When asked about why she loves working at Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Makayla highlights Ms. Meredith’s commitment to health and safety and Ms. Vanessa’s focus on active engagement. Most of all, “I love the children and the excitement on their faces when teachers great them in the mornings (and how some of them don’t want to go home at the end of the day). I love observing how brilliant and kind they are and seeing them develop more and more each day.”

A Lead Spanish Teacher in our toddler program, Ms. Rachel became a teacher because she “enjoys expanding the minds of young children and building relationships with them while having fun and being silly.” When asked about why she loves Wonder of Learning, Ms. Rachel describes that it has helped her become a better (and more fulfilled) teacher. Since our curriculum is grounded in developmentally appropriate learning goals, I can see how and why we ask students to engage in certain activities. Seeing students learn and grow and build on prior knowledge week-to-week makes me feel like I am accomplishing something important in their lives.” Her favorite time of day is Storytime because she enjoys reading dramatically in ways that excite and engage the children. And her favorite part of the classroom is the Friendship Tree because everyone in the class works on it together. “The children love to look at it and it creates a sense of belonging and joy.”

Ms. Tamesha is an Assistant Teacher in our Pre-School program, and she is currently working toward her Bachelors Degree in Sociology. When asked about why she became a teacher, Ms. Tamesha says, “Children are our future, and everything we teach them, stays with them. A teacher’s job is so important because it shapes the future of our world.” Her favorite time of day is Mandarin because the children’s faces light up when they see the teachers come into the room. When parents hear their child speaking Mandarin, they are so impressed. “I feel proud to work at a school that emphasizes diversity, culture and communication. At Goddard Maplewood, people believe in me, and it encourages me to believe in myself.”

Mr. Alejandro is an Assistant Spanish Teacher in our Pre-Kindergarten Program. With a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Mr. Alejandro has always had the desire to teach others because of the importance he feels around seeing others learn and grow. When asked about why he loves our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, he says that “students engage with hands-on, learning activities in which materials have been intentionally chosen to create a true learning-through-play experience.” In a recent project, Mr. Alejandro appreciated the wholistic learning experience – “children were cutting letters from various magazines to spell out their names before arranging them artistically on a canvas with other multimedia.” They talked about many different things (in Spanish) as they did the project together; they practice fine motor and literacy skills; and they were able to foster independence and self-expression as they made their whole project come together.

A Lead Spanish Teacher in our Toddler & Pre-School programs, Ms. Maria more than a decade of experience teaching and working with children. When asked about her philosophy of teaching, Ms. Maria says that “children must be active in their learning” and “that if a child enjoys her activities, she will learn easily and love learning.” Regarding our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, Ms. Maria explains that she enjoys watching students lead the activities using their innate curiosity and sense of imagination. The high-quality, intentional materials are designed to allow for meaningful exploration and learning. I love working at Goddard Maplewood because of the people around me – both students and faculty. I am always learning something new which keeps my experience as a teacher exciting and interesting."

Ms. Denise, a Lead Spanish Teacher in our Infant & Toddler Program, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and several years of experience working with young children. When asked about her favorite time of day with students, Ms. Denise loves working in Learning Lab and Small Groups. During this time, I get to observe them closely and support the learning of each child in an important way.” Her favorite area of the classroom is the Gathering Rug where everyone comes together. “In this area, children have opportunities to socialize as an entire group and we engage in activities that bond them as a community.”

Ms. Takiyah is a Lead English Teacher in our Pre-Kindergarten program. With an Associates in Early Childhood, Ms. Takiyah is currently working on a Bachelors degree in Education Leadership. When asked why she loves our curriculum, “Wonder of Learning,” Ms. Takiyah talks about “teamwork” and that our activities promote the development of social-emotional skills that are key to good relationships. In terms of our trilingual curriculum, she remarks that it is so amazing to see that children are actually learning to speak the languages – English, Spanish and Mandarin. Reflecting on her experience at Goddard Maplewood, Ms. Takiyah says she appreciates our teamwork culture and community-oriented vibe. “I like how everyone helps each other,” because this is a great model for the children and our future.

Ms. Dreana is a Resource Teaching Assistant at all levels – infant, toddler and pre-school -- who is passionate about making a meaningful contribution with her life. At Goddard Maplewood, she is a resourceful and collaborative team player, who is relied upon for her dependable helping hand. Excellent at connecting with children on their level, communicating and empathizing, Ms. Dreana is a warm and nurturing guide for our students.

Ms. Karla is a Lead Spanish Teacher in our Toddler Program. A native Spanish speaker with a Masters in Teaching, Ms. Karla loves to create game-based learning for her students. She believes children should engage in hands-on learning with a play-based approach to learn best. In terms of our Wonder of Learning Curriculum, she says “it provides many opportunities for children’s natural curiosity to manifest.” Her favorite thing to do is interact with students which happens all day in different ways – Large Group, Small Group, Learning Centers, Meals and Playground. Finally, Ms. Karla encourages her students not to be afraid of making mistakes because failing it is a part of the learning process.

Ms. Maryana is an Assistant Spanish Teacher in our Infant & Toddler program. At Goddard Maplewood, she is a resourceful and collaborative team player, who we rely upon for her dependable helping hand. Excellent at connecting with children on their level, communicating and empathizing, Ms. Maryana is a warm and nurturing guide for our students. When asked about our trilingual curriculum, Ms. Maryana says it is impressive to see how quickly children learn language, and she also enjoys learning them herself. In terms of Goddard Maplewood, she says the culture of teamwork and inclusiveness aligns with the School’s inspiring vision.

Ms. Cayleigh is an Assistant Spanish Teacher in our Toddler & Preschool Programs. "I always knew I wanted to be a teacher -- I feel like it is definitely my calling." Warm, attentive, dynamic, thoughtful and engaged, Ms. Cayleigh knows every child and family. Always willing to help at any time, she is a friendly team player who supports learning in every classroom.

Ms. Tynazsha is an Assistant English Teacher at Goddard Maplewood. A warm, outgoing, and hardworking person, Ms. Tynazsha supports classrooms at the infant, toddler and preschool levels. When asked about why she became a teacher, Ms. Tynazsha says, "Since I was a very young person, I always understood that education is a key to self-confidence and independence. I always want to give back to others, the way my teachers gave me to." For her, a great teacher is one who is able to empathize and communicate with children while engaging them in fun activities that help them grow.