Our Teachers

Hi I'm Marianne Romola the owner of the Goddard School of Montclair. My husband Jim Freda and I have had the pleasure of running the Goddard School of Sparta for the last 17 years. We had gained the status of being one of Goddard franchises top NJ schools and we will continue to uphold that reputation in Montclair. We are very proud of our son Gavin who was a graduate of our school and now a student at Indiana University. We reside in Kinnelon NJ where we play a very active roll in the community. I have a bachelor of science in textile marketing and a culinary certificate from New York restaurant school. My husband and I have been very fortunate to have owned a deli and catering business for 27 years in our home town. We have an adorable little dog named Brooklyn and enjoy spending time with our son traveling and going to Yankee games. We are very excited to start this new venture in Montclair and delighted to be a part of educating our community's youth.

Hi my name is Alissa DelConte and I am the Director. I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for 15 years. I graduated from Kean University with a B.A in English. While at Kean I studied P-12 general education as well as special education. I am coming from The Goddard School in Sparta. I have been there for almost 8 years. While I was at that school I was the toddler teacher, the Get Set teacher, the Preschool teacher, and the Pre-k teacher. I am leaving that school as the Assistant Director. I have a true passion for working with the youngest learners. I believe in a safe and fun learning environment and I think all children have something special they can bring to their own educational journey. I am very excited to be joining the Montclair Community and I look forward to watching your children learn and grow with us here at The Goddard School.

HI! My name is Jackie Capote and I am the curriculum director. My husband, 2 daughters, and I have been Montclair residents for more than 10 years. My daughter, Penny, and I love walking through town to come to The Goddard School together each day. I have a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and art and a master’s degree in urban education with a specialization in English as a Second Language. I have worked for 16 years in the public school system and am excited to now be working with the Goddard School! Over my years of teaching, I have worked with both teachers and students demonstrating how to implement individualized instruction and creating a student-based learning environment. Additionally, I worked as part of the instructional rounds team, allowing me to observe and evaluate many classroom environments. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to learners at the start of their educational journey.

Hi, my name is Keyonna, I am 23 years old. After taking childhood development 1&2 in high school, and teaching children that were brought in to my school, I then knew I wanted to be a teacher. After graduating Highschool, I worked fulltime at a daycare, and I have also been nannying for 6 years. Being able to see the growth and help with the development with children is the most satisfying feeling. My motto is to care for the children as if they are my own. On my down time I enjoy going to the movies, trying new restaurants, and making vegan food.

I’m currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science as a double major in Nursing and early childhood education at the Stony Brook School. I want to be able to make a difference in a child’s life and both of these allow me the opportunity to do so. My previous work experiences have allowed me to learn crucial skills while maintaining the confidence needed to succeed in a work environment. My leadership and management experiences, particularly working in retail and education, are examples of my sense of responsibility and motivation, which allowed me to develop better interpersonal, and communication skills when working with others. My other interests includes arts and crafts, I enjoy drawing, painting, sculpting. Opening my mind to creativity. I can't wait to share my interests with your children!

I’m honored to be working with your child at the Goddard School. I have been working in childcare since 2018, which is where my love of children and passion for childcare grew. I’m excited to be a part of a wonderful team of caretakers working to build this a safe place for your children. In my free time, I love going on walks, shopping and reading. My favorite children's book to read is The Cat in the Hat. I cannot wait to meet your little ones!

I've been working as a teacher in early childhood education for 9 Years. I completed my CDA certification to enhance my professionalism with childcare. I am CPR First Aid and AED certified. I pride myself on establishing a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere and structured routines. I implement activities to each child's interests and needs. I can prioritize effective classroom management, encourage communication and collaboration, and analyze progress regularly. I embrace diversity, stay flexible in teaching, and involve parents. I encourage continuous professional development and reflection to enhance teaching quality and foster a positive environment that supports children's development and a love for learning. My favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, because it teaches everyone how to make better choices. Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.

I'm super excited to be a part of the team here at the Goddard School. My goal is to help every child self-express and implement growth every step of the way. I've been teaching for about a year and have earned my CDA. I am looking forward to creating an environment where children can foster positive interactions. A fun fact about me is I love the book The Giving Tree and also enjoy making creative arts with each child.

I have been working with young children for 8 years. I find being an infant and toddler teacher to be very rewarding. Being an early childhood teacher, especially in the toddler age is extremely fun and tests your patience in the best way possible. Working with them is a dream come true. I appreciate seeing the progress the children make as they learn more about themselves, their teachers, their friends, and the world around them. My favorite part of the day is morning. I love reading books to them. My favorite children's book is My Five Senses. I love what I do, and I do it with a lot of love.

Hi! My name is Valen Banaga. I am a compassionate, nurturing, and an energetic person. I have been in the early education field since 2021 and I am committed on providing a safe and stimulating environment for young children to learn and grow. I have a CPR Certification and I am currently working on getting my CDA. I love working with children because each day is an opportunity to learn something new. Helping children succeed so they are prepared for the future is another reason why I enjoy working with them. I can’t wait to play and get to know you’re little ones in the classroom.

Hello my name is Cassi Sales. I have worked for 8 years with ages infants through Pre K and am CPR certified. I have changed diapers and taught kids to use the potty. I have helped with gross motor, fine motor, and development skills that are needed for each individual child. I love reading books like Brown Bear and Five Little Ducks, and singing songs like the ABCs, Old McDonald, and Five Little Monkeys. I love playing games, like Freeze Dance. I attended all Montclair Schools and am happy to be serving the Montclair community. I want to make sure that all children meet their goals and develop their skills. Working in early childhood development helps students grow their knowledge and understanding on why they need to learn how to create, imagine, and think. I love them like their own child. Working with children takes a village and brings me such joy and happiness. Seeing these kids leave with a smile on my face makes me happy.

Hi! I’m Ms. Mekenya! Before becoming a full-time teacher at Goddard school I was a community ambassador where I went out into the community to spread the word about the importance of voting. I was also a paraprofessional for Verona school district where I was trained in ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, for the Autism program. I have over 10 years experience in childcare, elementary school mentorship and special education.

I am an energetic, motivated, nurturing person. I love children and teaching them tools to use in school and in life. Watching the eagerness in children as they learn new things on a daily basis is fulfilling to me. I am not afraid to get messy and silly in order to properly teach my students but also have a great time doing so. I have 2 children who are both boys. My sons are Aydin (7) and Kareem (19). Let's just say I am not afraid of the rough, tough, athleticism, and emotional rollercoasters that come with little boys. I welcome all personalities in any classroom I work in.

Hello families! My name is Ms. Maeve and I am so excited to be joining the Goddard Montclair team! I worked for one year at another Goddard School location so I am new to Montclair but not to Goddard! I have always enjoyed spending time with kids and I think it’s fascinating to watch them grow and learn new things about themselves everyday, and they help me learn new things about myself in the process. I believe early childhood education is important and crucial to the growth of a child. Being able to show support and assistance to kids while also giving them the space to learn who they are on their own is rewarding and fun! I have experience as a Nanny for three wonderful years, a Summer camp counselor for three summers and have also volunteered at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center doing Art workshops with children. All of these experiences have helped me grow as a person and have given me a solid foundation to start this new challenge. I am looking forward to meeting all of you.

I have been working in childcare for over 15 years, working with infants through middle schoolers. I believe that a strong, loving bond between a teacher and child is the best foundation for helping young learners thrive. I myself am a mom of seven wonderful children, so family is a huge part of my life. One thing I love to do with my family and my class is sing, so you may catch your little one humming a tune a few times! Some other things I love are the movie theLion King, dancing, and playing games.

My name is Paulina and I've been working in education for 4 years. My favorite children's book is "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister. I care about my students the most important thing is that they feel welcomed and loved. I love to sing and play games with them and make sure they feel listened to. I am working towards finishing school and my aspiration is to own my own childcare facility. I love giving support and ideas to my teaching team and building confidence in what we do. A fun fact about me is that I am a twin, who also is part of the Goddard Livingston team! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

Hello parents/guardians, my name is Abdullah Price. I have been in childcare since I was 18 years old and I have had a passion for childcare since. I have my CDA in Infants/Toddlers and I have experience with every age group from infants to school aged children. I love working with children because it’s amazing to see their daily growth and development. Also, being a teacher you have teachable moments; I learn from students just as much as they learn from me. My students, your children, are our future doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, etc. My favorite book to read is The Very Hungry Caterpillar because it’s shows evolution and growth from the caterpillar to going inside its cocoon to being evolved into a beautiful butterfly. That’s how I view my students, they come to me as caterpillars and by the time the leave my class, they are full grown butterflies. Thank you for entrusting me with your child’s safety and helping me to give them a great education. Thank you!

Hi! My name is Cheyenne Davis and I'm proud to be the trusted to care for your greatest gift, your children. I have been babysitting for years and have been working as an assistant teacher for about a year. My favorite part of the teaching experience is simply being there for children. This created a relationship that I truly cherish. When I'm not teaching, I like to spend time with my family, especially my niece Graelyn and our animals. When I am teaching, I especially like to have fun and dance around to really show the kids all the ways we can have fun!

I graduated from The College of Charleston in 20222 with a BA in Computing in the Arts. Throughout my time in college, I volunteered at various after school programs working with children and teaching music, computer science and academic tutoring. I have always loved children and after working with a young children's STEM enrichment program, I have decided to switch career paths to early childhood care and education. I find immense joy in watching children discover, enjoy, and appreciate the world around them. I love finding new and engaging ways to educate and excite young children. I plan to return to school for a masters degree in early childhood education and become a preschool or kindergarten teacher.

My name is Angelica Velez. I have my CDA in infant and toddlers and have worked with children from 0- 3 years. My favorite children's book is The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone. My favorite color is pink, my favorite food is Mexican and I love butterflies. I truly believe it takes a village to raise children. I believe all children are unique in every way and we need to embrace their creativity.

Hello Pre-K families! My name is miss Jax and I am the Pre-K teacher here at The Goddard School. I love to dance around and be silly any chance I get. My favorite color is pink and you’ll never catch me without my coffee. I have been in the field of education for three years now and have loved every minute of it. I am excited to be a part of such an important year in your child’s development. I can't wait to work and grow with you this year!

I am a college student at the University of Rutgers! I am currently pursuing degrees in Social Work and Psychology. I have spent the last four years working with children in licensed daycare settings as well as in the water as a swim instructor! I have always found immense joy and satisfaction working with children and believe they need to be provided with a safe and cohesive environment in order to thrive. I am extremely interested in child welfare and plan on working within the foster care system and counseling of children once I graduate college. Early childhood is a sensitive period in every persons lifetime and it should be treated as such. My goal is to make the experience at Goddard one of happiness and learning for every child who comes through the program. Working with children IS one of the treasured parts of my life and I am extremely happy to get the chance to work with them in tandem with Goddard Schools. My favorite children's book is “Where the Wild Things Are"

Hi, my name is Marrisa. I’m currently a junior at Montclair State University studying Psychology. Next semester, I will be adding a minor in child psychology so I can eventually become a child psychologist. Some of my hobbies are dancing, choreographing and reading. I can't wait to share these interests with your child! My favorite children's book is Charlotte's Web. I'm so excited to be a part of the Goddard family!

My name is Kendra and I have been working in childcare for 6 years, working from toddlers to preschool. To be a teacher, I believe you must be open to everything and build on what you already know. I am pursuing my CDA in preschool and already have a degree in early childhood education. I'm looking forward to building strong bonds with all the children at the Goddard School, not just the ones in my care. All the children I come across steal my heart and become my sweet baby. My favorite children's book is Dream Big, Little One.

Hello! I am Miss Janet. I started my journey in childcare during high school. I have experience in all age groups. Thank you so much for allowing me to help your little ones grow and expand their imagination. I'm excited to build bonds with the children as well as the parents on our journey together!