Our Teachers

John and Jody, our original owners, opened The Goddard School in 2008. Jody earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and has worked with children for over 35 years. Mrs. Jody’s experience has made her aware of the significance of providing a quality preschool setting with caring, professional teachers. John graduated from CSU, Northridge with his degree in Kinesiology. After an extensive background in management/customer service and working with children as a coach, he wanted to operate a business that played an important role in the community. Kristen officially joined The Goddard Family in 2017 to support the ownership team. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Hospitality from CSU, Chico. Ms. Kristen has an extensive background with customer service from her work experience at The Ritz-Carlton and she is excited to operate a school that incorporates learning for life and for fun. All Owners are CPR, First Aid certified and completed a background check.

Mrs. Emily has over 10 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) field in both teacher and administrative roles. She received her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Truckee Meadows Community College. Mrs. Emily has a passion for building positive relationships with the children and their families and believes in open communication. Her favorite preschool moments are the “Ah-Ha moments” when a child completes a new activity or overcomes a challenge for the first time. In her free time, Mrs. Emily loves cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers with her husband and son! She is excited to bring her experience to The Goddard Family and be part of your child’s love for learning! Mrs. Emily continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mrs. Gabby has her Bachelor degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Reno. Mrs. Gabby comes to us with 11 years of experience working with children of all ages. Her passion is getting to know each child individually to better teach them for their future. She enjoys making learning fun and hands on. Mrs. Gabby is very excited to be working here at Goddard and could not imagine doing anything else. Mrs. Gabby continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mrs. Yazmin is the Lead Teacher in the Infant Classroom. She holds an Associates in Child Development and is planning to further her education in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Yazmin has over 7 years experience working in a preschool setting and has always loved working with Toddlers. In her free time, Mrs. Yazmin loves going on road trips with her husband. She is also an incredibly talented artist and enjoys being creative at home as well as in her classroom. Mrs. Yazmin is excited to be part of the Goddard School and engage with all the children and families in her classroom. Mrs. Yazmin continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Madison is the Assistant teacher in the Infant classroom. She has several years' experience in Early Childhood Education working with various age groups, but especially loves the infant age group. Throughout her career, Ms. Madison has loved helping children grow and become inspired through the fun and interactive approaches she takes to learning. She loves children's ability to dream and create. Ms. Madison uses this ability as an inspiration in her teaching to help her students grow a fondness for learning. Mrs. Madison continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.

Ms. Bryanna is the Lead Teacher in the Toddler 1 classroom. Ms. Bryanna is currently attending Walden University to pursue her Bachelors in Psychology and a further Masters degree in Mental Health. Ms. Bryanna has several years' experience in Early Childhood Education working with children ages infant to Pre-Kindergarten in professional Early Childhood Education settings. She loves creating fun and engaging art projects and activities for kids! In her spare time, Ms. Bryanna enjoys spending quality time with her friends and family. Ms. Bryanna continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.

Ms. Camryn is the Assistant Teacher in the Toddler 1 classroom. Ms. Camryn is currently enrolled at Truckee Meadows Community College pursuing her degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Camryn has experience in the early childhood education field and loves seeing children grasp new skills! In her spare time, Ms. Camryn enjoys spending her time with family and trying out new coffee shops. Ms. Camryn is thrilled to be part of your child's learning experience! Ms. Camryn continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Karina is the Lead Teacher in our Toddler 2 Classroom. Ms. Karina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from University of Nevada, Reno. She has several years’ experience working with children ranging from infants to 6 years old. In her spare time, she enjoys being creative and sewing. Ms. Karina is excited to be a part of The Goddard School family and help the children learn and grow! Ms. Karina continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Jackie is an Assistant Teacher in the Toddler 2 classroom. Ms. Jackie is a mom of three who loves helping children work together! She regularly assists with her children’s sports teams and enjoyed the relationships she has created thus far which led her to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Jackie enjoys teaching children about literacy and reading. She is happy to help in preparing your child to be school ready while learning about kindness and friendships! Ms. Jackie continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Leesha is the Lead Teacher in the Twos classroom. Ms. Leesha has worked in the early childhood education field for over four years and holds an Infant/Toddler CDA from Honolulu Community College. She loves engaging in centers with children and helping them get crafty! In her free time, Ms. Leesha enjoys spending time with her family, going to the park, and crafting! She is delighted to be part of The Goddard Team and creating a love for learning for children at a young age! Ms. Leesha continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Jessica is the Assistant Teacher in the Twos classroom. She is currently seeking her Child Development Associate credentials through the University of Nevada, Reno. Ms. Jessica has worked with all ages of children from infants to Pre-K for 23 years. She loves planning new ideas and activities to meet children of all different needs. Ms. Jessica has a passion for working with children and seeing them grow at such a young age, and she enjoys the challenge of potty training! Her favorite activities in the classroom are Art and Music & Movement, and she loves to see how children show their expressions in music. Mrs. Jessica continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.

Ms. Anna is the Lead Teacher in the Bridge Classroom. Ms. Anna has her Associate’s Degree in General Studies in addition to over 16 years of experience in the early childhood education field. She has a passion for incorporating social/emotional learning in curriculum centers. Ms. Anna is a native Nevadan and has twin daughters. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outside. Ms. Anna continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Brianne is the Assistant Teacher in the Bridge classroom. Ms. Brianne has several years’ experience working with children and has a passion teaching children and watching them grow. Ms. Brianne's favorite age group is toddlers, and she is thrilled to be a part of your child's learning experiences! She has worked with children since 2021 and has a passion for toddler development. She moved here from Washington 24 years ago and loves to go camping, being with family and her favorite sport is football! Ms. Brianne continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Diana is the Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom. She graduated from University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology including course work in child psychology. She is currently working towards receiving an additional degree in Developmental Psychology. Ms. Diana enjoys studying different languages including ASL, Korean, and Chinese. In her free time, Ms. Diana loves to spend time with her family, her dog and read. She is thrilled to be part of the Goddard Family and is excited to bring a lifelong love of learning to our school! Ms. Diana continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mrs. Jessica is the Assistant Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom. She has her associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Sierra College and has been working with children in the early childhood setting for several years. Mrs. Jessica enjoys building relationships with children and getting them excited for learning through inquiry. Mrs. Jessica loves spending time with her family, going hiking, and reading. Mrs. Jessica is excited to be part of The Goddard School and engage with all the children and families in her classroom. Mrs. Jessica continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with Washoe County Human Services.

Ms. Vanessa is the Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom. Ms. Vanessa has several years’ experience working with children and is currently pursuing her degree in Social Work at Truckee Meadows Community College. Ms. Vanessa loves being hands on with children and building connections with her students. She loves spending time with family, hiking, and being outside! Ms. Vanessa is delighted to be part of The Godard Team and creating a love for learning for children at a young age! Ms. Vanessa continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mrs. Silvia is the Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-K 1 Classroom. Mrs. Silvia studied Communications and Advertising Guatemala and she received her Bachelors in General Studies with a concentration in Psychology from Columbia College in Salt Lake City. She has been working with children in different preschool settings for several years and is excited to be a part of the Goddard team. In her free time, Mrs. Silvia enjoys traveling; and the whole process from planning all the details to the travel itself. Mrs. Silvia continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Jessie is the Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-K 1 Classroom. Ms. Jessie graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with her Bachelor’s in Literature. Ms. Jessie has worked in the early childhood education field for over three years and is excited to be a part of the Goddard team. Ms. Jessie’s favorite teacher hobby is Circle Time because it helps foster a love of reading and learning. Ms. Jessie continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mr. Max is a Lead Teacher in our Pre-K 2 classroom. Mr. Max holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree. He has nearly 10 years’ experience teaching in the school district and is excited for the opportunity to work with younger children. Mr. Max enjoys teaching students about animals and science including the caterpillar transformation to butterflies! Mr. Max is excited to bring a lifelong love of learning to The Goddard Family! Mr. Max continues his education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. He is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Mrs. Melinda is the Co-Lead Teacher in our Pre-K 2 classroom. Mrs. Melinda has her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Diablo Valley College. She brings over 30 years of experience to our team working with children of all ages. She loves to collect puppets and share them with the classroom to make literacy fun and exciting! In her spare time, Mrs. Melinda loves singing and being with family. Mrs. Melinda continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.

Ms. Macy is a Flex Teacher who helps in all the classrooms at The Goddard School. Ms. Macy is currently transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno to study Education. Ms. Macy has experience volunteering at an elementary school and enjoys babysitting! She enjoys reading and attending concerts in her spare time. Ms. Macy is excited to bring her passion for learning and positive energy to the team. Ms. Macy continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Madeline is the Assistant Teacher who supports in all the classrooms. Ms. Madeline has a bachelor’s degree in speech language pathology and audiology from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has several years of experience working in a preschool setting and is excited to continue in her early childhood education career. Ms. Madeline enjoys baking and hiking in her free time. She is excited to bring a love of teaching to the Goddard Family! Ms. Madeline continues his education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Jillyan is a Flex Teacher who helps in all the classrooms at The Goddard School. Ms. Jillyan is currently enrolled at The University of Nevada, Reno pursuing her degree in Finance. Ms. Jillyan has experience in the education field as a tutor and loves seeing children grasp new skills! In her spare time, Ms. Jillyan enjoys spending her time with family. Ms. Jillyan is delighted to be part of The Goddard Team and creating a love of learning for children at a young age! Ms. Jillyan continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Beyonca is a Flex Teacher who helps in all the classrooms at The Goddard School. Ms. Beyonca is currently a senior at Spanish Springs High School and will be studying Public Health at UNR in the fall. Ms. Beyonca has experience working with children by helping coach at volleyball camps and local schools! She also attended The Goddard School, Sparks as a child and is happy to be returning in a new role. Ms. Beyonca continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.

Ms. Rorie is a Flex Teacher who helps in all the classrooms at The Goddard School. Ms. Rorie is currently enrolled at The University of Arizona pursuing her degree in Public Health. She has experience in the early childhood education field and loves seeing children grasp new skills! In her spare time, Ms. Rorie enjoys spending her time with her niece and nephew. Ms. Rorie is thrilled to be part of your child's learning experience! Ms. Rorie continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Human Services Agency.

Mrs. Heather is one of our substitute teachers who helps in all the classrooms. Mrs. Heather graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Liberal Studies and a minor in art. She also holds a teaching credential and taught at the elementary level for 4 years. Mrs. Heather has an abundance of experience including homeschooling her three children, directing a homeschool for 11 years, and teaching kid’s ministry. She has a passion for watching the next generation grow and learn while developing relationships with the children. She enjoys getting messy with art and science lessons! In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and volunteering at her church. Mrs. Heather continues her education through Goddard Systems University (GSU) classes. She is CPR and First Aid certified and has completed a background check with the Washoe County Sheriff Department.