Our Goddard School Teachers

My husband, Derik, and I live in Upper Arlington with our daughters Eleanor and Abigail. Prior to joining the Goddard family, I had a 20-year career as a retail merchandising executive. It was my experience as a working mom in search of a high quality, nurturing environment for my daughter that led me on my remarkable journey to Goddard. It was hard to know how to select the best program for Eleanor and we ended up having a bad experience with her first school. Then we found Goddard and saw how much of a difference the teachers, the care, and the curriculum made. This experience inspired me to dedicate myself to providing the very best in early childhood care and learning and to provide a sense of peace and security to you, the families, who leave the best part of yourselves with us every day. I am excited to get to know each and every one of you, and especially to know your children. Please reach out to me any time, my door is always open.

I joined The Goddard School family in 2020 and am proud to serve as the Center Director. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Technology from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s in Educational Technology Leadership from The George Washington University. In 2024, I received the Aim4Excellence National Director Credential from the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Education. With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, I am passionate about fostering a love of learning in young children and supporting the teachers who guide them every day. I take great joy in combining my classroom experience with my leadership role to create a nurturing, engaging, and fun environment for both children and staff. My goal is to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and excited to learn — while building strong partnerships with families along the way. It’s a privilege to be part of such an incredible team here at Goddard!

My name is Victoria, I joined the Goddard family in 2020 and I am one of the Assistant Directors! I am from Central Ohio and grew up in the Olentangy District. I live with my husband and 1.5 year old! I have been working in childcare for over 7 year! I was an infant teacher for 5 of those years before moving into an administrative role. I truly love working with young children and building relationships with all the families! Being in the administrative role has given me a chance to really provide the best care possible for all the children in our school! I have spent all 7 of my years in childcare at a Goddard School and love everything about Goddard! Goddard has the highest of standards and I can't imagine being apart of a better school and community!

My name is Alissa, I joined the Goddard family in 2022 and I am one of the Assistant Directors! I was born and raised in Southwest Florida where I attended Florida Gulf Coast University for Early Childhood Education! I have been working in the Early childhood field since 2017 and have never looked back. In 2020 I met my Husband and in 2021 we decided to make the move to Ohio where we started our beautiful family! We have 3 beautiful and energetic girls, Oaklynn, Maylee & Lillienna (all under 5 years old!). Needless to say, they keep me on my toes! I am so grateful to have my children here at Goddard with me and to be apart of such an amazing team!

My name is Brittany and I am the lead Infant teacher! I joined the Goddard family in 2021. I graduated from Delaware Hayes High School and am currently working to obtain my Associates in Child Development. I have been working with children for many years in various roles in the Early Childhood industry. I have worked with children the ages of 8 weeks old up to school-age. I chose to work with infants because I love watching them hit numerous milestones and being involved in their early stages of learning. I love connecting with families and giving the absolute best care towards my babies!

My name is Naomi and I am one of the Infant assistant teachers! I joined the Goddard family in 2022. I have been working with young children for many years in various roles both in early childhood education and as a private nanny. I wanted to get back into a classroom and was thrilled to have the opportunity to work in the Infant classroom as I adore babies. I chose to work at The Goddard School of Powell because I love Goddard’s values. Though it can be challenging at times, working with young children is a very rewarding and fulfilling career. I hope that my students always know they are safe and loved and that I am here to support, guide and encourage them every day.

Hi! My name is Rebecca, and I am one of the Infant assistant teachers! I have worked in childcare for many years and absolutely love it. I attended Delaware Area Career Center and received my Associates in Child Development in 2020. I joined the Goddard family in 2023 because of the structure, commitment to developing strong social-emotional skills through Goddard's Life Lesson Library and the use of Conscious Discipline techniques, and to make a difference in children’s lives. I look forward to meeting you and your family and helping your little one develop and grow!

Hello! My name is Nevaeh, and I am the lead teacher in the First Steps Classroom since 2023. I have many years of experience with children of all ages as I grew up in a large family. I am currently in school studying education at The Ohio State University. My end goal is to become a high school English teacher. As an educator I want to support my students through their development and be a safe place for them when they need it. I look forward to building a relationship with all the students in my room!

My name is Beth, and I have been the assistant teacher in the First Steps classroom since 2023! I got my bachelors degree in Child and Family Community services from Bowling Green and have been working with children ever since! I have 2 daughters who also work in the early childhood field! As an educator, my goal is for each child to feel secure and cared for enough to explore and experience the world around them!

My name is Ms. Nicole, and I am the lead teacher in the Toddler classroom! I am a mom of three and have always loved working with children. I chose to work at Goddard in 2023 because everyone is treated like family! I just love watching kids grow and develop personalities. They have such pure hearts! I want the kids in my class to feel loved and cared for!

My name is Ms. Michelle, and I am the assistant teacher in the Toddler classroom! I was born and raised here in Columbus, OH. I am a huge Buckeyes fan. I have one older sister and two younger brothers. I have worked in childcare for the past 4 years but have been around children for over 20! I have always known I wanted to be a teacher since I was in middle school. My teachers had such a positive impact on my life and I want to have the same positive impact on my students. My goal is to create a nurturing environment where all my students can learn and grow. Each day brings something different, but I am up for the challenge and love seeing the kids learn and grow and develop a rapport with us teachers!

My name is Ms. Abbi, I am one of the Get Set teachers! I have been working in the Early Childhood Education Field since 2014 and have absolutely loved every minute of it! My goal as an educator of young children is to ensure every child in my care feel validated, loved and nurtured. Encouraging children to learn through play has always been something I am passionate about, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to watch your little one learn and grow!

Hi! My name is Maddie and I am the lead teacher in the Get Set classroom. I graduated from Bishop Watterson Connections Academy in 2018 and joined the Goddard family in 2023. I have been teaching toddlers for the past 5 years! I am married and have one fur baby named Hazel. I want every one of my students to leave my class feeling confident and loved while feeling safe to explore new environments and love learning. Children are eager to learn, and I love to be a part of who they become in the future.

My name is Ms. Ruby and I am Lead teacher in the Bridge classroom. I joined the Goddard family in 2019. I received my Bachelor of Science from Madurai Kamaraj University. My passion for children has led me to spend most of my life dedicated to teaching children and supporting families. It is a great reward to know that I have a positive impact on a child’s life. I love watching my students explore, learn, and grow into caring and compassionate children. As I approach each day my goal is to make it a great one for my students and to help them learn something new while building their self-confidence and independence.

My name is Mr. Dan. I’ve have been working with children and their families for over 10 years in a variety of youth programs and summer camps. I then went on to earn my Bachelors in Technology Education in 2017 furthering my abilities to provide a quality education for children. My family and I moved to Columbus in 2022 shortly after having my first child. Since then, I have been committed to working with young children in early childhood education. My goal is to help spark the children’s curiosity and encourage exploration of the world around them. I have seen firsthand the impact a strong education and sense of adventure can have in my own children, and hope to provide the same impact on the other children around me. Now as a father of two, I appreciate the family atmosphere here at Goddard and look forward to contributing to the school’s goals.

My name is Heather and I am the lead Prekindergarten teacher. I graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I have been with The Goddard School of Powell since 2009. I like the flexibility that Goddard promotes with its FLEX learning program and how it allows us to adapt to the interest of the students. Children are eager to learn, and I love to be a part of who they become in the future. When children move onto the next classroom, I want them to have a love of learning, the confidence to try new things, and a sense of independence.

My name is Ms. Katelyn and I am the Kindergarten teacher! I joined the Goddard family in 2021. I have my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and I hold my state of Ohio elementary teaching license for PreK-3rd grade. I have over ten years of teaching experience. I was born to teach. I have not known anything else! It is very rewarding to see a child have their “lightbulb” moment. My goal is to help children grow socially and emotionally, help them to understand their place in the world, and to feel loved in my class. I want children to love being a kid! I want them to have fun and make friends and memories that last forever! I’m looking forward to learning and growing with your child this year!