Our Goddard School Teachers

My name is Samantha Elliott. I am the proud of owner of three Goddard Schools. I own the Grove City School, the Worthington Hills School, and the Goddard Worthington II School. My husband, Rex, and I have three lovely daughters who are all Goddard graduates. We also have two beautiful labradoodles - Scout & Sasha. I am proud to be part of the The Goddard School and I am committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in our community.

Miss Alex is a part of the outstanding administrative team at The Goddard School of Worthington 2! She has a degree in Sports Management from Baldwin Wallace and has taught at the Worthington Hills Goddard for the last four years. Miss Alex is also Miss Sam's daughter and is thrilled to be involved in the family business. She is also the proud owner of three doggos: Niko, Archie, and Kaia!

Mr. Drew started working at our Worthington Hills location in 2017. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and Educational Studies from Denison University. Mr. Drew is our Director, and is passionate about helping all of our Goddard students. Mr. Drew is happily married to Jeannette and they have two sons named Elliott and Albert.

Miss Ruthie (or Miss Rue / Rutie as her children might call her) has been working with us at The Goddard School since May of 2021. Previously she could be found working around the building, drawing pictures on the walls as one of our very talented muralists. Miss Ruthie works in our Infant (Badger) room, where she puts her degree in Fine Arts and Education from the University of Cincinnati to good use. She loves her kids and is always teaching them fun, and engaging information both about art and other topics. In her free time she loves working on murals and other forms of art.

Miss Karen is the dictionary definition of a seasoned educator. Having worked in the school system for more than 35 years, she knows full well what it takes to nourish growing minds, and take ownership of a classroom. With a degree in Early Childhood Education, she is the perfect person to take the reins of our Pre-K (Elk) classroom, sharing with her other teachers and the students her years of valuable knowledge. Miss Karen has been with our Goddard School for more than a year now, and we look forward to the many wonderful years to come. Our school would not be the same without Miss Karen, and we smile a little brighter every morning knowing that she is here with us.

Miss Nichole (or Miss Cole as her children sometimes call her) is a wonderful educator, and one of the most energetic, loving and enthusiastic individuals you will ever meet. She always begins each day on her best foot possible, with a "Can Do" attitude that only a cup of coffee can replicate in others. Having been with The Goddard School for more than 5 years, and with our location for more than 1 year, Miss Nichole is the perfect person to have assisting in all of our young toddler classrooms. Her knowledge and persistence is unrivaled. Not only are we lucky to have Miss Nichole in our school, everyone is lucky to have her in this world.

Miss Emma is who we should all aspire to be in our everyday lives. She is bright; loving; funny, and kind. Our toddler classroom could not be the same without her, as her energy and love is unmatched. Each morning begins with a wide smile, an enthusiastic "good morning", and potentially a big, warm hug. Miss Emma wears her heart on her sleeve, and every room she walks into is brighter because of it. With a Degree in Early Childhood Education, Miss Emma is the perfect person to nurture her students and foster a lifelong love of learning, and a lifelong journey of kindness. We are incredibly lucky to have her at our school, which benefits greatly from her enthusiasm, boundless energy and hugs.

You’ll find many faces at The Goddard School on North High, and Ms. Alicia is one of the many bright ones you can find in our Moose room. One of three very talented, kind, and caring teachers, Ms. Alicia always comes to work with a smile on her face, ready to hop into her room with her kids. Having joined our staff in October of 2021, Ms. Alicia is a valued member of our staff, and our teaching community, and we are thankful to have Ms. Alicia with us!

As a member of the first steps room, Ms. Laura is a kind hearted, nurturing individual, who always brings a smile with her to work, along with her positivity. Ms. Laura has been with us since April of 2022, though it feels as though she has been with us forever. Ms. Laura is a highly valued member of our staff and we couldn’t imagine a day at our school without her.

When you walk into our Bobcat room, you are most likely to be greeted by the artwork on the walls, and Ms. Jenny, our extraordinary lead teacher who always welcomes her friends with a warm “hello” and “good morning, friends”. Having been in The Goddard School program herself when she was younger, Ms. Jenny came back to us in May of 2021, and she’s been hard at work teaching our young first steppers ever since. The artwork hanging from the walls of the room speaks for itself, and to her talent, as she works everyday to enrich the growing minds of her students. Ms. Jenny is a lovely individual, who cares greatly for the children in her care, and we are thrilled to have her here with us, as a member of our staff.

Every member of our staff has a “can do” attitude, but none quite as much as Ms. Leandrea. Always ready and willing to hop into any room, but finding her home in our Infant (Badger) classroom, Ms. Leandrea is an invaluable member of our staff. An amazing teacher who does her best to educate the students of each room in their own unique ways, Ms. Leandrea does everything she can to teach her children, both academically and socially. Quick to have kids talk it out, Ms. Leandrea is not only a wise educator, but an attentive teacher as well. Having joined our staff in March of 2022, we love every day when Ms. Leandrea walks into our building, and we know the kids do too.

Helping out in our First-Steps classroom, Ms. Angela is a lovely member of our Goddard Family! Ms. Angela is currently attending Columbus State, where she is working towards her degree. In her free time, Ms. Angela enjoys traveling and cooking. Her favorite childhood memory was when her "middle school teacher let her help teach the class the lesson of the day every morning". Ms. Angela brings a ray of sunshine to her work with children, as she builds strong bonds and trusting relationships with these small kiddos.

As a member of our Infant (Badger) classroom, Ms. Ariana loves being able to watch the children in her care explore, and seeing how excited they are to learn new skills! Joining us in early 2024, she is currently taking a break from college, but has previously attended the Ohio State University. In her free time, she can be found working out, going shopping, and binge watching her favorite shows. One day, Ms. Ariana aspires to be a pediatrician or an OB-GYN, anything that allows her to assist with babies!

A familiar face to our Goddard community, Ms. Alysha first started with us in 2023, and has since returned to continue educating and encouraging the children in our Pre-K Plus classroom. Having attended the University of Kentucky, Ms. Alysha strives to put her best foot forward everyday she walks into the classroom. She enjoys watching children make connections and feel confident in themselves, something she always encourages with participation in the classroom. As she enjoys cooking, yoga, and trying new restaurants, Ms. Alysha hopes to one day be a food blogger or critic. As a member of our Goddard family, we love the enthusiasm she brings to her role in the classroom, and love that we get to share her with our families!

A welcoming member of our Goddard family, Ms. Aviona joined us in early 2025, though it feels as if she has been with us longer! You will often find Ms. Aviona in either our infant or First-Steps classrooms, helping provide care to all of our babies. With the belief that we create children's futures, she aspires to be a childcare owner or director, having continued her education with Columbus State and her years of early childhood experience. In her free time, Ms. Aviona enjoys shopping, taking walks in the park, and trying new foods.

Having joined our Goddard family in 2024, Mr. Nick is often found in our Pre-K, Pre-K Plus, and Aftercare classrooms! With a degree from the University of Dayton, Mr. Nick majored in Early Childhood Education, and is a valued member of our staff. Seeing everyday as unique, he enjoys fostering creativity, encouraging problem solving, and meeting the different kinds of personalities in the classroom. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, camping, watching movies, doing puzzles and baking. As an aspiring 4th or 5th grade teacher, Mr. Nick approaches each day with a desire to educate children and learn more himself. We are happy to have him as a member of our Goddard family, and encourage him to learn and grow more as one of our teachers.

Returning to our Goddard Family, Ms. Scout previously worked with us at sister school in Worthington Hills! With more than five years of early childhood experience, Ms. Scout is ready to share her love of teaching, and her nurturing spirit with the kiddos in our Bear classroom. With a degree from Columbus State and having spent her childhood in Canada, Ms. Scout can be found reading books, or playing at centers with these wonderful friends of ours! When not in the Pre-K (Bear) classroom, Ms. Scout can be found hanging out with her friends or working out. She enjoys the way in which children always make her smile and laugh each day. We are thrilled to have Ms. Scout back as a member of our community, and we can’t wait to share her with you too!

Having spent the last several years working in childcare, Ms. Amirah is drawn to the curiosity and “sense of wonder” that children have. A mother herself, she encourages the children in her care to learn and grow in their own ways. Having joined our Goddard team in 2025, Ms. Amirah has made a wonderful and honest addition to our staff. With a love of baking, photography, and spiders (she loves spiders), Ms. Amirah hopes to one day own her own bakery, while also continuing to work in childcare. We couldn’t be more excited to have her as a member of our Goddard family and look forward to sharing her with yours!

A most welcome addition to our Goddard school, Ms. Amanda can most often be found in our Elk and Bear rooms, with an occasional trip to our Porcupine and Owl classrooms. Having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, Ms. Amanda graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s in psychology. In her free time, Ms. Amanda enjoys Zumba, yoga, Lego, and spending time with her cats. She finds it rewarding working with young children and appreciates that certain “aha moment” when teaching them. With aspirations to become a school counselor, we are happy to support Ms. Amanda in all that she seeks to do! We are excited to have her as a member of our Goddard family and can’t wait to grow with her more over the years!

Joining our Goddard family in 2025, Ms. Megan has been a most welcome addition to our staff! Having graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Inclusive Elementary Education, Ms. Megan is most often found in our Pre-K classrooms in the morning, and our Aftercare (Owl) classroom in the evening. When not working with children, she can be found reading, listening to music, playing with her dogs or shopping with friends. As someone who loves engaging with children, Ms. Megan believes "it's always fun and interesting to have conversations with kids and learn more about them." When she grows up, Ms. Megan would like to continue being in a career where she is "able to work, engage and interact with young children!"

If you haven't heard her name, you have most certainly seen the hairstyles of friends in the Moose room! Ms. Amber is a welcome addition to our Preschool classroom, who loves helping kids learn and develop their skills and identities. Joining our Goddard family in 2024, Ms. Amber engages with friends at center activities, teaches them new skills, and encourages positive experiences in the classroom. In her free time, she makes treats for special occasions, as well as flower bouquets. We love that we get to share her with our Goddard community, and love how stylish she makes our friends feel!

An artistic teacher, and a creative human, Ms. Page joined our Goddard team earlier this year, and over the past few months we have seen her grow and learn within our school. Having attended the Columbus College of Art & Design, Ms. Page has a love of creating art and writing, something that she does in her free time. An aspiring high school art teacher, Ms. Page loves making art with the kids and helping them discover new mediums. Primarily found in our school age classroom in the afternoons, Ms. Page can also be found helping our younger friends in the mornings. So, join us in welcoming Ms. Page to our Goddard family, as we are excited to have her as a member of our team!

A familiar face to our families in the Bear room, Ms. Madi is truly a dynamic individual with a passion for all ages! Joining us as she continues her education at Columbus State, Ms. Madi enjoys it when her kiddos bring their positivity and joyfulness to school with them every day, and how each child is unique and creative in their own way! With kindness and passion for what she does, Ms. Madi aspires to be someone who can help others and bring positivity to them and what they do. As a versatile member of our Goddard Family, Ms. Madi enjoys playing games, drawing, playing Sudoku (as well as word searches), and reading in her free time. We are happy to have Ms. Madi on board as a member of our staff and can’t wait to share her with the rest of our community!

Though it may be important for teachers to impart knowledge to the children around us, Mr. Grey understands that it is just as important to learn from them too! Having joined our Goddard team in late 2025, Mr. Grey has made a wonderful addition to our staff, helping the young kiddos in our Bobcat and Coyote classrooms. With a love of painting, drawing, reading (and collecting comic books), Mr. Grey aspires to one day be either a comic book illustrator or an art educator in a museum. We thoroughly enjoy having Mr. Grey as a member of our Goddard family and are happy that we get to share him with our Worthington community too!

Ms. Kris has worked for The Goddard Schools since 1999 starting out as a Get Set teacher at our Pickerington location. She advanced to become the director at our Pickerington location prior to moving to become the director at our Grove City location. Ms. Kris has a Master's in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Kris now works as an executive director between our Worthington and Grove City locations. She loves interacting with the children, especially exploring science experiments, puzzles, cooking, and board games. She lives with her husband, Chris and two dogs, Bandit and Bullet.