Jillie and Jon were beyond thrilled to open the first Goddard School in the city of Philadelphia! This is the second location that Jon and Jillie have owned together. Jillie has a background in music and music education, she started in this field as a young toddler teacher and is incredibly proud to now own this location with Jon. Jon's background is in accounting and construction. They have been franchisees since 2009 and 2013 respectively, and truly believe in being active members of their school community. They are present every single day to support the children, families, and faculty!

Hilari has her Bachelor of Arts in English with a writing concentration and minor in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a visual learner and connector! As a proud "OG" faculty member, She joined The Goddard School of Philadelphia before construction was even finished! With Toddler and Preschool under her belt, she grew her early childhood education experience working with Infants and then Pre-K students. She appreciates the endless opportunities to connect and create with our Goddard community that her roles here have brought her - teacher, Education Director, Executive Director - but her favorite moniker she also gets to wear here is "Violet's mom". She loves connecting with families personally as well as professionally. She is beyond proud to help lead this school community and be a part of such a wonderful village in giving our children the best possible first experience with school.

Sabrina earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University and is close to finishing her Master of Education, also from BU! She loves to travel and has lived and worked in several countries. Prior to joining the Goddard team in the summer of 2021, she held a teaching role at a school in the south of Chile! At The Goddard School, her role has evolved to include aspects of both operations as well as education and curriculum. In addition to knowing all of the ins and outs of our Wonder of Learning curriculum, she is also our resident librarian, accreditation wiz, professional development pro, and master of supplies! She keeps our closets and classrooms stocked with everything our teachers need to make lesson plan activities come to life! In the world of operations, she keeps our faculty and child files up to date, and ensures we are in compliance with all Goddard and State regulations. She also manages all paperwork related to health and safety.

Victoria earned her Bachelor's Degree from Kent State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child and Youth Development. With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, she loves creating individual connections with our students and their families! Her favorite aspect of our school is the strong sense of community that she's found here. In her free time, she is catching up on Bravo, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. Her role at our school is very dynamic; no two days are the same. She is responsible for scheduling all 40 of our teachers' daily schedules, welcoming and touring newly enrolled families, collecting and inputting all file paperwork, and orienting new faculty members! She also makes sure our paperwork is on point that our school is always in compliance with State and Goddard requirements!

Julia earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for Pre-K-4th Grade from Kutztown University. With over 13 years of experience in early childhood education, she is all about creating a fun and engaging learning experience for children. Her role is super dynamic - she gets to observe classrooms, provide feedback, and share tips with teachers to help make every learning moment magical. She also interviews and hires our new faculty members. She absolutely loves onboarding them and welcoming them to our team. Showing them all of the amazing things our program has to offer is one of her favorite parts of the orientation process. In her free time, she likes to go hiking, explore new restaurants, and spend time with her family and friends.

Cara earned her M.S.Ed in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2024 and her B.A. in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Global Media Studies from the University of Michigan in 2020! In her time with our Goddard Family, she has loved learning and growing with the school! In her role as the Director of Education, she supports both teachers and students in their educational journeys! She develops and provides supplemental curriculum for our teachers, and observes our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms while monitoring student progress to ensure they are receiving an exemplary education in the years and months leading up to elementary school! She also interviews and hires new teachers to join our growing team of amazing educators!

Yvette is a dedicated educator that wears many hats as an Assistant Director at The Goddard School of Philadelphia! She keeps things running smoothly with payroll, inventory, and other behind-the-scenes tasks! She also seamlessly transitions when she is needed from the office to inside the classrooms to support our incredible teachers! Personally, she is all about health and movement with a passion for wellness! She holds certifications in Vinyasa yoga and personal training, she received her certification to be a Holistic Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. When she is not busy shaping young minds, you can find her traveling, getting lost in a good book, or cheering on her son as a full-time sports mom on the sidelines at one of his many sporting events! Life's a whirlwind, and she wouldn't have it an other way!

Ms. Luz became part of our faculty at the end of the summer of 2024, joining our infant team. She came to us with 36 years of teaching experience, including time in Colombia and Georgia! She loves all of the challenges and rewards that come along with teaching, especially the love and hugs from the children in her care. She enjoys reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to her class. In her down time, Ms. Luz likes to travel and watch movies!

Ms. Alana joined our faculty in the fall of 2023 with a CDA and a love for working with toddlers! She loves building bonds with her students and making an impact on each child's journey. In her spare time, Ms. Alana enjoys spending her time with family and friends, as well as building up her extensive collection of cups and mugs!

Miss Erykah joined our faculty in the fall of 2023 and quickly found her home in our First Steps program! As a teacher, Miss Erykah loves bonding with her students and watching them grow throughout their time in the classroom. Outside of school, Miss Erykah loves spending time with her family and friends, especially her younger sister-- they are fifteen years apart!

Ms. Ashlyn joined our faculty in the summer of 2024. She comes to us with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education and one year of teaching infants. She loves watching children form bonds with teachers and other students in the classroom. One of her favorite things to do is read books, especially Corduroy! Ms. Ashlyn hopes to one day travel to Asia and explore different countries. In her spare time, she likes to read, cook, and take care of her plants. A fun fact about her is that she is one of 10 children!

Ms. Niya came to us in 2024 with 6 years of childcare experience! She started as a resource teacher primarily for our younger children in the Toddler classrooms before finding her home in First Steps. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing the children in her care happy and learning! A fun fact about Ms. Niya is that she is afraid of heights but loves traveling by plane!

Ms. Geneva has her Child Development Associate credential and over fifteen years of experience in childcare! She loves working with our littlest learners and is currently teaching in our Toddler program. Ms. Geneva enjoys watching the impact and growth that learning, playing, and teaching have on the children in her class. Ms. Geneva loves collecting perfume and has over 100 bottles! In her spare time she loves shopping and taking trips with her family!

Ms. Tynia joined our faculty in the fall of 2024 and brings over 4 years of experience working with young children! Currently pursuing her B.S. in Public Health, she’s passionate about helping children grow and seeing them put their newfound skills into action. Ms. Tynia is a huge fan of the "Pete the Cat" book series and loves sharing those adventures with her students. When she’s not teaching, you can find her shopping or exploring new trends. A fun fact about Ms. Tynia is that she has an impressive 16 siblings!

Ms. Julie joins us with her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and years of experience working with children! She teaches in our Young Toddler classroom and enjoys making her students laugh and creating lasting memories! In her spare time, she loves to take her dog to the park and enjoy the outdoors!

Ms. Heema joined us in 2024, first as a resource teacher and now as a Young Toddler teacher, with over eight years of experience working with children! She is frequently seen singing to the children and making up new verses to songs! Ms. Heema enjoys reading with the children and teaching them new things about various cultures. Her favorite books to read are interactive, such as "Peek-A-Boo." In her spare time, she enjoys singing and traveling!

Ms. Charlie is a teacher in our Young Toddler program and has been working in early childhood education for many years! She enjoys playing a vital role in the growth and enrichment of her students! In her spare time, Ms. Charlie enjoys taking nature walks, working on graphic design projects, and spending time at home with her cat, Ginger.

Ms. Latoya has been working with children for many years and is one of our Young Toddler teachers! She loves being able to teach, inspire, and mold the minds of the children in her class. In her spare time, Ms. Latoya enjoys cooking, baking and playing the game Vikings!

Amelia joined our faculty in the summer of 2024! They come to us with 5 years of experience as a nanny working with children of various ages. Amelia found a home quickly in one of our Older Toddler classrooms and enjoys doing art projects and watching the children explore the world around them! Their favorite children's book is Goodnight Moon! In their spare time, Amelia likes to read and work on graphic design. A fun fact about Amelia is that they are from Chicago!

Ms. Sue came to us with an extensive background in the education field, including a Bachelor’s from Temple University, where she double majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Ms. Sue is also close to completing her Master's in Special Education! She has worked primarily in the Early Childhood Ed, as well as with special needs classes with students from elementary through high school ages. Upon joining our faculty, she expressed a desire to work with two years olds—her favorite age group!—and does a stellar job of imparting structure and fun equally with her students!

Ms. Tymicha has years of experience in the realm of early childhood education and is excited to be growing her skillset with us at Goddard! She loves to read to her students as a group as well as one-on-one to really engage with their interests and get to know their little personalities! When she’s not being a fabulous teacher, Ms. Tymicha loves to travel near and far to explore new restaurants and shops. Wherever she travels, she collects a cup as a souvenir!

Ms. Holly joined our staff in 2024 with several years of experience working as a nanny for young children! Ms. Holly joined one of our Older Toddler classrooms soon after joining us! She brings plenty of knowledge from her experience at the Tyler School of Art as well! In her spare time, Ms. Holly likes rollerskating, meditation, and riding her bike. She even rode her bike from Philadelphia to Atlantic City three times!

Miss Sarah joined our faculty in fall of 2023 and hit the ground running in our Older Toddler program! She loves the playfulness, imagination, and creativity that students exude as they learn and grow at school! Miss Sarah enjoys implementing lessons and activities that nurture the discovery of new ideas, especially anything related to scientific inquiry and science experiments! Fun fact: Miss Sarah holds a yoga teaching certification!

Ms. Hannah joined our team in 2024 with five years of experience working with young children! She has her BFA in Dance Performance and has worked with children, teaching dance! She loves that each day working with children is unique! Ms. Hannah loves that the enthusiasm for learning is contagious among her students! She enjoys eating at new restaurants, dancing, and going to museums in her free time. A fun fact about Ms. Hannah is that she has been dancing since she was 3 years old!

Ms. Lourdes joins us with a love for children and many years of working with little ones! She is a teacher in our Older Toddler program and is passionate about the field of early childhood education because she knows she can make a positive and lasting impact! In her spare time, Ms. Lourdes loves cooking and indulging in self care!

Ms. Brianna became a part of the team in the summer of 2024! She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Education and Child Development. While in school, she worked at the child care facility on campus for a year in Florida before moving to Philadelphia! She loves seeing the children grow and learn under her guidance. A fun fact about Ms. Brianna is that she loves music and has been to over 50 concerts!

Ms. Bernadette joined our faculty in the fall of 2024 and has worked with in childcare for the last 21 years! One of her favorite things about teaching is making a difference. She enjoys teaching a hard task over and over and then seeing the child's progress towards success! Ms. Bernadette is a big kid at heart!

Ms. Monica joined our team in early 2024! She comes to us with experience working in the art education world looking to expand her skillset with younger children! Ms. Monica started with us by bouncing around in all of our classrooms, always with a bright smile doing fun and creative activities! She has found her home in Preschool! She enjoys painting, hiking, and singing. Her favorite children's book is "James and the Giant Peach."

Ms. Hannah joined our faculty in the summer of 2024 as a resource teacher and quickly found her home in our Preschool world! She comes to us with a background in art and loves to show her creativity in the classroom. Ms. Hannah loves to experience things from the children's perspective! She enjoys walking, painting, and spending time with her friends and family. A fun fact about Ms. Hannah is that she got to design a food truck!

Ms. Taylor joined our team in September of 2024. She has her associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently in school getting her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education as well! She has been teaching young children since 2016. Ms. Taylor loves watching her students grow and accomplish so much from the beginning of the year to the end. She loves seeing them get excited to learn and discover each day, knowing that she played a part in their journey! A fun fact about Ms. Taylor is that she was in the Disney College Program and worked for Disney!

Miss Zyanni joined our faculty with her CDA and years of experience in early childhood! She started her Goddard journey as an Older Toddler teacher and later moved onto our Preschool program to grow her teaching journey and experience! Miss Zyanni enjoys watching her students learn and grow, and especially loves seeing how excited they get about discovering new things! In her spare time, Miss Zyanni enjoys doing makeup!

Ms. Adeira has been working in childcare for many years and is so excited to grow her career as a teacher with our Goddard School! She spent a year and a half in a Toddler classrooms and currently teaches in our Preschool program. She enjoys watching her students grow and develop a love for learning each and every day! In her spare time, she loves crafting with her daughter and taking her on adventures!

Ms. Maniah began her journey with us in the summer of 2024 with several years of experience under her belt. Ms. Maniah says that teaching is so rewarding because she gets to see progress in each student every day. When she is not teaching, she enjoys going on fun adventures with her son. A fun fact about Ms. Maniah is that she is a twin!

Miss Kelly is a Pre-K teacher on our faculty and has her Bachelor of Arts in Art History! She started her Goddard experience as a Resource Teacher and loved working in every classroom before finding her home in the Pre-K program at our Annex building! A fun fact about Miss Kelly: she speaks Spanish and Swedish and loves learning new languages!

Miss Morgan joined our faculty in 2024 with experience nannying! She has a degree in studio art and enjoys doing arts and crafts with the children! Miss Morgan loves watching children grow and learn new skills in her care. When at home, she enjoys knitting, cooking, and going for long walks. She is a Philly native who loves reading "Where the Wild Things Are" to her class!

Miss Faith joined our faculty as a Pre-K teacher-- it's her favorite age group to teach! She has a background in Elementary Education and is thrilled to gain valuable classroom experience in an age group applicable to her degree! Miss Faith loves to not only teach her students, but learn from them as well. In her spare time, Miss Faith enjoys running and training for marathons, as well as playing guitar!

Ms. Abigail started with us in the summer of 2024! She has a B.A. in Psychology and has been working with children for three years. Abigail has the philosophy that she can learn from the children just as much as they can learn from her! In her spare time, she likes to embroider, paint, and watch documentaries. A super fun fact about Abigail is that she was raised in Mexico for 8 years and her first language is Spanish!

Ms. Emily holds a Bachelor's degree in History as well as a Master of Education in Early Childhood! She has been teaching in school settings for over fifteen years and has taught in our Pre-K program since we opened our school in 2019! Ms. Emily truly enjoys being with the children in her class and you will often find her engaged with activities the children are leading. She was our Teacher of the Year nominee in 2022!

Ms. Alyssa joined our faculty as a Resource Teacher upon moving to Philly! She is now one of our Pre-K teachers! Prior to starting her Goddard experience, she taught in a preschool setting in addition to running volleyball camps for kids and teens year round! Currently Ms. Alyssa coaches girls volleyball at Arcadia University in the evenings and weekends and loves being involved with every classroom throughout the week.

Ms. Antonia (Toni) became a member of our faculty at the PreK annex in the summer of 2024 with over four years working with elementary school age children. She has a Bachelor of Science in Middle-Level Math. You will see her move about our annex building with our Pre-K classes. She enjoys seeing her student's excitement when they learn something new! A fun fact about Ms. Toni is that she has never left the northeast but wants to travel!

Ms. Marci joined our team in early 2025 and brings with her over 15 years of experience working with young children! She absolutely loves seeing the joy on children’s faces when they learn something new. One of her favorite things to do is read Dr. Seuss books to her students! Outside of the classroom, Ms. Marci enjoys hiking, cooking, and collecting beautiful orchids. We’re also super excited to see what she’ll teach our students, especially since she can sing in 9 different languages!

Ms. Emily (Em) joined our team in early 2025 and brings over 15 years of amazing experience working with children in all sorts of ways! What Ms. Em loves most about teaching is being able to model positive behavior and truly connect with children through their actions and choices. When she’s not teaching, you’ll find Ms. Em enjoying photography, hiking, hanging out with her pets, or jamming out to some music. She’s also dreaming of one day traveling to Europe or Japan! Fun fact: Ms. Em has already crossed the country six times!

Say hello to Ms. Jovanna (or Jo, as we like to call her), who joined our faculty in 2025! With 7 years of experience working with children, Ms. Jo is truly passionate about making a positive impact on their growth and development. She’s currently working toward her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and we’re thrilled to have her on the team. When she’s not working, you can find Ms. Jo drawing, playing classic games like Pacman and Mario Kart, or enjoying quality time with her two cats. She dreams of visiting France or Puerto Rico one day and is always on the lookout for her next adventure. When it comes to reading, "The Little Prince" is one of her all-time favorites!

Meet Ms. Zoe, our fantastic resource teacher who joined the faculty in 2025! With years of experience as a babysitter and camp counselor, she brings a wealth of fun, energy, and creativity to our team. Ms. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. She loves seeing her students grow, learn, and, of course, smile every day! Ms. Zoe is all about having fun and helping her students express their unique, silly selves. When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Zoe loves drawing, making jewelry, and watching movies. She also dreams of returning to Japan with her family someday—she had an unforgettable study abroad experience there in 2022. One fun fact about Ms. Zoe is a karaoke enthusiast, so you might just catch her belting out a tune!

We are delighted to have Ms. Bona Lee as part of our team since the spring of 2025. She brings over eight years of experience in preschool education and a deep enthusiasm for working with young children. Ms. Bona Lee believes that teaching is a lifelong journey of learning—not just for students, but for educators too! When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Bona Lee enjoys reading, traveling, trying new recipes, and watching documentaries. Her dream vacation would take her anywhere, as long as she’s with her family. A big fan of children’s literature, Ms. Bona Lee especially loves sharing the fun and heartwarming stories of Mo Willems with her students.