Our Teachers

MANAGEMENT TEAM- Trish McKay became involved with The Goddard School® in 1996 when Trish became the one year old teacher. She came with a passion for young children along with a BS in Home Economics Education and her PA teaching certification. As her passion for the quality education of young children grew so did her role in the School. In 1999, Trish became the Director of the facility. As her two girls were born, her passion for young children and providing a School of excellence grew stronger. She purchased this School in 2005 when the previous owner retired. Since becoming the owner of the School she has poured her passion into creating a remarkable, educational, safe and healthy learning environment for her students and staff.

MANAGEMENT TEAM- Jeni Shade joined the Goddard family in the summer of 2007. She holds her Bachelor's degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education from Kutztown University. Jeni worked for our School several years ago as a Teacher. She brings many years of experience as a Director and knowledge of young children. She spends time observing teachers' lessons as well as doing the administrative tasks in the office. Jeni also helps our teachers fine tune the curriculum in order to provide the best education to the children. She loves young children which is evident when you see the work she does at Goddard on a daily basis.

MANAGEMENT TEAM-Debra Brownmiller joined our Goddard Family in the spring of 2024. Ms. Deb is the Assistant Director. Ms. Deb has an AA in Early Childhood Education from Reading Area Community College and has attended Kutztown University taking classes towards her BS in Elementary Education. Ms. Deb has her Paraprofessional Certification through the BCIU. She worked with students in the Life Skills and Learning Support Classrooms. Ms. Deb was the program director for the YMCA where she setup summer camp, child watch and birthday parties. She created special kid nights, and coordinated special events. Ms. Deb believes that children are truthful and loves to hear what they have to say because it shows how their minds work. She believes that as she listens to children, she can learn to understand them and to be able to better support them. She loves to provide a healthy, safe environment so that are able to focus on learning and growing.

INFANT PROGRAM- Ms. Ashley became part of the Goddard family in the fall of 2006. Ms. Ashley holds her Occupational Child Development Certificate from Berks Career and Technical Center with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. She is nearly finished with her Child Development Associate certification.She brought with her several years experience working with children after being a student in the childcare program at Berks County Vo-tech. Ashley loves young children and is always finding new ways to encourage the children to talk. She also develops fun learning experiences which encourage the children to discover new things. You can always find Ashley with a song on her lips and a dance in her step, and the children love joining in with her.

Ms. Mya joined our Goddard family in the summer of 2024. Ms. Mya is an assistant teacher in our Infant room. Ms. Mya is a student at RACC studying nursing, majoring in diagnostic tomography/ ultrasound. Ms. Mya has been a babysitter for four years. Ms. Mya believes that children are a joy. She believes that children are always learning and it begins as an newborn. She loves providing them with a caring, nurturing environment where they can explore the world around them to learn through play.

INFANTS- Ms. Julissa joined our Goddard family in fall of 2024. Ms. Julissa is an assistant teacher in our Infant room. Ms. Julissa has medical assistant certification. She previously has worked in childcare as a lead teacher. Ms. Julissa believes that children are so important and need our undivided attention to keep them healthy, safe, and learning new things. Ms. Julissa creates a safe environment and ensures it is clean and sanitized and neat so that the little ones stay healthy. She believes that each child is unique and as such learn in different ways. She wants to find the way that they learn best and support them by teaching them with that style. She is a very positive person and believes that children thrive in an atmosphere of positivity.

FIRST STEPS PROGRAM- Ms. Charlene joined our Goddard family in the winter of 2020. Ms. Charlene has her Child Development Associates. She has been working in the early childhood field for over twenty-five years. She always worked as an assistant or a teacher in a one year old classroom. Ms. Charlene actually worked here at Goddard in the nineties and is excited to return to her first early childhood family. Ms. Charlene loves to create fun learning experiences for her students to explore. She creates a variety of homemade materials for them to use to get their wiggles out. She believes that children are loving little people. Ms. Charlene loves to ensure that her students have a foundation of kindness as they learn from her how to be nice to their friends. She encourages their independence by having them complete tasks at varying levels across the learning domains. She strives to provide a safe, healthy, caring learning environment where her students thrive.

FIRST STEPS PROGRAM- Ms. Kelly joined The Goddard School in the winter of 2020. She is a student at Reading Area Community College with an Early Childhood major. Ms. Kelly holds her Occupational Child Development Certificate from Berks Career and Technical Center with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. She has nearly two years experience working in the early childhood field. Ms. Kelly likes to engage with her students as they are explore fun learning experiences. She believes that she can support them as they grow and develop. She asks open ended questions that lead them to new discoveries. She believes that when they feel secure that they will be happy and have a positive educational experience.

FIRST STEPS- Ms. Xylie joined our Goddard family in the spring of 2024. Ms. Xylie is a teacher in First Steps. Ms. Xylie graduated with her AA in Early Children Education from RACC in May of 2024. She has worked as an assistant teacher for two years in a child care center. Ms. Xylie believes that children are fantastic and an inspiration as they are always exploring and learning new things. She believes that her most important job is to support her students and encourage them to try new things. Ms, Xylie wants to know each student as an individual so she can ensure that her teaching methods meet their needs. She enjoys creating and implementing fun learning experiences for her students.

TWEENIES PROGRAM- Ms. Vanessa joined our Goddard family in the summer of 2022. She graduated from Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center with a certification in Early Childhood Education. She has volunteered in early childhood schools. Ms. Vanessa believes that children are amazing and unique in their own way. She believes that when she provides a safe, healthy, nurturing environment that children feel taken care of and are able to learn. She enjoys assisting in implementing the fun learning experiences. She loves playing with her students as they explore hands-on, play-based, fun learning experiences.

TWEENIES PROGRAM- Ms. Rosy joined our Goddard Family in the winter of 2022. She's a teacher's assistant in our Tweenies Classroom. Ms. Rosy graduated as a dental assistant from RACC but after spending time babysitting found that being with young children is a good fit for her. She believes that young children are special and unique in their own way. She loves supporting her students in the way that they learn best by creating fun learning experiences. She feels that allowing children be themselves lets them enjoy learning. She desires to teach her students to be able to express themselves by better understanding their emotions and how to handle them.

TODDLER PROGRAM- Ms. Sara Sara joined our Goddard School Family in the fall of 2004. Ms. Sara has earned her Child Development Associates. Ms. Sara is excited about mentoring her Toddler students while assisting them in making discoveries that lead to learning. She believes that when she is having a good time the children will want to join in with her and in turn will learn so much by having fun. She also believes that her students are eager to learn good manners so she encourages them to use their words to express good manners all throughout their days. She believes that an active, involved teacher will help her students stay focused. Ms. Sara likes to create hands on fun learning experiences through the center activities that she creates while writing her lesson plans.

TODDLER PROGRAM- Ms. Nicole joined our Goddard School Family in the summer of 2016. She has taken Early Childhood and Child Development classes. Ms. Nicole believes that children are able to anything that they believe in so the teacher’s job is to instill confidence in them. She loves being engaged with them as they play in fun learning experiences. She believes as she meets her student’s needs and provides a loving, caring, stable environment that they will be able to learn while having a blast. Ms. Nicole loves spending time with family.

GET SET PROGRAM- Ms. Joanne joined our Goddard Family in the winter of 2013. Ms. Jo has over 20 years experience working as an assistant teacher in an early childhood setting. Ms. Jo believes that children are excited to learn. She believes that children learn in different and creative ways so as a teacher she needs to provide a wide range of creative, fun learning experiences for them to explore. She loves to use music and movement to energize them and allow them to creatively express themselves. Ms. Jo encourages her students to help out and to be responsible as it gives them self confidence!

GET SET PROGRAM-Ms. Kayla joined our Goddard family in the fall of 2024. Ms. Kayla is an assistant teacher in our Get Set Classroom. Ms. Kayla has over six years of experience working with young children. She has been a nanny and a lifeguard. Ms. Kayla believes that children are a ray of sunshine that brightens everyone’s day. She believes that children are curious at their core and lean through hands of explorations and play. Ms. Kayla loves to be by their side engaging with them and encouraging learning through open ended questions, every step of the way. She believes that as she shows young children respect they to will learn to be respectful. She believes in setting clear boundaries to help keep children safe and healthy.

PRESCHOOL 1 PROGRAM- Ms. Abi joined our Goddard family in the summer of 2024. Ms. Abi is the lead teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom. Ms. Abi graduated from Berks Career & Technology Center in Early Childhood Education. She has nearly completed her students for her associates degree in applied science for early childhood education from RACC. She has her director’s credential. She has been working in the early childhood field for over ten years. Ms. Abi believes that young children are born to love and to be loved. She believes that each child is special and has a unique way to learn as well as have their own special set of quirks. She wants to provide a nurturing, safe place for students to have the condfidence to explore through play. She loves creating and implementing lessons full of the wonder of learning.

PREKINDERGARTEN 1 PROGRAM- Ms. Noreen joined our Goddard School family in the fall of 2018. Ms. Noreen has a B.A. in psychology and philosophy. She has obtained Noreen her Early Childhood Education/ Montessori based certification. She is currently working on obtaining her child development associates. She has more than ten years’ experience working in early childhood schools. Ms. Noreen thrives on guiding children as the grow and glow in the education process. She enjoys finding each child’s unique way of learning and working with them to explore and learn. She loves guiding them with open ended questions as they explore the fun learning experiences provided for them.

PRESCHOOL 1 PROGRAM- Ms. Noel joined our Goddard family in the spring of 2024. Ms. Noel is a teacher’s aide, working in Preschool 1. Ms. Noel is licensed in cosmetology from Empire Beauty School. She enjoys being with young children and she thinks that children are amazing and surprising. Ms. Noel wants to be a teacher who ensures that her students needs are met. She likes to get know each child as individuals as each one is unique and special in their own way. While getting to know each child, she then can help them to learn in the way that best fits their personality. She likes to join in the fun learning experiences that the teachers create to support her students as they explore through play.

PRESCHOOL 2 PROGRAM- Ms. Linda joined our Goddard family in the fall of 1999. Ms. Ms Linda graduated from Penn State with a degree in health and physical education. She also hold her private school academic teaching certificate. Ms. Linda holds The Goddard School Teacher of the Year 2013. Miss Linda is extremely creative and believes that children thrive in learning when there are numerous fun learning experiences. She loves music and movement activities and can create an activity to enhance any theme with little or no warning. She is our in-house songwriter. It is easy to see why the children are always engaged in learning with Ms. Linda. Ms. Linda previously won The Goddard School Teacher Award.

PRESCHOOL 2 PROGRAM- Ms. Laura joined our Goddard family in the summer of 2023. Ms. Laura Bachelor of Arts in English and her master’s degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She has over 25 years of experience working with young children. Ms. Laura believes that children are curious, active, and very caring. As a teacher her goal is to provide her students with a warm, safe, healthy environment where they can thrive as they explore hands-on fun learning experiences through play. Ms. Laura engages with her students as they play by sitting with them, taking advantage of teachable moments, and by asking open-ended questions that foster growth and further exploration. She provides loving guidance as they learn to navigate social situations by supporting them as they learn to communicate successfully,

PRESCHOOL 3 PROGRAM- Ms. Brandi joined our Goddard School Family in the spring of 2022. Ms. Brandi is the lead teacher in our Preschool 3 classroom. She has worked a lead teacher in the early childhood field previously. She has taken college classes towards her education degree. She has also spent time working with children in her position as a library assistant. She believes that children are a fun burst of life to cherish as our future shines bright in them. Ms. Brandi likes to ensure that every child’s unique needs are met by offering different approaches to learning as each child is special and built differently. She likes to have a room where structure and freedom both exist so that children are free to thrive. She desires to teach with fun learning experiences and help every child to grow into a strong confident individual who knows their self-worth and can express themselves clearly.

PREKINDERGARTEN 1 PROGRAM- Ms. Julie joined our Goddard family in the winter of 2022. She has completed most of her college classes in social work and special education at Bloomsburg University. She is currently enrolled at RACC in ECE. Ms. Julie worked as a paraprofessional in a local public school for five years. She works with the Cub Scouts as a program specialist. She also worked as the cub scout camp director at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. Ms. Julie believes and loves that children are unpredictable because they are always busy investigating new ideas. She loves to create a fun learning environment where students can explore through hands-on and mind-on activities where they learn through trial and error. She believes that as she communicates with her students that they can learn to self-regulate their emotions.

PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM Ms. Bre joined our Goddard Family in the winter of 2022. Ms. Bre worked as an aid at another center for two years. Ms. Bre believes that children are a joy to be around because they are amazing. She loves to play with them as she assists in implementing the fun learning experiences created using the Flex Learning Curriculum because she believes that they learn best through play. She believes that children learn in individual ways so she finds ways to develop each child’s strengths, skills, abilities, and to extend their knowledge and learning.

PREKINDERGARTEN 2 Ms. Vicki joined our Goddard family in the fall of 2021. Ms. Vicki obtained her Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education from Reading Area Community College. Ms. Vicki believes that children are inquisitive and want to learn about the world around them. She believes that children learn best through play. She will create fun learning experiences for them to enjoy as they create, imagine, discover, and explore. She believes that each child is an individual and that she wants to value their abilities and learning styles so that she can find the way that they learn best to extend their learning. Ms. Vicki loves to promote diversity and will promote it in the classroom.

GET SET- Ms. Nyana joined our Goddard family in the winter of 2024. Ms. Nyana is an assistant teacher in our Get Set classroom. Ms. Nyana has taken some introductory courses in early childhood education at Millersville University. She has done babysitting since 2019. She has worked as assistant preschool teacher. Ms. Nyana believes that children are curious, creative, and full of energy. She believes that students will thrive when their teachers create a clean, safe, supportive learning environment. She feels that when a teacher to fosters a nurturing, inclusive, educational environment. She enjoys creating fun learning experiences to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

TEACHER RESOURCE- Ms. Madison joined our Goddard Family in the spring of 2024. Ms. Maddie will be a teacher working part-time as a teacher resource where there is a need to maintain ratio and to support the teachers. Ms. Maddie is a student at Kutztown University studying Elementary Education. Ms. Maddie has worked with children in another Early childhood school and as an Assistant Para-Professional. Ms. Maddie believes that children have an innate sense of wonder and curiosity. She believes that it is her job as a teacher to foster creativity, imagination, and a sense of joy of exploration as those things lead to learning. She wants to get to know her students as individuals so she can understand their needs and unique learning styles. Ms. Maddie wants to empower her students to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and life-long learners.

TEACHER RESOURCE-Ms. Gaby joined our Goddard family in the summer of 2024. Ms. Gaby is a teacher’s aide working as a teacher resource where there is need in the afternoon. Ms. Gaby is a student at RACC studying early childhood education. She took child development in high school and worked as a student helper in local elementary schools through an honors program. Ms. Gaby believes that children are full of genuine joy. She loves that young children have a curious nature. She enjoys playing with them as they explore to learn new things.