Our Goddard School Teachers

John and Amanda are the on-site owners of The Goddard School located in Allen, Texas. The Snowman family consists of four children; Katie a freshman at Texas State, Jack in college and an F-16 Crew Chief in the Air Force Reserves, Samantha and Kimberly who graduated from college and both are on their own. They also have two furry family members – Bailey a chocolate lab and Jackson a a black lab mix rescue dog. John was born in Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine-Orono and obtained his MBA from Amberton University in Garland, Texas. John worked in the logistics industry for over thirty years. He is also a retired USAF Officer. Amanda was born in Ohio. She graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland and obtained her MBA from Amberton University. Amanda worked at Greyhound Lines as their Manager of Customer Operations for sixteen years. Actually, it was job relocation with Greyhound that brought the Snowman’s from Boston, Massachusetts to Texas nearly twenty five years ago. “Having the best school, with the best teachers, and the best educational program is very rewarding to us as parents, and we are truly grateful to be able to serve the children and families in our community. Getting to see our future generations grow and blossom every day into fine young people is a blessing,” add John and Amanda.

Mrs. Melissa is the Executive Director here at the Goddard School of Allen. She has been with Goddard since March of 2020. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in K- 8 Education, with an emphasis in Communication Arts and Literature from Concordia University of St. Paul. Starting off as a PreK teacher and working her way up through various management roles, she has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood. Melissa is from Texas, but spent most of her years in Minnesota. She enjoys all sports, playing or watching. She loves spending time with family, traveling and trying out anything new and adventurous. Mrs. Melissa feels that being in the early childhood industry is so incredibly rewarding. Just asking children open-ended questions could lead to many different adventures for both kids and teachers! What she loves most about Goddard is the passion that everyone has on this team. Everyone is here for the kids and it shows!

Ms. Paulina is our newly promoted Director of Operations. She has been with Goddard for 5 years now and has a total of 11 years of experience in early childhood education! Paulina has earned her CDA (Child Development Associate) degree through our TWC program. She moved to Dallas from Austin, where she has lived for most of her life. In her down time, Paulina enjoys spending time with her little family! A good weekend consists of lots of snacks, movies and naps with her puppy girl! Teaching young minds is Paulina’s passion. She loves that Goddard gives her the freedom and ability to grow as a teacher, and to discover what she is capable of as an educator. She thoroughly enjoys watching little humans grow and preparing them for their future!

Mrs. Maria is our Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom. She has been with us at Goddard for more than 10 years, with a total of 12 years of experience in early childhood education! Maria recently completed her Child Development Associates degree. She was born and raised in Peru - the land of the Inca's Empire and Machu Picchu - the 4th world wonder! Maria, her husband of 24 years and her 2 sons moved to Texas 10 years ago and have made Allen their home away from home. Maria continues to instill in her children her cultural traditions by speaking Spanish to them and celebrating local holidays. In her down time, she enjoys studying and learning more about this field that she is so passionate about. Mrs. Maria teaches because of the kids! She builds such beautiful bonds with her students, as well as with the families! What does she like most about The Goddard School of Allen? Outside of the kids, she loves the organization and the family feel!

Ms. Alex is a Co-Lead Teacher in our Infant classroom. She started with us in August of 2020, comes with 6 years of experience in working with children and has her Child Development Associates! With Goddard, she would love to gain as much knowledge and experience as she can to better help her raise her kiddo and future kiddos. Ms. Alex has spent most of her life in Colorado, and moved to Texas in 2015. In her down time she really enjoys playing board games! She also enjoys reading, some video games, painting, going to the zoo, and considers herself a “Hufflepuff.” When asked what she loves most about teaching, she said, “that moment you see that lightbulb turn on….that moment of understanding!” Her favorite part of working at Goddard is getting to know all of the kids and staff. Everyone is just so nice!

Mrs. Shalon in one of our Lead Young Toddler teacher and has been with us since June of 2023. She has her Associate's Degree in Business Administration has earned her CDA for early childhood, and came to us with 4 years of experience in early childhood! Her favorite part of being a teacher is building connections with the kids and the families. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, anything outdoors, and traveling!

Ms. Lisa has been part of the Goddard family since February 2025. She came to us from California with over 30 years of experience in early childhood education. Passionate about teaching, she has truly enjoyed every moment of her career. Even after all these years, Ms. Lisa still feels like she’s always learning—whether from her students, peers, or the ever-changing world of education. Her dedication and love for learning make her a cherished part of our school community.

Ms. Carla is a Co-Lead Teacher in our Get Set 1 Classroom. She has been with us since May of 2024. She has her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Collin College and Bachelor of Arts in Education from University of North Texas. She also has 8 years of experience working in Early Childhood Education. When Ms. Carla is not at work, you will find her at home with her two children, 3 and 16 years old, or out with family and friends.

Ms. Emily has been at Goddard since May of 2025. She came to us with 12 years of experience and is currently working on finishing her associate’s degree in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education. Ms. Emily is passionate about shaping the minds of young learners and helping them discover their potential!

Mrs. Priyanka is a lead teacher on our Get Set 2 team and has been a part of the team since August of 2023! She has her Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, has completed her CDA, and came to us with 2 years of experience in early childhood! Her favorite part of teaching is maintaining that perfect balance of all the things (structure, learning, fun, etc.) and seeing how well her students thrive in it! In her free time, Priyanka enjoys dancing and the dramatic arts!

Ms. Alla has been with Goddard since May of 2025 with over 15 years of Early Childhood experience! She loves being a toddler teacher and truly love helping kids grow! She loves being a grandma even more with 3 children of her own! In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and watching a good movie!

Ms. Bryanna has been at Goddard since July of 2023 and came to us with 2 years of experience with an associate's degree in general studies from Collin College. She also recently completed her Child Development Associates degree. In her spare time, Bryanna enjoys reading, writing, traveling, studying and spending time with family and friends!

Ms. Armine has been at Goddard since May of 2025 and came with over 15 years of Early Childhood Education experience! Ms. Armine’s passion for teaching shines through in the smiles of her students. She was born and raised in Armenia and is happily married with 2 amazing children!

Mrs. Patricia is our Lead Teacher in Preschool 2. She has been with the Goddard School of Allen since January of 2020, and has more than 5 years of prior experience in early childhood education! She also has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Military College. Mrs. Patty is originally from Sierra Leone, which is found on the West Coast of Africa. She speaks 3 different languages! She loves seafood, Lifetime movies, playing video games with her husband and spending time with her chihuahua, Coco. Mrs. Patty loves watching children learn and grow, and is so great at getting to know the needs of each individual child! Her favorite thing about The Goddard School of Allen is the staff! We truly are a team! She hopes to use all of the knowledge and experience gained over the past few years and moving forward to eventually own her own Early Childhood school!

Ms. Katy joined us recently from Colorado with over 13 years of experience in Early Childhood Education with her Child Development Associates degree! Ms. Katy is passionate about early childhood education, with a special focus on social-emotional development. She believes that once children feel safe, they are free to learn and grow. Her nurturing approach creates a classroom environment where every child feels valued and empowered!

Mr. Ryan is the Lead teacher in our Junior Kinder 1 classroom. He has his Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology from University of North Texas, and comes to us with 6 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Mr. Ryan has a way of making all the learning so much fun, and is so great at really understanding children and figuring out all the whys throughout his day! In his spare time, Mr. Ryan enjoys playing soccer, singing, hiking and camping!

Mrs. Ilham is one of our Lead Junior Kinder 2 Teachers! She started with us here at The Goddard School in March of 2021, and came to us with seven years of experience working with young children! She also comes to us with her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from Texas Women’s University! Ilham is the seventh of ten children, wife and mother of a beautiful little girl! She moved back to the Allen area in 2020 from Pennsylvania and is currently in school to become a certified teacher. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, jogging and outdoor activities! Mrs. Ilham’s philosophy of education is to take the time to understand each child and help them reach their highest potential through open-ended activities, loving who they are, and knowing then can trust and feel safe in her care. We are so blessed to have Ilham a part of our team and family!

Ms. Diane is our Certified Kindergarten Teacher here at the Goddard School of Allen. She comes to us with her Bachelor's Degree in Education PK-8, with a minor in Reading, from Baylor University. She has 16 years of experience of teaching in the school districts. In her spare time, Diane enjoys watching college football and basketball, spending time with her son Adam, taking walks, being with friends, and lesson planning!

Mrs. Salima is our Classroom Resource Assistant. She has been with The Goddard school of Allen for 10 years in a variety of different roles and has a total of 15 years of experience in early childhood education. She obtained an Associate’s Degree in business, and is currently completing her degree in Child Development. She was born and grew up in Karachi, Pakistan. When she moved to the United States she lived in several states including Virginia, California and Texas. On the weekends, Salima and her husband are very busy with their own two other businesses and their kids. She also enjoys her quiet time, and dramas on TV! Salima’s favorite thing about her position as a Resource Teacher is getting to work with all of the ages in the school. She loves to get to be a part of learning at each stage of development. The milestones reached at each different level is just so fascinating! Her favorite thing about working at The Goddard School of Allen is that it’s like family!

Mrs. Swapna joined our Goddard family in September 2025 as a Resource Teacher, bringing over 10 years of experience working with children. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, Economics, and Commerce from Osmania University. Mrs. Swapna is happily married and a proud mother of two children, ages 8 and 13. At Goddard, she enjoys building meaningful relationships with children of all ages and takes great pride in supporting their growth and development. Outside of school, she loves spending quality time with her family!

Mrs. Shelly is one of our Seasonal Resource Teachers! She has been with us since February of 2021 and came to us with over 15 years of experience working in Early Childhood and Behavior Therapy. She also comes to us with her Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Sciences! Mrs. Shelly is a Military Wife and mother of two. She has lived in California, Virginia, Hawaii and now Texas since 2018. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, hiking, and just being outside. Mrs. Shelly believes that every child is unique and beautiful. Adapting to the different needs of all of the children is definitely something she enjoys and is good at!