Our Goddard School Teachers

I’m CJ Walia. I’m a father to a strong and independent 18-year-old daughter and owner of the Goddard School of Haslet. I feel extremely blessed to offer a modern, curriculum-based, state-of-the-art child care facility that sits on nearly 5 acres of land. I have my Masters in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham in England and I’ve worked as an independent consultant with fortune 500 companies for over 20 years. I traveled often for work but my family and I have lived in DFW for more than 30 years. I have two older sisters who are teachers in the local school district. I wanted to start a Preschool to be closer to my daughter and because I love that I’m able to serve as a positive influence for children at such an early age and guide them to do good not just for themselves, but for society. It’s a wonderful way to make a meaningful difference in the community, and the world.

Jessica Avila began working in Early Childhood almost 14 years ago. She has a wealth of experience in teaching, bringing together exceptional and caring teachers to support children's growth and development. She holds an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education, associate's degree in behavioral sciences, and she is pursuing her bachelor's in child and Family Counseling. Originally from Texas-El Paso. She moved to Fort Worth in 2016. Miss Jessica loves to spend time with her family and serving at her church. She is looking forward to getting to know the families and providing outstanding educational programs to The Goddard School's children in Haslet.

Hello, my name is Ms. Amanda. I am originally from Yauco, Puerto Rico. While attending high school at Escuela Superior Occupational Y Tecnica De Yauco I received a certificate in administrating medications. I have been in the early childhood field for 8 years now. I am a mom to a beautiful 4-year-old daughter. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending time with my family.

Hello! My name is Jessie, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Goddard family. With nearly 20 years of experience in early childhood education, I have had the privilege of teaching a variety of age groups and serving in center leadership roles. I am deeply passionate about fostering a positive learning environment and helping young learners grow. I am blessed to be married to my wonderful husband of 13 years, and together we have 5 grown children and10 grandchildren. My family is the most important part of my life, and I spend every free minute I can with them. In my free time, I enjoy working in the garden, learning to make things homemade, and reading. I am excited to continue growing here at Goddard, and I look forward to supporting both our team and our students on their journeys of growth and development.

Hello, my name is Jessica Velazquez, and I am the Get Set teacher. My favorite color is purple, and I absolutely love cats, more than dogs. I love teaching the curious, get-into-everything toddler age and happy to be able to build special bonds with all the kiddos.

Hey everyone! My name is Taylor, I have been working with children for almost 8 years now and it's has definitely become a passion of mine! I have grown to love, not only seeing children grow but also helping teachers grow as well. I am originally from Colorado but moved to Texas 2 years ago and have been loving the different culture out here. In my free time you can usually find me hanging out with my 1-year-old nephew or looking for the next concert to waste my money on. I am looking forward to meeting all of the families this year.

Hello, my name is Mirtha. I have been married for five years, and we have an amazing 3 year old daughter who is full of life. We recently moved back to Texas after living in Ohio for five years.  Where I previously worked at a Goddard School for five years. I have been working in childcare for a total of 10 years. I have an Associate's Degree in Science and a CDA in Infant-Toddler. I plan on continuing my education to receive a bachelor's degree in child development and psychology. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and doing anything craft related.  I love teaching and inspiring young minds to become creative thinkers and independent learners. I look forward to helping your little ones grow and getting to know everyone! 

Hey, my name is Sidonis. I am a mom of four amazing teenagers, 3 girls and a boy. I have dedicated 4 years to nurturing young minds in a Montessori preschool before recently moving over to Goddard. I am originally from Cameroon, West Africa. My bilingual background has enabled me to speak both French and English. When I am not a helping out in the classroom I enjoy reading and writing.

Hello, my name is Angie. I am a part time student pursuing a career in education. I come from a big family and have always been passionate about teaching children. I have two years of childcare experience and worked with all age groups.

Hello! My name is Alice Lopez, and I am the Resource Teacher at The Goddard School of Haslet. I previously worked with Dallas ISD for 15 years as an Administrative Assistant, where I gained valuable experience supporting students, families, and staff. Working with children is truly my passion. I love teaching because I know I’m making a meaningful impact in the lives of the children I serve. Being part of their growth, learning, and development is incredibly rewarding, and I’m grateful to play a role in helping them build confidence and a strong foundation for the future.

Hello! My name is Maria Jose Saenz Matamoros. I've been caring for children since I was 9 years old. I knew even at such a young age that I wanted to be a teacher. I was born in Nicaragua, where I studied Psychology to be better support and learn about children. I also hold a Masters degree in early childhood and I am passionate about what I do and firmly believe that we can make a meaningful difference through early childhood education.

My name is Hannah Ivory, and I am currently the JR. Kindergarten 2 teacher I've been in early childhood education for 7 years. I have an Associate of Arts in Education, and I am currently completing my Bachelor's of Science in Education. I choose to work in early childhood because I love to make learning fun! In my spare time I like to do DIY projects, work out, swim, and travel. My goal for your child is to make sure they have a fun and educational school year.

Hi! I am Madison and super excited to be a part of the Haslet team. I have been in childcare for over 4 years and am currently working towards my educational degree at TWU. When I am not with the little ones, you can find me with my family, at church, or hanging with my labradoodle Gus.

Hello, Goddard families! My name is Pabloa, but the children call me Ms. P. I moved from Miami to Texas four years ago and have worked with children for a total of eight years. I decided to join The Goddard School to continue growing and expanding my teaching skills. When I’m not caring for our littles, I enjoy reading, watching documentaries, working out, and hiking with my dog. I can’t wait to meet all of your little ones and watch them learn, grow, and flourish!

Hello, my name is Ms. Tabatha, and I am so excited to be joining The Goddard School! I have a passion for working with children and families and look forward to building connections with each of you. I am also an animal lover and a proud dog and cat mom. My gentle service dog, Kona, and Daisy Sue, along with my three rescued cats, keep life full of love and fun. My background began in childcare, and I spent the last six years working in special education, where I completed extensive trauma training and supported children and families through challenging circumstances. I’m thrilled to return to early childhood education and can’t wait to share my love for learning and growth with the children at Goddard.

Hi! My name is Ms. Lily, and I’m so excited to be part of our Infant classroom. This is my second year in Early Childhood Education, and I truly love working with our littlest learners each day. I’m currently an education major at Western Governors University (WGU). Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I’m looking forward to all the wonderful adventures ahead in the Infant room!

Hello! My name is Kashaf, but everyone calls me K or Kay. I have been working in childcare for almost three years and have developed a strong passion for teaching during that time. I truly enjoy connecting with children and find so much joy in supporting their growth and learning journeys. As a student, I’m enjoying this exciting stage of my life and building meaningful connections, which I bring into the classroom each day. Thank you for trusting me with your children—I’m so excited to be part of their learning experience!

Hello! I’m Mrs. Hailey, and I’ve been working in childcare for almost 10 years. I truly love what I do and feel grateful to be part of children’s early learning experiences. I enjoy being outdoors, exploring, and spending quality time with friends and family. At home, I live with my husband, our 5-year-old daughter, and our two dogs, who keep life busy and fun! I’m so excited to partner with you and watch your child grow, learn, and reach new milestones this year. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey.

Hi, I’m Leah! I’m a passionate and caring educator who truly loves making a difference in the lives of young children. As a toddler teacher, I find so much joy in watching little ones grow, learn, and discover the world around them. Those early milestones matter, and I’m grateful to be part of that journey. I’m patient, creative, and nurturing, and I believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and genuinely loved in the classroom. I come from a big family with 11 siblings, which helped shape my adaptable, loving, and patient personality. Family means everything to me, and that strong sense of connection carries over into how I care for my students each day. I’m also a proud cat mom to two cats who keep life fun and full of personality! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with loved ones and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. I’m always excited about new opportunities and ready to learn something new.

Hi! My name is Mrs. Sarah, and I’ve been working in childcare since 2020. I truly can’t imagine doing anything else — supporting little ones as they grow, learn, and build confidence is the most rewarding work to me. Over the years, I’ve completed additional trainings that have strengthened my skills and deepened my understanding of child development. I bring both experience and heart into my classroom each day. Family means everything to me, and I carry that same sense of care, connection, and commitment into the relationships I build with my students. I believe children thrive with clear structure, consistent routines, and well-communicated expectations — paired with warm, meaningful relationships. My goal is to create a classroom where every child feels secure, capable, and genuinely valued. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, caring for my plants, and spending time with my husband and our pets — our dog, Jackson, and our cat, Rue. I’m excited to get to know you, and I’m always h

I have over five years of experience working with children, and I truly love what I do. Building strong bonds with my students is one of the most meaningful parts of my job. I believe those relationships create the foundation for learning, growth, and confidence. My favorite color is purple, and I bring that same bright energy into my classroom each day. I enjoy playing sports and interactive games with my students, making learning fun, active, and engaging. I’m an explorer at heart and love encouraging curious minds. I strive to inspire children to ask questions, try new things, and discover just how capable they really are.

Hi, my name is Ayana! I come from a big family with six siblings — and my youngest sibling is just two years old. Being surrounded by children my whole life has helped shape who I am and strengthened my love for working with little ones. I’ve worked with three-year-olds for almost a year, and it truly is my passion to teach and help them blossom into wonderful, confident students. In addition to my classroom experience, I have 13 years of babysitting experience, which has given me a strong foundation in nurturing, patience, and understanding children’s individual needs. My dream job is to become an executive chef one day. Cooking and baking are my creative outlets and one of the ways I show care and love to the people around me. I bring that same heart and dedication into my classroom every day, and I’m excited to continue helping children grow and thrive.

Hello, my name is Devin! I’ve been working in childcare for a little over three years, and during that time I’ve had the opportunity to teach every age group — from infants all the way through Pre-K. That experience has given me a well-rounded understanding of child development, and I genuinely love helping children grow, learn, and discover new things each day. Watching those lightbulb moments happen never gets old. Supporting children as they build confidence and independence is why I do what I do. Outside of work, one of my favorite hobbies is country dancing. My husband and I moved here about two years ago, and since then we’ve gotten married and welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world. It’s been such an exciting and special chapter for our family, and becoming a mom has deepened my passion for working with children even more. I’m so grateful to be part of your child’s journey!

Hi, my name is Vanessa! I’ve been working in early childhood education for 12 years, and I truly love what I do. Helping children learn, grow, and build confidence is something I’m deeply passionate about. I’m originally from Lubbock and moved to the DFW area 15 years ago. Since then, I’ve continued doing what I love most — working with kiddos and making a positive difference in their lives every single day. Building strong relationships with my students and their families is important to me, and I’m grateful to be part of their learning journey.

My name is Mercedes Slade, and I have been working in childcare for over three years. I am also a proud mom to my two-year-old daughter, who attends The Goddard School. Being both a teacher and a parent gives me a special appreciation for the trust families place in us each day. My favorite part of working in childcare is watching children reach their developmental milestones and knowing I played a role in helping them grow and succeed. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing their confidence shine as they learn something new! A few fun facts about me: my favorite color is pink, and I was a theatre major in college, which helps me bring creativity, expression, and lots of fun into the classroom. I look forward to making this year a wonderful learning experience for your child!