Our Teachers

I’m CJ Walia. I’m a father to a strong and independent 15-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.

Hi! I am Jennifer McMurdie, I have been with Goddard since 2020 and I have previously worked at another childcare center for 4 years. I have taught the Wonder of Learning curriculum which is inquiry-based learning since its implementation. I believe that children learn best through play and modeling behaviors. I have a daughter that graduated from Goddard in 2024 and I have been married for 10 years. As a member of the management team, I am excited to support the teachers and watch the students grow at Goddard.

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 and 8 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 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.

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 Alice Lopez and I am a floater at The Goddard School of Haslet. I have previously worked at Dallas ISD for 15 years as an Administrative Assistant 1. I love working with children because I feel as though it is my passion. I love teaching because I know that I have made an impact on the children’s life.

I'm July Cordero, I am from Puerto Rico. I've been in Texas for 7 years now. I like to teach and sing. I love working with children, it is my passion to teach them. I have 3 years of experience in childcare and teaching. It's a pleasure to help them grow.

Hey, my name is Laisha! I am originally from Yauco, Puerto Rico. I have an associate degree in being a dentist assistant. I moved to Texas in 2020. I have been working in childcare for close to 3 years now. When I am not in the classroom, I am usually in the kitchen baking something delicious. My ultimate goal is to one day open up a bakery of my very own.

Hello everyone! My name is Desiree, and I am in the Get Set classroom. I joined Goddard 2023 and I am very excited to get to know all my students and families this year. I am married with two AMAZING children and three dogs. When I am not enjoying making fun memories with my family, I am usually baking something in the kitchen or making travel plans.

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.

Hello, my name is Kaitlyn! I am honored to be a part of your child's early education journey. I have been working in early education since 2019. I love using music, dance, and other forms of art to teach. When I am not teaching you can find me exploring new places with my Fiancé or hanging out with my cuddly cats. I believe that that there is much to learn from each child!

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.

Hi! I'm Ms. Leslie and I'm the current lead Toddler 2 teacher. I have been in childcare for a year now. I have experience in all the ages but my all time favorites are the toddlers. I love spending time with my family, going outdoors, and taking trips to Mexico to visit my family. I am so happy to be apart of the Goddard family.

Hello everyone! My name is Nevaeh, this is my first year at Goddard and I love it! I am actively pursuing a degree in Early Education and hope to one day teach grades between kinder and second grade. When I am not hanging out with kiddos I am most likely curled up on the couch with my dogs and a good book.

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

Hello. My name is Maria Jose Saenz Matamoros. I have been taking care of children since I was 9 years old. I have known since then that I would teach. In Nicaragua, where I was born and raised, I studied Psychology with the purpose of continuing to support, grow, and learn from children. I love what I do, and I firmly believe that we can make a difference in everything we do starting with early childhood education and the children in my care. I look forward to serving your family!

Hello, my name is Lia Leyva and I am really happy to be a part of The Goddard School of Haslet. I am from Cuba and moved to the USA in December 2016. I have been working in the childcare field since 2021. I have a three-year-old son and our favorite thing to do is laugh and make unforgettable memories together. I love working with kids and having the best connection with them. On my free time I like to clean the house and go shopping.

Hello, my name is Mirtha. I have been married for five years, and we have an amazing 2 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 Associates 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! 

I am very excited to be part of the Preschool Prep Classroom. I love working with children and being part of their growth journey at the Goddar School of Haslet. I am originally from Argentina and currently in school finishing my degree in biology.

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 Mrs. Grace Williams, and I am delighted to be part of your child's educational journey as the Pre-K 1 teacher. I am a wife and mother to three wonderful children, ages 4, 5, and 12. Family is at the heart of everything I do, and I believe in the importance of love, faith, and compassion. My faith is a guiding force in my life, and I strive to instill kindness and a caring attitude in the classroom each day. I have an Associate's degree in Education, and my passion for teaching is driven by the joy of seeing students discover the world of reading and writing. There's nothing more rewarding than witnessing those "aha" moments, where students begin to understand and grow in confidence. I am committed to creating a classroom environment where every child feels safe, valued, and excited to explore new ideas. My goal is to foster a community where students can take risks, express themselves, and learn with joy and laughter. Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with

Hi, I'm Joshlynn! I've been working in childcare for the past two years, and I absolutely love every moment of it. I'm engaged to my childhood best friend, and we share our home with a dog and two cats. Currently, we're in the process of building our dream home! In my free time, I enjoy shopping or simply staying in to watch movies with my family. I'm so excited to join the Goddard team as a floater and have the opportunity to meet all the wonderful families and children. I look forward to contributing to such a positive and nurturing environment!

Hello! My name is Olga, and I am excited to be part of the team here at Goddard Haslet. I’ve been happily married for 21 years, and I was born and raised in South Texas. I attended community college, where I earned my Early Childhood & Development Diploma. I also completed an internship at Headstart, where I gained valuable hands-on experience in early childhood development. With over 20 years of experience working with children, I am truly passionate about fostering a love of learning in young minds. As the eldest of two brothers and three sisters, I was raised with a strong sense of responsibility and a strong work ethic, values that I carry with me every day. I am privileged to work in the Get Set classroom at Goddard Haslet, where I continue to learn something new each day. I especially enjoy Read Aloud Story Time and singing with our amazing and curious students. I also love working collaboratively with my colleagues to create the best learning environment for our students.

Hello my name is Nicole McAdams, I am so excited to be apart of the Goddard team as the lead teacher in the Infant 2 class! I have been working with children for over 10 years now, I have experience with all ages but older infants is my favorite age group. I have such a passion for teaching and working with children. I love being a teacher because I love making learning fun for others! I am looking forward to working with your children and watching them grow!