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 12 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, Associates Degree in Behavioral Sciences, and she is pursuing her bachelor's in human services. 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, I am Ms. Jennifer and I have been in the childcare industry for over 28 years. I have my Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood education with a focus on Human Deveolpment and Family studies. I started out as a teacher in a classroom for 13 years then became a director in 2007. The best of working with children is I get to make a difference in their lives!

Hello. My name is Jessie, and I am so excited to join the Goddard family. I have been in early childhood education for almost 20 years. I have taught almost every age group and spent time in center leadership. I have 5 kids who are all grown and 8 grandkids. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and reading. I look forward to growing here at Goddard and supporting others in their growth as well!

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.

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.

Hello everyone! I am Ms. Jaya. I have been in childcare for a year now and have experience with all the age group kids. I love spending time with my family and friends. My favorite hobby is art. I am very happy to be part of the Goddard Family. I love working with the kids and can't wait to meet all your wonderful kids.

Hello! My name is Alice Lopez and I am the Chef 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.

Hey! I'm Ms. Alondra, I have been in childcare for 4 years. I am currently in school aspiring a career in speech pathology. I have a fur baby 5 year old Dachshund rescue that is my world. I love spending time with my family. I live with my boyfriend of 6 years in North Richland Hills. I'm so grateful to be apart of the Goddard family!

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.

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.

Hey everyone! My name is Taylor, I am the Pre-k teacher. 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.

My name is Judith Negron. I am so excited to have joined the Goddard Family. I am from Puerto Rico and all my studies are from The University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. I have a Bachelor Degree in Political Sciences, a Postgraduate Degree in Education with a major in Europe History, among other certifications in Art and Medical Billing. For me, education is one of the most important things in life and it doesn't matter at what age you start learning as long as you never stop learning. I've been in Early Education since 2018 and I love working with kids, I love teaching them new things every day and I love learning new things from those little minds every day. I look forward to being an inspiration for these little kids and their families and bringing an example to our community.

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 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 everyone, my name is Soujanya. I have been teaching in early childhood for 3 years now and have loved every minute of it. I feel very happy when I am with the kids because I believe that it brings its own rewards. I know that the quality of education is very important in these age groups. I love being a part of the little ones success, the energy and excitement that they display.

Hello, my name is Shardai and I have been in the education field for 18 years. I live in Ft. Worth and I have two teenage children. I have a big family and love spending time with them.

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, I'm Mrs. Swarna, a passionate teacher committed to fostering the growth and development of experience in early childhood education, I'm all about creating a fun and nurturing space where little ones can learn and grow. From exciting activities to heartfelt encouragement, I'm here to spark curiosity and lay the groundwork for a lifetime of discovery. I live with my husband and daughter. Apart from teaching, I'm passionate about cooking Indian food.

Hello, I am so excited to be the Goddard of Haslet school age teacher. I graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a BBA in Business Management. I have a passion for working with and helping children grow to maximize their potential and be the best version of themselves.

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 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!