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 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.

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.

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 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! 

Hello! My name is Alice Lopez, and I am a resource teacher at The Goddard School of Haslet. I have previously worked at Dallas ISD for 15 years as an Administrative Assistant. 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.

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.

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.

My name is Katy, and I’m from Bowie, TX. I attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where I studied Psychology. Eight years ago, I started my first job in child care while living in Corpus Christi, and I immediately fell in love with the field. Since then, I have dedicated myself to working with young children and supporting their growth. I believe early childhood education is one of the most important foundations for a child’s future, and there’s nothing else I’d rather do.

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.

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 Preschool 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.

My name is Ms. Dannii and I am a highly enthusiastic and a creative preschool teacher with a passion for nurturing young minds and helping them grow. I have over 5 years of experience working with children in various educational settings. I am blessed to have a job that I love deeply and the opportunity to play a small part in our future generation's early journeys. My goal is to ensure that each child’s first educational experiences are filled with joy, wonder, and a sense of accomplishment, laying a strong foundation for their lifelong learning

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, 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.