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 part of working with children is I get to make a difference in their lives!

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 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 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 been blessed with the best husband who I have been married to for 13 years. I have 5 kids who are all grown and 8 grandkids. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, working in the garden, and reading. I look forward to growing here at Goddard and supporting our team and students in their growth as well!

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, 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 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.

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.

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.

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 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! 

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 Bachelors 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. It doesn't matter what age you start learning as long as you never stop! 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 students and their families and bringing an example to our community.

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 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.

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!

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 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.

Hi! My name is Claudia Castrellon. I am one of the Toddler 2 teachers. I was born and raised in Fort Worth Texas. I have been in childcare for 5 years now. I have an amazing 3-year-old son that means the world to me. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family whether we are outside playing soccer or inside cuddled up watching a movie spending quality time with my family.