Our Goddard School Teachers

Mrs. Leah is the passionate and dedicated on-site owner of The Goddard School of Katy (Cinco Ranch) alongside her husband, Jim. As a mother of two adult children, she brings a deep understanding of nurturing and child development to her work. Mrs. Leah has enthusiasm for creating a positive and lasting impact on her community by providing a warm, supportive environment where young children can grow, learn, and thrive. She finds great joy in witnessing the growth and development of each child, taking pride in offering Katy area families a place where young learners can flourish with confidence and curiosity.

Meet Mrs. Dani, a valued member of our school community since 2011. As a dedicated mother of two wonderful boys, Mrs. Dani brings a unique perspective, having experienced the Goddard program both as a director and a parent. After studying Education at Sam Houston State University, she relocated to Katy with her husband. Growing up as the second eldest of ten siblings, Mrs. Dani has always had a natural affinity for working with children. Committed to professional growth, she has earned a Child Development Associate degree and Director Certification. Passionate about creating engaging learning environments, Mrs. Dani believes that fun, interactive lessons inspire greater participation and help children retain what they learn.

Since joining our school in 2014, our Operations Director, Ms. JoAnn has prioritized the health and safety of every child. Viewing the children at Goddard as part of her extended family, she is committed to ensuring their time here feels like a nurturing home away from home. Ms. JoAnn began her career in early childhood education as a teacher, working with children from infancy through school age. Her deep passion for supporting young learners inspired her to take on a leadership role. As director, Ms. JoAnn leverages over 20 years of experience to mentor and guide teachers, fostering an environment where children thrive.

Mwikali started working with children in 1987 by volunteering in a kindergarten school in Nairobi, Kenya. She found that she loved it and thus started the journey in early childhood education. That same year, she enrolled in a two year kindergarten programme in Nairobi. Upon graduation she worked two years then went to Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. Children have always been a delight and pleasure to work with and she always said that they have kept her young. She has learned a lot about children over the years and knows that the experience that she gains with each new class at the Goddard School will be one of growth, enrichment, and fulfillment. She has been impacting her students in the same way since she joined us in 2013!

Ms. LaMeika is excited to be a part of the Goddard School as she continues her career in Early Childhood Education. Ms. LaMeika studied at Praire View A&M University. She joined our team in 2019 and had been in the education field for over 10 years with each year bringing new experiences. Ms. LaMeika loves to see her students learn and grow and especially enjoys seeing them build self-confidence over time. Ms. LaMeika's teaching philosophy is that children should enjoy learning and that it is okay to make mistakes! She feels that children keep us young and they remind adults to keep an open mind. She is excited to contribute to your child's development as part of our Goddard family!

Meet Ms. Caitlyn! Ms. Caitlyn is highly passionate about positively contributing to the overall growth and development of young learners. Ms. Caitlyn joins our team with several years of experience in early childhood education and holds a Bachelors of Science in Public Health from UT Arlington. She truly enjoys watching children develop a love of learning and believes that learning can be enjoyable within an environment where children can be silly, make mistakes, and learn from each other. She’s excited to play a part in her student’s learning journey at the Goddard School!

Maria holds a CDA certification and is a graduate of the Ashworth University Childcare Professional Program. She has been at Goddard and teaching in the preschool setting since 2011. She is excited to guide her students in exploring, learning, and having fun. Mrs. Maria is always entertained by the things her students say and do and she loves to witness when her students grasp the concepts she's teaching.

Ms. Jayme joined the Goddard School in 2020 with over 8 years experience in Early Childhood Education. A native of Houston, TX, she is also a mother to two sweet girls. Ms. Jayme loves teaching all ages, but her favorite age of development is in the Preschool years! She aspires to continue her education in Early Childhood Education and become a certified teacher. Ms. Jayme loves music, dancing, and is a huge Disney fan. When she's not with her students at school, she spends her free time having fun adventures with her daughters. Ms. Jayme is happy to be a part of our Goddard family and looks forward to making a contribution to her student's growth and development.

Margarita has more than twenty-five years of experience in the childcare industry and is a staple in our school as she was here from the beginning in 2010! She has been an infant teacher for twenty-three of these twenty-five years. Margarita just loves working with this age group. Margarita completed her CDA certification and she is always looking to further her education of teaching young children. She is passionate about facilitating an environment conducive for learning. Margarita is very happy to be a member of the Katy community and The Goddard School.

Angie is originally from California and moved to Texas in 2007 with her husband. From a young age, she has always loved children whether it was babysitting her nephews and nieces or working in a preschool setting. Mrs. Angie joined our Goddard family in 2012 and has been bringing smiles to the faces of her little ones ever since. Angie has her Child Development Associate certification and knows that the early years build a foundation for a love of learning. Mrs. Angie's energetic personality and positive attitude make her a perfect fit for our First Steps class.

Ms. Detra joined our team in 2020 with over 10 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Detra was born in South Boston, VA and moved to Texas back in 2002. While attending Hightower High School, she had her first job in childcare and loved it so much that she knew she had found her career path. She has been educating and caring for children ever since. Ms. Detra feels that children are the future and they deserve the best foundation possible to instill a love of learning. Ms. Detra feels grateful to be apart of the Goddard School and is looking forward to making contributions to her student’s growth and development. Some of her personal favorite books include Pete the Cat, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the Llama Llama stories.

We are thrilled to have Ms. Tristen as part of our Goddard family! Ms. Tristen is a recent graduate of the Art Institute of Houston where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Photography. She has been passionate about teaching since she was young and is currently working toward acquiring her teaching certificate in art education and social studies. Ms. Tristen puts an emphasis on encouraging children to express their creativity and wants to nurture their natural curiosity!

Meet Ms. Giana! Ms. Giana has been teaching since 2022, bringing warmth and enthusiasm to her classroom every day. She knows that with each passing year she gains knowledge and tools that will serve her in refining her craft to create a nurturing environment where her students thrive. Ms. Giana has a special gift for making every child feel valued and loved, fostering a sense of belonging that inspires confidence and curiosity. She is committed to her growth as an educator and plans to further her education to become a kindergarten teacher.

Foster holds a degree in Education and Youth Studies from Beloit College in Wisconsin with a minor in Museum Studies. In addition to his education, Foster has over 10 years of experience working with children. He joined our team back in 2017 and has been inspiring young science enthusiasts ever since! He interned at the Rockford Children's Museum in Illinois, worked as a counselor for school age children at the YMCA, and worked at the Idea Lab. Joining our team has allowed him to further pursue his passion and love for working with children. Mr. Foster also leads our S.T.E.A.M. enrichment program throughout the school. He believes that his role as a teacher is to create an environment filled with positive guidance and encouragement so that the children can grow and thrive at their own pace.

Meet Ms. Crystal! Ms. Crystal joined our team in 2021 with over 8 years experience. Most of her experience comes from being an enrichment leader for school age children at the YMCA in Kingwood. She prides herself on providing a safe and fun learning environment for her students to expand their young minds. Her personal teaching philosophy is to follow the golden rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. She truly loves being able to love, teach, and nurture children as they continue to grow!

Patricia is a native of Venezuela, but now calls Texas her home. A mother of three, Patricia believes that her maternal instincts and nurturing personality will benefit the children in her class. She loves to foster her students growth by first letting them experience things for themselves, and then offering subtle assistance. Patricia's ability to encourage a child's natural learning process makes her the ideal teacher for our Young Toddler class. Mrs. Patricia has been bringing smiles to the faces of our sweet Goddard students since 2017!

We're so happy to introduce you to Mrs. Kathy! Mrs. Kathy was born in New Jersey but has been a part of the Katy community for most of her life. She attended Rylander Elementary, CRJH, and Cinco High School. Mrs. Kathy has a twin sister and a brother. She enjoys working with kids and providing them with a loving, nurturing environment. Mrs. Kathy loves showering her students with smiles, hugs, love, support, and positivity. She guides her students in the classroom using the philosophy that “The teacher has two tasks: to lead children to concentration and help them in their development afterward.” M.M.

We are so happy to have Ms. Monica as part of our Goddard team! Ms. Monica is a mother to a beautiful 3 year old who loves life! She is a Houston native and thanks to her teachers growing up, she has known all her life that she has wanted to make an impact on children. She joins our team with prior experience working with school-age children and supporting classrooms of various ages. She looks forward to building relationships with her students and being a positive influence in their lives.

Ms. Norka is a native of Venezuela where she obtained her bachelors degree as a Medical Laboratory Technician. She relocated to Texas in 2021 with her son and is extremely family oriented. She began caring for her niece when she moved to Texas and enjoyed it so much that she chose to continue her career path in ECE. Her teaching philosophy is based on loving, recognizing, and nurturing the unique potential of each student and approaching them with compassion and empathy. She believes that creating an environment of acceptance and respect promotes growth. She is excited to care for and love on her students!

We are so pleased to introduce you to Mrs. Luz! Mrs. Luz is a native of Colombia where she had careers in several different fields until she relocated to the U.S. in 2001 with her family. She discovered her true passion and love for teaching when caring for children in her home. Mrs. Luz accepted a position in Pennsylvania as an assistant teacher in the Infant classroom and was intrigued by their constant development and progression of meeting milestones. Her family relocated to Texas where she continued working with children as a preschool teacher. Mrs. Luz knows that continued education is crucial and seeks out opportunities for development in her career as a teacher. She had the privilege of caring for her grandson until he started kindergarten. Mrs. Luz feels that life has taught her that active listening is the best skill and has helped her become an effective communicator with others. She also believes that life is gratifying when she can share and help others.

Mrs. Carlina is a native of Maracaibo, Venezuela and has created a beautiful life with her husband and two children, Juliette and Diego. Mrs. Carlina's family moved to the U.S. in 2006 and has been a part of the Katy community for the past 18 years. She started her career in Early Childhood Education over 15 years ago when she discovered a passion for working with children, but specifically infants. She puts an emphasis on creating a nurturing, safe environment where babies can explore and learn through play, building their unique personalities and relationships with their teachers and friends. Mrs. Carlina respects individual physical, social, and emotional development and believes in partnering with parents in her students growth. She believes that the more love, respect, and positivity she pours into her babies, the more it impacts her students and parents.

Meet Mrs. Yesinia! Mrs. Yesinia is excited to contribute to the Goddard School located in Katy, TX and is grateful for the opportunity to support her students' growth and development. She's lived in Texas for most of her life and is a happy wife and mother of two beautiful children, a 6 yr. old and a 2 yr. old. As a mother, she truly understands the importance of trust, patience, and care when it comes to working with young children. She is naturally loving and attentive and strives to support each child's individual growth. She looks forward to building relationships with the students and families she serves!

Meet Ms. Carina Mendoza! Currently a senior in college, Ms. Carina brings a warm heart and a wealth of experience in customer service and as a nanny. She’s passionate about caring for children with kindness, understanding, and grace, nurturing their natural curiosity and love for learning to help them thrive. Ms. Carina also believes in sprinkling a bit of fun and silliness into every moment, keeping that child-like joy alive and sparkling!

We are so excited to introduce Mrs. (Laura) Gabi, a warm and dedicated member of our Goddard team. Mrs. Gabi’s passion for working with young children began with a very personal moment: the day her little brother was born. Holding him—so tiny and fragile—filled her with an overwhelming sense of protectiveness and wonder. That experience sparked deep thoughts about his future and inspired her to nurture and guide the youngest members of our community. She soon began teaching at her church, where she discovered her true calling: to be a positive influence in children’s lives and to provide the caring, supportive environment they need to grow and thrive. Mrs. Gabi brings that same heartfelt protectiveness, gentleness, and joy to our classroom every day, helping each child feel safe, valued, and excited to learn.

Meet Ms. Madison! Ms. Madison brings wonderful experience working with our youngest learners, particularly children aged 18-24 months. In her previous roles, she created engaging and flexible daily routines filled with hands-on crafts, activities to build fine motor skills, joyful music and movement sessions, and plenty of opportunities for exploration and growth. Ms. Madison has a strong work ethic, positive energy, and genuine love for keeping busy while making meaningful connections with children. There's truly nothing she enjoys more than watching little ones discover the world around them and helping them thrive each day. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Madison stays active playing tennis, enjoying game nights with friends, curling up with a good book, and experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes. Ms. Madison is excited to build warm relationships with your children and families, and she looks forward to making a lasting, positive impact on every student in her care.