Our Teachers

Mr. Sanjeev is the owner of The Goddard School of Fairfax and is happy to provide a school where children can flourish. Mr. Sanjeev's background in child behavior & development, along with his early education policy work, forms his passion for wanting to create a strong foundation for children's development of exploration and curiosity. In order to see children excel, Mr. Sanjeev is proud to present this state-of-the-art facility to the community where children can learn and grow in a fun and safe environment, guided by teachers with the highest qualifications. Mr. Sanjeev went to elementary, middle, and high school in Fairfax before earning his undergraduate degrees from UMass and his graduate degree from GMU. Mr. Sanjeev and his wife, Ms. Roshani, have a son that also attends the school!

Ms Bailey is originally from Kansas City, Missouri and attended college at Washington University in St. Louis. She graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Women & Gender Studies, with coursework in child development, educational psychology, developmental psychology, and the psychology of creativity. While working in Prince William County Schools, she gained experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. She took an interest in Early Childhood Education and joined the field as a Junior Kindergarten teacher from 2012-2015. As an Assistant Director she worked directly with teachers and curriculum development in a Reggio Emilia inspired program. She also created a nature program at the school to encourage outdoor learning and to mentor educators. Bailey became an Executive Director in April 2020 and joined Goddard in April 2023. In her free time, Ms Bailey loves cooking, camping, traveling, and kayaking.

Ms. Emily is originally from North Carolina, and attended college at University of Mount Olive. With course work in Business, she holds an Early Childhood Education Certificate, an Early Childhood Education Administration Certificate, and is currently completing her CDA and has been working in Early Childhood Education since 2012. Emily brings years of experience as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher, and several years of experience as a Director. She has worked with all ages from infancy through 12 years and has a background in Montessori and Special Education. She believes it is important that children develop a sense of self within their classrooms where they are surrounded by love, and learning from other children. Allowing them to activate their passion for learning is so important in early childhood education. In her free time she enjoys painting, hiking, camping, rolling pasta, and spending time with her family and Dog (Stanley).

Ms. Ruby is originally from Vietnam, born and raised in Ho Chi Minh city. She came to the U.S many years ago as an international student. She has a B.S in Human Development, and an M. A in ESL & Multicultural Education, both from Virginia Tech. Ms. Ruby has always wanted to be a teacher since she was little. She would place all her stuffed animals around the dining table and pretend to teach them. Ms. Ruby loves to cook, read, take a walk or bike in the parks in her free time. She also owns a huge Hello Kitty collection. Ms. Ruby used to work at another Goddard School in Ohio where she lived for 3 years before moving back to VA. She is very happy to be at The Goddard School again. She has been an educator since 2016, and her most joyful thing is to watch the children grow up and develop every day. She can't wait to meet new students and families!

Mrs. Sumaia is the Lead Teacher in our Infant program. She is very excited to join the Goddard family. She is a mother of five beautiful children and one grandson! Mrs. Sumaia has cared for children across the globe spanning her years of experience in Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and now here in Virginia! She is CDA certified and has completed the Virginia Preservice Training for Child Care Staff. Not only highly qualified, but Mrs. Sumaia also has a great passion for guiding and teaching children. She loves to inspire learning and find the results extremely rewarding. Her greatest teaching strength is her ability to understand that each child is unique. She works hard to cater to each child’s needs. She is warm and incorporates her compassionate energy in everything she does to support children. She is missed and loved by parents from around the world. She is grateful to be part of our new Goddard team in Fairfax.

India has been working in the field of education since 2007 and has an associates degree in Elementary Education. She is currently pursuing her bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them grow and develop. She is the middle child of 15 and is a mother herself. India has a dog named Tiny and lived in North Carolina for 38 years! In her free time, India loves reading, cooking, trying out new restaurants and spending time with her family.

Ms Andrea has experience volunteering in elementary schools and helping out in a kindergarten class. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them get excited when they reach a milestone. Andrea has three siblings and her family has roots in El Salvador. She grew up in Frederick, MD and is excited to join Goddard Fairfax!

Denisse was born in Mexico and came to the United States as an au pair. While in college, she taught English to elementary school students. After receiving her degree, she taught English to high school students. After that, she found her love for Early Childhood Education as an au pair. In addition to Spanish and English, Denisse also speaks French and is learning German and Chinese. In her free time, she likes walking with her dog (Poncho the chihuahua!) and traveling with her husband to new places. Denisse's favorite part about working with children is that it reminds her of when she was a young child, too!

Kaela has worked in childcare and with young toddlers since 2020 and was also a personal care aid for a child with disabilities. She and her husband have two boys, a fat cat named Nimbus, and a few fish and shrimp in the family fish tank! Kaela's favorite part about working with children is that they are fun, energetic, and keep you on your toes. She loves the silliness and sweetness they have each day. In her free time, Kaela loves to read books and cook for friends and family. She loves art and hanging out with the people she loves.

Alaijah was born and raised in Fairfax County and is the oldest of six siblings (and the second oldest out of nine grandchildren!). She has some coursework from NOVA majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child Development. Alaijah also loves doing hair and graduated from cosmetology school in January 2023. Her favorite part about working with children is learning their different personalities and watching them grow each day. In her time off, Alaijah loves to paint, do hair & makeup, and watch movies.

Karina was born and raised in Virginia and is the oldest of 3 children. She has always enjoyed working with infants and toddlers and loves getting to know their personalities and watching them grow. Karina received her Infant and Toddler Certificate, Early Childhood Development Certificate, and Career Studies Certificate from NVCC. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and listening to music.

Ms. Kim lived in Richmond for 12 years and recently moved to NOVA with her husband. She started as a tutor in the AmeriCorps program in college and earned her Bachelor's in Psychology and Master's in Teaching at VCU. Kim taught first grade and kindergarten for 3 years. She returned to early childhood education because she believes the early stages of learning are just as important as K-12. Ms. Kim enjoys trying new foods and recipes, and traveling with her husband. Her favorite part about working with children is that they are naturally curious, positive, and observant. They learn something new every day and she loves to see them try new things and grow!

Ms. Olivia is excited to start her career at The Goddard School! She has lived most of her life in Bolivia, and she is fluent in Spanish. She really enjoys working with children as they bring her joy with their curiosity. She is excited to utilize her skills, experience, and also her background in education to shape our next generations. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her dog, Lincoln.

Zene is originally from Dominica--a small island in the Caribbean. She loves animals and had over 10 cats and dogs back home! Zene is working on her Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education at GMU and previously earned her Associates in Dominica. She has worked with children since she was 13 and makes it her duty to teacher them something new each day, no matter how small it seems. Zene loves swimming and cooking--home-cooked meals are the best! Her favorite part about working with children is that they are always so happy and filled with joy.

Ms. Katy has a background in Special Education, and she has been working Early Childhood Education setting since 2017. She has always loved working with children and watching them learn and grow each day! In her free time you would find her watching movies and playing with animals. She is so excited to be a part of The Goddard School Family!

Natasha is from Fairfax and enjoys spending her summers in Staunton, VA. She has a brother; her biggest supporter and best friend is her mom! Natasha attended NOVA as well as Mary Baldwin University where she obtained her bachelor’s in history with a double minor in Psychology and Sociology. Natasha has worked with infants and toddlers and enjoys creating activities that keep children engaged and excited to learn new things, while encouraging them to be their own person. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them grow, learn, and develop their individual personalities. In her time off, Natasha enjoys shopping, going out to eat, spending time with her family, playing basketball, and ELMO!

Travis is our Outdoor Resource Teacher! He supports classrooms when they utilize our outdoor spaces each day by planning and guiding fun gross motor activities. Travis was a swim instructor for 10 years and earned his Associates in Teacher Education at NOVA. His mother is from Japan and is a local preschool teacher--he learned a lot helping out at her school when he was younger! His father is an Air Force pilot and he also has a younger brother and sister. Originally, Travis is from California--he also lived in Japan for a while before moving to Virginia for secondary school. In his free time, he loves rock climbing, playing video games, and watching super hero movies. Travis' favorite part about working with children is seeing a student's eyes light up when they learn something new!

Dineja is originally from Philadelphia, PA but has lived in VA most of her life. She has 5 siblings and 2 cats named Dusty and Waffles. Dineja has been working with children for over 10 years--her favorite part is watching them enjoy learning and going to school. It brings joy to her heart when students remember former lessons. Dineja is currently in school for marketing and hopes to use her skills in social media marketing. In her free time, she loves to bake, read, paint, and spend time with her cat. She also loves listening to music and learning music history!

Nadya has over two years of experience in Early Childhood Education after receiving her Bachelors degree in 2021. Nadya attended George Washington University, where she studied Psychology. As an international adoptee, Nadya is keenly aware that children need attention and support during their educational and developmental years. Nadya loves to incorporate art into every lesson plan to increase focus and creativity as well as a grounding tool for people dealing with anxiety and stress. Outside of work, Nadya enjoys spending time with her friends, fiancé, and her two fur babies (Tiggy the cat and Mimi the dog). She also loves fashion, beauty, art, and all things family.

Sydney grew up in the historic town of Warrenton and graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from George Mason University. She worked as a Registered Behavior Technician for young children with ASD, ADHD, and other behavioral diagnoses before joining Goddard. Sydney taught skill acquisition and behavior reduction through evidence-based intervention strategies. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing each child's unique personality and witnessing their growth. In her free time, Sydney enjoys music, reading, art, and spending time with friends.

Regina is originally from Fairfax and has lived here most of her life. She graduated from George Mason with a major in Human Development and Family Science with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Regina started in the field of education as an assistant teacher in preschool and kindergarten and worked in a Montessori school for two years before joining The Goddard School. Her favorite part about working with children is seeing them learn new things and watching them grow. In her time off, Regina enjoys listening to music, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. She lived in South Korea for the first few years of her life along with her grandmother.

Katie has over 20 years of experience in the field of education, working in public and private schools and in home care facilities. She earned her Associate's degree from NVCC and has experience teaching children 6 weeks old to teens. In her free time, Katie likes to color, diamond paint, and read. She loves watching movies, playing boardgames & video games, and watching hockey with her father. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them master a new skill and seeing them gain confidence from using that skill. Katie also loves knowing that she is making a difference in their lives every day.

Ms Catherine supports all classrooms at the Goddard School of Fairfax. She has 10 years of experience working in Childcare and private schools. She has worked with children from age 2 through 2nd grade. She has done course work in Early Childhood Education at George Mason University and has a CDA. She is excited to start this new chapter with the Goddard School and looks forward to building new relationships and making a positive difference in the children’s lives.

Damaris is originally from a small town in South Carolina. She comes from a big family with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Damaris earned her associates degree in criminology, law, and society and is currently finishing up her bachelors. She wants to also pursue a masters degree in Social Work. Damaris enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and biking and exploring new places. She also enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. Damaris' favorite part about working with children is seeing their smiles and how eager they are to learn new things. It makes her feel like she is making a difference in their lives when she is able to help them learn and grow!

Layla is originally from Arkansas but grew up in Virginia. She is the youngest of three and says she is the most spoiled! Layla currently attends Norfolk State University and is majoring in Social Work. She has maintained a 3.78 GPA since entering school, remained a 6x deans list recipient, and a Presidential Intern. Her favorite part of working with children is being able to form relationships with them and that they know they have a trusting adult. In her free time, Layla likes to work out, cook, binge watching series, and cleaning.

Alex is originally from Annandale and has two sisters and one brother. She also has a pet Dalmatian named Zuko. She studied psychology and earned her Associates from NVCC before transferring to the University of Virginia where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Alex was a peer tutor in high school and has also worked with kindergarteners and middle schoolers. In her time off, she plays soccer and volleyball and enjoys going on run and reading. Her favorite part about working with children is being able to see their growth and joy as they learn something new.

Alexis grew up in Maryland and is the youngest of 4. She has a blue pit bull named England and recently moved to Virginia due to her husband's next duty station. Alexis has been in the field of early childhood education since 2018 and worked with toddlers and kindergarteners before joining Goddard. Her favorite part about working with children is watching them grow and accomplish new milestones. She is currently in school for Homeland Security/Cyber Security and minoring in Education. In her free time, Alexis likes to spend time with family, go hiking, cook and bake, workout, play volleyball, and binge watch new shows.

Ms. Jennifer is a NOVA native who is now settled in Haymarket. She brings 28 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education Field. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education Administration, an A.A.S in Early Childhood Education, a C.S.C. in American Sign Language, and a 2nd degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do. Her hobbies include shopping, dining out, and watching movies. In her free time, she enjoys the beach, downhill skiing, and camping. Working with children is always a unique experience and adventure everyday with lots of fun and laughter. Her favorite quote is "Children are great imitators, so give them something to imitate".

Ms. Grace is a Gluten free Fairfax County native. She has two siblings and a dog named Phoebe. She was a cheerleader for 4 years, who enjoys spending time with friends, going on walks, coffee shops, and watching T.V. She participates in Teachers 4 Tomorrow a teacher-prep program in FCPS. She also subs for FCPS during the school year. She graduated from Robinson Secondary School and currently attends University of Mary Washington. She is on the Deans list and is part of the Best Buddies program. She has wanted to be a teacher since she was a small child and believes that Teachers have the power to shape generations, inspire minds, and touch hearts.

Ms. Melissa is a Centerville native who is an only child. She has Four Parakeets and is excited to be a teacher with the Goddard Fairfax School as she attended Goddard as a child. She played violin for four years, and she attended Northern Virginia Community College where she obtained her associate in business administration. She is currently attending George Mason University where she is in the process of obtaining her bachelor’s in business with a concentration in Management. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, spending time with friends and family, traveling abroad, and relaxing with video games on the weekends. Just like Gandhi she believes "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."