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 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 supporting 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 in 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, fishing, 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.

Anastasia, originally from Ukraine, was adopted and now resides in Virginia. She is a devoted mother of two and a dog owner. With three years of experience in childcare, Anna has developed a passion for nurturing young minds and witnessing their developmental milestones. Anna's experience in childcare has allowed her to cherish moments of growth, learning, and language development in children. She finds joy in seeing children take their first steps, learn new skills, and utter their first words. Outside of her professional life, Anna enjoys playing soccer and exploring local parks with her children. Anna is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." This philosophy resonates with her, as she strives to make a positive impact in the lives of children and her community.

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!

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.

Nely was born and raised in Arlington, VA but recently moved to Woodbridge. She is from El Salvador and in 2023 she visited the country for her first time in over 20 years! Nely is the youngest of six (and only girl!) and has a golden labrador named Bleu. She has been working in childcare since 2019, starting as support staff before becoming a lead toddler teacher in 2022. Nely graduated from George Mason University with a BS in Psychology, a minor in Social Work, and a concentration in Educational Psychology. She currently serves as the President of the GMU Latino Alumni Chapter. Nely's favorite part about working with children is seeing them reach new milestones, whether it is learning to walk, learning a new skill, or simply expressing themselves in new ways. In her time off, she likes watching movies/tv shows and reading romance and psychological thriller books!

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.

Idania, a native of El Salvador, relocated to the United States in 2004. She is a devoted dog owner, having adopted Rodney, a Korean-Jindo dog from China, in 2019. With two years of experience in childcare, Idania has developed a passion for education and child development. Idania began her childcare career at Goddard of Fairfax, before transitioning to a nearby location for a brief period. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering. In her spare time, Idania enjoys spending time with her dog Rodney, listening to music, watching movies, and trying out new pasta dishes. Idania's favorite aspect of teaching is witnessing children achieve their goals and their eagerness to learn. She finds inspiration in Dr. Seuss's quote: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

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 from the beautiful island of Dominica which is located in the Caribbean. She completed her Associates in Psychology back home, and is now working towards her Bachelors and Masters degree in Early Childhood Education at George Mason University. Zene has been working with children ever since she was 13 years old. She is also the oldest out of four siblings. Zene enjoys going on walks and loves to cook.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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. 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."

Julia is from Brazil and the youngest of three kids--and the most talkative of them all! She is married and has a puppy named Daya. Julia taught language classes and was an au pair and babysitter before joining Goddard. She has an Associate's degree in Hospitality and is persuing a Bachelors degree and Teaching Degree in Portuguese and German Literatures. Her favorite part about working with children is being able to watch them grow and learning their amazing personalities. In her free time, Julia loves learning new things, meeting new people, playing with Daya, and cooking!

Alissa was born in Washington D.C. but grew up in Northern Virginia. She has three bunnies named Coffee, Vanilla, Marshmallow, and also a cat named Luna. Alissa previously worked in ABA providing therapy to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She graduated with her Associates degree in Science from Northern Virginia Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Community Health. In her free time, Alissa enjoys doing anything artistic including painting, drawing, pottery.

Melissa, a native of Virginia, is a dedicated and passionate individual who is making a positive impact in the field of childcare. As the youngest of two siblings and a devoted cat mom, she has developed strong nurturing skills and a love for helping others grow. Her favorite color, blue, reflects her calm and soothing demeanor. With a year of experience in childcare, Melissa has had the joy of teaching and watching toddlers develop new skills and reach exciting milestones. Her enthusiasm and patience make her an exceptional caregiver and educator. Melissa is is currently pursuing higher education at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Melissa enjoys expressing her creativity through building with Legos, relaxing while watching TV shows and movies, and spending quality time with her feline companion.

Kyara, a devoted mother of four daughters and avid Washington Commanders fan, calls Alexandria, VA home. She treasures family time, hosting movie nights filled with snacks, games, and films. Kyara has 10+ years of experience in early childhood education, and has thrived in diverse educational settings. Her greatest joy comes from witnessing children's developmental growth, fueled by her belief that learning is a reciprocal process: "when children learn from us, we learn from them." A passionate advocate for goal-setting, Kyara knows that defining objectives is the crucial first step to turning aspirations into reality, making the invisible visible.