Our Goddard School Teachers

Kendall has been a part of The Goddard School located in Glen Allen since 2001. She has since replaced her mother, Valerie Denton, as onsite owner. With a background in business, she strives to continue to carry out the schools original goals of not only being a safe, nurturing and educational environment, but also one that stresses the importance of family and communication. Kendall is a mother of three boys and finds The Goddard Wonder of Learning curriculum is a vital part of creating a life long love of learning. She feels the environment should not only be supportive and positive for the student, but also for the parents.

Ms. Hannah attended Radford University, where she earned her degree in Early Childhood Special Education. She began her journey with The Goddard School in 2014, first as a classroom teacher before moving into her current role as Director of Education. With years of hands-on experience in the classroom, Ms. Hannah brings a deep understanding of child development to her leadership, guiding our teaching team and supporting the implementation of our Wonder of Learning curriculum. Her passion for early childhood education shines through in everything she does—from mentoring teachers to fostering a love of learning in every student. Outside of school, Ms. Hannah enjoys spending time with her husband and their three boys, as well as working outdoors and tending to her yard.

Michelle has been with the Goddard School since August of 2005. She has her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and has been involved in the field Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. Michelle enjoys gardening and baking for friends and family during her free time. She looks forward to being part of your child’s growth and development in Early Childhood Education. She loves that every day with children is a new adventure!

Ms. Courtney joined the Goddard family in July 2024! As our administrative assistant, she supports each member of our team with daily operations, trains new team members and oversees our programming activities. When she's not at Goddard, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids!

Ms. Aylissa joined our team in October 2021. She is an Atlee High School graduate and recently graduated with her Bachelors in Business Administration. Ms. Aylissa is an incredible asset to our team whose dedication and positivity shine through in everything she does. She is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for both our teachers and families, always going above and beyond to ensure everyone feels welcomed, supported, and valued. Whether she's lending a helping hand, organizing special moments, or finding creative ways to bring joy to the school community, Ms. Aylissa's caring nature and enthusiasm make a lasting impact. Her commitment to fostering strong relationships and a positive environment helps make our school a place where children, families, and staff can truly thrive.

Ms. LaDonna joined our team in March 2022. She came to us with over 5 years of childcare experience. LaDonna loves helping babies discover new things and watching them grow. She loves all the babies as if they were her own. She has two children who are her entire world.

Ms. Amber joined us in September 2021. She has over 8 years of childcare experience. She has a career studies certificate in early childhood education and received her CDA in June of 2023. Her favorite thing about working with children is watching them learn and grow each day. She loves her babies and says the smiles, cooing and giggles make her day.

Mrs. Wafaa comes to us with many years of experience in raising her own 4 children. She has found her nitch in our infant room and the babies absolutely adore her. Her favorite thing about working with children is helping her babies discover new things.

Ms. Alexis joined the Goddard family in September 2024! She is one of our amazing infant teachers and joins us with ample childcare experience. Her favorite thing about assisting in the infant classroom is seeing their personalities develop. In her free time she enjoys watching Bluey!

She joined our team in 2026 and brings several years of experience working with young children. She is passionate about creating a nurturing, engaging learning environment where every child can grow and thrive. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Education and Special Education, furthering her knowledge and commitment to supporting children of all learning abilities. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors on walks. She is excited to build meaningful relationships with the children and families in her classroom and looks forward to a wonderful school year together!

Ms. Arielle has been a valued member of our team since 2024 and brings kindness, compassion, and enthusiasm to the classroom every day. She loves building meaningful connections with children through play, hands-on activities, and engaging interactions that encourage learning and confidence. Her caring nature and positive energy help create a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels supported, valued, and excited to explore.

Ms. Bri is new to childcare and has jumped right into our program in 2023. She says she loves watching the children's creativity flow through the curriculum. Bri loves to read and is excited to advance in the field of childcare.

Ms. Shaheena joined our team in 2025 and holds a Bachelor’s degree. As a mother of two sons, she brings valuable experience, patience, and a genuine love for children into the classroom. She is passionate about creating a warm, nurturing environment where students feel supported as they learn and grow. In her free time, Ms. Shaheena enjoys spending quality time with her family.

Ms. Nikia joined our team in July 2025 and brings creativity, enthusiasm, and a joyful spirit to the classroom each day. A graduate of Randolph-Macon College, she has a passion for theatre and acting, which shines through in her engaging interactions and imaginative play with children. She loves working in childcare because every day is a new adventure filled with opportunities to laugh, learn, and have fun. Ms. Nikia is dedicated to creating a positive, nurturing environment where every child feels encouraged to explore and grow.

Ms. Tanise joined the Goddard family in February 2025. She is one of our amazing toddler teachers and brings so much enthusiam to the classroom. Her favorite thing about working at the Goddard School is seeing each child grow and learn new skills (especially walking!) and celebrating each milestone!

Ms. McKayla joined our Goddard family in January 2025! She is passionate about the children's growth and development and loves the opportunity to make learning fun for our little learners. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends.

Ms. Melinda has over 25 years of experience in childcare many of them here at Goddard since starting in 2004. Ms. Melinda loves watching children grow and experience life. She enjoys reading and watching tv in her spare time.

Ms. Stacie joined our team in September 2021. She is a Hermitage High School graduate. Stacie's favorite thing about working with kids is seeing the kids learn and grow into their own personalities. She enjoys reading, painting, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Ms. Nadiya joined our Goddard Glen Allen family in 2025. She has several years experience in childcare and is currently persuing her degree in early childhood education. Ms. Nadiya loves watching her students learn and grow each day. She brings such warmth and enthusiasm to every classroom she is a part of. She previously worked at The Goddard School in Arizona, where she gained valuable hands-on experience in early learning. In her free time, Ms. Nadiya enjoys reading and crocheting.

Ms. Avi joined the Goddard team in 2025 and is one of our awesome Pre-School teachers. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and brings a passion for early childhood education into her classroom every day. As both a dedicated teacher and a parent to her own son, she understands the importance of creating a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. With hands-on classroom experience and a love for fostering curiosity and confidence, Ms. Avi is committed to supporting each child’s unique developmental journey. She said her favorite thing about working with children is getting to show them love and kindness each day!

Ms. Casey joined the Goddard Glen Allen Family in 2025 as a resource teacher. With many years of experience in childcare, she enjoys floating around the different classrooms and engaging with students of all ages. Her favorite thing about working at Goddard is seeing the children's growth and development.

Ms. Cathy has over 3 decades of experience working with children. She joined our team in 2018. Cathy finds great reward in exploring the world through the eyes of children. She loves to see them discover new ideas. Cathy enjoys crafting and photography. Her favorite place is the beach where she loves to collect shells that she shares with her class.

Ms. Liz joined our team in April of 2022 with 8 years of experience in childcare. She has her associates in early childhood education. Ms. Liz loves seeing the children get excited to learn something new every day. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, and crafting. Snuggling Kitty, her cat of ten years is one of her favorite lazy day activities.

Ms. Karishma joined the Goddard Glen Allen family in 2025 as one of our amazing Pre-K teachers. She joins us with many years of childcare experience and said her favorite thing about working with children is seeing their independence blossom and the new things they learn every day.

Mr. Will joined our team with a passion for creating meaningful connections and exciting experiences for every child in his care. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, he loves introducing children to new activities and watching their curiosity and confidence grow. One of his favorite parts of working in childcare is the joy and laughter the children bring each day—their happiness is truly infectious and always leaves him smiling. When he's not at school, Mr. Will enjoys spending time outdoors and gathering with friends to play Dungeons & Dragons. His creativity, enthusiasm, and playful spirit make every day in the classroom an adventure!

Mr. Vincent joined our team in April 2022. He has over 5 years of experience in childcare and is going to VCU for psychology. His favorite thing about his school-agers is building relationships with them.

Ms. Jamilah joined our Goddard Family in August 2025. She is a recent graduate of University of Richmond and one of our fabulous after-school teachers. She brings incredible energy, creativity, and fun to our program, making afternoons engaging, active, and full of smiles. Ms. Jamilah loves building positive connections with students and creating a joyful space where children can relax, learn, and thrive after the school day.

Ms. Robin is one of our amazing floater teachers and enjoys being able to spend time with all of our students. Her favorite thing about working at Goddard is seeing the children grow and learn throughout the years!

Ms. Lexi joined the Goddard family in October 2024! She's loves getting to visit all of the different classrooms and work with so many different age groups each day.