Our Goddard School Teachers

Christina is the heart behind The Goddard School – Woodlake. A former kindergarten teacher and passionate advocate for early childhood education, she blends her classroom experience with strong leadership and a deep love for people. Christina holds a Master’s Degree in Early and Elementary Education and a degree in Deaf Studies, which have shaped her belief that every child learns best through connection, understanding, and individualized care. As the on-site owner, she is involved in every aspect of the school — guiding teachers, supporting families, and creating a warm, engaging environment where children thrive. At home, Christina is a proud wife to a firefighter and mom to two boys, Micah and Asher, who inspire her daily to create a school that feels like an extension of home — full of heart, laughter, and learning.

Ms. Emily has been part of the Woodlake Goddard School family since 2009, and she’s done it all—from caring for tiny infants to guiding energetic school-age kids. She loves helping little minds grow, explore, and discover the joy of learning every day. When she’s not at school, you might find Ms. Emily running on a trail, reading a good book, spiking a volleyball, or camping under the stars. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and their playful pups, making every adventure a family affair!

Ms. Rachael joined our Goddard Family in the fall of 2022 as a Pre-Toddler teacher and quickly found her way into the front office, where her sunny personality brightens everyone’s day. She loves watching how every child brings their own special light to the world and feels lucky to be surrounded by our future generations every single day! When she’s not at school, Ms. Rachael enjoys spending time with her daughters, attending concerts, loving on her fur babies!

Ms. Tara joined our Goddard Village in 2021 as a Lead Teacher and, about a year ago, brought her energy and smile to the front office of both of our buildings. She serves as the bridge between the annex and preschool building, making sure everything runs smoothly and everyone feels welcome. With years of experience working with children, Ms. Tara is First Aid and CPR/MAT certified. Her favorite part of working with little learners? Seeing the world through their eyes—it’s a daily reminder to slow down, enjoy the little things, and embrace life’s simple joys.

Ms. Natalie is one of the friendly faces you’ll see in the front office at Woodlake Goddard School. She loves creating a welcoming environment for families, staff, and children alike. With her CDA in Infant/Toddler and Preschool, Ms. Natalie thrives on supporting interactive and engaging classroom experiences for our little learners. You can usually find her in our Annex building, spending time with our Pre-K and school-age students. When she’s not at school, Ms. Natalie enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places on her travels, or testing her wits in escape rooms—always up for a fun challenge!

Ms. Michelle has been nurturing our tiniest learners at Woodlake Goddard School since the fall of 2022. A Chesterfield native, she also shares her love of teaching on the weekends as a Sunday School teacher. You’re sure to hear her sweet songs echoing through the hallways as her class makes their way to the playground each morning and afternoon. When she’s not at school, Ms. Michelle enjoys spending quality time with her family, making every moment count.

Ms. Alyssa joined our Goddard team in the spring of 2023 and has quickly become a favorite in our Infant classroom. Coming from a big family, she knows all the tricks of caring for little ones and brings warmth, patience, and plenty of smiles to every day. She loves celebrating each milestone—big or small—and making every moment with her students special!

Ms. Kelsey came to us in the summer of 2024 with a love for story time and art projects. Her favorite thing about coming to work each day is seeing the smiling faces of all of her students!

Ms. Bailey joined our Goddard family in the late summer of 2024. She thoroughly enjoys the sense of community that our school provides and loves how uplifting everyone in the building is. Her favorite thing about working with children is how they impact her day in such a positive way, regardless of what type of day she is having to start out with.

Ms. Madison joined our team in the late Spring of 2024 as a resource teacher helping out in a variety of our classrooms. She is currently attending VCU for nursing and enjoys watching children grow both academically and socially!

Ms. Michelle is the lead teacher in our Robin's classroom and comes to us with 30 plus years of experience in childcare with all age levels. She enjoys learning, reading, and taking care of children. "When given the opportunity to teach children at a young age, you yourself are learning from them, and I love learning."

Ms. Aaliyah came to us in the Spring of 2025 with several years of experience working with children. From day one, we have loved how she dove right in offering to help write lesson plans and how she began forming relationships with the students.

Daniela brings 7 years of early childhood experience, including one year at The Goddard School of Woodlake. She loves building connections with young learners—especially 2-year-olds—whose silly and curious conversations inspire her every day. As a native Spanish speaker, she incorporates Spanish songs and phrases into daily routines to give children a playful, natural introduction to bilingual learning. Daniela also enjoys sharing favorite books like What Do You Do With an Idea? and the Little Dino Manners series, which help encourage creativity, confidence, and positive behaviors. She is passionate about creating a warm, engaging classroom where every child feels supported and excited to learn.

Ms. Amaya joined our team back in 2023 as an Assistant Teacher in our preschool program. Since then, she has become part of our resource team which spends time helping out in all of our classrooms. She enjoys science experiments and teaching her students to think outside of the box. In her spare time, she likes to read, paint, and cook!

Ms. Ashley is one of our fantastic Preschool teachers. She has dedicated years to caring for children and while doing so, she has attained her cosmetology license. Her one true passion is working with children which is what brought her to us! In her free time, you can find her crafting for her family and her classroom!

Ms. Jasmine joined our team in 2021 as one of our lead Preschool teachers. She is in the process of obtaining her CDA in Early Childhood Education and pursuing her bachelor's in mathematics. Ms. Jas' favorite thing about working with children is providing them with tender love and care.

Ms. Marin comes to us with invaluable experience of raising her own two children who now currently attend The Goddard School. She has previously worked in children's ministries and enjoys making weird crafts and speaking in silly voices. Ms. Marin can be observed creating lessons that inspire the children to become curious, life-long learners.

Mr. Carlyle has been with Goddard since 2022. He is one of our fabulous bus drivers and handy men.

Ms. Amanda brings seven years of experience working with children, including six wonderful years at The Goddard School. She has taught nearly every age group, but her heart belongs to the Bridge classroom, where she shines as a true potty-training pro. She also serves as a mentor for newer teachers, supporting their growth and confidence. Ms. Amanda holds her CDA for infants and toddlers and creates a warm, welcoming space for children to learn and thrive. Outside of Goddard, she loves spending time with her two daughters and their dog, Maggie. She enjoys reading, going to the beach, the color purple, and Italian food.

Ms. Kylie has been working with young children for 6 years and is passionate about creating a joyful, hands-on classroom environment. She describes herself as a play-based, child-centered teacher who believes children learn best when they are free to explore, experiment, and make their own choices. One of her favorite things to do in the classroom is setting up engaging play invitations that spark curiosity and independence. She loves watching children discover new ideas through open-ended activities. A fun fact about Ms. Kylie is that she has two cats named Luna and Nova, who bring lots of personality and coziness to her home. Ms. Kylie is excited to partner with families and help each child feel supported, confident, and eager to learn every day.

Ms. Illi joined our Goddard family in the Spring of 2025. She has a background of working with children in a Montessori setting and brings a wealth of knowledge/experience to our school. Please help us in welcoming Ms. Illi to The Goddard School!

Mrs. Ari has been working with children for over nine years, including two years in a preschool setting. Her favorite part of the day is circle time, especially when her students get to take the lead and enjoy being the “teacher” for a moment. Mrs. Ari describes her teaching style as firm yet deeply loving. She values her students’ voices, gently pushes them to grow, and believes strong connections—inside and outside the classroom—help children become their truest selves. A fun fact about Mrs. Ari is that she’s allergic to tomatoes, all nuts, and almost everything outdoors. She’s also a twin! Her favorite children’s book is *Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus* because its silly and unpredictable nature matches the joy of preschoolers. Most importantly, she wants families to know that she sees every child as a whole little person with a bright future, and she feels truly honored to be part of their early learning journey.

Ms. Shelitta comes to us with 30 plus years of early childhood education. Her passion is helping young students and families find their love of learning and to navigate the transitions that come with it. You can find Ms. Shelitta in our PreK classroom playing games, ALL music, and finding the joy in everything!

Ms. Ann has been with The Goddard School since 2022 and is one of our lead Pre-K teachers. She loves teaching and can't wait to see how much growth her students make. In her spare time, she loves to bake and spend time with her family.

Mr. Peter has been teaching preK at Goddard since September of 2024. Prior to Goddard, Mr. Peter taught fifth grade in Henrico and Chesterfield Counties for 30 years. Mr. Peter attended Clemson University and VCU back in the pre-internet days!! Mr. Peter brings energy, humor, organization, and many years of experience to his classroom. Mr. Peter loves teaching new concepts to the children, but also enjoys sharing great books during Circle Time and playing board games with his class! Mr. Peter is proud to be co-teaching the Hummingbirds classroom with Ms. Bri for 2025-2026! When not at Goddard, Mr. Peter spends the majority of his time with his wife and three young daughters. If you see a commotion at a local store of a restaurant involving three young blonde children, suffice to say Mr. Peter is in the vicinity!

Ms. Bri has been a part of The Goddard School for four years and loves creating a classroom environment where children can explore, discover, and learn through hands-on experiences and play. She believes in giving children the freedom to understand the world around them in a natural, meaningful way. Outside the classroom, Ms. Bri enjoys spending time with her family. She also has a few fun passions—she is a published children’s book author, an enthusiastic gardener who grows her own fruits and vegetables, and the proud owner of three cats. Ms. Bri has her bachelor's in education and her master's degree in nutrition.

Ms. Shaquita has been a dedicated member of our Goddard family since 2012 and brings an impressive 19 years of experience in early childhood education. As one of our preschool teachers, she has taught nearly every age group and continues to bring warmth, patience, and passion to each classroom she leads. She especially enjoys teaching and sharing story time with her students—one of her favorite authors is Dr. Seuss, whose playful rhymes and imaginative tales inspire her love of reading in young learners. She takes pride in her work and truly loves what she does each day. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Shaquita enjoys fishing and collecting sports memorabilia. These hobbies reflect her appreciation for both relaxation and the excitement of the game.

Help us in welcoming Ms. Colleen who is gaining even more experience as they dream of one day becoming a teacher. You can find Ms. Colleen helping out in various classrooms as a resource teacher, but don't be fooled, they are equally as hands on as our classroom teachers and enjoys dance parties in the classroom!

Teacher Amaya is one of our newest resource teachers who comes to us with an infectious smile on a daily basis. They will be getting to know all of our students better over time so they can step in as a resource teacher and/or closer in the evenings. Teacher Amaya received a degree in Literary Studies and enjoys writing!

Ms. Leila has been working with children for 9 years and loves building strong, caring relationships with her students and their families. Her favorite classroom activities include circle time, art, sensory play, and reading, the best part of her day. Leila’s teaching style is warm, supportive, and engaging, and her favorite children’s book is Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Outside of school, she enjoys spending her free time reading.

Coach Randa has been teaching for nearly 3 years and has been working in childcare since middle school. They love bringing creativity into everything they do. Their favorite classroom activities involve art, music, movement, and dramatic play — anything that gets children excited and active. They describe themselves as an enthusiastic, imaginative teacher who believes that children learn best when they’re engaged, curious, and having fun. They love turning everyday moments into opportunities for discovery and confidence-building. Fun fact! One of Coach Randa's hobbies is costume making! Outside of school, you’ll find Randa at school at VCU. They are studying communication arts and hopes to publish their own children's books some day!

Ms. Clarissa joined our staff in 2021 as a Resource teacher assisting in our various classrooms. Ms. Clarissa's favorite thing about working with children is that they are full of surprises and love expressing themselves. She believes one of the most important things a teacher can do is teach children to be kind to one another.

Ms. Emma brings joy and energy to every classroom she enters. She loves making children laugh, singing songs with them, and creating moments that make learning fun and memorable. Outside of school, she enjoys horseback riding and spending time in nature. Ms. Emma is currently attending college to pursue a degree in Elementary Education, with the goal of becoming a classroom teacher in the future. Her passion for working with young children and helping them grow shines through in all that she does, and she is excited to be part of The Goddard School family.

We are thrilled to introduce Ms. Abigail to our Goddard Village as she will be joining our Prekindergarten team this fall. Ms. Abbie comes to us with a degree from VCU in disciplinary studies and 2 years of experience working with children. Fun fact, Ms. Abbie received a scholarship to play basketball in college and is looking forward to playing alongside her students this year!

Ms. Kyleigh joined our team in the Spring of 2024 wanting to gain experience in education. She is attending college to become a teacher one day and what better way to fulfill that role than to work with our students here at The Goddard School! You can find Ms. Kyleigh in our Squirrels classroom teaching our preschoolers.

Ms. Davon started as a mom at our school and soon after decided to join our Goddard team in the early summer of 2024. She has been an amazing resource teacher to several classes and enjoys being the type of teacher that children every deserve. Ms. Davon takes the time to get to know and care for each of her students individually and it is evident that she has a teacher heart!

Ms. Gabi brings warmth, flexibility, and a lifelong love for working with children to our school. Though new to the preschool setting just two years ago, she quickly became an essential part of our team. As a resource teacher, she happily steps into any classroom and connects with every child she meets. With a passion for art and dancing, she creates fun and expressive experiences that help children thrive. Ms. Gabi prioritizes building strong relationships and believes trust is the foundation of growth. She earned her Bachelor’s in Sociology in May 2025 and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work, strengthening her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach.

Please help us in welcoming our newest teacher to the Goddard Village; Ms. Chloe. She comes to us with two years of experience in childcare and exuberates patience and understanding!

Ms. Laura has been working with young children for 6 years and brings a calm, caring, and nurturing presence to her classroom. She loves hands-on learning because it gives children the chance to explore, create, and discover at their own pace. Whether it’s sensory play, simple science, or open-ended activities, she enjoys watching little moments of curiosity turn into confidence. Her teaching philosophy centers around patience, connection, and meeting each child exactly where they are. She believes children thrive when they feel safe, supported, and understood, and she always goes the extra mile to make sure every child feels seen and valued. A fun fact about Ms. Laura is that she has a unique, gentle way of bringing comfort and steadiness into her classroom, even on the busiest days. Her favorite children’s book is Fox in Socks because she loves the joy and silliness it brings to story time. She wants families to know that she is deeply committed to creating a warm, consistent, and

Ms. Makayla is currently a college student who spends her mornings studying and her afternoons bringing energy and support to our classrooms. She has been working with children in a classroom setting for one month and is already a wonderful addition to our team. Makayla’s teaching philosophy centers on child-led exploration. She loves giving children opportunities to investigate new materials and enjoys answering their curious questions about the world around them. She believes that conversation and discovery are key parts of learning. A fun fact about Ms. Makayla is that she can back up a boat trailer, a skill that always impresses families and friends! Her favorite children’s books are anything from the Fancy Nancy series because of the fun themes and rich vocabulary. Makayla wants every child to feel happy, confident, and excited to come to school each day, and she is dedicated to helping them succeed in every way.

Ms. Lorna joined our Goddard family in the early fall of 2025 and brings four years of experience working with children. As one of our school-age teachers, she is passionate about creating a classroom environment where every child feels welcomed, secure, and free to be themselves. She loves anything hands-on and incorporates play-based learning into her daily teaching. She describes herself as a teacher who prioritizes helping children feel seen, included, and validated. Her goal is to ensure that no child ever feels alone and that every learner knows their feelings and experiences matter. Outside of Goddard, Ms. Lorna enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends. She also loves baking and expressing her creativity through drawing.