Our Goddard School Teachers

Sumi brings more than 20 years of early childhood education experience to the Goddard School of Bellevue-Eastgate. As a certified early childhood educator, Sumi is passionate about creating a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where children feel loved, supported, and excited to learn every day. Through the Goddard School’s play-based approach to learning, strong health and safety standards, and compassionate qualified teachers, Sumi’s goal is to build a school community where children (infant, toddlers and preschool children) thrive, families feel connected, and teachers are empowered to make a meaningful difference. She is building the school as a premier childcare and daycare center with intention, love and belief that every child in the community deserves a strong start and her passion shines through in everything she does. She strives every day to provide a high-quality learning experience that lays the foundation for lifelong confidence, curiosity, and success in every child.

With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education including Preschool and Kindergarten, Jacqueline is dedicated to creating nurturing learning environments where young children can grow, learn, and thrive. She is passionate about creating a warm, supportive environment where every child feels valued and inspired. Jacqueline holds bachelor's degree in early education, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and specialized training in positive guidance and childcare. Her greatest joy comes from helping children build confidence, discover new skills, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Fun Fact: Jacqueline's favorite children's book is The Kissing Hand, a heartwarming story about love, comfort, and courage during new beginnings.

Katie brings more than 17 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education with a minor in American Sign Language. With prior Goddard educator experience, she brings a deep understanding of the Goddard philosophy which can be seen in her day- interactions with children. She is committed to fostering a welcoming and dynamic atmosphere where children feel a strong sense of belonging and are encouraged to discover their unique strengths. Katie believes meaningful learning happens through active engagement, authentic connections, and opportunities for children to develop independence and resilience. As Assistant Director, Katie enjoys building strong partnerships with families, mentoring educators, and helping create a collaborative school culture that supports success for both children and staff. Her dedication to excellence helps ensure every family experiences a caring, connected, and enriching educational community.

Vidya Bala is an early childhood education professional with over 10 years of experience in early learning and childcare. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and an MBA in Marketing, bringing together her passion for children’s development with strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. As an educator and leader, Vidya is passionate about creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel confident, curious, and excited to learn. She enjoys building strong relationships with children, families, and teachers and is committed to creating a positive, engaging school community.

Ms. Sulmaz brings more than 15 years of experience working with young children and is passionate about infants. Her journey in early childhood education has taken her across three countries, giving her a unique perspective on child development and early learning. She studied Business Management and Child Psychology. Her most important quality is that she builds trusting, responsive relationships with the children in her classroom that help babies feel safe, loved, and supported as they begin exploring and learning about the world around them.

Christine brings over 15 years of experience working with young children. Her background includes teaching all age groups and is really excited to bring her experience to the Twos program at The Goddard School. She holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and has specialized training in Positive Attitude Education. Her extensive experience and record tenure of 11 years at a single childcare center has further enriched her child-centered approach to learning. Christine believes patience is one of the most important qualities in early childhood education, especially during the twos years when children are building confidence, independence, and communication skills. She creates a calm, supportive classroom where children feel secure exploring new ideas, developing friendships, and reaching important milestones. Christine looks forward to making each day a positive experience filled with growth and joy for the children.

Mareddy is a dedicated early childhood educator with more than four years of experience guiding children transitioning from toddlerhood into the preschool years fostering confidence, independence and problem-solving skills. Fluent in Spanish and English, Mareddy brings a unique strength in supporting multilingual development, enriching children's communication skills while fostering cultural awareness and global perspectives from an early age. With a background in music education from the Institute Canzion and experience as a piano instructor, Mareddy brings a unique blend of creativity, rhythm, and joyful learning to the classroom. She thoughtfully incorporates music and movement into daily activities, helping children develop self-expression, focus, and enthusiasm for learning. Through engaging, hands-on experiences and meaningful relationships, she encourages children to think independently, ask questions, and discover the joy of learning.

Christiana brings more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education and is passionate about helping children feel confident, capable, and cared for. As the mother of two grown children, she understands the important role strong family partnerships play in a child's development. Known for her calm and patient approach, Christiana creates nurturing learning environments where children feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow. She loves inspiring curiosity, creativity, and independence, and finds great joy in celebrating each child's milestones and accomplishments.

Rupasree is passionate about supporting children during their earliest and most important years of growth. As a mother herself, her greatest strength is building secure, trusting relationships that help toddlers feel safe, loved and happy in her classroom. With a deep understanding of early childhood development, Rupasree creates a warm, engaging classroom where toddlers learn through play, discovery, and meaningful interactions. She thoughtfully designs experiences that support language development, sensory exploration, social-emotional growth, and emerging cognitive skills, while honoring each child's unique personality and developmental journey. She also has extensive experience teaching mathematics, and she incorporates those concepts in her classroom to make sure children are developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Deepika Regonda is an early childhood educator with over three years of experience teaching Preschool and Kindergarten-aged children. With a background in Montessori education and a Master’s Degree, she is passionate about creating nurturing, engaging learning environments where children can grow with confidence and curiosity. Deepika believes in fostering a love of learning through hands-on exploration, positive relationships, and individualized support. She looks forward to partnering with families to help each child learn, grow, and succeed.