Our Teachers

SHWETA: A Masters graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University and a dedicated mom of two Goddard Graduate children; I am a firm believer that quality education shapes not just the individuals but also a community. With over 15 years of experience in the Education industry, it is a dream come true for me to open a Goddard School in Kirkland WA. I am excited and happy to be able to provide a safe and nurturing learning experience to the children of our community. PENNY: I am endlessly inspired and uplifted by the presence of children and the curiosity and sense of wonder they have in the world around us. After working 15 years in business education and having my own children, I’m beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work directly with families and contribute in shaping the early development journey of our youngest learners. I have a Bachelor's degree in International Business from the University of British Columbia and an MBA in Organizational Analysis from the University of California, Irvine. I live locally with my husband and our two young children, who are both proud Goddard graduates!

My name is Andrea and I am grateful for the opportunity to join Goddard Kirkland to support families in our community with development through early learning. I enjoy serving as a Director in early learning and I appreciate the versatility of the role while supporting the teachers, children and families. I have achieved a degree in early learning and I’m finishing further studies focusing on leadership and human resources to better myself in my position. I have developed my knowledge and experience through my roles in education, from teaching to directing within learning centers and elementary schools over the last decade. I am well-practiced working with a diverse population with a variety of needs and enjoy learning from each of my experiences and encounters. I believe there is always room for growth and development and I love finding the pieces that are needed to allow for optimal opportunities. My greatest joy is my family. I am a proud wife, and mother of two boys.

I’m an Indian by birth and came to US for my PhD in Environmental Economics in 2001 and since then made this country my home. After completing my degree, I was blessed with two kids and became a stay-at-home mom. That gave me time to reflect on my life goals and passion. I love children and decided to change gears from an economist to a preschool teacher. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to work at Goddard School, Kirkland. The supportive staff, the expansive scope of interesting and creative administrative work and the cute little children sealed the deal for me. I love my work but when I’m not working, I enjoy making different desserts for my kids, watching movies together as a family, and go for long walks with my dog.

Hello everyone! My name is Tan, and I am happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to work with all these bright minded and joyful students here at the Goddard School. I have always found joy in teaching others and learning from my teachers. I owe a great deal to all my teachers for making me the person I am today, through the education they have given me, both academically and socially. Since my senior year of high school, I aspire to become a teacher so I may give back to all the educators who have driven me to be my best while giving me some of the happiest moments in my life. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and have spent the last four years in college taking children’s education courses. I have been working with younger students for 5 years. Some of my favorite hobbies include hanging out with friends, craft making, and playing games. It feels like a dream working with all these students as they have fun and learn at the same time.

I have worked as a para-educator in K-5 classrooms for 13 years in the Bellevue School District, working primarily with children who need emotional and behavioral support. I have also tutored children with special needs between the ages of 18 months and 3rd grade. I enjoy reading, being out in nature and spending time with friends and family. I am so excited to be here at the Goddard School and to be able to help your child learn and grow.

Hello, my name is Izzy. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to work at The Goddard School. Early childhood education is something that I have a lot of experience with. Back in Virginia, I worked at a daycare called Minnie Land and I was an Assistant Teacher for Pre-K. In Washington State, I've worked at KinderCare for 2 years and was most recently an Assistant Teacher for Pre-K. Growing up I always talked about being a teacher and I am extremely happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to work at such an amazing school, and to have met an amazing group of other teachers.

My name is Daisy, and I have been working with young children for as long as I can remember. I love the young toddler age group because it is when they really start to show their personalities and start to develop all their skills. I love seeing the children’s faces light up when they are learning something new and beginning to be more independent. I believe that children learn best through play and having interactions with each other. In my spare time, I enjoy watching anime, spending time with my family, and enjoying nature.

Hello, I'm Janelle. I was born in Tokyo, Japan, but Bremerton, WA is home. I am semi-fluent in American Sign Language and I'm currently learning Mandarin. I'm also currently working on my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education with a dual degree in Special Education. I have been working in childcare for 6 years. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was in Kindergarten. I thought that was the age group for me until my first toddler class. (Now I'm a toddler whisperer!) I love working with kids and seeing their growth. My favorite activities to do with them are Circle Time and Art. When I'm not giving children all my love, I love to crochet, read, garden, and make new experience.

I was born in Mexico and lived in California before moving to WA in 2019. I have professionally worked with kids since I was 17 years old. I have held many positions which have granted me the opportunity to work with every age, from 6 weeks old to even high School students. I also have a background in working with children with special needs, such as Autistic, Deaf/Hard Of Hearing, and kids with learning disabilities. I have been working in childcare for the last 5 years, primarily with kids between 6 months old and two years old. I love learning about different cultures and teaching about my own. I also love to spend my free time doing photography.

Hi, my name is Swarnali. I live in Bellevue with my husband and daughter. I have a Master Degree in Arts and a Diploma in Nursery Teacher’s training. I worked as Lead Teacher in the Pre-K classroom for several years back in India. I am passionate about working with younger children. Helping a child to learn and grow is such a satisfying experience. I moved to the USA 7 years ago and started as a volunteer at a preschool. In my spare time, I enjoy painting and engaging in various arts and crafts. I also enjoy exploring new places with my family. I look forward to the opportunity to learn and grow along with my adorable students.

Hello! My name is Min and I am so excited to be the toddler teacher. I graduated from the 3rd Normal College in Beijing with a degree in Education. I have been teaching Chinese and math to kids (1st to 12th graders) for 29 years in China and in the USA. I also received an AAS degree in Accounting from Lake Washington Technical College and worked for a CPA firm. I have also earned my Child Development Associate credential. I like traveling (Cancun is my favorite place), learning new things, doing hand crafting, and tasting foods from all over the world. I am looking forward to meeting and knowing each and every new child in my class and their parents, too. I will do my best to help your child grow healthily and happily in a loving, caring, and safe environment.

My name is Malak and I am from Lebanon. I have a degree in Interior Design and love working on technical and artistic drawings. I always like to visualize how things can work out in a space and build connections on the experience one can get from an interior space. I have worked with kids for several years. I love working with kids because I can relate my previous experience with my present one such as, how kids can feel in a space. The environment gives them social, emotional, and cognitive development experiences to grow. I am glad to have the opportunity to work with kids at the Goddard school and see children become great leaders. In my free time I like exercising, drawing, and going on road trips.

I'm delighted to introduce myself as Sujatha. I hold a Graduate Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. My journey in the pharmaceutical industry has been rewarding and it was where I discovered my passion for teaching while doing research and development. As a part-time lecturer in college, I found immense joy and fulfillment in sharing my knowledge. I'm eager to continue nurturing young minds and instilling a love for learning. I'm looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career at Goddard and making a meaningful impact in the lives of my students.

Hello, my name is Caitlyn. I’m from Port Townsend, Washington and I moved to the Redmond area seeking a change of pace and greater opportunity. I have been encircled in Early Childhood Education for as long as I can remember. Prior to working at Goddard, I had experience working as a support teacher in an early learning center as well as an in-home daycare program. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Goddard team and cannot wait to play a role in helping these young minds flourish. In my free time, I love to spend time outdoors and hangout with my friends and family.

Hi, I'm Sudesh. I'm a passionate preschool educator with a strong background in early childhood education. I hold a Bachelor Degree in Arts and a diploma in Preschool Teaching and I'm dedicated to creating a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, happy, and inspired to learn. In addition to my love for teaching, I enjoy creating new food recipes, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with my family and friends. I am excited to bring my enthusiasm, creativity, and are to your child's early education journey.

Hello! My name is Viktoriia. I was born in Ukraine and I have more than 4 years of experience working with children. I really like watching them develop and thrive. I like their sincerity and cheerfulness and enjoy spending time with them. I am married to a wonderful husband and we have a little kitten. Her name is Spotty and she is really sweet.

My name is Susmitha. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Science and have been teaching Preschool kids for the past 3 years. I always enjoy being with kids. I'm passionate about providing children with a safe and nurturing foundation of knowledge to enjoy their environment. I like cooking and drawing. In my free time, I like watching movies with my family and going on road trips to explore new places.

My name is Michael and I’m excited to be able to work with different classrooms and different teachers every day. Being a former athlete, I’m used to working with different people and working with different teaching styles. I’m excited to use all the life lessons from sports and apply it to being an amazing support teacher. The biggest lesson I have learned from sports would be to make sure that everyone you work with knows that you care about them. I graduated from Montana State University Billings with a degree in Communications. I’m super excited to be part of The Goddard School and I look forward to helping the students as much as possible.

Hello, my name is Nodira. I am delighted to join the Kirkland Goddard School. I come to my new position with seven years of experience working in daycare with children of all ages. I have been in the US for 14 years having moved here from Uzbekistan where I received my Bachelor's degree in Finance and Credit. I have also completed an Associates Degree in Business Technology from Shoreline Community College. I find working with children to be very fulfilling, and I especially enjoy fostering the development of each child with his or her unique interests and personalities. Encouraging these little ones to grow and blossom into young people provides me with a great deal of joy and satisfaction. I currently live in Kenmore with my husband, thirteen year old daughter, our cat, Max, and Cody, our Shiba Inu. In my spare time, I like to bake, enjoy watching movies, and love to travel!

Hi! My name is Sruthi. Originally from India, I currently live in Bothell with my husband and our daughter. I have a Bachelors in Science as well as a Masters in Finance. As parent of a young child myself, I recognize the importance of a safe, nurturing and positive learning environment. Children learn best through play, and I am thrilled to be able to provide a fun, play-based learning experience for the children around me. Outside of work, when I am not busy running behind my hyperactive preschooler, I love cooking for my family and friends. I am excited to be working at Goddard in nurturing young children.

Hello, I’m Annika. I started in my first infant class in 6 years ago (in 2017), after working with various ages and realizing how much I loved babies. I grew up in the arts, performing music and theatre, and I believe creativity from a young age fosters lifelong confidence. I attended Bellevue College and embrace any opportunity to continue learning about Early Education. I am a volunteer costume designer at a local youth theater, enjoy putting on make up, watching movies, and spending time with my husband and our hairless cat. They say it takes a village and it means a lot to me to play a role in your babies life, a role I value greatly and take very seriously.

Hi, I’m Richa. I have a passion to work with kids to help them explore and learn new things. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Bachelors’ degree in Science. My practical experience in Education started with my teacher training as part of my Bachelor’s degree program. For the last several years, I have been working with elementary-aged students. I live in Kirkland with my family, including two kids. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, painting, and doing crafts. As a family, we love to explore the outdoors.

I was born and raised in Ecuador. I moved to Washington 4 years ago. I have a son, who also attends Goddard! Growing up, I dreamed of having a big family of my own, and working in childcare is as close as it comes to it. I love working with kids and learning from them as much as they learn from me. I'm currently working on my degree in early childcare education. My dream is to one day return to Ecuador and start a school of my own.

My name is Ranjana. I have been working as a childcare teacher for three years. I love being around children and I am very passionate about creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive. Originally from Nepal, I now call Kirkland my home, where I reside with my husband and our delightful 3.5-year-old daughter. I also enjoy exploring new places and cultures. I love spending quality time with my family and also indulge myself to listening to music of experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen whenever I can. I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Goddard School and look forward to the amazing opportunity to positively impact the lives of the children in my care.

Hello, my name is Snigdha. I am delighted to join the Goddard School, Kirkland and to have the opportunity to work with young minds. I live in Bothell with my husband and daughter. I hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration in HR and Marketing. After a decade of experience in Technical Recruitment, I’ve rediscovered my passion for working with children and I’m excited to begin this journey in fulfilling my passion. In my free time, I love gardening and traveling with my family!

Hello everyone! My name is Angelina and I'm originally from Ghana. I am grateful to be given this opportunity to work at Goddard. I have a Bachelors in Education from the University of Education in Winneba, Ghana. Having taught for 17 years, it has always been my goal to create a family of learners who are supported and encouraged by each other and to help my students thrive. When I am not in school, I love spending time with my family and cooking new recipes.

I am originally from Afghanistan, where I graduated with a Law degree and worked at the Parliament of Afghanistan. I feel incredibly grateful to be working at the Goddard School, where I have the opportunity to nurture and educate children in their most formative years. Working with children has always been a joy for me, and I find it so rewarding to watch them grow and learn. I believe that it is our job as educators to help them realize their full potential. In my classroom, I strive to create a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe to explore, ask questions, and take risks. I am passionate about providing children with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. It brings me great joy to see their faces light up when they discover something new or master a new skill. In my spare time, I love spending time with my friends and family, traveling, and making delicious food.

My name is Dharshani Herath. I am really happy to be part of the Goddard Kirkland family. I am originally from Sri Lanka and immigrated to the United States in 2010. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and hold certifications in Accounting from the University of Washington and the Lake Washington technical college. I also completed a Child Development Associate Certificate at Ashworth college. I was drawn to early childhood education while raising my own children and navigating their education process during the pandemic. I love being around the kids and I'm excited to be a part of their learning process. In my spare time, I love travelling with my husband and two daughters.

Hi, I'm Yesenia. With several years of experience working with children, I am dedicated to nurturing their growth and development. In addition to my State Certificate in Early Childhood Education. I also have 2 postgraduate certificates from the National Institute of Mexico City. My extensive artistic background includes showcasing my work across various venues in Mexico. My passion lies in working with children, utilizing creativity and patience to facilitate their learning journey. Whether engaging with young children in early education or older ones, I strive to maintain a safe and healthy environment where their imaginative play and directed activities can flourish. I integrate learning theory and best practices into every interaction, ensuring holistic development.

Hi, I'm Advaitha. I'm so happy to be part of the Goddard family. I always love being around kids! I am from India. I am a Law graduate and have been working as an advocate in issues concerning children's welfare and juvenile kids. This made me realize we have to nurture children from their early childhood. I love the children's laughter and curiosity. I'm grateful for this opportunity. I love dancing, cooking, and watching K-dramas.

Hello everyone, my name is Violeta. I graduated in Ecuador with a banking and finance background. I worked as a private nanny for 2 years and I was an Assistant Teacher for young children for 3 years. I really enjoy working with children. In my free time, I love spending time with my family, my partner and my son, who is also a student at our school. I am very excited and grateful to be part of the Goddard school family.

Hello everyone! My name is Ashley. I have been in the industry for 7 years now. During those 7 years, I have worked as an infant lead teacher, toddler assistant teacher and private nanny. I am licensed in cosmetology but realized how much I enjoy working with children. In my free time, I love spending time with my spouse and 2 dogs visiting family or cooking a new recipe! I am very excited and grateful to be part of the Goddard School Family.

Hello, my name is Swami. I am incredibly grateful to be a teacher here at the Goddard School of Kirkland. I have been in the USA for almost 6 years with my husband and our two children. I moved from India where I received my Master’s in Physics from Osmania University and, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I am so passionate about providing children with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills to enjoy their environment and life. In my spare time, I love to travel with my husband and children. I also enjoy making crafts and cooking.

Hello! My name is Maria Fernanda. I’m from Bolivia. I have a Bachelors in Education from University of Education in Bolivia. I have also completed my Diploma, Specialty and Masters studies as an educator. I consider myself a kind, caring, respectful, responsible and reliable educator. I’m grateful to be given this opportunity to work at Goddard.

My name is Santhoshi. I am really happy to be a part of the Goddard family. I graduated with a specialization in Social Studies and have a Master's degree in Arts. I also have a degree in Qualified Teacher Training. I have 7 years of experience in teaching as a Primary Teacher (3 to 10 years old). I am passionate about kids and spending time with them. Fun Fact: I remember and wish all my friends and family members' birthdays and anniversaries. I like cooking. When I have free time, I like to prepare different food items and also go on trips with my family to enjoy and explore nature.

My name is Dina. For several years now, I’ve had the joy of working with the most wonderful little explorers in the world. I'm violinist with a Bachelor's Degree in Theology. Back in my home country of Ukraine, l was actively involved in volunteer work – supporting children from low-income families, making music with them and organizing craft and baking clubs. When l moved to the United States, I became part of a volunteer team that works with children with special needs. Together we create a space where every child can grow through care, play and joy. I'm very happy to be a part of The Goddard School. I truly believe that kindness can change the world for the better and this is something I hope to pass on to every child I work with.

Ms. Pouran's bio will be updated soon!