Ms. Mawara is a pharmacist by training. She has her administrative credentials and her director credentials. She is also a certified CPR, First Aid and AED instructor along with being a trainer for Abusive Head Trauma and SIDS Prevention. She and her husband are raising two children, both of them graduated from Goddard pre-K program. As a parent, she knows the importance of quality child care in the early stages of development of a child. Ms. Mawara wanted to bring a high quality education-based early childhood program to the community where the children can learn while having fun. Her vision led her to open the first Goddard School in Dane County where a great team of educators offer a play-based curriculum along with hands-on learning for the future academic success and a life-long love for learning.

Ms. Lauren has been a prominent figure in the early childhood education field since 2014, serving as both a lead teacher and a valued member of the management team. With a bachelor's degree in Education from Edgewood College and Registry Level 14, she exemplifies a commitment to professional growth and expertise. Her journey at The Goddard School began as a lead teacher, where her passion for nurturing young minds quickly propelled her into the Director role in June 2019. Ms. Lauren's educational philosophy revolves around meeting children at their developmental level and embracing life's wonders alongside them. She firmly believes that children are naturally eager learners, and she cultivates their growth through engaging activities, captivating stories, and meaningful experiences. With genuine enthusiasm, Ms. Lauren looks forward to working with all the children and their families at Goddard, creating a nurturing environment that sparks curiosity, creativity and a love for learning.

Ms Kayla has been working in the child care field since 2013 and started here at Goddard in 2017. She obtained her degree in Early Childhood Education in 2015 from Concordia University. Her hobbies include camping, crafting, snowmobiling, and spending time with friends and family. Ms. Kayla's philosophy is to strive to see the world through the eyes of the children she teaches. She loves being able to explore the world with them and watch them discover new things every day. She loves working here at The Goddard school and looks forward to getting to know all the children and families she will work with.

Mr. Dave is our Director of Staffing at The Goddard School of Verona, Sun Prairie and Middleton locations. He brings a wealth of experience in education to Goddard Schools. His journey began at 19, when he moved to Boston, MA to work with City Year, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth. This experience ignited Mr. Dave's passion for education. Over the next six years, he worked in center-based childcare, earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from UW Madison, and spent over a decade teaching middle school. Mr. Dave later chose to leverage his expertise in a new role, joining Goddard Schools to mentor and guide educators. In addition to his work in education, Mr. Dave is a professional wedding photographer, known for capturing life’s most cherished moments. He and his wife reside in Sun Prairie with their three children, and in his free time, he enjoys golfing.

Ms. Alyssa is from Rockford Illinois and has been a nanny for five years. She has her CPR, SBS and SIDS training certifications. She recently acquired her Lead Teacher certification through State of Wisconsin. At a young age she knew she was interested in the education of children and inspiring them to follow their dreams. Her mother owns an in-home daycare where she learned about the childcare field. She loves working with children and seeing their smiley faces every day. Her hobbies include makeup and traveling.

Ms. Gabrielle, a proud resident of Madison since 2016, brought a decade of experience in childcare to our team back in 2020. With an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Rasmussen College, she is a dedicated advocate for developmentally appropriate practices. Ms. Gabrielle's passion for teaching shines through as she fosters a nurturing and enriching environment for her students. She skillfully utilizes her knowledge and expertise to ensure the best possible learning experiences. Outside the classroom, Ms. Gabrielle cherishes quality time with her son, who is also part of our Goddard family. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys exploring nature, indulging in retail therapy, and savoring the magic of music. We are delighted to have Ms. Gabrielle as an integral part of our school community.

Fabiola grew up right here in Verona, WI. She comes from a large family—her parents and 5 siblings. She has fond memories of helping raise her two younger brothers, and yearly family vacations. Fabiola also has her own family. She has a 1.5-year-old son. He is the light of her life, and she adores him more than anything. It was in high school when Fabiola’s thirst for Early Childhood Education began. She would volunteer at various elementary schools in the Verona Area School District, stepping into classrooms, helping students with their course work, and engaging in fun art projects. She says it was there she realized how fulfilling it was to work with children. After high school, Fabiola spent some time calibrating her professional compass. We are so lucky it guided her back to that passion she developed in high school, and to our Goddard family. In her free time, you can find Fabiola going on a hike, playing basketball, baking, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Laura grew up in Ripon Wisconsin with her parents. She currently resides in Madison with her 4 children, bonus child, and husband. During her educational years, Ms. Laura attended Marian University and Viterbo University. She also has a teaching DPI license through State of Wisconsin. When she graduated, Ms. Laura ran her own childcare facility for seven years! She has written WI Curriculum for Green Bay's Diocese. She since has incorporated it into her current teaching style! She enjoys the "Ah-Ha" moments along with seeing the bright future on all of the kiddos she cares for throughout the day!

Ms. Tammy is a mother of 3 girls, ages 34, 24 & 14. She made a choice after her first child was born, to be a stay-at-home mom, and around the same time started an in-home daycare of her own. She maintained this for nearly 30 years before deciding to end this chapter of her life. She took a small break and realized how much she missed caring for children. That is when she decided to continue her career at Goddard. Ms. Tammy's interests include spending time with her children, hanging out with friends, attending outdoor music concerts, taking long brisk walks, home decor projects and organizing.

Ashley has over fifteen years of experience in early education and caring for infants. She is trained in infant and toddler sign language. She believes in being passionate about each child’s happiness and education along with providing a safe and nurturing atmosphere helps build self-esteem in children. She loves doing process art with children. Her classroom is very organized and colorful. She has a lead teacher certificate through the State of Wisconsin and is a couple classes shy of her associate's degree in business. She has three children and in her free time enjoys being with family and friends. She also enjoys photography, poetry, and traveling. We are very lucky to have her in our infant room at Verona!

Ms. Maria joined the school as a resource teacher in 2019 and shortly after joined our infant/ toddler team. She has 5 years experience of working with younger children in different capacities. She is currently working on her childcare certification. Ms. Maria grew up in a Latino family resided in Madison area with her 4 siblings. Her hobbies are taking road trips, cooking, baking and watching classic movies. Ms. Marie is excited to be a part of Goddard team and is looking forward to know your children and watch them grow.

Ms. Jaclyn grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois with her parents and two older sisters. Ms. Jaclyn moved to Madison in 2018 where she attended Madison College for Hospitality. She joins us with experience from Soccer shots where she is a Coach through the company and a nanny. Ms. Jaclyn is currently earning her Early Childhood Assistant Teacher credentials. During her free time, Ms. Jaclyn enjoys spending time with her boyfriend and friends. She is always camping, hiking, and attending concerts. She has fun painting. Ms. Jaclyn's philosophy when it comes to teaching is that "Children learn by modeling. If you as a teacher is excited about something, your kiddos will feed off that. Huge believer in positivity and smiles being contagious." We are excited to have Ms. Jaclyn join our Goddard Team

Ms. Sonia was born in California but spent her entire life in Madison, WI. During high school, she took classes focused on early childhood development, igniting her passion for teaching at Goddard Schools. In her free time, Ms. Sonia enjoys outdoor activities such as taking walks with her dog or paddle boarding on the lakes. She also has a passion for painting and drawing. We are excited to see her bring her enthusiasm and creativity to our team.

Ms. Danielle was part of our opening team joined our family in April of 2016. She has graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood. She has been working in a preschool environment since 2014. Danielle has worked with all age groups, specializing in working with toddlers. Before moving into the office, Ms. Danielle was our lead toddler teacher. She is excited to continue to work with the Goddard Families in her new role.

Ms. Hannah grew up in Verona with her parents and older brother, Jake. She graduated Edgewood Highschool in 2017 and has completed all of her credentials of a Lead Teacher in Wisconsin. Although she is new to the career field, Ms. Hannah is really excited to get to know all the different kiddos and their needs that may differ from others. When students are working towards achieving milestones and understanding how things work, Ms. Hannah states that's what gives her a driving force to be a teacher! Please welcome Ms. Hannah to our Goddard Family!

Ms. Taylor grew up in Evansville, Wisconsin, before moving to Orfordville, Wisconsin with her fiancé and three dogs. Ms. Taylor is in her final year of coursework for her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from The University of Arizona Global Campus. Ms. Taylor’s teaching philosophy is knowing that students learn best in an accepting and loving environment. She believes that every child is unique and gives children the freedom to be themselves while providing them safety and love! She loves encouraging her students to have courage, learn and try new things! In her free time, Ms. Taylor enjoys reading, cooking, traveling. When she can, she loves to garden and canning from produce she’s grown!

Odessa was born and raised in Chicago. She is a loyal sports fan to the Chicago Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Cubs. After graduating high school, Odessa went on to swim at the collegiate level. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from Lawrence University. She has a rottweiler and Siberian husky, and a fun fact about her is she has dual citizenship for Croatia and the United States. In her free time, she loves traveling, cooking, hiking with her dogs, and spending time with loved ones.

Mr. Chris grew up in Middleton WI. He currently lives in Verona WI with his wife Lauren, daughters Evie and Wynnie Jo, and their two doggos, Kassie and Mormy. Throughout their younger years, Chris and his wife moved all over the country, before settling back in Wisconsin. In his free time, Mr. Chris enjoys books, video games, board game nights, and Dungeons with Dragons. He always enjoys spending time outside with his family! Mr. Chris also has served in the US Navy. Through different professions throughout his adult career, Mr. Chris believes in serving in the most important profession. Building strong relationships to create lifelong learners is pivotal to child's development, and he thinks he's found that in being a teacher. We are so excited for Mr. Chris to join our Goddard Family! Please welcome him to our team!

Born & raised in Texas yet made into the amazing teacher she is today here is Madison. Ms Lei-Lani has been in early childhood since 2018. She is Lead Teacher qualified through the State of Wisconsin. Coming from a big family, Lei-Lani is a nurturer by nature. Most Recently, she nannied for several families from her previous center. Prior to, she worked in the same center for five years. She enjoys exploring art through singing, dancing, painting and drawing. Her favorite age group is preschool and look forward to continuing to grow here at Goddard.

Ms. Lori came to The Goddard School in May of 2017. She holds a Bachelors degree in History and Philosophy and has went on to get her Masters in Fine Arts. Ms. Lori holds her assistant teacher and infant toddler certifications through the State of Wisconsin. Ms. Lori has worked with children in multiple settings including life guarding, summer school, and as a youth t-ball coach. She is excited about being a part of a positive environment for all the children she will work with at the school.

Mr. Esau has been the Chef extraordinaire for The Goddard School since 2016. He has been the master chef for a very well liked Madison restaurant for over 12 years. He also has experience working in healthcare facilities where health and safety is the top priority. Cooking is Mr. Esau's passion and he loves creating new dishes with his own recipes. He enjoys cooking for children. It's amazing to see the joy on children's faces when "Mr. E" enters the classroom with their favorite meals. Mr. Esau is raising a son and daughter (twins) along with his wife. He loves soccer and enjoys going to his son's soccer games.

Mr. Mark joined Goddard in the summer of 2016. Mr. Mark Hymer has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. He came to The Goddard School from Lac Du Flambeau Public School. His teaching philosophy is all about changing activities to suit all learning styles. He strives to form strong bonds with each child so he can learn how to help them succeed and develop the love for life-long learning. Mr. Mark loves technology and is very excited to use all the tools he has available at Goddard. He looks forward to meeting all the Goddard families.

Ms. Theodoti attained her Sociology degree along with a Teaching Competence certificate in Greece at Pomteion University of Social Political Sciences and University of Crete. She moved to the United States in 2016 and is excited to start working with children in the early childhood setting. Ms. Theodoti believes that children learn and thrive best in environments where they are treated with respect and are able to show their individuality. She is excited to work with all of the Goddard families!

Ms. Katie became a part of the Goddard family in January of 2017. Ms. Katie received her Bachelors in Communicative Sciences & Disorders from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Ms. Katie most recently has worked with preschool age children at Wisconsin Early Autism Project as a teacher. She believes that children are generally eager to learn and thinks it is important to understand that each child learns at a different pace. Ms. Katie looks forward to using the F.L.E.X curriculum to work individually with all students.

Ms. Amara grew up in Cedarburg, Wisconsin before moving to Verona when she was ten years old. She attended Edgewood High School and is currently furthering her education through MATC for practical nursing. Although she is studying for nursing, Ms. Amara has been on the childcare scene for a bit, working as gymnastics coach and at other facilities. In her free time, Ms. Amara is patiently awaiting the arrival of her first child. She loves to paint, draw, sign and play piano. We are excited to have Ms. Amara on our Goddard Team.

Ms. Geetha obtained her Master's degree in English from Madras University and has been in the teaching field since 2009. She has held multiple teaching positions in early childhood and school age care including Boys and Girls Club, After School, and Assistant Youth Supervisor, and holds infant and preschool Lead Teacher certifications from the Wisconsin Registry. Ms. Geetha is excited to bring her expertise and fun loving teaching style to the Goddard School. She loves to teach and believes in educating children in a friendly way as well as building relationships with them. She looks forward to meeting all the Goddard families.

Ms. Sierra hails from Madison, WI, where she was raised in a big family as one of five children. While attending Waunakee High School, she earned her Lead Teacher Accreditation. Ms. Sierra finds great joy in working with children and witnessing their growth and development. During her leisure time, Ms. Sierra indulges in painting, exploring walking trails, savoring chocolate, and cherishing moments with her family. Her favorite aspect of being a teacher is the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children.

Ayan Gedow, originally from Mogadishu, Somalia, is a dedicated mother of six children—four girls and two twin boys. She has called Wisconsin home since 2009, where she has built a fulfilling life. In 2016, Ayan began her career as an assistant teacher at Goddard Verona, where she brings warmth and enthusiasm to her role. She holds certifications in SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome), and CPR, ensuring she is well-prepared to care for the children in her care. Ayan takes great joy in seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they discover something new, and she finds deep fulfillment in contributing to their growth and development. Outside of work, Ayan enjoys spending time with her family, camping and hiking through the woods, cherishing the moments of togetherness in nature.

Aleah was born and raised in Freeport, IL. She graduated from high school in 2017, where the school mascot was a pretzel! In January 2025, Aleah moved to Madison to further her career. Her passion for childcare stems from her mother, who worked as a paraeducator for 15 years, inspiring Aleah to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children. Growing up around her older sister's three kids further solidified her love for working with children. Music has always been a part of Aleah's life, and she spent 10 years playing the violin. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Maureen comes a from a close-knit family with one sister and one brother. She earned her education degree from Edgewood College and has since dedicated her career to supporting others—working in early childhood education and assisting individuals with disabilities in their homes. Maureen's free time is spent crocheting and getting lost in a good book. Music is another passion of hers; she enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and handbells, which bring a creative balance to both her personal and professional life.

Nikayla, 24, was born in Medford, WI, and raised in Belleville, WI. She has always had a love for the outdoors, growing up camping often with her family. Since 2018, Nikayla has been dedicated to working with children, drawing on her Special Education training to support students as a paraprofessional for two years. The most rewarding part of her work is witnessing children grow, achieve their goals, and experience success. Outside of her professional life, Nikayla enjoys spending time with her two cats, Pinto and Millie, and values camping trips with friends and family, cherishing those special moments in nature and with loved ones.  

Anai grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. With a lifelong connection to childcare, she has experience as a caregiver and babysitter, having cared for children both professionally and within her own family-Growing up in a home daycare and helping raise three of her younger siblings gave Anai a deep understanding of nurturing and responsibility from an early age. Outside of work, Anai enjoys watching movies, photography, word puzzles, and dancing.

Cristy, born in Lima, Ohio, is a devoted wife and mother of two children, aged 10 and 8. After spending ten fulfilling years as a stay-at-home mom, she cherishes the time she spent nurturing her kids through their formative years, watching them grow, learn, and discover the world around them. This experience has fueled her passion for early childhood education, and she is now eager to make a difference in the lives of other young children. In her free time, Cristy enjoys expressing her creativity through painting, crafts, and drawing, and she always looks forward to cozy family movie nights, which have become a cherished tradition in their household.

Anjeza is a dedicated educator with a passion for fostering learning and growth in students. Holding a Lead Teacher certification from the State of Wisconsin, as well as a B.A. in Education and an M.S. in Linguistics, Anjeza combines a strong academic background with hands-on experience to create engaging learning environments. In addition to teaching, she is CPR/AHT/SIDS certified, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students. Outside of the classroom, Anjeza enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring new activities. A lover of travel, she also cherishes spending quality time with family.

Mack, who grew up right along the beautiful Mississippi in La Crosse, WI, brings over seven years of experience as a private nanny—and a whole lot of heart—to his work with children. Driven by a passion to help future generations grow into kind, confident, and all-around cool people, Mack approaches child care with creativity, compassion, and purpose. He loves making art, exploring the outdoors, and is deeply committed to personal development and human rights. Mack’s energy and optimism are contagious, and his dedication to making the world a better place shines through in everything he does!