The Goddard School of Waxhaw

Bios

• Leland

  Leland is Onsite Co-Owner here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! He holds a Bachelors degree in Social Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley. He has business and recruiting experience as the former General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Scouting Director of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leland is also the CEO of Baseball Dream Makers, where he helps players of all ages develop into confident adults!

• Sally

  Ms. Sally Monbarren retired from Akron Children's Hospital. She attended Kent State University. She is the onsite co-owner of the Goddard School in Waxhaw which opened in November of 2011.

• Dr Susan

  Dr. Susan is the Co-Owner of The Goddard School of Waxhaw and The Goddard School of Ballantyne, where she has been the Onsite Owner since opening in 2005. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine.

• Zach

  Hi! My name is Zach and I am the on-site Co-Owner of The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree from Arizona State University in Biological Sciences and have lived in North Carolina for 20 years! I believe that children learn best when they are in an environment they are comfortable in, where they feel they can express themselves. Fostering this environment allows for the growth of students and their peers! A favorite quote of mine is “Be curious. Read widely. Try new things. What people call intelligence just boils down to curiosity” by Aaron Swartz.

• Anna

  Ms. Anna is the Executive Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University and has over 20 years of experience in education! A favorite quote of hers "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn," by Benjamin Franklin. Anna's educational philosophy is a child-centered approach, in which the child makes decisions based on their interests and teachers facilitate learning through open ended questions.

• Jessica

  Ms. Jessica is the Curriculum Coordinator here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education from Towson State University. She has been teaching since 1992! A favorite quote of hers is "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” by Nelson Mandela. The educational philosophy Jessica leads by is that children should feel important, worthy and loved, with plenty of opportunities to engage and explore.

• Robin

  Ms. Robin is an Assistant Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been working with children since 2021. A fun fact about her is that she loves to crochet! Robin's educational philosophy is that teachers should be an intentional person in the lives of their students. Comfortable, safe children are set up for success when asked to learn new things.

• Suzanne

  Ms. Suzanne is an Assistant Director here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Master's in Special Education from Long Island University and was Director at our sister school in Ballantyne from 2010 to 2014. A favorite quote of hers is "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires," by William Arthur Ward. The educational philosophy she leads by is that teachers should first form a relationship with their children, so that they can be challenged in an environment where they feel loved and cared for.

• Aleighya

  Ms. Aleighya is a Lead Teacher in the First Steps Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Health and Human Services from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A favorite quote of Aleighya's is "Nothing is impossible. The world itself says I'm possible," by Audrey Hepburn. The educational philosophy she leads by is that all children should have a loving and safe environment for learning.

• Alexis

  Ms. Alexis is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 1 here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelor's in Human Service Studies from Queens University and has lived in the Waxhaw area for 19 years! A fun fact about her is that she rides a Harley Davidson. The educational philosophy she leads by is to first understand the why behind behavior. This helps inform teaching through play and redirection practices!

• Angela

  Ms. Angela is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She has a Bachelors in Health Science from Brenau University and is NC Lead Teacher Certified. The educational philosophy that she leads by is to teach with positivity in all areas and meet each child where they are at developmentally.

• Asavari

  Ms. Asavari is Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Education and a Masters in Sanskrit from Nagpur University. A favorite quote of Asavari's is "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Her teaching philosophy is that education should be playful, engaging, and age appropriate with a focus on nurturing every stage of development.

• Bhavana

  Ms. Bhavana is a member of our Educational Support Staff here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw and primarily supports the Preschool 1 classroom! She holds a Bachelors in Accounting & Business Communication from the University of Mumbai. A favorite quote of Bhavana's is "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge," by Albert Einstein. The educational philosophy she leads by is that every child has unique qualities, talents, and potentials. Her role as a teacher is to nurture those strengths!

• Cindy

  Ms. Cindy is a Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is NC Lead Teacher Certified! A favorite quote of Cindy's is "The influence of a good teacher can never be erased." The teaching philosophy she leads by is that students learn best when they feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe.

• Isabelle

  Ms. Isabelle is a Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is certified in Montessori Education and has eight years of experience in Early Childhood. A favorite quote of Isabelle's is "Play is the work of the child," by Maria Montessori. Her educational philosophy is that children learn most through engagement. With our littlest learners, she emphasizes making secure attachments and laying a healthy foundation for development.

• Krupa

  Ms. Krupa is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She has a Bachelors in Accounting and is Certified in International Montessori Education! A fun fact about Krupa is that she loves spending time with her family and wants to take a vacation to her home country to refresh her memories. The educational philosophy she leads by is to create a positive classroom environment that fosters a sense of curiosity, critical thinking, and self-directed learning.

• Madhuri

  Ms. Madhuri is a member of our Educational Support Team here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a master's in Business Administration from Barkatullah University in Bhopal, India. A fun fact about Madhuri is that she loves to dance and cook! The teaching philosophy she leads by is that education should nurture curiosity, encourage creativity, and prepare students to adapt in a changing world.

• Maria

  Ms. Maria is a Lead Teacher in the Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community College. A fun fact about Maria is that she has many passions including wildlife conservation, dance, cooking, photography, and travel! The educational philosophy she leads by is that to be a good teacher, you must be a good student.

• Marybeth

  Ms. Marybeth is a Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community College and has 20 years of Early Childhood Experience. A favorite quote of Marybeth's is "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." The teaching philosophy she leads by is to love and nurture all her "baby friends" in a safe and supportive environment. She believes in creating a stimulating classroom to encourage exploration and discovery.

• Roshni

  Ms. Samantha is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Masters in Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University. A fun fact about Samantha is that she loves to take early morning walks and bake bread! The educational philosophy she leads by is that every child is unique, capable, and deserving of a learning environment that nurtures their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

• Shelly

  Ms. Shelly is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is a Certified Pediatric Medical Assistant. A favorite quote of Shelly's is "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us." The teaching philosophy she leads by is to create self-sufficient learners that know how to use the resources around them.

• Sonya

  Ms. Sonya is a Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds an Associates in Early Childhood Education from Mormana University in Istanbul, Turkey. A fun fact about Sonya is that she knows four languages: English, German, Turkish, and Arabic! The teaching philosophy she leads by is that every child deserves care, love, and good education. A relationship with security and trust between teacher and child is most important for learning.

• Tammy

  Ms. Tammy is a Lead Teacher in the PreK 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds an Associates in Early Childhood Education from Stanly Community College. A fun fact about Tammy is that she has been teaching since 1996 and has lived in the Waxhaw area for over 40 years! The educational philosophy she leads by is that every child is a unique and not only capable of learning but also succeeding.

• Taylor

  Ms. Taylor is a Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She has a bachelor's in psychology from Coastal Carolina University. A fun fact about Taylor is that she loves to read and paint. The teaching philosophy she leads by is that children must be taught how to think, not what to think!

• Taylor

  Ms. Taylor is a Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw. She is NC Lead Teacher Certified and is currently pursuing her associates in Early Childhood Education at South Piedmont Community College. A fun fact about Taylor is that she usually reads over 100 books a year! Her teaching philosophy is that education should nurture curiosity. A teacher's role in the classroom is to create an environment full of support and love.

• Audrienne

  Ms. Audri is the Kitchen Manager here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community and still helps out in the classrooms when not doing her kitchen duties. A fun fact about her is that she enjoys knitting, crocheting, and making shirts. The educational philosophy Audri leads by is that all children are different. Teachers should help each child with a unique approach and to the best of their ability.

• Courtney

  Ms. Courtney is a Lead Teacher in the Toddler Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is Certified in Early Childhood Education with a specialty in Infant/Toddler Care through Central Piedmont Community College. A fun fact about Courtney is that one of her favorite things to do is laugh. The teaching philosophy that she leads by is that all children can and will learn if they are provided the proper resources and opportunities!

• Martina

  Ms. Martina is a Lead Teacher in the Toddler Classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She is NC Lead Teacher Certified through South Piedmont Community College and has a Bachelors in Social Security Insurance from Germany. A favorite quote of Martina's is "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched- they must be felt with the heart," by Helen Keller. The teaching philosophy she leads by is to inspire, engage, and demonstrate for children rather than tell them facts.

• Viktoriia

  Ms. Viktoriia is a Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! She holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Baikal University in Russia. A favorite quote of Viktoriia's is "Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." The educational philosophy she leads by is that teachers should never forget they were once a child. You can never give a child enough love and care!