The Goddard School of Waxhaw

Bios

• 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 Monbarren has been the owner of the Goddard School in Ballantyne since the facility opened in October 2005. She is excited to be the onsite co-owner of the Waxhaw School. She earned a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor's degree in Communication.

• Cherie

  Ms. Cherie is originally from New York where she earned her degree in Early Childhood. She has worked in the field of Early Childhood for 25 years, 11 years as a teacher and 14 years as an Administrator (6 of which were at The Goddard School in Ballantyne). Cherie loves being part of such a quality program and is even more pleased to have her daughter in such a wonderful learning environment!

• Jessica

  Hi! My name is Ms. Jessica and I am the Curriculum Coordinator here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in Early Childhood since 1992! I have lived in Waxhaw for 22 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2015! I decided to go into the field of Early Childhood Education to watch the “light bulb” moments in my students as they grasp new concepts! A favorite quote of mine is “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” by Nelson Mandela.

• Abigail

  Hi! My name is Ms. Abby and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am currently pursuing my North Carolina Lead Teacher Certification as well as a degree in Marine Science. I have been caring for young children since 2017, have lived in Waxhaw since 2011 and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best through interactive, hands-on learning and by providing these types of activities in the classroom, children can explore and grow as individuals! A favorite quote of mine is “The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain” by Dolly Parton.

• Aritha

  Hi! My name is Ms. Aritha and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in Early Childhood since 1990! I have lived in Waxhaw for 6 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2017! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children are like sponges and the sky is the limit on what they are capable of learning! A favorite quote of mine is “Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded” by Jess Lair.

• Bisrat

  Hi! My name is Ms. Bisrat and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in Early Childhood since 2012. I have lived in North Carolina for 13 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that if children are placed in a nurturing environment, with stimulating materials to work with, they will be eager to explore and learn new things everyday! A favorite quote of mine is “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you” by Matthew 7:12.

• Cindy

  Hi! My name is Ms. Cindy and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am currently pursuing a North Carolina Lead Teacher Certification and have been working in Early Childhood since 2023. I have lived in Waxhaw my entire life and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children should be encouraged to be their true selves and deserve a learning environment that is safe and welcoming. A favorite quote of mine is “Everything happens for a reason”.

• Emily

  Hi! My name is Ms. Emily and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Recreational Therapy and have been working in Early Childhood since 2019! I have lived in North Carolina for 28 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2024! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best through play and using their imagination. I believe this gives children the opportunity to be creative while being nurtured! A favorite quote of mine is “Promise me you’ll always remember you’re braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think” by A.A. Milne.

• Emine

  Hi! My name is Ms. Emine and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Psychology and am trained in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. I have been working in Early Childhood since 2019, have lived in North Carolina for 1 year and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2024! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that the most effective way for children to discover the world starts with an emotional bond. It is the teachers’ job is to listen and talk to their students by establishing eye contact. Teachers should always make their students feel that they are valuable and unique and reinforce positive behaviors with kind words! A favorite quote of mine is “Language is not only a means of speech and thought, it is a bridge with the significant function of bringing the wealth of the past to our day and conveying today’s heritage and our new compositions to the future” by M. Fethullah Golen.

• Isabelle

  Hi! My name is Ms. Isabelle and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am trained in Montessori Education and have been working in Early Childhood since 2011. I have lived in Waxhaw for 3 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2022! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn through play and should be provided opportunities to learn around their individual interests! A favorite quote of mine is “Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water” by Maria Montessori.

• Julie

  Hi! My name is Ms. Julie and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the First Steps classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am a Certified Lead Teacher in North Carolina and have been working in Early Childhood since 1995. I have lived in Waxhaw for 47 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2015! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children are different in their own ways and deserve a stimulating educational environment where they can thrive. A favorite quote of mine is “Spread love wherever you go” by Mother Teresa.

• Kim

  Hi! My name is Ms. Kim and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Early Childhood and a License in Exceptional Special Education from UNCC. I have been working in Early Childhood since 2000, have lived in North Carolina for 15 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that every child has a different type of intelligence to be supported and developed while in the classroom. A favorite quote of mine is “Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system” by Sidney Hook.

• Krupa

  Hi! My name is Ms. Krupa and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Accounting and Commerce and am certified in International Montessori Education. I have been working in Early Childhood since 1999, have lived in Waxhaw since 2021 and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2022! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children deserve a learning environment that helps them grow to their fullest potential. A favorite quote of mine is “Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions; opening doors for them in places that they could not imagine” by Yawar Baig.

• Lauren

  Hi! My name is Ms. Lauren and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am currently pursuing a North Carolina Lead Teacher Certification and have been working in Early Childhood since 2022. I have lived in Waxhaw for 2 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2022! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children thrive best with routines, laughter and lots of reading! A favorite quote of mine is “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun” by Katherine Hepburn.

• Marybeth

  Hi! My name is Ms. Marybeth and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Infant classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am a Certified Lead Teacher in North Carolina and have been working in Early Childhood since 2005. I have lived in Waxhaw for 13 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2011! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children are unique and deserve to learn at their own pace in an environment that is safe, nurturing and considerate of their developmental needs. A favorite quote of mine is “Change is the end result of all true learning” by Leo Buscaglia.

• Monica

  Hi! My name is Ms. Monica and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Educational Studies with a focus on Child Development and have been working in Early Childhood since 2017. I have lived in Waxhaw for 6 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2020! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best through hands on activities and deserve a learning environment where they can excel academically, socially and emotionally. A favorite quote of mine is “Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of success” by Arianna Huffington.

• Shelly

  Hi! My name is Ms. Shelly and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a Pediatric Medical Assistance Certification and have been working in Early Childhood since 2015! I have lived in Waxhaw for 2 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2021! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is to get to know each child on an individual level so that I can respond and teach with an approach that works best for them. A favorite quote of mine is “Let me be patient, let me be kind. Make me unselfish, without being blind” by Lauryn Hill.

• Sonya

  Hi! My name is Ms. Sonya and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Young Toddler classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Early Childhood and have been working in Early Childhood since 2005! I have lived in North Carolina for 24 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best through play and discovery. I believe that children thrive when they are in an environment that is interactive and promotes positive relationships between the child and educator! A favorite quote of mine is “Family isn’t always your relatives. It’s the ones who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who love no matter what” by Shannon Olsen.

• Tammy

  Hi! My name is Ms. Tammy and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Pre-Kindergarten 2 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in Early Childhood since 1996! I have lived in Waxhaw my entire life and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2023! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best from hands on approaches to teaching! A favorite quote of mine is “You can do anything if you set your mind to it” by Benjamin Franklin.

• Taylor

  Hi! My name is Ms. Taylor and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Get Set classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in Psychology and am currently pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. I have been working in Early Childhood since 2018, have lived in Waxhaw for 5 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2018! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children must be taught how to think, not what to think. A favorite quote of mine is “Children see magic because they look for it” by Christopher Moore.

• Taylor

  Hi! My name is Ms. Taylor and I am a Co-Lead Teacher in the Preschool 1 classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a degree in General Arts and am currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in Early Childhood since 2018, have lived in North Carolina for 17 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2020! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children should be challenged and taught in a way that is best suited for them and their individual needs. A favorite quote of mine is “Even on your worst day in the classroom, you are still some child’s best hope” by Larry Bell.

• Audrienne

  Hi! My name is Ms. Audri and I am an Educational Support Teacher in the First Steps classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I am a Certified Lead Teacher in North Carolina and have been working in Early Childhood since 2008. I have lived in South Carolina my whole life and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2016! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children are unique and learn best through free play and exploration. A favorite quote of mine is “Treat others the way you want to be treated” by Jesus of Nazareth.

• Courtney

  Hi! My name is Ms. Courtney and I am an Educational Support Teacher here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a certificate in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Infant/Toddler care and have been working in Early Childhood since 2004! I have lived in North Carolina for over 30 years and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2022! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children can and will learn if they are provided the proper resources and opportunities! A favorite quote of mine is “Never stop learning. Never be ashamed or embarrassed to be yourself”.

• Kioshia

  Hi! My name is Ms. Kioshia and I am an Educational Support Teacher here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a passion for working with young children and have been working in Early Childhood since 2018! I live in South Carolina and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2021! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that children learn best through play and exploration! A favorite quote of mine is “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough” by Oprah Winfrey.

• Martina

  Hi! My name is Ms. Martina and I am an Educational Support Teacher in the First Steps classroom here at The Goddard School of Waxhaw! I have a certificate as a Social Security Insurance Specialist and have been working in Early Childhood since 2002. I have lived in North Carolina since 2018 and have been a part of the Goddard family since 2024! The teaching philosophy that I lead by is that all children should learn in a valued and friendly environment. A favorite quote of mine is “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” by Thomas A. Edison.