The Goddard School of Cornelius

Bios

• Brian

  Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Rockhurst University and a Master of Business Administration from The Olin School of Business at Washington University. In careers prior to operating The Goddard School of Lake Norman, Brian SCUBA dived for mussels as an environmental consultant, worked as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry, and worked on Wall Street covering pharmaceutical companies. Brian enjoys greeting families each morning as they arrive at the school and is the proud father of a Goddard School of lake Norman graduate.

• Kristen

  Kristen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child and Family Development from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Kristen has been working at The Goddard School in Cornelius since 2010 and she loves to see the joy and excitement on a child's face when they learn something new. Kristen is mom to two Goddard graduates. Kristen is incredibly knowledgeable in early childhood education and works to make our wonderful program better every day. In her free time, She enjoys reading, trying new craft projects and being with her family.

• Brina

  Ms. Brina is an Assistant Director and holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from East Stroudsburg University. Brina has more than 15 years experience working with young children before becoming an Assistant Director. She loves working with children because their happiness is so infectious. In Brina's free time she enjoys reading and hanging out with her family.

• Dominique

  Ms. Dominique is an Assistant Director and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources and Social Sciences from Dominican College in New York and North Carolina Early Childhood teaching credentials. Dominique taught young children for nearly 14 years before joining our administrative team. She enjoys working with young children because she gets to see them learn and grow every day while forming loving bonds with them. In her free time, Dominique enjoys watching hockey with her two young sons.

• Rhonda

  Ms. Rhonda is an Assistant Director and holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mitchell Community College, Criminal Justice Associate Degree from Central Piedmont Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Pfeiffer University. Ms. Rhonda has been at our school since 2002 and is the proud Mama of a Goddard graduate.

• Angela

  Ms. Angela teaches Pre-K/TK and has been part of The Goddard School family since 2017. She holds an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education and brings over 15 years of experience working with young children. Ms. Angela loves helping her students' personalities shine and finds joy in seeing their excitement as they learn and grow. One of her favorite compliments is hearing from parents that their children call her their best friend and include her in their prayers. Outside the classroom, Ms. Angela enjoys long walks on the beach and relaxing with some coloring time.

• Cheryl

  Ms. Cheryl teaches in one of our Preschool age rooms and holds a BA in Music Education. Ms. Cheryl had 27 years of teaching experience when she joined us in 2023. Enjoying music classes in high school inspired Ms. Cheryl to teach. She loves seeing children's excitement when they realize they have learned something. Ms. Cheryl began playing guitar at 7 years old and has also played clarinet and saxophone in bands.

• Debora

  Ms. Debora teaches Transitional Kindergarten/Pre-K and holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mitchell Community College. Debora has been working at The Goddard School in Cornelius since 2004. She loves that she has the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the children in her class and works daily to ensure the children are getting the best education possible. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing the progress of her students; seeing a child's eyes light up after grasping a new piece of knowledge is priceless

• Kalanie

  Ms. Kalanie is excited to begin her teaching journey and join our team. She recently earned her Bachelor's in Education & Early Child Development from Lander University and brings a strong passion for working with children and making a positive difference in their lives. What Ms. Kalanie loves most about teaching is seeing the joy and excitement on a child's face when they learn something new. Those moments are what make teaching so meaningful and rewarding. An interesting fact about Ms. Kalanie is that she's a big fan of Wicked the musical!

• Michelle

  Ms. Michelle teaches in our Get Set classroom and brings a touch of British charm to the The Goddard School. She earned her Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Cauldon College in England and has over 35 years of experience nurturing and teaching young children. Since joining The Goddard School in 2021, Ms. Michelle has become known for her creativity , warmth, and phenomenal puppet shows. She believes in making learning fun and loves watching her students discover the joy in the classroom. When she's not inspiring young minds, Ms. Michelle loves listening to ABBA and The Beatles, finding great deals at Aldi and hanging out with her friends at the theatre.

• Tina

  Ms. Tina is a Preschool Lead Teacher and has Early Childhood Education Credentials. Ms. Tina was inspired to teach at an early age because of her 3rd grade teacher's ability to guide students, her fairness, and her "can-do" attitude. Ms. Tina says teaching is really rewarding, especially watching a child learn something new for the first time. Ms. Tina has an identical twin sister and five grown children.

• Aliyah

  Ms. Aliyah teaches in our Get Set classroom and holds an Associates Degree in Elementary Education. Ms. Aliyah joined The Goddard School in 2023 and aspires to make a difference in each child's life like her teachers did growing up. She likes challenging the children to think for themselves, be creative, and find their passion. In Ms. Aliyah's free time, she enjoys spending time with her Fiance' and dog Knox. She also enjoys reading and cooking.

• Ashley

  Ms. Ashley serves as a dedicated Resource Teacher at our school and is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever she's needed. In addition to supporting classrooms throughout the day, she also drives our school bus and assists with our afterschool program. Her reliability, kindness and teamwork make her an incredible asset to our school community. In Ms. Ashley's spare time, she stays busy as an on call surgical tech.

• Caitlin

  Ms. Caitlin teaches Young Toddlers and has been with The Goddard School since 2019. She is currently working toward an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Caitlin is incredibly kind to the children in her class and teaches dance in her free time.

• Candy

  Ms. Candy teaches our older Toddlers and is working on a BA in Elementary education with a background in social work. Ms. Candy's fun and inspiring relationships with her own teachers convinced her to pursue a career in teaching so she can share those experiences with future generations. When Ms. Candy isn't teaching or doing her own schoolwork, she has more than 75 houseplants keeping her busy at home.

• Carlie

  Ms. Carlie recently joined The Goddard School and teaches in our one-year old classroom. She is currently pursuing her education degree with hopes of becoming a first-grade teacher in the future. She loves engaging with the children through hands-on activities and storytime, creating a nurturing and joyful environment where every child can learn and grow. In Ms. Carlie's free time, She loves hanging out with friends and reading.

• Destiny

  Ms. Destiny joined The Goddard School in 2024 and quickly found her passion working with young children. She teaches in one of our one-year-old rooms, where her days are filled with art projects, singing songs, and creating joyful learning moments. Ms. Destiny loves watching each child discover new skills and grow more confident every day. In her free time, Ms. Destiny is outnumbered by her boys, she enjoys spending time at the arcade and drinking coffee.

• Diane

  Ms. Diane teaches in our older Infants classroom and has more than 30 years of teaching experience to The Goddard School. She began her journey in early childhood education by volunteering for Head Start, where she quickly fell in love with teaching young children and making connections with the families. Ms. Diane holds her North Carolina Early Childhood Credentials and is currently continuing her education to earn a Certificate in Infant and Toddler Development. She joined The Goddard School in 2022 and loves watching children grow and learn in her care. Outside the classroom, Ms. Diane is a proud mom to three daughters, including a set of twins.

• Dorka

  Ms. Dorka teaches in one of our TK classrooms. She brings so much fun and energy to the classroom. Ms. Dorka is Peruvian and has enhanced our Spanish language teachings in the classroom. She loves observing how children explore, learn, achieve their goals, and evolve and adapts her educational approach to meet the individual needs of each child.

• Edith

  Ms. Edie brings a nurturing touch and years of hands-on experience to the infant classroom. Before joining The Goddard School, she ran her own in-home daycare, caring for the children of friends and neighbors and developing a deep passion for early childhood education. She has completed several training hours in this field. Ms. Edie loves creating a warm, safe and loving environment where infants can grow, explore and thrive. In her spare time, She enjoys reading, watching crime shows and completing puzzles.

• Heather

  Ms. Heather brings over 15 years of early childhood experience to our two-year old classroom. She loves creating hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and joy in her students. Her circle times are full of music, movement and laughter-and her puppet shows are always a class favorite! Ms. Heather's warm energetic approach helps even our youngest learners feel confident, engaged, and excited to explore the world around them. In her free time, Ms. Heather enjoys spending time with her family, especially watching her son play baseball and making memories with her grandchildren.

• Shana

  Ms. Shana joined our school as a Resource / Afterschool Teacher and quickly became known for her hands-on teaching style and creative spirit. She loves designing engaging lesson plans and activities that keep children excited about learning. Whether it's a science experiment, a themed art project, or a team-building game, she brings energy, imagination, and joy to everything she does. Her passion for teaching shines through each day as she helps students learn, grow, and have fun along the way. When Ms. Shana is not in the classroom, she enjoys working out, being outside especially kayaking, and sculpting.

• Sharon

  Ms. Sharon teaches our Infants. She holds the North Carolina Early Childhood Teaching Credential. Sharon has been working at the Goddard School in Cornelius since 2006. She loves being a part of a child's first months of life and delights in working with the young infants.

• Stacy

  Ms. Stacy is an Infant Teacher and has been with The Goddard School since 2022. Ms. Stacy is currently working towards her Associates in Early Childhood Education. She enjoys the opportunity to make a difference in children's lives and loves watching a child's excitement about learning something new.

• Aneliz

  Ms. Aneliz recently joined our Pre-K team and has already become a wonderful asset to our classroom and school community. She brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and a natural ability to connect with young children. The students adore her caring personality and enthusiasm during lessons and playtime. We are so grateful to have her as part of our team.

• Bianca

  Ms. Bianca joined our team in 2024 with several years of experience. Originally from New York, she recently made North Carolina her home and quickly became a valued member of our school family. Ms. Bianca has a natural gift for nurturing and connecting with the little ones in her care, creating a warm, calm and engaging classroom environment. She looks forward to continuing her education by pursuing an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education as she grows in her passion for helping children learn and thrive.

• Brooke

  Ms. Brooke joined The Goddard School in 2023 as a Resource Teacher and quickly became a beloved member of our team. Her enthusiasm, gentle nature, and dedication to help young children learn and grow made her the perfect fit for the one year old classroom, where she now teaches full-time. Her joyful approach helps create a caring environment for our youngest learners.

• Chelsea

  Ms. Chelsea is a Resource Teacher who supports classrooms all across the school, always ready to lend a helping hand wherever she's needed. she is pursuing her degree in Education and is passionate about creating positive, nurturing experiences for children. Her love for working with little ones is inspired by her own daughter, who reminds her every day of the joy and wonder of early childhood.

• Ms Christina

  Ms. Christina is a dedicated Resource Teacher and an essential part of our team. She's always ready to jump in and help wherever she's needed, bringing positivity and flexibility to every classroom. She has an Associates in Early Childhood and is currently in school for her Bachelor's at UNCC. In Ms. Christina's free time, She enjoys studying different languages, journaling, and being outside especially if it involves hiking or kayaking.

• Doretha

  Ms. Dori brings over 8 years of experience working in Early Childhood Education with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. She has training and hands-on experience through lesson based programs, early intervention, and ongoing professional development focused on child development. Ms. Dori has always loved working with children and is passionate about supporting their growth during such an important stage of life. Her favorite part of teaching is building strong relationships with her students and watching their confidence and skills grow each day. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Dori has an interesting background-she was once a bodybuilder and loves helping others reach their wellness goals. She also enjoys singing (especially with her eyes closed).

• Kim

  Ms. Kim helps out throughout the school and primarily with toddlers. Ms. Kim has a Bachelor's Degree in English with a Minor in Education from UNC Charlotte and 40+ years experience working with children. She loves engaging with the young children because of their innocence and honesty and she loves seeing their faces light up when they've accomplished something for the first time. Ms. Kim teaches to make it fun so that kids enjoy coming to school.

• Madison

  Ms. Madison holds her North Carolina Early Childhood Credentials and an Associates of Technology degree. She has spent over six years in the childcare field, gaining experience both in and out of the classroom. She loves building meaningful connections with children and finds joy in watching them learn, grow, and discover the world around them. In Ms. Madison's spare time, she loves finding new IT projects, reading and art.

• Morgan

  Ms. Morgan joined The Goddard School in 2024 as a Resource Teacher and has been an incredible support across all classrooms ever since. She's always willing to jump in whenever she's needed, but she has a special place in her heart for working with our two-year-olds. The children adore her playful spirit and the way she engages with them during learning and playtime. She has completed several hours of professional training to continue growing her skills and passion for early childhood education.