The Goddard School of Rocky River

Bios

• Mr Amar

  Mr. Amar is the Owner of The Goddard School of Rocky River, Ohio. As both a parent and an educational leader, Amar is deeply passionate about creating a joyful, safe, and nurturing place where children can grow, learn, and discover their unique potential. Amar holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Management from Columbia University. He brings his background in leadership and management to ensure that every child receives the highest quality early childhood education and care. He believes that building strong relationships with families and fostering a love of learning from an early age lays the foundation for lifelong success. Amar lives in Avon Lake with his wife, Rima, and their two children, Mila and Sahil, who both attend The Goddard School. He takes great pride in serving the Goddard community and supporting each child’s growth and development.

• Ms Katie

  Ms. Katie is the Director at the Goddard School of Rocky River. She comes to us with 2 years of experience as a Director at a Goddard School and 13 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. Ms. Katie is the mother of a Goddard School graduate, and her son Nolan currently attends our school. She loves Cleveland sports, reading, and spending time with her family. Ms. Katie believes that a strong early childhood education leads to lifelong learners, and she can’t wait to help the kids at Goddard Rocky River grow!

• Ms Sarah

  Ms. Sarah brings over 15 years of experience in early childhood and elementary education and is thrilled to serve as the Director of Education at The Goddard School of Rocky River. Throughout her career, she has taught kindergarten through third grade, but found her true calling in working with young children—supporting their early growth, development, and love for learning from the very beginning. She is passionate about partnering with families and teachers to create a nurturing, engaging, and enriching environment for all children. Ms. Sarah is the proud mom of two daughters—one a Goddard graduate and the other, Josie, a current student at our school. When she’s not at school, you can find her baking with her girls, enjoying audiobooks, or cheering on the Cleveland Guardians. Her energy, warmth, and deep love for education make her a joyful and inspiring presence in our school community.

• Ms Ashley

  Ms. Ashley is our Assistant Director. She loves working with children of all ages. She has two children of her own who are 6 and 17 years old. Her favorite part of teaching is getting to know each of the children and helping them foster their growth within the school!

• Ms Alketa

  Ms. Alketa is one of our Preschool II Teachers. She has two children of her own, one of which is a student here! Her favorite part of working at Goddard is when all the students begin to spontaneously laugh together. She is very family oriented and when she can she loves to go on long walks!

• Ms Amy

  Ms. Amy is a Co-Lead teacher in Toddler 2. She has her Child Development Associates in Infant and Toddlers. She knew as a young child that she always wanted to work with children, so she started by babysitting the kids in her neighborhood and that led to her passion, which is working in preschools. She has many years of experience working young children, primarily infants and toddlers. She believes you have to take non-teachable moments and turn them into a teachable moment. When she's not teaching, she likes to take walks, spend time with her family and friends, and bowl on her three bowling leagues.

• Ms Andrea

  Ms. Annie is one of our PreK I teachers. She has an Associate of Arts with a focus in psychology. In her free time, she enjoys coloring and crafts, photography, and DIY projects around the house. She is a devoted cat mom to her two fur babies. Her favorite part about working at Goddard is bringing her creativity to the classroom and helping the students explore the world in fun new ways.

• Ms Ashley

  Ms. Ashley is one of our PreK I teachers. She has her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ursuline College. Her favorite aspect of the classroom is the “Ah-Ha moment” where a child realizes they can now do something they could not before, and it just further sparks their interest to learn more. Ms. Ashley is an avid Softball fan; she played throughout college and now coaches in her free time.

• Ms Courtney

  Ms. Courtney is one of our Preschool II teachers. She is almost finished with her Early Childhood Education Associate’s degree while also in school for Medical Assisting. Courtney has two children of her own, a son and a daughter. She has over five years of experience working with children of all ages, including special needs children. Courtney loves working with kids because every day you get to learn new things in their perspective and it's so fun to witness. In her free time, she loves to hang out with her family and explore nature!

• Ms Julia

  Ms. Julia is one of our Preschool 1 teachers. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education and has been working in childcare since 2021. Ms. Julia’s favorite thing about teaching is being a pivotal role in a child’s development and growth. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing a “Lightbulb” moment! In her free time, Ms. Julia enjoys baking, putting her nose in a good book, and spending time with loved ones.

• Ms Kelley

  Ms. Kelley is in our Infant I classroom. She is dedicated to enriching the lives of children she cares for. She has spent most of her professional career with this goal in mind. Miss Kelley is all about encouraging creativity, engaging with the children, and bringing out the best in each and every child. Miss Kelley loves that she gets to be a part of a child’s life that influences the person they grow to become.

• Ms Lauren

  Ms. Lauren is one of our Toddler II teachers. She has one daughter that goes to school at The Goddard School as well. She has an associate degree in veterinary technology from Penn Foster College and is currently finishing her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Ashworth College, with the hopes to someday be a second-grade teacher. In her free time, Ms. Lauren enjoys exploring new places including Aruba, Bonaire, La Romana, and Amber Cove. She also enjoys being outdoors and riding her horse, Dakota. Her favorite part about working at The Goddard School of Rocky River is that it is a very welcoming and family friendly environment. She is extremely grateful for all the new friends she has made and families she has begun to connect with.

• Ms Mary

  Ms. M is one of our PreK II teachers. She went to The Ohio State University and graduated with a bachelor's in fine arts, focusing on animation. She is currently pursuing a licensure in Art Education after spending the past few years teaching at various camps and education facilities around Cleveland and Columbus. She has been in childcare positions since 2018, and loves being able to see the development of children within her care. In her free time, she sings in the West Shore Chorale, animates, reads, and composes music. Her favorite part of teaching is how it is always presenting new challenges to meet with creative solutions.

• Mr Mason

  Mr. Mason has been a part of our Goddard family since October of 2021. He began as a floater and transitioned into Preschool III. He has his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Cleveland Institute of Art. Mr. Mason's favorite part of the class is developing a bond with each child in order to achieve their classroom goals.

• Ms Mauvion

  Ms. Mauvion is one of our Twos teachers here at Goddard. She has been in the childcare field for the past five years. As a child, Ms. Mauvion has always seen herself teaching young children. She is currently in school for Medical Massage Therapy, but she still makes time for her passion of children. One of her favorite things about being a Goddard worker is seeing the children learn. Learning is the most fascinating experience to witness in her book. And she encourages all the children around her to keep learning every day.

• Ms Nadia

  Ms. Nadia is one of our Bridge I teachers. She is currently working on getting her associate in early childhood education at Cuyahoga Community College. Nadia also did a Westshore program for early childhood education for two years at Rocky River High School and Lakewood High school. Her favorite part about working at Goddard is getting to see the kids play outside and enjoy with their friends. In her free time, Ms. Nadia likes to spend her free time in the gym with her friends or spend some family time with her siblings and cousins!

• Ms Patricia

  Ms. Patty is one of our Preschool 2 teachers. She is currently completing her associate degree in Liberal Arts and plans to transfer to Cleveland State University this fall to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Childhood Education. Adopted at the age of 2, Ms. Patty is the youngest of 15 siblings and is a proud mother of two—a grown son and a teenage daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading (especially fiction), practicing yoga, watching sunsets over Lake Erie, and spending time with her beloved dog, Sami. Ms. Patty’s favorite part of teaching is the daily opportunity to be a safe and supportive presence for the children in her care. She considers it both an honor and a privilege to help guide and nurture young learners each day.

• Ms Randa

  Ms. Randa is one of our Bridge II teachers. She previously managed a retail store of her own for 10 years but switched to childcare due to her love for children. Ms. Randa has 5 daughters of her own! Her favorite age group are the infants as she loves to care for “her babies”, but you can find her throughout the school helping in any and every way!

• Ms Sara

  Ms. Sara is in our Preschool III classroom. She has her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Cleveland Institute of Art. Her favorite part of teaching is making it fun for the children! In her free time, Ms. Sara loves to be with nature, which is also inspires a great deal of her artwork!

• Ms Sara

  Ms. Sara is one of our Preschool I teachers. She has an associate's in early childhood education and has been working with children in some capacity, whether volunteer or career for 14 years. While teaching at Goddard she also has a child of her own that attends as well. Her favorite part of the job is making connections and helping a child to meet goals whether big or small. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, go hiking, camping etc. and loves to go with her family to all the sport downtown, but hockey is a family favorite.

• Ms Sarah

  Ms. Sarah is our Preschool 1 teacher With over 8 years of experience working with children of all ages, a Director for three years, and an Education Coordinator for two. She is passionate about helping young minds grow and discover their potential. When she's not in the classroom, you can often find her curled up with a good book, crocheting, fishing, baking delicious treats, or soaking up the beauty of nature all with her daughter. In the summertime, Sarah loves catching a Guardians game at Progressive Field—it's one of her favorite things to do! Ms. Sarah is looking forward to being a part of your child's learning adventure and can't wait to create a fun, nurturing, and inspiring environment where all children can thrive.

• Ms Shanti

  Ms. Shanti is our Twos teacher and brings experience in early childhood education, primarily working with preschoolers and toddlers. She is passionate about helping young children grow and thrive, and her favorite part of teaching is watching her students discover new things and build new skills. While she plans to pursue a career in the medical field in the future, Ms. Shanti remains deeply dedicated to early learning. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, shopping, and watching movies. Her warm, nurturing nature and commitment to supporting young learners make her a valued member of the toddler team at The Goddard School.

• Ms Danielle

  Ms. Danielle is one of our resource teachers. She has her Child Development Associates in preschool and over 10 years' experience working in a childcare center. The first years of a child's life are so important for development and Ms. Danielle loves that she can help shape the minds of young children through kindness and love. Her favorite part about teaching is watching the children learn through play and explore. In her free time, she loves to go on adventures with her husband and young son.

• Ms Shi'Yana

  Ms. Shi’Yana has had a passion for working with children for as long as she can remember. Before joining our team, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), supporting children, teens, and young adults with autism. In her free time, she enjoys reading and going on walks with her two dogs and her stepdaughter. Ms. Shi’Yana’s favorite part of working in early childhood education is witnessing her students achieve their goals and grow into more confident, independent individuals. She finds joy and purpose in being part of each child’s developmental journey.

• Ms Skylar

  Ms. Skylar has been working in childcare since 2023 and has a child of her own. She is a certified health counselor and is currently working on her bachelor’s in psychology at Southern New Hampshire University. She is very family oriented and enjoys traveling, art and being outdoors. Her favorite part of the job is getting to see the kids learn and grow and all the joy they bring.