The Goddard School of Marriottsville

Bios

• Sheeba

  Ms. Sheeba has been the proud owner of The Goddard School in Marriottsville since 2003! She is originally from Texas and has been in Maryland since 1990. Her educational background is in Child Psychology and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas and Towson University, respectively. Sheeba loves the responsibility of educating and nurturing young children. She shares her love for singing and reading children's books with the children in the school. Her favorite children's book is Rainbow Fish. Ms. Sheeba has two daughters; one of them was one of the first graduates of the Goddard School in Marriottsville! In her free time, Ms. Sheeba loves to travel.

• Hafida

  Ms. Hafida joined Goddard in 2004 and has a degree in legal studies from the University of Algiers, 90 hours certificate and a child development certificate from Howard County Community College. She likes working with children because it is so rewarding when students get excited to learn something new and she can make a difference in their lives. She enjoys doing STEM activities with her students because they are always engaged, and they get excited about the outcome. Ms. Hafida has been married for over 30 years and has 4 children. In her free time, she likes to travel, hike and bake.

• Nicole

  Ms. Nicole joined Goddard in 2006 and was a teacher in the Pre-K classroom before she transitioned to the director role in 2020. She has an associate degree in Elementary Education and has her 90 hour certification. She enjoys watching children grow through the years and the joy in them when they learn something new. Her favorite children's book is the Berenstain Bears series because they have life lessons that are relatable. She loves engaging children in creative art that involves glitter and confetti! Ms. Nicole has four dogs. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. She is a big Orioles and Ravens fan and loves traveling to watch them play!

• Merissa

  Ms. Merissa joined The Goddard School in Marriottsville in 2025. She holds a B.A. in Music Education with a Psychology minor from the University of Maine and an A.A. in Early Childhood Development from Saddleback College. She previously taught at The Goddard School in Arnold (2019–2020) and worked as a Vocal Music Teacher at Loch Raven Technical Academy. After relocating to California, she served as Site Supervisor/Assistant Director at The Good Shepherd Preschool before returning to Maryland. Merissa enjoys working with children because of their curiosity and wonder. Her favorite children’s book is "The Wonky Donkey" by Craig Smith. She loves crafting and making music with kids, is a Harry Potter fan, and enjoys trips home to Maine. She lives with her husband Noah, daughter Joyce, two cats, and two dogs.

• Amari

  Ms. Amari joined Goddard in 2024. She has her bachelor’s degree in human Ecology with a concentration in Child Development from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. Ms. Amari has previous experience teaching in different childcare settings. She loves watching the children grow and become knowledgeable. Her favorite children’s book is “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff because it yields anticipation for what the mouse needs next. You will find Ms. Amari reading books, singing, and dancing with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Amari enjoys relaxing with a good book by the water.

• Anamika

  Ms. Anamika joined Goddard in 2022. She has attained her bachelor's degree in Education from Rabindra Bharati University in India. She loves working with children because she can sing and dance to nursery rhymes with them. Her favorite children’s books are Peppa Pig and Disney books. Her favorite activity to do with the children is to read books to them. In her free time, Ms. Anamika loves to spend time with her husband, daughter, and son. She also loves to cook, decorate, and garden. Ms. Anamika is originally from India!

• Anna

  Ms. Anna joined Goddard in 2022 and has her 90hr Preschool certification and Infant Toddler certification. She likes working with children because she likes taking care of them and helping them with day-to-day tasks. Her favorite children’s book is "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. Her favorite activity to do with children is creative art.

• C Iyaji

  Mx. C joined Goddard in 2024. They have a bachelor’s degree in Gender and Women’s studies from University of Maryland, Baltimore County as well as a background in Film Studies. They have previous experience as a Kinder teaching assistant at Downtown Denver Expeditionary School and an Early Learning Specialist at Chapter One. Mx. C loves watching the children learn new concepts as they engage with the world with wonder and excitement. Their favorite children’s book is “What Do You Do with a Problem?” by Kobi Yamada because it reframes how one looks at problems. You will find Mx. C reading books, having dance parties and playing games like freeze tag with the children in their classroom. Mx. C is a poet and activist who enjoys roller skating, cooking and going to interactive museums in their free time.

• Dawn

  Ms. Dawn joined Goddard in 2003. She has attained her bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies from Frostburg University. She enjoys doing science experiments with the children and watching their excitement. She also shares her love of reading with her students every day. Her favorite children's book is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle because of its bright and colorful illustrations. In her free time, Ms. Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband and their white boxer. She is a big Ravens and Orioles fan.

• Erin

  Ms. Erin joined Goddard in June 2022. She has her Bachelor of Arts from Notre Dame of Maryland University. She has previous experience teaching at a Montessori School. She loves working with children because she loves to watch them grow and overcome challenges. Ms. Erin's favorite children's book is "Oh! The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Suess because it encourages young children to overcome challenges and explore. You will find her sharing her love for games with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Erin enjoys spending time with her Dog, Griff, short for Gryffindor! She is a Harry Potter fan!

• Filza

  Ms. Filza joined Goddard in 2020. She has her bachelor's degree in Education and South East Asian Studies and her Master's in Early Childhood Education. Her previous experience includes three years as a preschool teacher. She loves sharing her passion for gardening with her students. She also enjoys reading Curious George and Pete the Cat books with her students because they are imaginative and informative. Ms. Filza has two daughters. In her free time, she likes to knit, bake and watch movies.

• Haley

  Ms. Haley joined Goddard in 2020. She has two years of previous experience as an assistant teacher. She loves working with children because they bring joy and fun to them every day. She enjoys exploring the outdoors with the children. Her favorite children's book is "Cows in the Kitchen" by June Crebbin. In her free time, Ms. Haley loves playing music and writing songs.

• Harmony

  Ms. Harmony joined Goddard in 2023. She has previous experience working in child care in New York and Maryland. She enjoys teaching children new things and watching them grow. Her favorite children's book is "Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss because it reminds her of her childhood. She enjoys facilitating the various activities that the children participate in. In her free time, Ms. Harmony enjoys going on nature walks, playing video games and spending time with her four dogs.

• Jennifer

  Ms. Jenn joined Goddard in 2023. She has 3 years of experience working with children. Ms. Jenn loves working with children because she enjoys teaching them new things, and she can be part of their growth. Her favorite book to read to children is "The Stinky Cheese Man" by Jon Scieszka because it always makes the children laugh whenever she reads it to them. In the classroom, you will find her playing games with the children and watching them have fun. In her free time, Ms. Jenn enjoys spending time with her twin boys!

• Julia

  Ms. Julia, also known as Ms. Jem, joined Goddard in 2023. She has attained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting from Towson University and has her 90hr Preschool certification. She has previous experience working with children at a children’s theater. Ms. Jem loves working with children because she loves their curiosity, spontaneity, open minds, and their energy. Her favorite children’s book is "Velveteen Rabbit" by Margery Williams because it teaches children that they can get through hard times and come out the other side happy. She shares her love for reading books and drawing with the children in her classroom and encourages their creativity. In her free time, Ms. Jem enjoys performing puppet shows at a children's theater. Ms. Jem is an actress!

• Katherine

  Ms. Kate joined Goddard in 2007. She has been an infant certified teacher since 2005 and has attained a Level 4 Maryland State credential. She loves reading with the children and watching them explore outside. She enjoys watching a child learn something new for the first time and helping them grow. Her passion is to help children grow to the best of their abilities. Her favorite children's book is "Chicken Soup With Rice" by Maurice Sendak because it celebrates the different seasons of the year. In her free time, Ms. Kate enjoys spending time with her husband and their pug, Dexter. She also loves traveling, boating, and spending time with loved ones.

• Kelsie

  Ms. Kelsie joined Goddard in 2015. She is an infant teacher with experience working with Kindergarten, 3rd grade and high school special education. She loves working with children because they are fun-loving and have the potential to do great things in the world with love and guidance. Her favorite activity to do with the children is creating Valentine's Day-themed art. Her favorite children's book is "Here Comes the Babies" by Catherine and Laurence Anholt. In her free time, Ms. Kelsie enjoys painting and spending time with her cat, Bellamy.

• Kristine

  Ms. Kristine joined Goddard in 2006 and she is one of our Health and Safety Representatives. She has previous experience working with middle and high school students as a peer facilitator. She enjoys working with children because they see the world much differently than adults do and just one hug can brighten the darkest day. She loves to play with the children and watch as their imaginations open. One of her favorite books to read to children is the book "What Does the Fox Say?" by Bård Ylvisåker. In her free time, Ms. Kristine loves to sing and write short stories. She enjoys spending time with her husband and son, who is a Goddard graduate, and their two Labradors! Her favorite football team is the Green Bay Packers.

• Laisha

  Ms. Laisha joined Goddard in 2024. She has her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a specialization in Criminal Justice. She enjoys working with children because they are fun and curious. Ms. Laisha’s favorite children’s books are the Dr. Seuss books because of their creative rhymes. You will find her sharing her love for dance with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Laisha enjoys dancing and singing. She has 8 siblings!

• Lanxi

  Ms. Lanxi joined Goddard in 2016. She has attained her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Towson University. She has seven years of previous experience working with children. She enjoys teaching the children new skills and sharing her love of reading with the children. You can find her dancing and singing along to songs in her classroom. Her favorite children's book is Andersen's Fairy Tales because it brings back good childhood memories. In her free time, Ms. Lanxi likes to read, watch cartoons and movies.

• Lexi

  Ms. Lexi joined Goddard in 2017. She has an associate degree in Criminal Justice from Howard County Community College. Her previous experience includes ten years as a nanny. She enjoys seeing children’s personalities develop as they learn and grow. She has so much fun working with children, especially when they do creative art activities. Her favorite children's book is "I Went Walking" by Sue Machin because it brings back great childhood memories. In her free time, Ms. Lexi enjoys photography as a hobby and spending time with her German Shepherd, Ellie.

• Monique

  Ms. Monique joined Goddard in 2021. She has attained her bachelor's degree in Animation from The Art Institute in Virginia. She has previous experience teaching art in elementary schools for two years and one year as a toddler teacher in Virginia. She loves working with children because she gets to give children the tools they need to get through life. Her favorite activity to do with the children is art, of course. Her favorite children's book is "Shades of People" by Shelley Rotner and Sheila Kelly because it helps children understand that even though people are different on the outside, we are all awesome! In her free time, Ms. Monique enjoys reading comics and watching anime, and hopes to become an illustrator someday. She has two guinea pigs and two cats!

• Narissa

  Ms. Narissa joined Goddard in 2022. She has attained her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Coppin State University. She loves working with children because it is exciting, and she likes knowing that she is contributing to their growth and development in a positive way. Ms. Narissa’s favorite children’s book is “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Eric Carle because it teaches different colors and animals. She enjoys reading to children and reviewing with them what they learnt for the day.

• Precious

  Ms. Precious joined Goddard in 2022. She has attained her bachelor’s degree in English studies from Adekunle Ajasin University in Nigeria. She loves working with children because she likes being a part of them becoming better people by instilling good values in them. Her favorite book is “You’re All My Favorite” by Sam McBratney because it teaches children that they can harmonize and be loved equally. Her favorite activity to do with children is singing. In her free time, she loves to read.

• Sandra

  Ms. Sandra joined Goddard Marriottsville in 2025, but she worked in the Ellicott City Goddard for 30 years as a Pre K teacher. Ms. Sandra has her Early Childhood Certification from Howard Community College. She enjoys working with children because this is a pivotal time in their development. She loves being a part of their growth, helping them to build foundational skills they need while encouraging curiosity, independence, and confidence. Her favorite children’s book is “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein because of its powerful message about unconditional love and selflessness. Her favorite activity to do with children is music and movement, singing songs and dancing with the children to help burn energy and support coordination. In her free time she likes to visit Jamaica, where she is from originally. She is a proud parent to a wonderful son, and she loves to travel and take peaceful walks around the lake.

• Todd

  Mr. Todd joined Goddard in 2019. He has an associate's degree in early childhood education from Howard Community College. He has five years’ experience as an infant/toddler teacher. He enjoys building with his students using blocks, Legos, or other materials. He loves witnessing their unique ways of viewing the world as they make new discoveries in their learning. His favorite book is "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss because of the rhythmic cadence of the word play. In his free time, Mr. Todd enjoys music, reading, and spending time with his son.

• Zobia

  Zobia joined Goddard in 2020. She has a bachelor's degree in Education Planning and Management. She has over 18 years of teaching experience, including elementary and middle school in Pakistan. She loves to teach and help children explore the world around them. She likes using puppets and toys to keep her students engaged while reading. Her favorite children's book is "Sam and the Firefly" by P.D. Eastman. Ms. Zobia is originally from Pakistan and has three children. In her free time, she loves cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

• Fairuaz

  Ms. Fairuaz joined Goddard in 2025. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UMBC. She has worked with children with special needs as an RBT as well as a Substitute teacher for the BCPS. She loves working with children to see their unique journey in life. Her favorite children’s book is “Wheels on the Bus” by Pete the Cat. Her favorite activity to do with children is reading books and answering their many questions. During her free time, she likes to relax and watch old movies from her childhood. She also likes to cook and spend time with her husband.

• Greeshma

  Ms. Greeshma joined Goddard in 2025. She has a Master’s degree from India. She likes working with children because they bring so much creativity and curiosity. Her favorite children’s book is “Winnie the Pooh” by A.A. Milne. She likes it for its warmth and gentle humor, and how it teaches about friendship, problem-solving, and kindness in a way children can easily relate to. In her free she likes to meditate and dance, and she collects magnets.

• Jillian

  Miss Jillian joined Goddard in 2025. She holds a School Age certification and has worked in daycares since 2018. She loves being able to help children grow up. Her favorite children’s book is “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. Her favorite activity to do with children is to play with toys and interact. Jillian has 4 nephews, and she loves to sing and dance.

• Johanna

  Ms. Johanna joined Goddard in 2024. She is a recent graduate of Marriott's Ridge High School and is looking forward to enrolling in college. She loves working with children because they are sweet, curious and fun to be around. Her favorite children’s books are the Magic Tree House book series because it promotes creative thinking and imagination. You will find her engaging in conversations with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Johanna enjoys exploring creative mediums such as writing, art and reading. She is also a trivia aficionado!

• Lucy

  Ms. Lucy joined Goddard in 2023. She is currently enrolled at Towson University and majoring in Dental. She likes working with children because it’s fun to watch them grow and learn new things. Her favorite book to read to children is "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister because it reminds her of her childhood. She enjoys engaging the children in coloring or building activities in the classroom. In her free time, Ms. Lucy enjoys knitting.

• Maayan

  Ms. Maayan joined Goddard in 2025. She is a graduate of Salisbury University with a dual degree in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. She was a part of her high school's Magnet Child Development program for 2 years, and she loves helping children grow. Her favorite children’s book is "Junie B Jones" by Barbara Park because she gets through any adversities she faces. Her favorite activities to do with children are number activities, puzzles, and the alphabet. She wants to become a licensed Social Worker and work in the Child Protective Services Department.

• Mahnoor

  Ms. Mahnoor joined Goddard in 2023. She is currently working towards her college degree at Stevenson University. She likes working with children because she can encourage their creative thinking and teach them more through life experiences. Her favorite children’s books are the Peter and Jane series books. You will find her discussing the question of the week and guiding the children in her classroom with the week’s activities. In her free time, Ms. Mahnoor enjoys spending time with her family.

• Rena

  Ms. Rena joined Goddard in 2025. She has a Bachelors in Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Masters in Education from Carthage College. She taught Japanese at Carthage College for the past 2 years. Ms. Rena loves to work with children because they see the world with such curiosity and joy. Watching and supporting their growth is one of the best parts of working with children. Her favorite book is “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss because it emphasizes the importance of nature protection for the future. Ms. Rena likes to do art projects with children to see their creativity come to life. In her free time, she enjoys learning new languages and exploring cultures to help her connect to people and bring diversity to the classroom.

• Sahasra

  Ms. Sahasra joined Goddard in 2022 and is currently in high school. She likes working with children because she enjoys playing with them and helping them accomplish tasks. Her favorite children's book is "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson because it reminds her of her childhood. Her favorite activity to do with the children is outside play. Ms. Sahasra runs track and is in her school's band and marching band. She wants to be a doctor in the future.

• Shaniya

  Ms. Shaniya joined Goddard in 2025. She comes to us with experience working in a home-based daycare. Shaniya likes making a positive impact on young lives and their development. She finds it fun and rewarding to make each day an adventure. Her favorite children’s book is “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie” by Laura Numeroff because it teaches children cause and effect, that every action has a result. Shaniya enjoys doing hair as a hobby, as well as spending time with her 11-month-old son.

• Skyler

  Ms. Skyler joined Goddard in 2023. She is currently working towards her college degree at Howard Community College. She has previous experience caring for children for different families. She loves working with children because it is fun, exciting, and every day is different for them. Her favorite children’s books are the Dr Seuss books because they are inspiring. You will find her dancing and drawing with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Skyler enjoys horseback riding. She has two horses and a cat.

• Stella

  Ms. Stella joined Goddard in 2025. She is currently a senior at Marriotts Ridge High School. She has previously worked as a martial arts instructor. Ms. Stella credits her love of working with children to growing up with five younger siblings. Her favorite children’s book is “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss because she appreciated the visual imagery growing up. You will find her engaging in various activities with the children in her classroom, including dramatic play and reading books. In her free time, Ms. Stella enjoys making music on her guitar. She has nine cats and a hamster

• Sushma

  Ms. Sushma joined Goddard in 2023. She has her master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from India and has completed her 90-hour infant & toddler certification. She has previous experience working as an assistant teacher with different age groups which involved managing the classroom and preparing daily lesson plans. She loves working with children because they are curious to learn new things. Her favorite children’s books are Telugu story books that have interesting characters in the story. You will find her reading books and playing with the children in her classroom. In her free time, Ms. Sushma enjoys traveling, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.

• Yerrayyamma

  Ms. Hema joined Goddard in 2025. She has a Master's degree in Geophysics from Andhra University, India. She has worked in the Howard County Public School System as a substitute employee. Ms. Hema loves working with children because they are adorable and she likes being able to guide them as they learn new skills, discover their strengths, and build confidence. Her favorite children’s book is “The Five Senses” by Hervé Tullet. She loves to read books and color with the children. In her free time, Ms. Hema enjoys spending time with her family and watching movies with her kids. She loves reading, walking, and exploring nature, which often inspires fun and creative ideas to bring into the classroom.