The Goddard School of Kirkland

Bios

• Shweta and Penny

  SHWETA: A Masters graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University and a dedicated mom of two Goddard Graduate children; I am a firm believer that quality education shapes not just the individuals but also a community. With over 15 years of experience in the Education industry, it is a dream come true for me to open a Goddard School in Kirkland WA. I am excited and happy to be able to provide a safe and nurturing learning experience to the children of our community. PENNY: I am endlessly inspired and uplifted by the presence of children and the curiosity and sense of wonder they have in the world around us. After working 15 years in business education and having my own children, I’m beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to work directly with families and contribute in shaping the early development journey of our youngest learners. I have a Bachelor's degree in International Business from the University of British Columbia and an MBA in Organizational Analysis from the University of California, Irvine. I live locally with my husband and our two young children, who are both proud Goddard graduates!

• Andrea

  My name is Andrea and I am grateful for the opportunity to join Goddard Kirkland to support families in our community with development through early learning. I enjoy serving as a Director in early learning and I appreciate the versatility of the role while supporting the teachers, children and families. I have achieved a degree in early learning and I’m finishing further studies focusing on leadership and human resources to better myself in my position. I have developed my knowledge and experience through my roles in education, from teaching to directing within learning centers and elementary schools over the last decade. I am well-practiced working with a diverse population with a variety of needs and enjoy learning from each of my experiences and encounters. I believe there is always room for growth and development and I love finding the pieces that are needed to allow for optimal opportunities. My greatest joy is my family. I am a proud wife, and mother of two boys.

• Benazeer

  I am Benazeer. I have the privilege to be part of this beautiful school as the Education Program Manager. I have more than a decade of hands-on experience in early-childhood education and program development. I have earned AMS and MACTE accredited credentials as well as a Master’s degree in Business Law. Over the years, I have led curriculum design and mentored teaching staff. I work towards preserving the integrity of educational philosophies while aligning teaching strategies with developmental milestones and diverse learning needs. I am passionate about inclusive classrooms and individualized learning. In my spare time, I enjoy creative and calming hobbies. I love baking for family and friends, planting and crocheting. I am excited to join the team and lend my passion and expertise to the teachers and children in creating truly fulfilling educational experiences.

• Ritu

  I’m an Indian by birth and came to US for my PhD in Environmental Economics in 2001 and since then made this country my home. After completing my degree, I was blessed with two kids and became a stay-at-home mom. That gave me time to reflect on my life goals and passion. I love children and decided to change gears from an economist to a preschool teacher. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to work at Goddard School, Kirkland. The supportive staff, the expansive scope of interesting and creative administrative work and the cute little children sealed the deal for me. I love my work but when I’m not working, I enjoy making different desserts for my kids, watching movies together as a family, and go for long walks with my dog.

• Caitlyn

  Hello, my name is Caitlyn. I’m from Port Townsend, Washington and I moved to the Redmond area seeking a change of pace and greater opportunity. I have been encircled in Early Childhood Education for as long as I can remember. Prior to working at Goddard, I had experience working as a support teacher in an early learning center as well as an in-home daycare program. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Goddard team and cannot wait to play a role in helping these young minds flourish. In my free time, I love to spend time outdoors and hangout with my friends and family.

• Chris

  I have worked as a para-educator in K-5 classrooms for 13 years in the Bellevue School District, working primarily with children who need emotional and behavioral support. I have also tutored children with special needs between the ages of 18 months and 3rd grade. This is my 5th year at Goddard Kirkland! I enjoy reading, being out in nature and spending time with friends and family. I am so excited to be here at the Goddard School and to be able to help your child learn and grow.

• Daisy

  My name is Daisy, and I have been working with young children for as long as I can remember. This is my 5th year at Goddard Kirkland! I love the young toddler age group because it is when they really start to show their personalities and start to develop all their skills. I love seeing the children’s faces light up when they are learning something new and beginning to be more independent. I believe that children learn best through play and having interactions with each other. In my spare time, I enjoy watching anime, spending time with my family, and enjoying nature.

• Isabella

  Hello, my name is Izzy. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to work at The Goddard School. Early childhood education is something that I have a lot of experience with. Back in Virginia, I worked at a daycare called Minnie Land and I was an Assistant Teacher for Pre-K. In Washington State, I've worked at KinderCare for 2 years and was most recently an Assistant Teacher for Pre-K. Growing up I always talked about being a teacher and I am extremely happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to work at such an amazing school, and to have met an amazing group of other teachers.

• Janelle

  Hello, I'm Janelle. I was born in Tokyo, Japan, but Bremerton, WA is home. I am semi-fluent in American Sign Language and I'm currently learning Mandarin. I'm also currently working on my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education with a dual degree in Special Education. I have been working in childcare for almost 10 years. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was in Kindergarten. I thought that was the age group for me until my first toddler class. (Now I'm a toddler whisperer!) I love working with kids and seeing their growth. My favorite activities to do with them are Circle Time and Art. When I'm not giving children all my love, I love to crochet, read, garden, and make new experience.

• Jessica

  I was born in Mexico and lived in California before moving to WA in 2019. I have professionally worked with kids since I was 17 years old. I have held many positions which have granted me the opportunity to work with every age, from 6 weeks old to even high School students. I also have a background in working with children with special needs, such as Autistic, Deaf/Hard Of Hearing, and kids with learning disabilities. I have been working in childcare for the last 7 years, primarily with kids between 6 months old and two years old. I love learning about different cultures and teaching about my own. I also love to spend my free time doing photography.

• Malak

  My name is Malak and I am from Lebanon. I have a degree in Interior Design and love working on technical and artistic drawings. I always like to visualize how things can work out in a space and build connections on the experience one can get from an interior space. I have worked with kids for several years. I love working with kids because I can relate my previous experience with my present one such as, how kids can feel in a space. The environment gives them social, emotional, and cognitive development experiences to grow. I am glad to have the opportunity to work with kids at the Goddard school and see children become great leaders. In my free time I like exercising, drawing, and going on road trips.

• Michael

  My name is Michael and I’m excited to be able to work with different classrooms and different teachers every day. Being a former athlete, I’m used to working with different people and working with different teaching styles. I’m excited to use all the life lessons from sports and apply it to being an amazing support teacher. The biggest lesson I have learned from sports would be to make sure that everyone you work with knows that you care about them. I graduated from Montana State University Billings with a degree in Communications. I’m super excited to be part of The Goddard School and I look forward to helping the students as much as possible.

• Min

  Hello! My name is Min and I am so excited to be the toddler teacher. I graduated from the 3rd Normal College in Beijing with a degree in Education. I have been teaching Chinese and math to kids (1st to 12th graders) for over 30 years in China and in the USA. I also received an AAS degree in Accounting from Lake Washington Technical College and worked for a CPA firm. I have also earned my Child Development Associate credential. I like traveling (Cancun is my favorite place), learning new things, doing hand crafting, and tasting foods from all over the world. I am looking forward to meeting and knowing each and every new child in my class and their parents, too. I will do my best to help your child grow healthily and happily in a loving, caring, and safe environment.

• Nadira

  Hello, my name is Nodira. I am delighted to join the Kirkland Goddard School. I come to my new position with 10 years of experience working in daycare with children of all ages. I have been in the US for 18 years having moved here from Uzbekistan where I received my Bachelor's degree in Finance and Credit. I have also completed an Associates Degree in Business Technology from Shoreline Community College. I find working with children to be very fulfilling, and I especially enjoy fostering the development of each child with his or her unique interests and personalities. Encouraging these little ones to grow and blossom into young people provides me with a great deal of joy and satisfaction. I currently live in Kenmore with my husband, thirteen year old daughter, our cat, Max, and Cody, our Shiba Inu. In my spare time, I like to bake, enjoy watching movies, and love to travel!

• Puspa

  My name is Puspa. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work at the Goddard School. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education and another Bachelor's in Science. I have more than 5 years of experience in early learning, including two years as a teacher, and over 3 years in management/coaching roles within childcare. I genuinely enjoy being around children and find joy in observing their development, progress and growth. In my free time, I love reading books, listening to music, exploring nature, going on vacation with my family and friends, and celebrating festivals with my wonderful family. I am married to a kind and caring husband, and together, we have two amazing boys.

• Ranjana

  My name is Ranjana. I have been working as a childcare teacher for 5 years. I love being around children and I am very passionate about creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive. Originally from Nepal, I now call Kirkland my home, where I reside with my husband and our delightful four-year-old daughter. I also enjoy exploring new places and cultures. I love spending quality time with my family and also indulge myself to listening to music of experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen whenever I can. I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Goddard School and look forward to the amazing opportunity to positively impact the lives of the children in my care.

• Snigdha

  Hello, my name is Snigdha. I am delighted to join the Goddard School, Kirkland and to have the opportunity to work with young minds. I live in Bothell with my husband and daughter. I hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration in HR and Marketing. After a decade of experience in Technical Recruitment, I’ve rediscovered my passion for working with children and I’m excited to begin this journey in fulfilling my passion. In my free time, I love gardening and traveling with my family!

• Sujatha

  I'm delighted to introduce myself as Sujatha. I hold a Graduate Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences. My journey in the pharmaceutical industry has been rewarding and it was where I discovered my passion for teaching while doing research and development. As a part-time lecturer in college, I found immense joy and fulfillment in sharing my knowledge. I'm eager to continue nurturing young minds and instilling a love for learning. I'm looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career at Goddard and making a meaningful impact in the lives of my students.

• Swarnali

  Hi, my name is Swarnali. This is my 4th year at Goddard Kirkland. I live in Bellevue with my husband and daughter. I have a Master Degree in Arts and a Diploma in Nursery Teacher’s training. I worked as Lead Teacher in the Pre-K classroom for several years back in India. I am passionate about working with younger children. Helping a child to learn and grow is such a satisfying experience. I moved to the USA 10 years ago and started as a volunteer at a preschool. In my spare time, I enjoy painting and engaging in various arts and crafts. I also enjoy exploring new places with my family. I look forward to the opportunity to learn and grow along with my adorable students.

• Tan

  Hello everyone! My name is Tan, and I am happy and grateful to be given the opportunity to work with all these bright minded and joyful students here at the Goddard School. I have always found joy in teaching others and learning from my teachers. I owe a great deal to all my teachers for making me the person I am today, through the education they have given me, both academically and socially. Since my senior year of high school, I aspire to become a teacher so I may give back to all the educators who have driven me to be my best while giving me some of the happiest moments in my life. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. I have been working with younger students for almost 10 years. Some of my favorite hobbies include hanging out with friends, craft making, and playing games. It feels like a dream working with all these students as they have fun and learn at the same time.

• Viktoriia

  Hello! My name is Viktoriia. I was born in Ukraine and I have more than 5 years of experience working with children. I really like watching them develop and thrive. I like their sincerity and cheerfulness and enjoy spending time with them. I am married to a wonderful husband and we have a little kitten. Her name is Spotty and she is really sweet.

• Dharshani

  My name is Dharshani Herath. I am really happy to be part of the Goddard Kirkland family. I am originally from Sri Lanka and immigrated to the United States in 2010. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and hold certifications in Accounting from the University of Washington and the Lake Washington technical college. I also completed a Child Development Associate Certificate at Ashworth college. I was drawn to early childhood education while raising my own children and navigating their education process during the pandemic. I love being around the kids and I'm excited to be a part of their learning process. In my spare time, I love travelling with my husband and two daughters.

• Fnu

  Hi, I'm Sudesh. I'm a passionate preschool educator with a strong background in early childhood education. I hold a Bachelor Degree in Arts and a diploma in Preschool Teaching and I'm dedicated to creating a warm and nurturing environment where children feel safe, happy, and inspired to learn. In addition to my love for teaching, I enjoy creating new food recipes, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with my family and friends. I am excited to bring my enthusiasm, creativity, and are to your child's early education journey.

• Jairo

  Hello everyone, my name is Jairo. Prior to my teaching career, I was a national Police Officer of Ecuador. I enjoy my interactions with children because they learn from me and I learn from them (we never stop being children). My university studies focused on Child Psychology and prior to joining Goddard, I was an Assistant Teacher at 2 different schools. I have a beautiful family with 3 beautiful children. I am very happy and I am thankful for the opportunity to join this prestigious school that opened the doors for me to be part of it.

• Maria

  Hello! My name is Maria Fernanda. I’m from Bolivia. I have a Bachelors in Education from University of Education in Bolivia. I have also completed my Diploma, Specialty and Masters studies as an educator. I consider myself a kind, caring, respectful, responsible and reliable educator. I’m grateful to be given this opportunity to work at Goddard.

• Santhoshi

  My name is Santhoshi. I am really happy to be a part of the Goddard family. I graduated with a specialization in Social Studies and have a Master's degree in Arts. I also have a degree in Qualified Teacher Training. I have 7 years of experience in teaching as a Primary Teacher (3 to 10 years old). I am passionate about kids and spending time with them. Fun Fact: I remember and wish all my friends and family members' birthdays and anniversaries. I like cooking. When I have free time, I like to prepare different food items and also go on trips with my family to enjoy and explore nature.

• Violeta

  Hello everyone, my name is Violeta. I graduated in Ecuador with a banking and finance background. I worked as a private nanny for 2 years and I was an Assistant Teacher for young children for 3 years. I really enjoy working with children. In my free time, I love spending time with my family, my partner and my son, who is also a student at our school. I am very excited and grateful to be part of the Goddard school family.

• Yesenia

  Hi, I'm Yesenia. With several years of experience working with children, I am dedicated to nurturing their growth and development. In addition to my State Certificate in Early Childhood Education. I also have 2 postgraduate certificates from the National Institute of Mexico City. My extensive artistic background includes showcasing my work across various venues in Mexico. My passion lies in working with children, utilizing creativity and patience to facilitate their learning journey. Whether engaging with young children in early education or older ones, I strive to maintain a safe and healthy environment where their imaginative play and directed activities can flourish. I integrate learning theory and best practices into every interaction, ensuring holistic development.

• Aniyah

  Hi, I’m Aniyah. I was born and raised in the Greater Seattle area. Growing up, my grandfather's neighbor had horses and she needed help around the barn, offering riding lessons. When I was 10, she asked me to be her assistant - this was what convinced me at an early age that I wanted to work with children. I absolutely adore kids! I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity to begin my early childhood education journey here at Goddard.

• Jaleh

  Hello ! I’m Ms. J (also know as Jaleh). I'm so happy to be here at the Goddard School of Kirkland. I am a graduate of the University of Washington with a Degree in Business and Marketing. I have been a teacher for the last 6 years. My passion is to interact, teach, learn and help grow young minds in early education. This career has continued to always bring myself joy and love - being able to see milestones and create connections with children, parents and families is the absolute best reward. In my free time, I like hang out with with family and my own furry children. I love to golf, hike, swim - basically anything outdoors! Look forward to meeting you!

• Nisthula

  My name is Nisthula and I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems with over 7 years of experience in the IT field. Taking time away from my career to be a full-time parent to my two young children reignited my passion for working with and nurturing children. I live in Kirkland with my supportive and loving husband and our two wonderful daughters. I am honored to begin this journey with a reputable school like The Goddard School.

• Sofiia

  My name is Sofiia. I enjoy working with children and have a strong interest in both child development and healthcare. I am currently a Support Teacher and I assist with daily routines, activities, and childcare. In my free time, I enjoy art and music - I like to draw and play the violin. I'm always open to learning in both my professional and personal life.

• Sumalatha

  Hello! My name is Sumalatha, you can call me Suma! I live in Redmond with my husband and our two wonderful children. I hold a Master’s degree in Computer Science, but my greatest joy has come from teaching kids as an Assistant Teacher. Working with little ones is truly special. Their curiosity, energy, and honesty bring positivity to life every day. I love creating fun and meaningful activities that help them explore the world — whether we’re learning numbers through play, telling stories with puppets, or just learning how to be kind to one another. Outside the classroom, I enjoy gardening and cooking, which both bring me peace and creativity — much like teaching. Watching something grow, whether it’s a plant or a child’s confidence, is incredibly rewarding. Teaching early learners isn’t just about preparing them for school — it’s about nurturing a lifelong love of learning. I feel so grateful to play a small part in these import