The Goddard School of Eldersburg

Bios

• Mr Dave

  Dave & Jen Collins are proud to bring their passion for education and child development to The Goddard School of Eldersburg. As on-site owners and parents themselves, they are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and fun environment where children can learn, grow and thrive! Mr. Dave’s background includes teaching Elementary School, training with Sylvan Learning Center, supporting Goddard Schools Nationwide and owning the Goddard School of Edgewater. Ms. Jen holds a Master’s in Elementary Education and has spent nearly 20 years teaching fifth grade. Together, they have four sons- one currently attending Goddard- and are dedicated to ensuring every child feels loved, supported and is excited to learn each day. They believe that who a child becomes is as important as what they know!

• Ms Kelly

  Ms. Kelly is our Director here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been a part of The Goddard School since 2002 and worked in many different classrooms before she was promoted to the Administrative Team. Ms. Kelly has been the Director since 2009. She has a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Ms. Kelly has over 20 years of experience working with children of all ages. As Director, she is actively involved in the everyday education and welfare of the children. She enjoys assisting the teachers in the classrooms and working with all of the students. She also loves being able to get to know every child that walks through the door. Ms. Kelly's favorite part of the job is the wonderful feeling she gets while watching a child learn and grow. Just knowing she has been a part of that process makes life a whole lot better. Ms. Kelly works very hard to create a warm, loving, and safe environment for all the children and staff.

• Ms Melissa

  Ms. Melissa has been enjoying coming to work at Goddard since 2007. She has held many titles throughout her tenure including Summer Camp Director, Lead Teacher, Aide, Assistant and now, Assistant Director. She joined the Administration Team back in 2015 through 2019 and took a brief hiatus while dabbling in another industry. She proudly returned to us in 2024 as a new Mom of two little ones. Melissa has her B.A. from Salisbury University in Communications & Media Production with a minor in Vocal Music and her Infant & Toddler certification from Howard Community College. Melissa is also a professional singer and actress. Ms. Melissa loves to use her background in music and drama to make lessons extra fun for all the children at Goddard. Her animated storytelling and enthusiastic singing can be heard throughout all the walls of the building. What she enjoys most about our school is, being a part of each child’s story and watching them turn into awesome little people!

• Ms Morgan

  Ms. Morgan is our current Assistant Director here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She started at Goddard in 2011 as a float teacher as she worked through college. Once Ms. Morgan received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education at Towson University, she became a Lead Pre-K teacher and Summer Camp Director. She left Goddard in 2018 to pursue teaching in Baltimore County Public Schools as a Kindergarten Teacher where she resided for 3 years. After trying the public school system for a while, she realized that she is best suited in a childcare setting. Ms. Morgan is thrilled to be back at the Goddard School to challenge herself as she steps into more of a leadership role! She prides herself on providing a comfortable and welcoming environment and cannot wait to create that for your children!

• Ms Samantha

  Ms. Sam is an Assistant Director here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She has worked in childcare for the last 10 years and holds her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Towson University. Ms. Sam also holds her School Age and Preschool certifications and has experience teaching Kindergarten, Pre-k, 2's, and special needs. While she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Ms. Sam is obsessed with her GoldenDoodle, Boomer, and Christmas! She is so excited to be at Goddard and make a difference in the student's lives.

• Ms Abbye

  Ms. Abbye is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She attended Coastal Carolina University to start her early childhood education and finished at Howard Community College where she obtained her Preschool Certification and continues to further her education! Ms. Abbye is a mommy to a little boy named Reece who also attends the Goddard school. She also loves to garden, spend time with her family and do home improvement projects. She is very happy to be teaching her friends at Goddard!!

• Ms Amy

  Ms. Amy is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Amy is the proud mom of 3 girls and the grandmother to 3 wonderful grandchildren. Her career in Early Childhood Education started over 20 years ago. Ms. Amy's goals for children are to have fun and to treat each moment as a teachable moment. She will work hard to continually create a warm, loving, and inviting environment.

• Ms Bette

  Ms. Bette is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She graduated from Towson in 1971 with a BA in Elementary Education and currently holds her Preschool and School-Age certifications. She substituted in the school system from 1981-1990, and then began working in childcare. Ms. Bette has worked with all ages, infant through school-age and has been at the Goddard School since 2013. She is married and has raised two boys. In her free time, Ms. Bette enjoys reading all kinds of books as well as knit very simple patterns and takes piano lessons.

• Ms Caitlin

  Ms.Caitlin is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersberg. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Albright College as well as an Infant and Toddler certificate. Ms.Caitlin has been working with children of all ages for 10 years. She most recently worked with autistic toddlers and preteens. When she’s not teaching, you can find her reading or hosting a game night with her family and friends. Ms.Caitlin loves animals and is a mom to her dog, Potato and cat, Gumbo. She is ecstatic to work with the Goddard team to support your amazing and entertaining children!

• Ms Catie

  Ms. Catie is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary/Middle Special Education from Towson University. Ms. Catie has been working with children of all ages for the over 10 years. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as looking at cows. In her spare time, Ms. Catie coaches cheerleading at Liberty High School and loves bonding with her stepdaughter, Ali! Ms. Catie is excited to provide a fun and nurturing environment for all Goddard kiddos!

• Ms Diane

  Ms. Diane is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications and has been a preschool teacher since 2017. Ms. Diane enjoys spending time with her granddaughters as much as possible! She also enjoys crocheting and pencil coloring books. Ms. Diane is very happy to be a Goddard School teacher.

• Ms Elaina

  Ms. Elaina is the Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds a teaching certification for Grades PreK-3. She loves music, arts and crafts, and her cat named Birdie. Ms. Elaina aims to create a fun and welcoming environment where children can develop their academic, social, and emotional skills.

• Ms Heather

  Ms. Heather is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and has been teaching in the early childhood setting since 2016. She holds both her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. When she is not at school, she loves to craft and has her own small business selling custom clothing and accessories! Ms. Heather has two dogs and her husband, Caleb, whom she loves spending time with in her free time. Her favorite part about teaching is seeing the growth in each child, watching them accomplish their goals and preparing them for Kindergarten!

• Ms Heather

  Ms. Heather is a passionate and dedicated early childhood educator with a strong commitment to fostering the growth and development of young children. She is currently pursuing her degree in Human Ecology at the University of Maryland, focusing on Child Development, to deepen her understanding of how children learn and thrive in their environments. With an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and Communications, Ms. Heather brings a well-rounded skill set to her classroom, allowing her to support diverse learning needs and create a nurturing, inclusive space for every child in her care. Her enthusiasm for creating meaningful connections with children and her dedication to their educational journey are at the heart of her teaching philosophy. When she’s not teaching, you can find her researching, crafting, or attending her son’s extra curricular activities. She cannot wait to greet your little ones at the door each morning awaiting a fun day of exploring!

• Ms Jennifer

  Ms. Jen is a Lead Teacher in our Savanna Smilers classroom and has her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. She has been in childcare for twenty years, both as a nanny and in centers, and has worked at Goddard since May of 2021. Ms. Jen has a beautiful daughter, Rebecca, who is in Elementary school. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her daughter outside. Ms. Jen and Rebecca both really enjoy Goddard and feel right at home.

• Ms Jennifer

  Ms. Jenn is a Lead Infant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has worked to obtain her Infant/toddler, Preschool and School Age certifications. Ms. Jenn has worked with children for over 9 years but her main focus has been with the younger children. In her spare time, she loves to do arts & crafts, listen to music and spend time with her fiancé. Ms. Jenn loves to see the smiles on children’s faces when they accomplish something new.

• Ms Jocelyn

  Ms. Jocelyn is a Lead Teacher at The Goddard School of Eldersburg. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Services and holds her Infant/Toddler certification. She also plans to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree to become a certified Child Life Specialist. With many years of experience working with children, Ms. Jocelyn is passionate about creating a warm and nurturing environment where children can grow and thrive. She especially values building strong connections with families, as she believes family relationships are essential to children’s development and overall well-being. In her free time, Ms. Jocelyn enjoys going to the gym, running, and spending time with her friends and family. She is excited to be part of The Goddard School community and looks forward to creating meaningful relationships with the children and families she will be working with.

• Ms Kathryn

  Ms. Kate has been in child care for over 20 years. Throughout her career, she has worked with children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 6th grade. She is infant/toddler, pre-school, and school age qualified. Ms. Kate has been married for almost 17 years, and has a beautiful step-daughter and granddaughter. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, photography, and painting when she is not teaching. Ms. Kate loves watching young children make connections in their world. It’s rewarding to observe them master everyday skills that we as adults take for granted.

• Ms Kaylie

  Ms. Kaylie is a Lead Teacher at The Goddard School. She earned her B.S. in Early Childhood and Special Education from Juniata College in 2025. Her teaching journey began with an internship at Carrolltowne Elementary in high school, followed by student teaching experiences in college at Southside Elementary in both Kindergarten and learning support classrooms. She loves helping children grow and watching their unique personalities shine. Outside of school, Ms. Kaylie enjoys cheering on Washington D.C. sports teams, traveling, walking her dog Roscoe, and spending time with family and friends.

• Ms Kennedy

  Ms. Kennedy is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School. She is a current graduate of Randolph-Macon College where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Ms. Kennedy has worked in childcare throughout high school, completing a pre-school internship program where she received her 99 hours certification, as well as some internships in college. She believes it is a rewarding experience to watch children grow and flourish as they develop into lifelong learners. Aside from working, Ms. Kennedy enjoys painting and spending time with family and friends.

• Ms Kristen

  Ms. Kristen is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been an educator for over seventeen years and has been with The Goddard School for ten years, five of which here at the Eldersburg location. Ms. Kristen is passionate about teaching and enjoys shaping the hearts and minds of our future leaders. From a young age, she knew her life would be dedicated to teaching young children! Ms. Kristen has been married for 13 years and is a mom to two wild and wonderful boys, ages 20 and 6. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching her kiddo’s play sports, crafting, and traveling. Family and teaching is her life!

• Ms Laura

  Ms. Laura is a Lead Pre-K Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg She has worked in childcare since 2006 and has been at the Goddard School since 2020. Ms. Laura graduated in 2012 from Stevenson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. One of her favorite parts of working with young children is being able to make connections with each and every one of them. She also enjoys watching them grow over throughout each year. Ms. Laura is a proud cat mama to her two fur babies, Casper & Zelda. When she is not working with children, Ms. Laura enjoys traveling, tap dancing, diamond art and latch hooking. Ms. Laura has been to five countries, Italy, Greece, England, Germany, and Austria! She hopes to add more to the list soon!

• Ms Lauren

  Ms. Lauren is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has worked in the childcare setting for the last 14 years and currently holds her Associate’s degree in General Studies as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Ms. Lauren is currently in the process of obtaining her Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development. She has both her Preschool and Infant/Toddler certifications. Ms. Lauren absolutely adores working with children and loves seeing them constantly learning new things while at school. During her downtime, outside of work, Ms. Lauren loves to watch sports, go hiking, and playing with her Doberman puppy!

• Ms Mary

  Ms. Mary is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Frostburg State University in Early Childhood /Elementary Education. She has also completed post graduate course work in Early Childhood Development and has worked to earn her Infant/Toddler certification. Ms. Mary has been a classroom teacher for 25 years and has experience with all age groups. Upon graduating from college, she substitute taught in various elementary schools in Carroll County, then spent the last 23 years teaching at a private preschool. In these years, Ms. Mary has enjoyed fostering and shaping the minds of children, as well as watching them learn and grow. In the classroom, she works hard to create a warm, loving, and nurturing environment with the children in her care. Aside from being in the classroom, Ms. Mary enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting Gettysburg, and watching Ice Hockey and football.

• Ms Mary

  Ms. Mary is a Lead Preschool Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been working as a teacher at the Goddard School since 2018. She has taught many different age groups, but Preschool is her favorite! Ms. Mary is originally from Missouri where she attended William Woods University and majored in Elementary Education. Ms. Mary also holds her Preschool and School-Age certifications. She has two beautiful daughters and a wonderful son-in-law. When she is not busy teaching or spending time with her family, she enjoys learning to cook Greek dishes, cake decorating, and gardening. Ms. Mary enjoys planning fun, educational activities and watching the children's faces light up with excitement and their little brains fill with curiosity and questions!

• Ms Peggy

  Ms. Peggy is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been with Goddard since November 2019 and has been in the field since 1986. Ms. Peggy has worked extremely hard to obtain her Infants/Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age and Director certifications. She became a teacher because of her love for children. Seeing the children get excited when they learn something new pushes her to keep being a positive role model in the students lives.

• Ms Rebecca

  Ms. Rebecca is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg and has been with us since 2013. She holds both her Infant/Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Rebecca is in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in Family Science from Towson University. In her free time, she loves to babysit, practice photography, go to concerts, and read. Ms. Rebecca’s favorite part of being a teacher is making a positive impact on the lives of each child and their family.

• Ms Skyler

  Ms. Skyler is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is so excited to start her new journey in her classroom! Ms. Skyler brings years of experience of working with children ranging from 6 months to 8 years old and absolutely loves what she does, especially the ability to make an impact on the children she interacts with on a daily basis. Ms. Skyler currently holds her Infant/Toddler certification and shows interest in completing more certifications in the future for other age groups. She is currently a student at Albright College, set to graduate in May 2025, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Following Albright, Ms. Skyler plans to attend Stevenson University in Fall 2025 to further her education in Nursing, with a goal of becoming a Pediatric Oncology Nurse. Ms. Skyler is looking forward to forming strong relationships with the children and staff at the Goddard School!

• Ms Tangie

  Ms. Tangie is a Lead Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She currently holds her Infant & Toddler and Preschool certifications. Ms. Tangie has been in childcare for 12 years and enjoys working with all ages of children but infants and toddlers are her favorite. She enjoys all the cuddles and watching them experience new things for the first time! When she is not working, Ms. Tangie enjoys reading, and spending time with her daughter Haleigh.

• Ms Victoria

  Ms. Tori is a Lead Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She graduated from Stevenson University with her Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Currently, Ms. Tori is attending Southern New Hampshire University for her Masters in Psychology with a concentration in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She is a very crucial addition to our staff since she is certified for all age groups and can work in all classrooms as a Lead Teacher. She is a familiar face to the students and families and is eager to interact and spend time with the children.

• Ms Arianna

  Ms. Arianna is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She recently graduated from Century High School and plans to go to community college to pursue a career in Education. In her free time, Ms. Arianna loves to spend time with her family and friends. She chose to work in childcare because she enjoys spending time with children and learning more about their development.

• Ms Bella

  Ms. Bella is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School. She is currently a student at Howard Community College and is majoring in Radiology. Ms. Bella loves seeing the children laugh and smile and that is her goal each and everyday at Goddard. She hopes to grow strong bonds with all the children and create a loving and safe environment for all.

• Ms Brenda

  Ms. Brenda is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She graduated from South Carroll High School where she studied Early Childhood Education. Following graduation, she became a professional nanny where she provided private care for children for several years before raising a family of her own. Ms. Brenda has been on our Goddard School Team since 2010. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

• Ms Charlene

  Ms. Charlene is an Assistant Teacher at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She has been here at The Goddard School since 2004! She enjoys working with the children and believes their minds are like sponges that can absorb everything around them. Ms. Charlene is the proud mother of a daughter and a son as well as a grandmother of five beautiful grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to surround herself with family and friends as well as go on walks and watch movies.

• Mr John

  Mr. John is our bus driver throughout the academic school year! He also is a friendly face to our kids throughout the day when he is not on his bus runs. Mr. John enjoys helping in all of the classrooms and being a "Poppy" to all of the kids. In his spare time, he is a local DJ and you can find him singing karaoke wherever he goes!

• Ms Kate

  Ms. Kate is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is a recent graduate of Penn State University earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She plans to continue her educational journey to obtain her Masters in Speech Pathology. Ms. Kate loves meeting new kids and is excited to work with them as well as gain experience here at Goddard. In her free time, Ms. Kate enjoys spending time with friends and going to the gym.

• Ms Kayla

  Ms. Kayla is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She is currently a student at Liberty High School and was enrolled at Goddard when she was younger. Ms. Kayla loves working with all types of kids and getting to see their personalities differentiate, grow and shine. While not working, Ms. Kayla enjoys listening to music and participating on her high schools lacrosse team. As well, she is working hard in her academics and enjoys the relaxing, stress-free and fun environment provided at Goddard.

• Ms Kendall

  Ms. Kendall is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School. She has been working at the Goddard School of Eldersburg since the fall of 2021 and is a student at Carroll Community College. Ms. Kendall loves watching the kids grow into their personalities and see their accomplishments!

• Ms Madison

  Ms. Madison is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. She enjoys working out at the gym, reading books, and going on adventures. Her goals are to lead a good example and to support children in being the best they can. She will always be there to lend a helping hand and encourage each child to learn, make, and explore.

• Ms Mikayla

  Ms. Mikayla is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg! She is a rising senior at Liberty High School. In her free time, Ms. Mikayla loves to play softball and spend time with her friends and family . She chose to work in childcare because she loves watching the kids grow up and learn new things everyday, and she loves the happiness they bring to her everyday at work. Fun fact, Ms. Mikayla attended Goddard when she was a young girl!

• Ms Miranda

  Ms. Miranda is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School of Eldersburg. Although she has recently started her teaching journey, she has been a stay at home mom to her 3 wonderful children for 13 years! Ms. Miranda’s goal is to create a safe and loving environment for all children that are in her care and is excited to see them thrive while gaining new skills as they grow older. In her spare time, Ms. Miranda loves hiking, board games and gardening! She is very eager to make an impact on the little ones in her classroom and build strong relationships with all.

• Ms Susan

  Ms. Susan is an Assistant Teacher here at the Goddard School. She has worked as a teacher in Elementary Education for the last 25 years. Ms. Susan received her Bachelor’s Degree at California University of Pennsylvania and holds her preschool certification. She taught first grade for five years and Pre-K for twenty years at local private schools. Ms. Susan has really enjoyed her years as a teacher and the highlight for her was to see the academic growth her students made throughout the year. Teaching can be exhausting, but very rewarding! In her free time, Ms. Susan enjoys long walks, bargain hunting, and going out to eat with her husband and sons.