The Goddard School of Philadelphia (22nd and Pine)

Bios

• Jillie and Jon

  Jillie and Jon were beyond thrilled to open the first Goddard School in the city of Philadelphia! This is the second location that Jon and Jillie have owned together. Jillie has a background in music and music education, she started in this field as a young toddler teacher and is incredibly proud to now own this location with Jon. Jon's background is in accounting and construction. They have been franchisees since 2009 and 2013 respectively, and truly believe in being active members of their school community. They are present every single day to support the children, families, and faculty!

• Alyssa

  Ms. Alyssa first joined our faculty as a Resource Teacher, later becoming a Pre-K Teacher before stepping into her current role as an Education Director! Prior to starting her Goddard experience, she taught in a preschool setting in addition to running volleyball camps for kids and teens year-round! Ms. Alyssa has also coached girls' volleyball at Arcadia University! She loves spending time in every classroom, supporting our teachers and little learners, and helping create meaningful learning experiences each day!

• Cara

  Cara earned her M.S.Ed in Urban Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 2024 and her B.A. in Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Global Media Studies from the University of Michigan in 2020! In her time with our Goddard Family, she has loved learning and growing with the school! In her role as the Director of Education, she supports both teachers and students in their educational journeys! She develops and provides supplemental curriculum for our teachers, and observes our Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten classrooms while monitoring student progress to ensure they are receiving an exemplary education in the years and months leading up to elementary school! She also interviews and hires new teachers to join our growing team of amazing educators!

• Hilari

  Hilari has her Bachelor of Arts in English with a writing concentration and minor in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As a proud "OG" faculty member, she joined The Goddard School of Philadelphia before construction was even finished! Hilari appreciates the endless opportunities to connect and create that her roles here have brought her - teacher, Education Director, Executive Director - but her favorite moniker she also gets to wear here is "Violet's mom". She loves connecting with families personally as well as professionally. She is beyond proud to help lead this school community and be a part of such a wonderful village in giving our children the best possible first experience with school.

• Julia

  Julia earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for Pre-K-4th Grade from Kutztown University. With over 13 years of experience in early childhood education, she is all about creating a fun and engaging learning experience for children. Her role is super dynamic - she gets to observe classrooms, provide feedback, and share tips with teachers to help make every learning moment magical. She also interviews and hires our new faculty members. She absolutely loves onboarding them and welcoming them to our team. Showing them all of the amazing things our program has to offer is one of her favorite parts of the orientation process. In her free time, she likes to go hiking, explore new restaurants, and spend time with her family and friends.

• Sabrina

  Sabrina earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University and is close to finishing her Master of Education, also from BU! She loves to travel and has lived and worked in several countries. Prior to joining the Goddard team in the summer of 2021, she held a teaching role at a school in the south of Chile! At The Goddard School, her role has evolved to include aspects of both operations as well as education and curriculum. In addition to knowing all of the ins and outs of our Wonder of Learning curriculum, she is also our resident librarian, accreditation wiz, professional development pro, and master of supplies! In the world of operations, she keeps our faculty and child files up to date, and ensures we are in compliance with all Goddard and State regulations. She also manages all paperwork related to health and safety. In her spare time she loves exploring the city with her new husband and sweet pup, Zoie!

• Victoria

  Victoria earned her bachelor's degree from Kent State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Child and Youth Development. With over a decade of experience in early childhood education, she loves creating individual connections with our students and their families! Her favorite aspect of our school is the strong sense of community that she's found here. Her role at our school is very dynamic; no two days are the same! She is responsible for scheduling all 40 of our teachers' daily schedules, welcoming and touring newly enrolled families, collecting and inputting all file paperwork, and orienting new faculty members! She also makes sure our paperwork is on point that our school is always in compliance with State and Goddard requirements! In her free time, she is catching up on Bravo, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

• Adeira

  Ms. Adeira has been working in childcare for many years and is so excited to grow her career as a teacher with our Goddard School! She spent a year and a half in a Toddler classrooms and currently teaches in our Preschool program. She enjoys watching her students grow and develop a love for learning each and every day! In her spare time, she loves crafting with her daughter and taking her on adventures!

• Emily

  Ms. Emily holds a Bachelor's degree in History as well as a Master of Education in Early Childhood! She has been teaching in school settings for over fifteen years and has taught in our Pre-K program since we opened our school in 2019! Ms. Emily truly enjoys being with the children in her class and you will often find her engaged with activities the children are leading. She was our Teacher of the Year nominee in 2022!

• Geneva

  Ms. Geneva has her Child Development Associate credential and over fifteen years of experience in childcare! She loves working with our littlest learners and is currently teaching in our Toddler program. Ms. Geneva enjoys watching the impact and growth that learning, playing, and teaching have on the children in her class. Ms. Geneva loves collecting perfume and has over 100 bottles! In her spare time she loves shopping and taking trips with her family!

• Hannah

  Ms. Hannah joined our faculty in the summer of 2024 as a resource teacher and quickly found her home in our Preschool world! She has since moved on over to our Annex, teaching Pre-K! She comes to us with a background in art and loves to show her creativity in the classroom. Ms. Hannah loves to experience things from the children's perspective! She enjoys walking, painting, and spending time with her friends and family. A fun fact about Ms. Hannah is that she got to design a food truck!

• Suzanne

  Ms. Sue came to us with an extensive background in the education field, including a Bachelor’s from Temple University, where she double majored in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Ms. Sue is also close to completing her Master's in Special Education! She has worked primarily in the Early Childhood Ed, as well as with special needs classes with students from elementary through high school ages. Upon joining our faculty, she expressed a desire to work with two years olds—her favorite age group!—and does a stellar job of imparting structure and fun equally with her students!

• Zyanni

  Miss Zyanni joined our faculty with her CDA and years of experience in early childhood! Miss Zyanni enjoys watching her students learn and grow, and especially loves seeing how excited they get about discovering new things! In her spare time, Miss Zyanni enjoys doing makeup!

• Charlene

  Ms. Charlie is a teacher in our Young Toddler program and has been working in early childhood education for many years! She enjoys playing a vital role in the growth and enrichment of her students! In her spare time, Ms. Charlie enjoys taking nature walks, working on graphic design projects, and spending time at home with her cat, Ginger.

• Kelly

  Miss Kelly is a Pre-K teacher on our faculty and has her Bachelor of Arts in Art History! She started her Goddard experience as a Resource Teacher and loved working in every classroom before finding her home in the Pre-K program at our Annex building! A fun fact about Miss Kelly: she speaks Spanish and Swedish and loves learning new languages!

• Lourdes

  Ms. Lourdes joins us with a love for children and many years of working with little ones! She is a teacher in our Older Toddler program and is passionate about the field of early childhood education because she knows she can make a positive and lasting impact! In her spare time, Ms. Lourdes loves cooking and indulging in self care!

• Alexa

  Ms. Alexa joined our team in the summer of 2025 with over 3 years teaching and working as a nanny. She is currently in school to receive her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. She always loves watching children grow and develop into themselves! One of her favorite things to teach is empathy. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, baking, weightlifting, and reading. A fun fact about Ms. Alexa is that she used to be a competitive gymnast!

• Amelia

  Amelia joined our faculty in the summer of 2024! They come to us with 5 years of experience as a nanny working with children of various ages. Amelia found a home quickly in one of our Older Toddler classrooms and enjoys doing art projects and watching the children explore the world around them! Their favorite children's book is Goodnight Moon! In their spare time, Amelia likes to read and work on graphic design. A fun fact about Amelia is that they are from Chicago!

• Andreia

  Ms. Andreia joined our team in the summer of 2025, bringing with her a year and a half of experience in a childcare center and over five years of babysitting. Growing up in a large family as one of four sisters, she developed a deep love for nurturing and caring for children. She especially enjoys incorporating music and movement into her day, with singing and dancing being some of her favorite classroom activities. She loves seeing children light up, cheer, and clap along with their friends! One of her favorite books to read with children is the Llama Llama series. Outside of work, Ms. Andreia enjoys going to the gym, coloring, scrapbooking, and a variety of arts and crafts. She dreams of one day traveling to both Greece and Hawaii.

• Aniyah

  Ms. Aniyah joined our team in August of 2025 with over 3 years of experience working in childcare. She loves how creative children are and enjoys encouraging their imagination and unique ideas every day. One of her favorite children's books is Junie B. Jones! In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and spending time with animals—she’s not afraid to pick up any animal except for two (you’ll have to ask her which ones!). Her dream vacation is to visit Italy and soak in all the beautiful sights and culture.

• Antonia

  Ms. Antonia (Toni) became a member of our faculty at the PreK annex in the summer of 2024 with over four years working with elementary school age children. She has a Bachelor of Science in Middle-Level Math. You will see her move about our annex building with our Pre-K classes. She enjoys seeing her student's excitement when they learn something new! A fun fact about Ms. Toni is that she has never left the northeast but wants to travel!

• Ashlyn

  Ms. Ashlyn joined our faculty in the summer of 2024. She comes to us with a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics Education and one year of teaching infants. She loves watching children form bonds with teachers and other students in the classroom. One of her favorite things to do is read books, especially Corduroy! Ms. Ashlyn hopes to one day travel to Asia and explore different countries. In her spare time, she likes to read, cook, and take care of her plants. A fun fact about her is that she is one of 10 children!

• Brianna

  Ms. Brianna became a part of the team in the summer of 2024! She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Education and Child Development. While in school, she worked at the child care facility on campus for a year in Florida before moving to Philadelphia! She loves seeing the children grow and learn under her guidance. A fun fact about Ms. Brianna is that she loves music and has been to over 50 concerts!

• Dorothy

  Ms. Dorothy joined our team in 2025, bringing curiosity, patience, and a deep love of learning to the classroom. Though this is her first official role in childcare, she studied Physics for two years at Columbia University and brings a thoughtful, global perspective—she was born in Germany and speaks both German and Dutch! She describes her teaching style as patient, present, and fun, and loves supporting children’s motor and comprehension skills through playful, engaging activities. Her favorite children's book is Goodnight Moon, and her favorite author is Roald Dahl. Outside of work, she enjoys coding, writing music, cooking, biking, and traveling. A fun fact about Ms. Dorothy: she can juggle and is the proud mom of a 20-year-old daughter named Domino!

• Emani

  Ms. Emani joined our faculty in the summer of 2025, bringing with her over a year of hands-on experience working with young children. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, with a strong passion for inspiring a love of learning in her students. One of her favorite parts of teaching is seeing children's excitement as they discover new things. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Emani enjoys baking, especially cookies and cakes, and hopes to one day travel to the beautiful island of Tobago. In her free time, she loves exploring the arts through drawing, singing, and dancing.

• Erykah

  Miss Erykah joined our faculty in the fall of 2023 and currently teaches in our Young Toddler Program. As a teacher, Miss Erykah loves bonding with her students and watching them grow throughout their time in the classroom. Outside of school, Miss Erykah loves spending time with her family and friends, especially her younger sister-- they are fifteen years apart!

• Hannah

  Ms. Hannah joined our team in 2024 with five years of experience working with young children! She has her BFA in Dance Performance and has worked with children, teaching dance! She loves that each day working with children is unique! Ms. Hannah loves that the enthusiasm for learning is contagious among her students! She enjoys eating at new restaurants, dancing, and going to museums in her free time. A fun fact about Ms. Hannah is that she has been dancing since she was 3 years old!

• Heema

  Ms. Heema joined us in 2024, first as a resource teacher and now as a Young Toddler teacher, with over eight years of experience working with children! She is frequently seen singing to the children and making up new verses to songs! Ms. Heema enjoys reading with the children and teaching them new things about various cultures. Her favorite books to read are interactive, such as "Peek-A-Boo." In her spare time, she enjoys singing and traveling!

• Holly

  Ms. Holly joined our staff in 2024 with several years of experience working as a nanny for young children! Ms. Holly joined one of our Older Toddler classrooms soon after joining us! She brings plenty of knowledge from her experience at the Tyler School of Art as well! In her spare time, Ms. Holly likes rollerskating, meditation, and riding her bike. She even rode her bike from Philadelphia to Atlantic City three times!

• Iyana

  Ms. Iyana became part of our team in the summer of 2025, bringing with her a year of experience working with young children. She finds great joy in watching her students grow and take in the concepts she helps teach—celebrating each milestone along the way. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Psychology, further deepening her understanding of child development. In her free time, Ms. Iyana enjoys reading and playing video games. A fun fact about her: she plays the clarinet and attended a performing arts high school!

• Kilea

  Ms. Kilea joined our Goddard Team in the summer of 2025! She has over 3 years of experience working with children of varying ages. She loves teaching because she cares so much for the children she works with and loves watching them grow. Ms. Kilea loves reading the "Pete the Cat" series, specifically "New Shoes"! She enjoys visiting Maryland in her spare time, for the seafood!

• Luz

  Ms. Luz became part of our faculty at the end of the summer of 2024, joining our infant team. She came to us with 36 years of teaching experience, including time in Colombia and Georgia! She loves all of the challenges and rewards that come along with teaching, especially the love and hugs from the children in her care. She enjoys reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to her class. In her down time, Ms. Luz likes to travel and watch movies!

• Maniah

  Ms. Maniah began her journey with us in the summer of 2024 with several years of experience under her belt. Ms. Maniah says that teaching is so rewarding because she gets to see progress in each student every day. When she is not teaching, she enjoys going on fun adventures with her son. A fun fact about Ms. Maniah is that she is a twin!

• Marci

  Ms. Marci joined our team in early 2025 and brings with her over 15 years of experience working with young children! She absolutely loves seeing the joy on children’s faces when they learn something new. One of her favorite things to do is read Dr. Seuss books to her students! Outside of the classroom, Ms. Marci enjoys hiking, cooking, and collecting beautiful orchids. We’re also super excited to see what she’ll teach our students, especially since she can sing in 9 different languages!

• Molly

  Ms. Molly joined our school community in the summer of 2025, bringing with her nine years of experience working with children of various ages. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. She is passionate about early childhood education and finds great joy in watching children grow developmentally, physically, and emotionally through both play and structured learning. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Molly enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring local thrift shops. She dreams of one day traveling to Spain to experience its rich culture and history. A fun fact about Ms. Molly: she has an adorable pet rabbit named Mr. Winston!

• Monica

  Ms. Monica joined our team in early 2024! She comes to us with experience working in the art education world looking to expand her skillset with younger children! Ms. Monica started with us by bouncing around in all of our classrooms, always with a bright smile doing fun and creative activities! She has found her home in Preschool! She enjoys painting, hiking, and singing. Her favorite children's book is "James and the Giant Peach."

• Nybria

  Ms. Nybria brings over six years of experience in Early Childhood Education and a fun, energetic, hands-on teaching style. Originally from North Philadelphia, she loves watching her students grow and thrive each day. She’s currently pursuing her CDA through Ashworth College and is especially excited about reaching that goal this year. Holiday projects are her favorite classroom activity, helping children explore the meaning behind each celebration. Ms. Nybria loves the growth opportunities at Goddard and is most excited to see how much her students learn and excel this school year.

• Tarrah

  Ms. Tarrah joined our team in August of 2025 with a little over a year of experience working in childcare. One of her favorite parts of teaching is watching children thrive and succeed both intellectually and academically. She loves sharing the classic book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie with her students! Outside of the classroom, Ms. Tarrah enjoys reading, writing, and singing karaoke. Her dream vacation is a relaxing cruise to the Bahamas!

• Tynia

  Ms. Tynia joined our faculty in the fall of 2024 and brings over 4 years of experience working with young children! Currently pursuing her B.S. in Public Health, she’s passionate about helping children grow and seeing them put their newfound skills into action. Ms. Tynia is a huge fan of the "Pete the Cat" book series and loves sharing those adventures with her students. When she’s not teaching, you can find her shopping or exploring new trends. A fun fact about Ms. Tynia is that she has an impressive 16 siblings!

• Yvette

  Yvette is a dedicated educator that wears many hats as an Assistant Director at The Goddard School of Philadelphia! She keeps things running smoothly with payroll, inventory, and other behind-the-scenes tasks! She also seamlessly transitions when she is needed from the office to inside the classrooms to support our incredible teachers! Personally, she is all about health and movement with a passion for wellness! She holds certifications in Vinyasa yoga and personal training, she received her certification to be a Holistic Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. When she is not busy shaping young minds, you can find her traveling, getting lost in a good book, or cheering on her son as a full-time sports mom on the sidelines at one of his many sporting events! Life's a whirlwind, and she wouldn't have it an other way!

• Zoe

  Meet Ms. Zoe, who joined the faculty in 2025! With years of experience as a babysitter and camp counselor, she brings a wealth of fun, energy, and creativity to our team. Ms. Zoe holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Media Arts from Temple University. She loves seeing her students grow, learn, and, of course, smile every day! Ms. Zoe is all about having fun and helping her students express their unique, silly selves. When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Zoe loves drawing, making jewelry, and watching movies. She also dreams of returning to Japan with her family someday; she had an unforgettable study abroad experience there in 2022. One fun fact about Ms. Zoe is a karaoke enthusiast, so you might just catch her belting out a tune!