The Goddard School of Livingston

Bios

• Nicole

  Nicole Harrison is the On-Site Owner of The Goddard School of West Orange and of Livingston. As a mother of 4 children, she has always understood the importance of early childhood education. Nicole has a Bachelor's Degree in Public Health as well as a teaching degree in Physical Education and Health. She has many years of experience working in business prior to her teaching path. Nicole and her team are committed to providing the highest quality preschool experience for the children in the community. Our unique nurturing approach will give your child the opportunity to develop into a joyful, confident learner who is prepared for success in school and in life.

• Larseia

  My name is Larseia. I've been with Goddard since 2020 and I have my Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and Childcare Management. I have been working in the childcare setting for over 10 years now and come from a family full of educators. I started as a teacher in our West Orange location and have now been with Goddard for 3 years. I love what I do especially when seeing a child's reaction when they learn something new that they can be excited about. The best feeling is entering a school or classroom and having children run over with smiles to give you hugs. I love being someone that not only the children can come to, but faculty as well. I am the person that teachers and parents call over when their kids are having a rough morning and need a little extra help at drop-off and getting into their classrooms. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Victoria

  Early childhood education has always been a true passion of mine. I have my BA in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in early childhood education from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. I’ve been with the Goddard School of West Orange since the day they opened their doors in 2019. I started as a Lead teacher in our young toddler classroom before becoming our education coordinator. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know all our students and their amazing families. I take pride in connecting with every student to make sure they not only feel heard, but so I can help our teachers provide the best atmosphere for learning. I feel fortunate to be a part of the process of helping them grow socially, emotionally, and educationally. With two young children, myself and my husband understand the importance of finding a high-quality center that is nurturing, loving, safe and positive as well as providing the best overall education.

• Ashley

  My name is Ms. Ashley. I have been working in education for 2 years. My favorite children's book is "I am Enough" by Grace Byers. I make sure every care feels heard, loved, and safe. I love creating fun hands-on experiences for every child as an individual. I graduated from nursing school and my goal is to become a pediatric nurse. I plan on creating a consistent, comforting environment for the children throughout the school year. It has been an amazing journey here getting to know all of your wonderful children. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Teiasia

  Hi, my name is Ms. T! I am excited to be joining the Livingston team as the office assistant. I have been working in childcare for 10 years. I have my associate degree in education. My favorite children's book is The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The best part of being in a school is all of the hugs you give out and receive! I love to laugh and giggle, and I try to make others in my presence do the same. My long-term goal is to open my own business. I believe that I can make a positive impact by leading by example and continuously giving positive feedback! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Alexandra

  My name is Alex. I've been working in childcare for 8 years. I have my B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies and working towards my Master's in Education. I started over at the West Orange location in 2020 and moved over here to Livingston in 2022. My favorite children's book is Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney. I love to create songs and sing them to the children. I'm a mother of two beautiful daughters and I aspire to be an early childhood director. My friendly and optimistic personality creates a positive environment for my students and coworkers. I am so excited to help my students learn about patience and perseverance. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Bethany

  Hi, my name is Bethany Lopez and I have been working professionally with children for 10 years. I started in the Goddard West Orange location in 2020 where I lead the infant room for two years before transitioning to Livingston's infant room when they opened their doors in 2022. I am continuing my education at William Paterson University; pursuing my degree in psychology with a minor in chemistry. My favorite part of teaching is creating a home away from home for all of my students; we are a family here! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Diamond

  My name is Ms. Diamond. I have been working in education for 10 years. I am studying for my bachelor's in science and psychology. I have been with Livingston since they opened their doors in 2022. I love to be a positive influence on a child's way of thinking and expressing. I foster student self-esteem with increased motivation and learning. I love making slime and other messy activities with children. I love building on my knowledge and through professional development and instruction. My future goal is to become a social worker and continue to positively influence the lives of the children I come across. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Emily

  Hi, my name is Ms. Emily! I joined the Livingston location after being over at our sister school in West Orange. I have my B.A. in early literature and my associate in early childhood education. I've been in education for 11 years. I'm a super silly person that loves to laugh! My favorite children's book is "Possum come a-knockin" by Nancy Van Laan. I love helping my students try new things in the classroom. My long-term goal is to become a school administrator. I'm excited to learn more about the Wonder of Learning curriculum and introduce it to our families! In my spare time, I play violin and I'm also a third-degree black belt in karate! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Gabrielle

  My name is Ms. Gaby. I have been in education for 3 years. I have my B.A. in Psychology. I started in the West Orange location and have now been with Livingston since they opened their doors in 2022. My favorite children's book is "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. My goal is to make my children feel comfortable and included. I am very passionate and love to help people. My goal is to continue learning and venture into guidance counseling. I am attentive and love giving advice to others. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Jaqueeba

  Hi! My name is Ms. Jay! I have my B.S. in business administration. I am a year into facilitated childcare with Goddard Livingston, but I have always loved interacting with children! I won the "Teacher of the Year" award in 2023. I love finding new ways to teach and communicate with them in the languages they need. I love to write children's books about the children I meet and their different personalities. Eventually, I would love to get published. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Kali

  My name is Ms. Kali. I have been working with children for 4 years. I have my B.A. in general studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. My favorite children's book is "Charlotte's Web" by E.B White. I started with the West Orange in 2022 and moved over to Livingston when we opened our doors. I like to do creative activities and have fun! I love creating welcoming and positive environments for children and their families. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Kentasha

  My name is Ms. Kentasha. I have my CDA. I have been in education for 12 years. My favorite children's book is anything from the "Skippy John Jones" collection. I love finding fun things for the children to do: we get messy, make silly faces, dance, and sing! I am a child at heart and an overall positive person. I won the "Teacher of the Year" award for 2022. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Reina

  Hello, My name is Reina. I am very excited about working at The Goddard School of Livingston. I've been with Goddard for 3 years. I graduated with a B.A in Communications and Media Literacy at Saint Peter's University. I also have experience in early childhood education through school and previous employment. I have always enjoyed working with children. I find that I am really passionate about teaching and engaging with children. I also love to see children learn and thrive in a very positive environment. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Renata

  My name is Ms. Renata. I have been in education for 5 years. My favorite children's book is "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown. I am creative, hands-on, and loving. My goal is to make sure everyone around me laughs often. I am in the process of obtaining my CDA and I am enjoying my learning journey. I love lending a helping hand and taking initiative. I have a huge heart and try to look at every situation positively. I am family-oriented and outgoing. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Stephanie

  Hi, my name is Ms. Stephanie. I am working toward my CDA. I am just beginning my journey in facilitated childcare, but excited to learn! My favorite children's book is "The Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. I love to make people laugh and smile. I am big on teamwork and guidance because having support goes a long way. My long term goal is to become a physical education teacher! I'm looking forward to building bonds with my students and creating memorable moments! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Amy

  Hi, my name is Ms. Amy! I've been in childcare for 13 years. My favorite children's book is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. I absolutely LOVE babies so I'm excited to start my journey here in the infants classroom! In my free time, I love cooking and baking with my grandchildren. I love being supportive to my fellow teachers and being a team player. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Ana

  Hi my name is Ana! I have been in childcare for 5 years. My favorite children's book is "Si Tocas un Dinosaurio." I love to listen to music so in the classroom I love to get the kids dancing! My first language is Spanish and my goal is to continue learning English. My long-term goal is to become a lead teacher and continue to support my team and students to the best of my abilities. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Angelea

  My name is Ms. Angel. I have been working in education for 3 years. I am in school studying education and psychology. My favorite children's book is "Hair Love" by Matthew A. Cherry. I am a super active teacher who is always ready to play and sing with friends. My goal is to become an early education teacher and then, down the line, a child therapist. I am always open to learn how to be a better teacher. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Ashley

  Hi, my name is Ashley! I've been in facilitated childcare for almost a year! I'm in school studying education! My favorite children's book is "Chicken Soup with Rice" by Maurice Sendak. I love finding creative ways to engage and alter y approach to teaching based on each student's individual interests. I want each and every child to feel seen and heard when I am there. I am always ready to sing, dance, and have fun! I am very open and pride myself on having great, warm energy! My long-term goal is to become a lead teacher and continue to work towards helping and changing the lives of our youth! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Bridgett

  Hi, my name is Ms. Bridgett. I've been in education for 12 years. I have completed early childhood education classes. My favorite children's book is Three Little Bears. I love having fun with children and getting down to their level to explore the environment from their point of view. I love watching them progress and being the best teacher I can be. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Cynthia

  Hello Goddard Families, My name is Ms. Cynthia and I have been working with children for over 20 years. I studied early childhood development at Bronx Community College. I am a proud mother of three and a grandmother of 2. I love working with children because working with children provides you with the opportunity to develop a new purpose each day! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Darlin

  Hello, my name is Darlin. My favorite books are the "Pete the Cat" series. I am currently working towards my bachelor's in psychology. I love finding ways to make learning fun and exciting. I enjoy bringing a warming presence to the classroom. I love learning and hearing from others with experience. My long-term goal is to become a psychologist. This year I want to focus on building healthy teacher-student relationships and teaching other non-verbal methods of communicating. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Djahanna

  Hi, my name is Djahanna. I have been in education for 3 years. I am working on my associate degree in Liberal and sciences. My favorite children's book is "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. I love to encourage playful learning in the classroom. I think it's important to teach children in a way that is enjoyable and engaging. I would love to learn to work with different age groups. My long-term aspiration would be to open a school of my own. I will work my hardest to make a positive impact on my students as well as my teaching team. I pride myself on my patience and kindness. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Ivyn

  Hi, my name is Ivyn! I have been working in education for two years. My favorite children's book is Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. When I'm in the classroom, I love to play games and go on pretend adventures. I'm a loving person and I make sure that the children in my care feel that. When I'm around kids, it makes me feel like one again and it's amazing! I love to sing and I am the oldest of TEN siblings! I'm very big on communication and I'm always interested in growing. I'm so excited to be part of the Goddard Livingston team. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Julianna

  Hello my name is Julianna! I am just beginning my journey in childcare but I am excited to learn! My favorite children's story is "Matilda" by Roald Dahl. My long-term goal is to become an occupational therapist! I would love to be able to work with both children and adults. I hope to be someone who livens up everyone's day with just a simple smile. I would like to be able to offer myself as a resource, a friend, as well as a trusted teacher. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Katherine

  Hi, my name is Katherine! I am working towards my associate degree in business. I have been in childcare for a little under a year now. My favorite children's book is "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. I love working with children and embracing each one as an individual. I am big on open communication and words of affirmation. I always strive to give others the best and well-deserved care. One of my aspirations is to gain more experience and improve my knowledge in child development. I am so excited to bring my positive energy to Goddard Livingston! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Latricia

  I have my B.A. is Sociology.

• Leah

  Hi, my name is Leah! I am apart of the Goddard Livingston infant team. I love being here with the babies and supporting their early stages of growth. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Nancy

  Hi, my name is Nancy! I am studying English at Essex Community College. I am just beginning my journey in childcare but it's been amazing so far. My favorite children's book is "Because I had a Teacher" by Kobi Yamada. I love all the children in my care and getting down to their level to play with them. I take pride in being kind and showing patience. My goal this year is to continue building my English language skills and I'm happy to have the support of my Livingston team! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Okwunna

  Hi, my name is Unna. I am just beginning my journey in facilitated childcare. My favorite children's book is One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Suess. I enjoy engaging with the children and helping them get out their energy. I pride myself on being very patient. My long-term goal is to continue gaining knowledge in education. I want to help children understand that learning is fun! I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Paola

  Hi, my name is Paola! I have been working in education for three years. I have my associate degree in science. I love caring for children and I value having fun and being kind. My long-term goal is to continue my education into the medical field. A fun fact about me is that I am an identical twin! I'm so excited to be working with the team here at Goddard. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Winifer

  Hi, my name is Winifer! I've been working in childcare for two years. My favorite children's book is "Donde Esta Paula, Lucas, and Hugo." I enjoy teaching because I like making sure children feel important. I enjoy helping my colleagues and being a team player. The most important thing you can have is the power to be able to give love to others. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• YaJae

  Hi, my name is Ya'Jae! I started over in West Orange location last year and took a break for school and am happy to return now to join the Livingston team! My favorite children's book is "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan. I love making learning fun in the classroom while also being very innovative with what I introduce to children. My long-term goal is learning more about how to better understand and support children with special needs. I plan on having a positive impact on my teaching team and helping support everyone wherever I can and lending fun ideas! I pride myself on being a positive and optimistic person. I am CPR/First Aid certified, safe sleep certified, allergy response trained, and child abuse trained.

• Madeleine

  Hello, my Madeleine. I graduated from Hamilton College with a degree in Creative Writing. One of my early jobs after graduation was working for a literary agent whose focus was children’s books. This interest in children’s literacy and education then brought me to Hunter College where I earned a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education with a thesis on early literacy. I taught for 10 years at a preeminent Reggio inspired preschool in Manhattan. While there, I was sent to Italy to study Reggio techniques where the philosophy originated, as well as to numerous schools across the country to present and learn about educational theories. Since moving to New Jersey, I have worked with various schools across the state, providing in-class STEAM lessons as well as professional development for teachers and administration. I come to The Goddard School as Early Childhood Education Specialist, bringing my passion, breadth of experience and knowledge.