The Goddard School of Novi (13 Mile and M-5)

Bios

• Kristine & Kevin

  Hello! We are the Kempl family: Kristine, Kevin, Mason (8) and Soren (3). We are previous (and current) Goddard parents, which led us on this journey to open a Goddard School to share our experience with local families and provide the opportunity for each child to build a strong foundation for school and life. Kristine has a Masters in Occupational Therapy, which focuses on developing or rehabilitating appropriate emotional and motor development across the lifespan. Kevin has a background in business management and entrepreneurship. We believe every child should have the opportunity to excel in a safe, nurturing and enriching environment. We are excited to partner with you and provide an inclusive space for your child to learn and grow. We would love to be an extension of your family! We look forward to hearing from you! Warmest regards, Kevin & Kristine Kempl Phone: 248-313-4102 Email: Novi2MI@GoddardSchools.com

• Ms Ashley

  Hi, my name is Ashley and I am so excited to be the Program Director here at Goddard. I have a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education Administration along with many years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. I have worked in every position from an assistant teacher to a lead teacher and with every age group from Infants through Pre-K. I have been a Program Director for over 8 years. I have 2 children; Madilyn who is 13 and Jedidiah who is 6. In my free time you can find me with my children, wonderful boyfriend and step son, spending time outdoors, going up north, or watching movies. My guilty pleasure is reality TV, all things Christmas, and I love to cook!

• Ms Alexandra

  Ms Alexandra joined the early childhood field in 2016 as a support staff. She quickly transitioned into the toddler program as an assistant teacher. Ms Alexandra has a Bachelors degree in Communication from The University of Indianapolis and is passionate about early childhood development. She has recently finished her CDA in infant and toddlers and is one of our lead toddler teachers. Ms Alexandra previously lived in Athens, Greece and speaks three different languages (English, Greek, and Italian). Ms Alexandra is passionate about nurturing a love for learning with her students. Fun fact about Ms Alexandra, she is a great cook!

• Elizbeth

  Ms. Liz is our Lead Toddler 1 teacher. Ms. Liz has her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and several years experience working with children of all ages. She loves being a teacher in a childcare setting because it allows her to have a greater impact on little minds due to smaller classroom sizes and more support. She loves to see the lightbulb moments in children when they finally grasp a new skill they have been working on. In her free time Ms. Liz loves to re-do furniture!

• Ms Katrina

  Ms. Katrina has her CDA in infant and toddler and has worked with children for over 4 years. She loves to go on walks with her dog, Amaya, and play board games with family. She prefers to dance around the classroom to music and enjoys watching her students grow and become independent. She loves Harry Potter and chocolate chip cookies.

• Rachel

  Ms. Rachel is our Lead Pre-K 2 teacher she has a teaching degree from Saginaw Valley State and taught 2nd grade before joining Goddard. Ms. Rachel loves role playing with children while they use their imagination. She loves seeing children grow and wants them to enjoy learning and exploring. Ms. Rachel is married, she has 1 brother, 2 nieces and 1 nephew. Fun fact, Ms. Rachel is from a small town in the thumb of Michigan called Deckerville!

• Ms Sharmika

  Ms. Sharmika is our lead teacher in Pre-K 1. She has over 8 years experience working with ages 6 weeks through 12 years. Ms. Sharmika has her bachelors degree in public health and sociology. She also has her infant/toddler CDA. She is currently working on her masters in education for early childhood and K-5. Her favorite activity to do with the children is anything sensory related. A fun fact about Ms. Sharmika is that she loves singing and lemon upside down cake.

• Ms Alexis

  Ms. Alexis is an assistant teacher in our Pre-K classroom. She has been working with children for over 10 years. She loves working with children because they are creative and fun to be around. Ms. Alexis has two years of college under her belt. Her favorite things include line dancing, the Detroit Redwings, and reading. A fun fact about Ms. Alexis is that she performed a line dancing routine at a baseball game!

• Alysa

  Ms. Alysa is an Assistant Toddler teacher who loves working with children because it is such a rewarding job. She enjoys making learning fun and engaging and making an impact on a child's life. Ms. Alysa is 1 of 4 siblings, she has a dog named Kane, loves baking, cosmetology, and pizza. She would love to visit Hawaii or Bora Bora one day!

• Alyssa

  Ms. Alyssa is one of our Preschool assistant teachers. Ms. Alyssa's favorite things to do with the kids is sensory and playing outside. She loves working with children and being able to see them learn and grow especially when she gets to see them accomplish something for the very first time. Ms. Alyssa is a very creative person and she enjoys different forms of art, reading, and thrifting in her spare time.

• Amanda

  Ms. Amanda is one of our Toddler assistant teachers. Children are her passion and she loves watching them flourish each day. Her favorite thing to do in the classroom is circle time and art. In her free time Ms. Amanda enjoys crafting, concerts, going to local markets, and being with family and friends. Fun fact, Ms. Amanda is a twin!

• Ms Amanda

  Ms. Amanda is an assistant teacher in our first steps classroom. She has worked with children for over 2 years and attended Henry Ford College for special education and early childhood education. She loves helping children learn something new. Her favorite movie is Hocus Pocus and her favorite candy is Reese's peanut butter cups.

• Ashley

  Ms. Ashley is a Toddler assistant teacher. She is currently attending school for Early Childhood Education. She loves working with children and knowing that she is making a positive impact on them. Ms. Ashley loves doing arts and crafts in the classroom. In her free time Ms. Ashley enjoys painting, bowling, and binge watching her favorite shows!

• Briana

  Ms. Briana is currently working on her Associate's Degree with the goal to earn her Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Ms. Briana has previously worked as a lead toddler and preschool teacher. She loves working with children and believes that early childhood education has a significant impact on a child's future, which is not something she takes for granted. She loves to do science and sensory in the classroom. In her free time Ms. Briana enjoys watching TV, going to the movies, taking walks, and painting!

• Ms Brianna

  Ms. Brianna is our Infant lead teacher who loves seeing children grow and learn while becoming their own unique individuals. Ms. Brianna enjoys being able to inspire children everyday, watching them learn, and showing them new things. In her spare time Ms. Brianna enjoys traveling to new places!

• Emily

  Ms. Emily has several years experience working in early childhood education. She loves being creative and making learning fun for the kids in her care. Ms. Emily became a teacher because not only does she love teaching children new skills but they teach her new things every day. Both her mom and grandma were educators as well. In her free time Ms. Emily loves being outside with her 2 dogs and spending time with family. Ms. Emily wants children to know that where there is learning, there is fun!

• Hannah

  Ms. Hannah is an assistant teacher, she has worked with children for several years. She loves being an educator because she gets to see children develop their skills in all forms. She has a dog named Kona and 2 chinchillas named Stitch & Archimedes! In her free time Ms. Hannah enjoys reading, watching TV and painting.

• Ms Jennifer

  Ms Jenny joined the field of early childhood in 1995. Her favorite part of teaching is spending time with her students and seeing their minds grow and develop over the years. Ms Jenny nurtures a safe, and fun environment in her classroom where children can thrive, and families feel supported. Fun fact, Ms Jenny previously operated her own childcare center.

• Jennifer

  Ms. Jennifer is an assistant teacher in our Infant classroom. Ms. Jennifer loves watching children learn and grow and being part of helping them reach all of their milestones. In her free time Ms. Jennifer loves to travel and spend time with her family. Fun fact, Ms. Jennifer has 2 sets of twin nieces!

• Jessica

  Ms. Jessica has always known she wanted to work children, she loves making connections with them and helping them grow and learn. Ms. Jessica loves spending time hanging out with her family, friends, and her chocolate lab Butch. She hopes to travel to Korea or Tokyo one day!

• Ms Joan

  Ms Joan has a passion for helping young minds grow and knew from a young age she wanted to be a teacher! She began her childcare career in 1995 working with preschoolers and has continued to foster life long learners throughout the years. Ms Joan earned her Bachelors in English Arts and Literature. She loves decorating, chalk-painting and restoring antiques. Fun fact, Ms Joan lived in Alaska for a short time.

• Julie

  Ms. Julie loves working with children, it gives her great joy to see them make new friends, have fun, and learn new ideas. Her favorite thing to do with children is arts and crafts. Ms. Julie pursued teaching because of her passion to educate and bond with children, she loves watching them grow and grasp new skills. In Ms. Julies free time she enjoys reading, working out, spending time with her own 3 children, and volunteering at dog rescues.

• Ms Kelly

  Ms. Kelly has worked with children for several years. She enjoys seeing children grow and learn new skills. Ms. Kelly is working on a social work degree with a minor in child development. In her free time Ms. Kelly loves to travel, go to concerts, and spend time with friends.

• Kendal

  Ms. Kendal loves knowing that she is part of a child's growth and development, it brings her joy seeing children accomplish goals both big and small. In her free time Ms. Kendal loves to travel and spend time with family and friends. Ms. Kendal has 2 older brothers and hopes to travel to Bora Bora one day!

• Ms Lisa

  Ms. Lisa is one of our wonderful infant teachers. She has a bachelors degree in English from Wayne State University. She also has taken early childhood classes from Schoolcraft College. Ms. Lisa loves working with children because they are so fun, energetic, and innocent. She loves fishing and spending time with her friends and family.

• Lorna

  Ms. Lorna is our Preschool lead teacher! She has her Preschool CDA and several years experience working with children. Ms. Lorna loves working with children and especially loves dancing, singing, and doing arts and crafts with them. In her free time she enjoys going to the movies, spending time with her husband and 3 children, and bike riding. Fun fact about Ms. Lorna, she grew up in Brazil!

• Melissa

  Ms. Melissa is am Assistant Toddler teacher who likes working with children because she gets the opportunity to help them learn and grow! She has a cat named Sophie and in her free time Ms. Melissa loves to watch sunrises and sunsets.

• Ms Rakshanda

  Ms. Rakshanda is one of our Pre-K 1 assistant teachers. She has been working with children since 2018 and has 2 children of her own. She loves helping children realize their full potential. Her favorite movie is The Lorax and would love to travel to Switzerland one day.

• Taylorann

  Ms. Taylor is an assistant teacher who loves helping children learn! She also enjoys forming bonds with both the children and their families. Ms. Taylor has several years experience working with children of all ages. In her free time she enjoys writing, crocheting, and drawing. Fun fact, Ms. Taylor is a self published author!

• Traci

  Ms. Traci is an assistant teacher who comes to us with many years of experience working with children ranging from infants thru 2nd grade. She believes working with children is her passion and she chose this field because she loves watching children learn and grow and giving them the tools they need to succeed in life. In her free time Ms. Traci enjoys shopping, watching TV, and taking care of her plants!

• Mrs Barbara

  Ms. Barbara is one of our very helpful All School Assistants. She has been working with children for over 5 years and has a daughter of her own. She loves working with children because she loves to be a part of their progress and blooming personalities from early childhood. Fun fact about Ms. Barbara is that she is from Hungary. In her free time she enjoys hiking, reading and art projects.

• Ms Bethany

  Ms. Bethany is our schools wonderful Assistant Director! She helps in all areas of the school from curriculum implementation to event planning. She has been working with children for over 7 years and has a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. Outside of work you will find her reading a book. She has a very adorable dog named Fiona. Ms. Bethany's favorite dessert is ice cream.

• Jordyn

  Ms. Jordyn has worked with children in various ways over the last several years. One of her favorite activities to do with children is arts and crafts, she enjoys seeing their different art styles and their excitement over what they have created. Ms. Jordyn became a teacher because she loves being part of children's early stages of life and being able to support and watch them grow. Ms. Jordyn's friendly personality and willingness to always help makes her a great fit in our office alongside our Director and Assistant Director. Fun fact about Ms. Jordyn, she just moved to Michigan from California!

• Ms Kathleen

  Ms. Kathy is the assistant infant teacher. She has been working with children for the past 36 years. She has a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Wayne State University. She loves to take part in the “magical years of development.” She also says that it is an honor to be in a child’s life. Ms. Kathy loves to travel, garden, and spend time with her family. She has even been skydiving in Australia!