The Goddard School of Chantilly (South Riding)

Bios

• Risa & Brad

  Ms. Risa and Mr. Brad are the proud owners of both Goddard Schools in Chantilly; Chantilly (Westfields) opened in 2003, and Chantilly (South Riding) opened at the end of 2011. Risa has a Master's Degree in Elementary Education and serves as the Senior Education Director for the schools. Risa was previously a 4th and 5th grade teacher, so she knows well that an exceptional school depends on exceptional teachers. Risa oversees the hiring of every teacher we invite to join The Goddard School, and, as Senior Education Director, she makes sure that the environment we provide is caring, fun, safe, and educational. Brad is the business manager of both schools. Brad was trained as a lawyer, and he brings ten years of experience in the banking industry to the business side of running the schools. Education is so important to both of us that two of our children are educators, themselves (the third one is, inexplicably, a geologist). Welcome to our School!

• Jill

  Ms. Jill is the Admissions Director for The Goddard Schools of Chantilly. She joined us in 2010. Ms. Jill earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology, and she has 19 years of early childhood teaching and administrative experience. She is also a Goddard parent.

• Kareen

  Ms. Kareen is the Education Director. She joined us in 2012. Ms. Kareen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from George Mason University and a VDSS Early Childhood Endorsement. She has 16 years of early childhood administrative experience and 6 years of experience as a state Licensing Inspector for childcare centers.

• Tina

  Ms. Tina is the Administrative Director. She joined us in 2012. Ms. Tina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from State University of New York, College of Potsdam. She has 37 years of early childhood teaching and administrative experience.

• Allison

  Ms. Allison is the Assistant Director. She joined us in 2017. Ms. Allison has 17 years of early childhood teaching and administrative experience. She has completed coursework, training, and experience in early childhood education and special education. She joined our school as a lead teacher and after 7 years, she was promoted to our management team in 2024. Ms. Allison was our 2022 Teacher of the Year. She was also a Goddard parent.

• Amina

  Ms. Amina is a Lead Teacher in our Polar Bears Class. She joined us in 2024. Ms. Amina has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and has 5 years of early childhood teaching experience. She is also a Goddard parent.

• Anjali

  Ms. Anjali is a Lead Teacher in our Whales Class. She joined us in 2012. Ms. Anjali has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Political Science. She has 35 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Claudia

  Ms. Claudia is a Lead Teacher in our Dolphins Class. She joined us in 2020. Ms. Claudia has an Associate's degree in Education and 24 years of early childhood teaching experience. She is also a member of our Teacher Resource Team. Ms. Claudia was our 2024 Teacher of the Year.

• Hasina

  Ms. Hasina is a Lead Teacher in our Koalas Class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Hasina has one year of early childhood teaching experience. She has a Master of Arts degree in Philology (French Language and Literature).

• Heather

  Ms. Heather is a Lead Teacher in our Horses Class. She joined us in 2023. Ms. Heather has 3 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Jasmine

  Ms. Jasmine is the Lead Teacher of our Fitness Program. She joined us in 2015. Ms. Jasmine has a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Sport Management, and she has 10 years of early childhood teaching experience. Ms. Jasmine serves as a member of our Teacher Resource Team.

• Kylah

  Ms. Kylah is a Lead Teacher in our Pandas Class. She joined us in 2024. Ms. Kylah has 5 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• LaWanda

  Ms. LaWanda is a Lead Teacher in our Giraffes Class. She joined us in 2021. Ms. LaWanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and has 22 years of early childhood teaching experience. She also serves as our Curriculum Resource Specialist. Ms. LaWanda was our 2023 Teacher of the Year.

• Madhavi

  Ms. Madhavi is a Lead Teacher in our Chipmunks Class. She joined us in 2023. Ms. Madhavi has 7 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Melissa

  Ms. Melissa is a Lead Teacher in our Chipmunks Class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Melissa has nearly 2 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Rebecca

  Ms. Rebecca is the Lead Teacher of our Jaguars Class. She has Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology. Ms. Rebecca joined us in 2025 and has over 12 years of early childhood teaching experience. She also taught preschool at a Goddard School in Tennessee for six years and was honored as the 2024 Goddard Teacher of the Year for the Southeast Region.

• Ryan

  Ms. Ryan is a Lead Teacher in our Saturn Class. She joined us in 2020. Ms. Ryan has 5 years of early childhood teaching experience. She is studying Criminology at Northern Virginia Community College.

• Sara

  Ms. Sara is a Lead Teacher in our Whales Class. She joined us in 2012. Ms. Sara has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History, and she has 15 years of early childhood teaching experience. Ms. Sara was our 2019 Teacher of the Year.

• Sirisha

  Ms. Sirisha is a Lead Teacher in our Penguins Class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Sirisha has 3 years of early childhood teaching experience and a Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• Taylor

  Ms. Taylor is a Lead Teacher in our Giraffes Class. She joined us in 2022. Ms. Taylor has 3 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Traci

  Ms. Traci is a Lead Teacher in our Horses Class. She joined us in 2022. Ms. Traci has Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Russian Language. She has 3 years of early childhood teaching experience. Ms. Traci is also our Teacher Trainer.

• Zeynep

  Ms. Zeynep is a Lead Teacher in our Polar Bears Class. She joined us in 2013. Ms. Zeynep has a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and a Bachelor's degree in International Business. She has 15 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Allison

  Ms. Allison is an Assistant Teacher in our Penguins class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Allison is studying Health Sciences at Northern Virginia Community College. She is new to early childhood teaching and is very excited learn from her colleagues.

• Araceli

  Ms. Celi is an Assistant Teacher in our Pandas class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Celi studies Early Childhood Education at Northern Virginia Community College. She is new to early childhood teaching and is excited to learn from her colleagues.

• Dajah

  Ms. Dajah is an Assistant Teacher, and she supports all of our classes and provides operational support for our school. She joined us in 2023. Ms. Dajah has 2 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Hyacinth

  Ms. Hyacinth is an Assistant teacher, and she supports all of our classes. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Hyacinth has 6 months of early childhood teaching experience.

• Lilly

  Ms. Lilly is an Assistant Teacher in our Jaguars Class. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Lilly has a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies. She has 2 years of early childhood teaching experience.

• Lindsey

  Ms. Lindsey is an Assistant Teacher, and she supports all of our classes. She joined us in 2025. Ms. Lindsey is studying Health Sciences at Northern Virginia Community College. She is new to early childhood teaching and is excited learn from her colleagues.

• Manju

  Ms. Manju in an Assistant Teacher in our Saturn Class. She joined us in 2022. Ms. Manju has 5 years of early childhood teaching experience.