The Goddard School

The Goddard School of Eagan, MN, is now open! Congratulations to co-owners Kara Berdahl and Shannon Gehrmann. Shannon is also the owner of The Goddard School of Woodbury, MN.   “As a parent, I understand the significance of early childhood education and I’m enthusiastic about introducing the Goddard experience to the thriving Eagan community,” said Kara. “Our mission is to help our students build a solid groundwork for their next steps in education and in life, cultivating a passion for learning in a safe and nurturing environment.”  

For young children, the holidays can be a whirlwind of excitement and a deviation from their typical routines. Parents may have noticed some new behaviors in their children during this time, such as helping out around the house or finishing their whole dinner (sometimes, at least). With the holidays behind us, now what do parents do? How do they preserve the goodness that seems to have taken over the holidays? How do they foster and cultivate better behavior in their young children? In this blog, Dr. Jack Maypole, a member of The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board, shares a few fundamentals worth remembering to help at least a few of those new impulses to become ingrained and to set.

The Goddard School of Littleton (South Broadway), CO, is now open! This is the second Goddard School in Littleton and the first location for co-owners Erin and Andrew Davis. The Davises have been Goddard parents for more than eight years; their two daughters are graduates of the Goddard program, and their son is currently enrolled as a Pre-K student at the new school.   “Our commitment is to inspire our students to foster a genuine love for learning in a nurturing, safe and supportive environment,” said Erin. “We acknowledge the urgent need for high-quality early childhood education in our community, and we are enthusiastic about providing an exceptional educational journey for all.”  

In this WDJT CBS 58 interview, Dr. Lauren (Starnes) Loquasto, our chief academic officer, shares how parents and early childhood educators can help build vocabulary skills in young children. In short, it’s vital to ensure children are in a language-rich environment. Check out the video for actionable tips from Dr. Loquasto.  

In today’s world, screens—from televisions and computers to tablets and phones—are everywhere. For parents of young children, deciding how best to regulate screen time can be a challenge. In this Psychology Today article, Dr. Kyle Pruett, a member of The Goddard School’s Educational Advisory Board, shares helpful guidance for parents. As Dr. Pruett writes, most families feel these devices are not inherently evil and they are here to stay, so let’s figure out how to live with them. 

The Goddard School of Justin, TX, is now open! This is the second location for co-owners and siblings Vicky Singh and CJ Walia, who also own The Goddard School of Haslet, TX.   “Our mission is to provide a safe, nurturing and high-quality early childhood education experience to our students every hour of every day, all year round,” said Singh. “Each child’s experience will establish an educational foundation to make them school ready, life ready and career ready.”

The Goddard School’s annual Circle of Excellence honors the top-performing Goddard Schools that elevate the Goddard brand, reputation and business performance through outstanding achievements in education and operational delivery. To be selected, schools must meet criteria that measure excellence in performance, education, parent experience and brand stewardship. Today, we conclude our Circle of Excellence spotlight by recognizing the final six schools in our 2023 class: ·        Marc Zahirnyi, The Goddard School of Swedesboro, NJ ·        Suzanne Hanf and Karyn Smykowski, The Goddard School of Toms River, NJ ·        Jason Baker, The Goddard School of Twinsburg, OH ·        Kristen and Ken Bodenstein, The Goddard School of Westport, CT ·        Krystle Molite, The Goddard School of White Marsh (Honeygo), MD ·        Pam and Shawn King, The Goddard School of Winter Garden, FL

The Goddard School of Frisco (East), TX, is now open! This is the second Goddard School in Frisco for owners Jamie Thompson and Chevelle Johnson. “We’re so excited to expand our high-quality early childhood education program in the Frisco area,” said Jamie. “We're thrilled to open our doors as we continue instilling a love for learning in our students.” 

One of the best ways to teach children about different holiday traditions is through reading. In this First Time Parent Magazine article, Lee Scott, chairperson of our Educational Advisory Board, shares six books that highlight how different people and cultures celebrate the holidays.

It’s time for another round of our Circle of Excellence spotlight! As we’ve previously shared, The Goddard School’s annual Circle of Excellence honors the top-performing Goddard Schools that elevate the Goddard brand, reputation and business performance through outstanding achievements in education and operational delivery. To be selected, schools must meet criteria that measure excellence in performance, education, parent experience and brand stewardship. Today, we recognize: ·        Scott Sheldon, The Goddard School of Oviedo, FL ·        Denise Cross, The Goddard School of Reno (Somersett), NV ·        Sue Luisi and Dena Maldonado, The Goddard School of Schaumburg, IL ·        Melanie and Bill Hyatt, The Goddard School of Simpsonville, SC