Annual awards program recognizes 16 teachers
for their dedication to students
Goddard Systems, LLC, (GSL), the manager of The Goddard School®
franchise system, the nation’s leading premium early childhood
education provider, is honored to recognize 16 Goddard School
teachers from across the country for their outstanding efforts and
commitment to students this past year.
Now in its 18th year, The Goddard School Teacher of the Year
Awards recognize Goddard School educators who bring enthusiasm to
teaching and inspire wonder in the learning process. This year,
more than 6,600 teachers from across The Goddard School’s more than
630 locations were nominated by families and their colleagues in
four classroom categories (infant, toddler, preschool/pre-k and
kindergarten/school-age) across four regions (northeast, southeast,
central and west). Sixteen teachers, including one grand prize
winner, were chosen for exemplifying excellence, leadership,
creativity and a safe, nurturing teaching approach.
“We put each teacher at the heart of everything we do at Goddard
because teachers put each student at the heart of everything they
do,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO, GSL. “The Goddard
School system is comprised of thousands of dedicated teachers
across the country, and as we kick-off Teacher Appreciation Week, I
want to thank every one of them for their commitment to and passion
for education and for nurturing the extraordinary in every child.
As part of our celebration of Goddard School teachers, I am
privileged to recognize the Teachers of the Year. I thank this
remarkable group of educators for going above and beyond to
meaningfully impact the lives of their students and families.”
16 Regional Winners
This year’s 16 winning Goddard School teachers have incorporated
their own passions into their teaching, created strong bonds
between home and school and focused on the continued health and
safety of their students. In addition to being named a 2024 Goddard
School Teacher of the Year, GSL gifted each of the regional winners
a $1,000 cash award and dedicated a custom set of Life Lesson
Library books, Goddard’s exclusive social-emotional development
program, to each school in the teacher’s name. Congratulations to
the following teachers:
Northeast Region Winners:
- Cathy Coviello – Rocky Hill, CT, Infant Classroom
- Olisa Phillips – Collegeville, PA, Toddler Classroom
- Albina Ejupi – Westport, CT, Pre-School/Pre-K Classroom
- Carolyn Boscola – Horsham, PA, Kindergarten/School-Age
Classroom
Southeast Region Winners:
- Yorseliana Bellinghieri – Flowery Branch, GA, Infant
Classroom
- Michele Parvis – Ellicott City, MD, Toddler Classroom
- Rebecca Lembcke – Franklin (Cool Springs), TN, Pre-School/Pre-K
Classroom
- Tamia Mills – Sandy Springs (Hammond Drive), GA,
Kindergarten/School-Age Classroom
Central Region Winners:
- Stephanie Lara – Avon, OH, Infant Classroom
- Kaitlyn Ratliff – Cincinnati, OH, Toddler Classroom
- Pavi Loganathan – Arlington Heights, IL, Pre-School/Pre-K
Classroom
- Amanda Diacot – Mason, OH, Kindergarten/School-Age
Classroom
West Region Winners:
- Cindy Mcmurrin – Goodyear, AZ, Infant Classroom
- Kristian Kirksey – Houston (The Greater Heights), TX, Toddler
Classroom
- Megan Lancaster – Austin (Circle C Ranch), TX, Pre-School/Pre-K
Classroom
- Steven Nguyen – San Ramon, CA, Kindergarten/School-Age
Classroom
Grand Prize Winner
In addition to being a regional winner, The Goddard School of
Westport’s Albina Ejupi was named The Goddard School Teacher of the
Year Awards’ grand prize winner. Ejupi has positively impacted the
lives of hundreds of students and families during her 4-year tenure
at the school.
“I’m deeply honored to have my passion for education
acknowledged through this prestigious award,” said Ejupi. “Every
day, I’m inspired by the growth and enthusiasm of my students, and
I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such talented
and dedicated colleagues who share my commitment to early childhood
development.”
The stimulating and supportive learning environment that Ejupi
cultivates has had a profound impact on the students in her care.
She embraces family, community connections and diversity because
they serve as catalysts for her students to develop a sense of self
and learn more about the world around them. She constantly seeks
new and imaginative ways to engage students, fostering curiosity,
critical thinking and a love for learning. As the grand prize
winner, GSL honored Ejupi with an additional $5,000 cash award.
“At Goddard, we are focused on nurturing teachers’ growth and
empowering their success,” said Dr. Lauren Loquasto, senior vice
president and chief academic officer, GSL. “All of the Teacher of
the Year honorees exemplify Goddard’s commitment to providing a
rewarding career where educators are encouraged to bring their
creativity to the classroom and are truly valued and supported. We
appreciate how these teachers love what they do while preparing
their students for the next stages in both their academic and life
journeys, and we can’t thank them enough for their commitment to
their school communities.”
For more information about The Goddard School, The Goddard
School Teacher of the Year Awards and this year’s winners, please
visit GoddardSchool.com.
ABOUT GODDARD SYSTEMS,
LLC
Established in 1988, Goddard Systems, LLC, is the manager of The
Goddard School® franchise system. The Goddard School is the
acknowledged leader in the premium early childcare and education
market segment. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania,
Goddard Systems has been consistently named one of the leading
franchises in the United States by Entrepreneur (#68 in the 2024
Franchise 500) and one of the top franchise systems in worldwide
sales by Franchise Times (#70 in the 2023 Top 400). Additionally,
Goddard Systems is included in Franchise Business Review’s Top 200
Franchises, a recognition of the best franchise opportunities based
solely on ratings and reviews provided directly by franchise
owners. Goddard Systems currently licenses more than 630 Goddard
School franchises that serve almost 100,000 students in 37 states
and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit
GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.
ABOUT THE GODDARD
SCHOOL®
Learning for fun. Learning for life.®
Children learn best through experience. For 36 years, The
Goddard School has nurtured the extraordinary in every child,
employing academically endorsed methods to ensure that children
have fun while learning the skills they need for long-term success
in school and in life.
The Goddard School provides every child with a warm, caring and
safe environment that supports their individual social, emotional
and academic development and appreciates their unique talents and
personalities. The Goddard School’s proprietary educational
program—backed by expert knowledge, data-driven insight and
unwavering compassion for growing minds—encourages children to
explore their curiosities and interests as they discover the wonder
of learning. A team of acknowledged experts in various fields of
early childhood education guides the children through their
learning journeys.
The Goddard School serves almost 100,000 students from six weeks
to six years old in 37 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more
about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com.
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Joe Markle Media Relations Specialist, Goddard Systems
610-405-9569 jmarkle@GoddardSystems.com