The Goddard School in Fayetteville

Although it’s new to Northwest Arkansas, The Goddard School’s motto is “Learning for Life,” and it has been providing a nurturing environment that promotes a passion for literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics for preschoolers for 30 years now.

Personally, I’ve trusted the school with my 1-year-old, Winston, since its inception in October 2017. It seems every day I talk to someone new who’s looking to send their child to The Goddard School, and I can’t recommend it enough.

In 1988, entrepreneur Anthony A. Martino established The Goddard School preschool franchise to deliver a high-quality, play-based learning program to families all over the United States. Since then, The Goddard School has grown into an institution that parents and families trust, reaching more than 65,000 students in over 460 schools in 36 states. The Goddard School Fayetteville is the only one in the state of Arkansas.

While The Goddard School’s teaching philosophy is based on STEAM,  developmental assessments, observations and interests of students, as well as a plethora of enrichment programs, the teachers also collaborate with parents to nurture children into respectful, confident and joyful learners.

With a F.L.EX.® Learning Program (Fun Learning Experience) in place, students become school-ready, career-ready and life-ready. To support learning through play, there’s a daily schedule that ensures children have time for independent exploration and discovery, structured play, group meetings, interest centers and gross-motor activities.

And while the play-based curriculum is something I love, as a mom and parent, it’s really things like the low student to teacher ratio, being closed minimally throughout the year and making everyone take their shoes off in the infant room that have my heart. Also, the sanitization process that happens every day is unbelievable. Each class has a four-step process for cleaning toys and items that must be followed, as well as numerous protocols that uphold the highest level of health and safety practices well above what is require by the state of Arkansas.

Shannon Shores and Lindsey Gearhart, Directors of Education at The Goddard School in Fayetteville

Another thing I love about The Goddard School is that the owner, Brooks Coatney, is onsite and greets you every day when you walk in. Coatney along with two Directors of Education, Lindsey Gearhart and Shannon Shores, and one Director of Operations, Kelly Mahan, are all from Arkansas and have degrees in education and business, making them a great, well-rounded leadership team.

The Goddard School takes kids from 6 weeks old through Pre-K. With the school being a franchise, there’s a lot of classroom support as far as staff curriculum resources to choose from and incorporate. Although the school is a franchise, each location can individualize curriculum to meet the needs of the students per classroom, allowing flexibility for the teachers. Regarding lead teachers at The Goddard School, each must have a college degree and background in education or a closely related field. Locally, the school partners with Ozark Natural Foods for student lunches and is always doing something fun like starting a garden and partnering with local business to give back to the community.

“The Goddard School is held to higher standards than the typical State-mandated requirements,” Shores says. “The Quality Assurance and training the entire staff receives on Health and Safety practices is extensive and some of the best I’ve seen.”

The Goddard School’s educational programs have earned AdvancED Corporate Accreditation and Middle States Corporate Accreditation, both of which acknowledge the high-quality Early Childhood Education Program. These organizations have conducted rigorous assessments of The Goddard School program and found that its schools meet or surpass benchmarks in Early Childhood Education.

Results of a recent review by the Children’s Progress Academic Assessment (CPAA) showed that The Goddard School students score 45 percent higher on mathematics and literacy assessments compared to non-Goddard peers.

Still not convinced? I recommend taking a tour for yourself. I bet you’ll fall in love with the school and teachers just like I have. For more information, visit www.goddardschool.com/Fayetteville.