The Goddard School of Lithia (FishHawk)

"The education was great here. My son went there for 3 years. When he was in PreK. I found out by another parent (because they went to get their child at an odd time that day) that my child as left in the hallway alone and was asked by this parent why he was out there. My child (this still hurts me to the core) shrugged his shoulders and stated “I’m in trouble”. The parent told me it seemed normal for my child to be in the hallway unattended. There were many behavioral issues with my child since he turned 3 at Goddard. But when we started a new school this past fall NO BEHAVIORAL issues have been reported to me. Interesting!!!! I called the owner(Souji), after I found out about this incident she called back but I was at work. I asked the front desk to have her call me back she never did. I emailed corporate and never received a reply. Or a phone call. This place may have a weird way of painting a certain picture and acting innocent but it’s pretty scary the stuff my child told me as time went by after I took him out(and I never asked him about these things, he brought them up himself). He said during nap time one of the infant teachers (aka the one that all the kids would be afraid of) would force his arms down and cover his face and tell him not to remove the cover. So scary that it hurts me to this day. I hope parents read this and understand that it took me 6 months to write this and that I didn’t want to but as a parent I would appreciate if someone would have told me about the scary behind the scene things that occurred at this school. Lastly, the approach of discipline was never positive reinforcement but shameful ones."

"Choosing a daycare can be so difficult and overwhelming. As a parent you want the best for your child. When I first toured Goddard, it was safe and secure with controlled entry and access, clean and nicely decorated, and had so much to offer. My son was a year old and quickly took to the teachers and staff, convincing me further this is where to stay. I was blessed with the opportunity to start part time and ease into leaving my baby with strangers. I eventually transitioned to full time as I learned this was a loving, nurturing, secure, and professional environment where you create an extended family. My son was taught sign language and continued progressing and learning to transition to VPK. He has now graduated from this wonderful school that has continued to exceed my expectations. From the owners Souji and Shekar to the staff Director Ms. Tasha, assistant Ms. Amanda, and all the teachers. Ms. Tasha has been integral in cultivating the family environment, once she transitioned from teacher to Director and Ms. Amanda adding her creative spin. Together they are an exceptional team elevating the school to another level. The school as a whole is A+ and definitely set apart from the rest, offering extracurricular activities such as soccer shots, kiddokenitics, and bringing in fun and adventures to the school for one stop safe learning for our little ones. I’m grateful to everyone for all the dedicated support, guidance, care, and education they have instilled in my little one. Kids not only learn and grow while attending Goddard but come out better little humans for our world. I would like to acknowledge some truly special bonds with staff like Ms. Marianne, Ms. Laurence, Ms. Tracy, and this past year for VPK Ms. Kim, and Ms. Hope. Ms. Kim is what we consider a child whisper who has enriched our lives, with keys to learning that have positively impacted our family. With patience, compassion, and love, Ms. Kim has shown us how to settle young and active imaginations with loving and fun educational instructions. We will forever treasure Ms. Kim in our hearts and as our Favorite Teacher."

"We love Goddard and the amazing staff they have! We have gone from the infant room to the VPK class and it is absolutely top notch every step of the way! Ms Kim in the VPK class is incredible and very helpful in how each and every student learns. She is patient and has a heart of gold. I absolutely love how she starts each morning with giving each student an option of high five, hug, fist pump etc. it really gives your student the independence they need to succeed!"

"I highly recommend Goddard for parents looking for a nurturing environment where their child can learn and grow. The staff at Goddard are dedicated and knowledgeable in the different stages of child development, and they work hard to ensure that each child is given the tools and resources they need to thrive. Our son has made great progress in his development since starting at Goddard, and I believe that the care and guidance he has received there have been instrumental in his growth. One of the unique benefits of Goddard is their on-site speech therapist. When our toddler was struggling with speech, the staff at Goddard recognized the issue and suggested we have him evaluated by their in-house therapist. This proved to be an incredibly convenient and effective solution, and we saw a significant improvement in his speech and language skills over just a few months. With their focus on child development and on-site resources like the speech therapist, Goddard is an excellent choice for any parent looking for high-quality care and education for their child."

"If I could give more stars I would. As a parent safety, cleanliness, and how my child is treated is my top priority. I'm so glad I found Goddard, they have truly exceeded my expectations. In comparison to other schools my children have attended Goddard's cleanliness is on another level and the staff are like a big family. My children love everyone in this place. Another thing that sets Goddard apart is their curriculum and the way they teach the kids with fun and engaging activities. My son left Goodard for kindergarten and had such a leg up academically. If you are looking for a safe place to put your child who will have a blast and come out learning a ton this is it."