The Goddard School Announces 2025 Circle of Excellence and President’s Club Members

Award Announcement

June 18, 2025 // Franchising.com // KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. – The Goddard School®, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, today announced its 2025 Circle of Excellence and 2025 President’s Club members. These honors recognize the very top-performing Goddard Schools through outstanding achievements in education and customer satisfaction.

To be selected for the Circle of Excellence, schools must meet criteria measuring excellence in performance, quality of education and outstanding family experience. The President’s Club includes schools that have been selected for the Circle of Excellence for at least two consecutive years and consistently demonstrate the highest standards in early childhood education.

“With more than 640 Goddard Schools nationwide caring for and educating nearly 100,000 students, earning a place in the 2025 Goddard School Circle of Excellence and President’s Club is a remarkable achievement,” said Darin Harris, CEO of Goddard Systems, LLC, manager of The Goddard School franchise system. "It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate these exemplary schools and their dedicated franchisees and educators. They exemplify The Goddard School’s commitment to nurturing young learners, supporting families and strengthening communities through the highest-quality early childhood education.”

The 2025 Goddard School Circle of Excellence encompasses The Goddard Schools of:

• Bala Cynwyd, PA: Jodi and William Straub

• Cincinnati, OH: Katherine and Peter Joseph

• Edgewater, MD: Dave and Jen Collins

• Hillsborough, NJ: Tim Hoy, Susan Hoy and Kaitlin Stahl

• Middle River (Greenleigh), MD: Mary and Zachary Ukens

• Millersville, MD: Dipti Singh and Courtney Feather

• Suwanee (Old Atlanta), GA: Robin Ray

• Third Lake (Gurnee/Grayslake), IL: David Raye, Donna Raye and Terri Brooks

• Pittsburgh (Upper Saint Clair), PA: Bob, Lori, Madison, Tyler and Jocelyn Santo

President's Club Members

The 2025 Goddard School President’s Club includes The Goddard Schools of:

• Anderson Township, OH: Wendy and Mark Reinhart

• Bellevue, WA: Olivia Teja and Kamal DeSilva

• Broadview Heights, OH: Kyle Thomas

• Carlsbad, CA: Shalini and Sanjeev Dhiman

• Chagrin Falls, OH: Kimberly and Scott DiMuzio

• Chesterfield, VA: Debbie and Jim Womack

• Cranberry Township, PA: Dina and Matt Speranza

• Dedham, MA: Kristin and Peter McNulty

• Denver (Highlands), CO: Allison and David McMurtry

• Forest Hill, MD: Amber and David O’Brien

• Highland Heights, OH: Elizabeth and Barry Slifstein

• Horsham, PA: Kristen Larkin, Patrick Larkin, Mike Thompson and Megan Thompson

• Huntingdon Valley, PA: Colleen Zahirnyi

• Lynnhaven, VA: Anne and Mike Pope

• Marriottsville, MD: Sheeba Mathew

• Philadelphia (22nd and Pine), PA: Jillie Staffiera and Jon Drialo

• Simpsonville (Five Forks), SC: Melanie and Bill Hyatt

• Skokie (Evanston/Wilmette), IL: Mary and Andrew Fratini

• Sparks, NV: Jody Agaman, John Agaman and Kristen Harper

• Sugar Hill, GA: Ted Ray

• Swedesboro, NJ: Marc Zahirnyi

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 (#55 in the 2025 Franchise 500) and one of the top franchise systems in worldwide sales by Franchise Times (#63 in the 2024 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 640 Goddard School franchises that serve almost 100,000 students in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

For 37 years, The Goddard School has nurtured the extraordinary in every child, providing a warm, caring and safe environment that supports their individual social, emotional and academic development, appreciates their unique talents and personalities, and fosters skills they need for long-term success in school and in life.

The Goddard School’s exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning®, embraces how children learn best—through their innate curiosity—because research confirms that when wonder leads, learning follows. Wonder of Learning is backed by expert knowledge, data-driven insight and unwavering compassion for growing minds, encouraging children to explore their curiosities and interests as they discover the joy—and wonder—of learning.