Medina's Goddard School

Helping children foster a love of learning is what The Goddard School of Medina is all about. This year, owners Mike and Lisa Colant have added full-day kindergarten and two exciting new enrichment programs. Find out more at their Open House on
July 31, from 4-7 p.m.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 07/16/2008
With its acclaimed passion for encouraging a child’s love of learning, The Goddard School for Early Childhood Development of Medina provides its preschool pupils with a jump-start into a lifetime of knowledge. Beginning this fall, The Goddard School will boost that jump-start with the addition of a full-day kindergarten program. The program includes before- and after-school care.

“The full-day program allows the teachers to really interact with the kids and get to know them better,” explains Jennifer Andrich, the school’s educational director. “With about 20 children, we will have a smaller class size than the typical public school kindergarten and we have the children here all day, not just for two and a half hours. It gives us time to challenge the kids and to provide special attention where it is needed. It also gets them used to full-day school so that when they get to first grade they are ready to go.”

The kindergarten program meets the state’s early learning content standards—that’s a given at Goddard. Their preschool exceeds Ohio standards in areas like teacher-student ratio. Although the state requires a minimum teacher-child ratio of 1-5 or 2-12 for infants, Goddard insists on a ratio of no more than four children for each teacher.

“As partners in your child’s education, we want to exceed expectations—not just meet them,” Jennifer says.
That’s why The Goddard School provides much more than day care.

“Our programs are all centered around education,” explains Lisa Colant, who, along with husband Mike, owns the Goddard School of Medina, and who is always onsite. “We require a lot of our teachers. All of our lead teachers have degrees and they receive ongoing training through the Goddard University program.”
In addition to the new kindergarten class, the school offers classes for children from six weeks to pre-kindergarten.

As a parent, you are understandably particular in choosing your children’s preschool. You’ll be pleased to know that The Goddard School is just as particular. Through its Quality Assurance Program, each independently owned school is closely monitored to make sure it meets Goddard’s strict standards, covering such factors as health, safety and curriculum.

“Goddard’s Quality Assurance Program is second to none,” Lisa assures. “They do inspections and they don’t tell you when they’re coming. They just show up.”

Parents also are welcome to drop in at any time. Just be ready to pass security.
“We’re as passionate about safety as we are about education,” Mike notes. “We think of the school as a fortress.”

The Goddard curriculum includes enrichment programs like Spanish, sign language, music appreciation, manners, fitness, nutrition and the two newest additions, yoga and international cultures, all geared toward appropriate early childhood development.

State standards are important. But the strictest standards are those set by parents. Since opening in 2006, The Goddard School of Medina has passed that test with flying colors. The many “thank-you” cards displayed around Lisa’s office testify to that.

“What is most encouraging is that 95-percent of our new students have come through referrals by our existing families,” Mike says.

The Goddard School is located at 5138 Normandy Park Drive, just off of Route 18 behind McDonald’s. Look for it just west of the I-71 intersection. To schedule a visit, call 330-721-4400. You may also visit www.GoddardSchool.com.

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