The Goddard School in Redmond Ridge has received the Circle of Excellence Award for the fifth year in a row.
The award, which is presented by Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI), acknowledges Goddard School owners for being exceptional in the areas of quality assurance and health and safety.
“The health and safety of the children is of the utmost importance,” said co-owner Jeff Barison in a Goddard press release. “Our top priority is to provide a safe, nurturing learning environment.”
Barison co-owns The Goddard School, at 10611 Redmond Ridge Dr. N.E., with his wife Shauna Barison.
“It’s an amazing honor,” Shauna added about receiving the award.
She said they could not have done it on their own and attributes the school’s success to their staff as well as the students and families. She said they take the time to talk with their families and build relationships.
“That’s the success of our schools,” said Shauna.
The Barisons also co-own The Goddard School located at 4200 228th Ave. N.E. in King County near Redmond with Abby and Nate Yokers.
Shauna said in addition to receiving the Circle of Excellence Award, their Redmond Ridge location is in the top 10 percent of schools in GSI that received the honor.
“And so far, (we’ve) been the only one in Washington,” she said.
When it comes to health and safety at the school, Brittany Glew, director of operations, said there is a high standard set by Goddard. Those standards are related to things such as correct diaper-changing procedures, correct medication forms and more, she said.
Glew added that they require all staff at the school to be first aid and CPR certified, whereas the state requirement is to only have one staff member.
Debbie McCaffrey, the school’s infant/toddler specialist, said they also make a lot of observations such as a diaper rash or head injury and notify parents, even if it is not serious.
The safety and security of a school’s building is another aspect examined for the Circle of Excellence.
Shauna said some of the measures they take at their school include cameras monitoring their parking lot as well as a locked entryway that requires parents to punch in a code electronically to enter or have someone in the main office let them into the building.
According to the press release, the Barisons and their team believe that teacher accountability and adhering to health and safety policies and procedures helps to create a great work environment.
“We continually strive to provide an educational program that not only prepares children for success in school, but for success in life as well,” said Shauna.
