Founded by proven operators within The Goddard School system, Sunshine Education Group is built on the belief that exceptional early childhood education shapes everything that follows — for children, families, and communities.
"Because where a child begins matters — and we are committed to making that beginning exceptional."— The SEG Team
Our mission is to provide every child in our care with the foundation they need to become a confident, creative, and compassionate learner — through state-of-the-art facilities, a proven curriculum, and a team that treats every family like family.
From our first school in Ponte Vedra Beach in 2015 to our growing platform across three states, that mission has never changed.
As proud franchisees of The Goddard School — one of the nation's most trusted and recognized early childhood education brands — every SEG location operates within a framework built on over 35 years of educational excellence.
The Goddard School's play-based, research-driven curriculum gives children the social, emotional, and academic foundation they need to thrive — and gives parents the peace of mind that comes with a nationally recognized standard of care.
SEG builds on that foundation with operator-led execution and a disciplined approach to growth at every location.
Sunshine Education Group is led by a team with more than 50 years of combined Goddard School experience — operators who have built, acquired, and scaled high-performing schools across the Southeast.
Liz opened her first Goddard School in Ponte Vedra Beach in 2015, earning Goddard's Rookie of the Year award in 2016. Over the following decade she grew the portfolio to multiple locations across two states, each running at near-full capacity. Liz oversees all school operations, culture, and family engagement across the SEG platform.
With over 20 years in franchise development, financial asset management, and real estate, Trey leads all site selection, development, and financial strategy for SEG's Florida and Georgia markets. His background in hotel brokerage and franchise operations gives him a disciplined, performance-driven approach to every new school development. He brings an institutional approach to development while maintaining a disciplined focus on school-level performance.
Shawn brings deep experience in multi-unit franchise operations and business development to the SEG platform. His background in building and scaling franchise businesses across the Southeast gives SEG a strategic edge in identifying high-growth markets and building the operational infrastructure needed to support rapid, responsible expansion.
Bill built one of the strongest Goddard School portfolios in the Carolinas, developing and operating four high-performing locations across the Greenville and Simpsonville markets. His firsthand expertise in site selection, school development, and community relationships makes him the cornerstone of SEG's South Carolina expansion strategy.
Behind every high-performing school is an exceptional management team keeping operations, families, and faculty aligned every single day.
With 25+ years in early childhood education — as a teacher, director, and regional operator — Marie Ann is the operational backbone of SEG's Florida schools. She co-opened the Ponte Vedra Beach school in 2016 and has since built the compliance standards, faculty culture, and operational systems that define every SEG school.
Kim leads operations across SEG's South Carolina school portfolio, overseeing day-to-day performance, compliance, and faculty engagement for the Greenville and Simpsonville markets. Her hands-on leadership ensures every school in the Carolinas operates to the highest Goddard and SEG standards.
Christina leads enrollment strategy, family recruitment, and brand marketing across all SEG locations in Florida and South Carolina. Her deep knowledge of each school's community drives the consistent waitlists and high occupancy rates that define the SEG portfolio. She connects every school to the families it serves.
Each SEG school is led by a dedicated onsite operating partner — an experienced educator and community leader accountable for the performance, culture, and family experience inside their building.
Sunshine Education Group is proud to operate within the Atticus Franchise Group platform — a growth-oriented investment partner focused on building best-in-class franchise platforms across the Southeast.
The Atticus partnership gives SEG access to the capital resources, operational infrastructure, and strategic relationships needed to grow responsibly at scale — while keeping the locally owned, community-rooted character that makes each of our schools special.
Learn About Atticus"We are committed to building best-in-class franchise platforms that are both institutionally strong and genuinely community-focused."