Mrs. Binder received her bachelor’s degree in Individual and Family Studies from Kent State University in 1997. She has worked as an early childhood educator and social worker within various organizations throughout Cleveland. Mrs. Binder enjoys all genres of music and singing. She began working at The Music Settlement in 2020. Mrs. Binder has been married for 25 years and counting. In her spare time, she happily enjoys watching movies with husband Chris and 4 daughters. Mrs. Binder also has a 6 year old dog named Jasper.

Dominick Chicotel/Mr. C. has been facilitating structured dramatic play at TMS since 2015 and has been working with children ages 3-13 in theatre arts for over 25 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Ohio University and his Master’s degree in Education from Ursuline College.

Alysa Cielo began teaching at The Music Settlement in 2017. She graduated from University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Cielo enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and planning meaningful, fun experiences to promote development for the children in her classroom.

Juliet started working with children in 2021. Since then, she graduated from CSU with a bachelor’s in early childhood education and began working at TMS full time. Juliet has a passion for nature-oriented education.

Ms. Monica Dieter started as a parent at The Music Settlement and now teaches Morning Preschool in Ohio City. She has a degree from Kent State, 8 years’ experience in early childhood education, and a strong Montessori background. In her spare time, you can find her and her daughters sipping coffee and chocolate milk at Rising Star with a stack of good books or playing in the Metroparks!

Lauren DiFranco graduated from Cleveland State University with a bachelor’s degree in P-5 Early Childhood Education. Lauren began teaching at TMS after student teaching in both Pre-K and Kindergarten at TMS. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a teacher as she grew up watching her late father at the high school she later attended. Lauren enjoys spending time with her family, babysitting, and working on various art projects in her spare time.

I began teaching with The Music Settlement in 2021. I have a background in art and performance, and I am a founding member of Imposters Theatre. My focus is on creation and dramatic play with children. I believe that we learn best while having fun and find that being surrounded by creative and unique little ones provides endless joy and inspiration.

A native Clevelander, Kaitlin has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a minor in world music from Kent State University. Since 2024, she has enjoyed her dual roles of Early Childhood Music Specialist and Preschool classroom teacher at The Music Settlement. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking and learning new musical instruments.

Ms. Kellee Ethridge has been with The Music Settlement for 22 years. Kellee is also a personal chef with her own event planning and catering service. Kellee enjoys spending time with family and friends when she has free time.

Education

Hope earned her Bachelor of Music Therapy and concentration in voice. She worked at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center for four years, serving as a music therapist in supportive oncology, end-of-life care, and high-risk maternity support. Additionally, Hope has worked as an early childhood tutor in local libraries and is passionate about children’s literacy. Hope joined TMS as the Ohio City Center for Early Childhood Registrar in 2025. In her spare time she enjoys singing in the Cleveland Orchestra choir, playing guitar and piano, picking wildflowers, and hosting brunches for her friends and family.

Amy Fischer is a dedicated preschool teacher who loves helping children discover the world around them through play. Doing it all outside is one of her joys! The messier the better and no bad weather, just bad clothing rings true most days. It is a gift to be a part of our families’ lives.

Clare graduated from Cleveland State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with young children in home, daycare and school settings for many years. Clare has a passion for the social emotional development and creative thinking of her students.

Grace has been at The Music Settlement since 2023, but in 2025 became a full-time teacher. Grace graduated from Lakeland Community College with her Associates of the Arts degree in 2025. She is excited to continue exploring the opportunities TMS can bring!

Ms. Sandy Gasper has been working in the childcare field since 1996, obtaining her Associate's Degree from Lakeland Community College and Bachelor’s of Education from Lake Erie College. She has worked with children aged infant through middle school with various positions as a teacher, summer camp supervisor, and multiple disability assistant. She has worked as a preschool teacher at The Music Settlement since October of 2018. When not working with children she enjoys spending time with her family on beach vacations or attending concerts.

Kathy Grau has been at The Music Settlement since 2009! She supports children and families in Early Childhood daily with a warm greeting and keen sense of play. She enjoys all things green and spending time with family.

Jessie Hattier moved to Cleveland in 2000 to obtain her M.S. in Biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University. Since graduation she has been working in the sciences, and has had the opportunity to teach people of all ages and backgrounds. Her greatest and most challenging job to date has been raising two highly inquisitive daughters. They have led her to her true passion for teaching young children.

Karen Heitlinger has been part of The Music Settlement’s early childhood community since 1999. After beginning as a preschool classroom instructor, she moved into the role of Administrator of the Preschool/Day School programs in 2005 and was named Chair of the Center for Early Childhood in 2014.

Karen holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Ursuline College, along with Bachelor’s degrees in Child Psychology and Art Education from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

With more than 20 years of experience working with children and families—as a classroom instructor, art therapist, and expressive arts director—Karen brings a unique blend of early childhood education, creativity, and therapeutic experience to her work.

What continues to inspire Karen is the joy children bring to learning: the thrill of discovery, the wonder of new experiences, and the honesty with which they approach new challenges. She is passionate about supporting children, families, and educators and helping create environments where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.

Education

Jessica Johnson received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Notre Dame College. She began teaching at The Music Settlement in 2013 at our University Circle campus. In 2018 Mrs. Johnson became the Site Administrator at our Ohio City campus. This role allows her to focus on curriculum, accreditation and family engagement. Mrs. Johnson also continues her love for teaching in the 4day morning pre-K classroom. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends – delighted to watch her niece and nephews grow as they are now apart of the TMS family! Mrs. Johnson loves learning, supporting and experiencing new things with the children in her classroom.

I have been a teacher at TMS since 2019. I teach the kindergarten class on the Ohio City campus. I love teaching this age group, learning and growing with my students. Seeing a child learn to read is such a pleasure. Reading to my class is such a joy. I enjoy listening to audio books, cooking, hanging out with friends, and the beach!

I am thrilled to be in my 16th year as a teacher with The Music Settlement (TMS). My current favorite role is being your child's Social Emotional Learning teacher. I also support teachers as an Intervention Specialist when our little one's feelings get big and confusing. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree from Marquette University. My five grown children are TMS alumni and often come back to visit me, my husband, and my furry pal, Luna, in Cleveland Heights.

Lisa Huisman Koops, Ph.D., Music & Movement teacher, is also an associate professor of music education at Case Western Reserve University. She specializes in early childhood music, elementary general music, and world music education. Her research focuses on the vital role of the family in optimizing early childhood music development and education; additional research interests include international models for children’s music education with a focus on The Gambia, West Africa and inclusionary models of early childhood music education for children with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan).

Koops has taught general music in Zeeland (Michigan) Public Schools as well as early childhood music at Michigan State University’s Community Music School. She has presented research in the fields of music education, ethnomusicology, and liturgical music and has published articles in Journal of Research in Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, Early Childhood Education Journal, Contributions to Music Education, Perspectives: the Journal of the Music and Movement Association, Music Educators Journal, Journal of Music Teacher Education, TRIAD, Audie, and The Hymn. Koops has also contributed chapters to the Oxford Handbook of Children’s Music Cultures (Oxford, 2012) and Learning from Young Children: Research in Early Childhood Music (Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2011).

Koops is the recipient of an ACES+ grant (2013), UCITE Nord Grant (2012), a Glennan Fellowship (2008), a Worldwide Learning Environment grant (2008), and two W. P. Jones Presidential Faculty Development awards (2010, 2012) at Case Western Reserve University. She won an “Excellence in Teaching” citation from Michigan State University (2006) and was a 2009 nominee for the CWRU Wittke Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Koops recently served as a consultant for The Cleveland Orchestra’s “Musical Neighborhoods” 3-year early childhood music initiative funded by PNC Bank’s Grow Up Great program and conducts workshops for early childhood and elementary teachers.

Jenny LaPerch joined The Music Settlement in 2022. Her admiration for TMS has been growing since her college days after dropping off the children she babysat to "Lunch Bunch", through to her family's relocation back to Cleveland with her second son's enrollment in 2019, and present day, in being a part of an inspiring group of talented colleagues supporting by substituting. Mrs. LaPerch enjoys spending time with her 3 children, husband, and chocolate lab. During those coveted moments of free time, you can find her drinking coffee, practicing yoga, walking with friends, or painting rooms in her house (a favorite pastime from her time in interior decorating while living in Maryland).

Ms. Maben has a music degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and is working on a master’s ECE degree. She has been at TMS since 2013 in early childhood classrooms and leading Arts for the Young music programs for young children and families. Outside of school, she enjoys shows, concerts, coffee and music history.

I have a M.S. in Early Childhood Studies and have been an early childhood educator for 12 years. I enjoy learning and teaching science, art, and problem solving skills. One of my favorite parts of teaching is celebrating student “aha!” moments of discovery!

Kirsten Radivoyevitch has been working with families, parents, and children for over 30 years as a Teacher, Director, and Parent Educator. She is currently a SPARK Parent Partner and an adjunct faculty member in the early childhood education department at Cuyahoga Community College. As a mother of four children, she has gotten a lot of practice using Conscious Discipline to keep her emotional responses in check while guiding others in working through their big feelings.

Mrs. Ray-Novak began working at The Music Settlement in 2018. Dawn is excited to return to TMS as the Social Emotional Learning Specialist and part-time Office Administrator.

With more than 20 years of combined experience working with young children in residential, public and private school settings, she has had the opportunity to support children and families in a variety of environments and stages of development.

Dawn is excited to be a part of TMS and create engaging developmentally appropriate experiences that help children understand their emotions, build confidence, develop friendships and learn strategies for navigating challenges.

Dawn is grateful for each opportunity where she is able to continue to contribute to an organization and community that means so much to her.

Lexie Reilly graduated from Cleveland State University with a Bachelor’s degree in P-5 Education and is currently obtaining a Master of Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. Reilly began at TMS during student teaching and became a substitute before becoming a classroom teacher. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going to concerts and spending time with her cat Olive!

Mrs. Brianna Ridenour is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a B.M. in Music Education. Music has always been a big part of her life, with experience in choir, band, drama, and conducting, as well as currently singing on her church’s praise team. She enjoys using her musical background to create fun and engaging learning experiences for children! After working with students in grades K–12, she discovered a special love for teaching young children through her student teaching experience and her time as a preschool teacher in Parma. Outside of teaching, Brianna enjoys reading, journaling, crafts, and spending time with her husband, Luke, and their calico cat, Patches!

Marcia Seketa has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Education. She previously worked at The Music Settlement for 6 years before moving to Las Vegas in 2008 to teach. She returned to Cleveland in 2017 and is happy to be back teaching again at The Music Settlement.

Marla started at TMS as a student teacher, then a sub, while earning her Associates in Early Childhood Education at Tri-C and acquiring her OAE PreK license. She has years of experience working with children and families in educational and recreational activities and plans to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Marla enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and is passionate helping young children learn and grow through play.

Dagmar Stahl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Management from Youngstown State University. She has experience teaching dance to students in Pre-k through 12th grade, specializing in community outreach innovation and program management. Since January 2024, she has worked as a full-time teacher at TMS.

Debbie Volker has a BA in Education from Bowling Green State University. She started in 2005 as a classroom teacher and in 2015 moved to an administrative role as the Curriculum & Accreditation Coordinator. Debbie’s three sons were all preschoolers themselves at The Music Settlement. She enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family.

Education

Paula Weizer has a B.A. in Education and Masters in Curriculum Development from Ursuline College. She has previously worked in grades Pre-K, K, 1st and 2nd. Paula Weizer began teaching at TMS in 2017 with preschool 3’s. She enjoys teaching and supporting children in their school journey.

Corinne Willets, M. ED., has been in education for over 20 years. Currently the literacy specialist and Ohio City campus librarian. She hopes to bring students the foundations for a lifelong joy of reading. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family.