Message from the Director

Thea Wilson, Ed. D. - Director of Early Childhood Education

In June 2011, I was ecstatic to assume the position of Director of Early Childhood Education for The Music Settlement, an institution which celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year and whose Preschool/Day School has responded to and served the community since 1955.  For years, the school was led by Sylvia Easley whose compassionate voice and love for young children has been the driving force in creating a child-centered learning environment.  This award-winning school will continue to provide a quality foundation for learning with an emphasis on the creative arts.

Our teachers and staff genuinely care for the children and families they serve and work diligently to offer the best strategies in early childhood education today.  Our goal is to provide an enriched learning environment, and our success in this pursuit is evident in the achievements of generations of former students.  Our participation in Ohio's Step Up to Quality program has yielded the highest rating of three stars, which exceeds the quality benchmarks for Ohio Standards in teacher qualifications, curriculum, classroom environment, and administrative practices.  After an extensive annual site review process, we have maintained the highest rating for all five years that The Music Settlement has been a part of the program.

At The Music Settlement, we operate according to a number of basic principles. We believe that:

·   Learning is a lifelong adventure that begins here and is reflected in our educational practices;

·   Children should have the freedom to wonder, to ask, to explore, to imagine, and to create;

·   Children learn best through play, actively engaging in the process and celebrating the individual; and

·   All invested parties, including our teachers, staff, parents, and children, have special talents, and that the talent of each of us helps all of us.

I invite you to visit our incredible school and feel the energy that is generated by the delight of our students as they encounter the joys of learning.

Should you have any questions regarding the programs within the Early Childhood Department, please feel free to contact me at twilson@themusicsettlement.org.

Sincerely,

Thea Wilson, Ed.D.
Director of Early Childhood Education