Teacher Bios

• Ballet (Katie Lohiya)

  Katie Lohiya has always had a passion for dancing. After graduating magna cum laude from Marymount Manhattan College, she began dancing professionally for various companies in NYC. Currently, she is a company member of Lydia Johnson Dance. Katie loves to share her knowledge with young aspiring artists and always brings her positive attitude and passion for dancing to the classroom. She has taught at multiple studios in Chicago, Long Island, New Jersey, and New York City. Katie loves working at the Play Area Association and strives to inspire a future generation of creative movers.

• Chess (Will Schoder)

  Will Schoder graduated from Hamilton College with a BA in History. In his senior year, he was awarded the college’s highest achievement in public speaking. For the past twelve years, Will has spent his summers at a summer camp in Maine as both a camper and counselor. He loves fun, he loves teaching, and he loves working with children. That’s why he loves teaching chess with stories! Seeing children become smarter and more confident through experiential learning is just about his favorite thing in the world.

• Music for Everyone (Mr. Nick)

  My name is Nick, I am a singer-songwriter/musician here in NYC. I’ve written and recorded 2 albums of original music, performed in wedding bands, and teach beginner guitar and piano. I have been involved in children’s entertainment in NYC for about 7 years, I have been a music teacher at Mt. Carmel Pre-School, the PAA, the 14th street Y, MyLittleVillage, & at several other Pre-K/2’s programs/play-spaces around the city, & I am also an approved Vendor For all Related Management Properties in NYC . The ages I usually work with range anywhere from 5 months to 5 years old.

• STEAM / Future Medical School (Dawn Young)

  Owned and operated by Dawn Young,  an educational professional with over 28 years of direct experience in creating, staffing and managing after-school programs. Dawn is committed to providing a safe and interesting environment in which the students can explore, learn and build their confidence. She is most passionate about teaching and learning, through connecting children and their families, with their communities and inspiring them to think about what they could become. Dawn has been inspiring children through education to envision what they can become from an early age.  She has created curriculums for the Little Medical School class, as well as the new Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEAM) program offered this semester.