Meet Our Team
Shay Ryan (Ms. Shay) Licensed Kindermusik Educator Director/Owner of Kiddos and Kin
Shay Ryan (she/her) brings more than 35 years of joyful professional singing experience to Kiddos and Kin. Her performance career has taken her from cruise ship stages to Off-Broadway, and she was signed to a major recording label early in her career.
An Early Childhood Music Specialist, Shay is a certified member of the Early Childhood Music and Movement Association (ECMMA) and is licensed to teach all levels of the Kindermusik® curriculum. She is also the co-writer and emcee of Mini Maestros, the interactive symphonic concert series created in partnership with the Symphony Tacoma Orchestra.
Shay is the founder and director of Kiddos and Kin, a Kindermusik Top Program studio that has received the Kindermusik International Top Program Maestro Award for ten consecutive years, placing it among the top 5% of studios worldwide—and within the top 1% globally for the past four years.
Earlier in her career, Shay worked as an Autism Spectrum Disorder specialist and behavioral therapist through Rutgers University. While that work was grounded in the prevailing science of the time, she increasingly felt drawn toward approaches that centered connection, relationship, and whole-child development.
That path ultimately led her back to music.
Today, Shay is passionate about creating inclusive musical spaces where children of all abilities can explore, communicate, and grow through joyful music-making. Inspired by the transformative experience of music with her first child, she founded Kiddos and Kin to share the power of music and connection with families throughout the Tacoma community.
Heather DeJesus (Ms. Heather) Licensed Kindermusik & KeyNotes Educator
Heather DeJesus (she/her) discovered her love of music at a young age when she began playing the flute. She credits her early exposure to music for shaping her success throughout high school, college, and beyond.
From performing as a first-chair band student to cheering from the front row at a Dave Matthews Band concert, Heather’s passion for music and the joy it brings has always been undeniable. As a parent whose own child attended Kindermusik, she has seen firsthand the powerful impact music can have on a young child’s development—stimulating the brain while calming the mind. Inspired by this experience, Heather made it her mission to share the magic of Kindermusik with as many children and families as possible.
Heather is the proud mother of two wonderful boys and a beautiful daughter. She teaches Kindermusik at several private and public schools throughout Pierce County and leads our Level 4 instrumental classes and group piano programs at Kiddos and Kin.
Gabrielle Campagna (Ms. Gabe) Licensed Kindermusik Educator
Gabrielle Campagna (she/her) earned her BA in Dance and BS in Biology from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. For more than 15 years, she has worked as a professional dancer and choreographer with companies in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and the Tacoma area while traveling the country with her husband, an officer in the United States Army. Gabe and her family have now settled in Tacoma, where she is delighted to be part of the local arts and early childhood education community.
She received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from The George Washington University in 2011 and currently practices as a Board-Certified Orthopedic Physical Therapist. Gabe also serves as Co-Director of the Barefoot Collective in Tacoma, is a Reiki I practitioner, and is pursuing her 200-hour International Yoga Teacher Training certification.
As a mom of two Kindermusik children, Gabe deeply believes in the power of music and movement to support child development. She brings her unique perspective as a physical therapist, dancer, and parent to the classroom and teaches our baby and toddler classes at Kiddos and Kin.
Jessica Henry (Ms. Jessie) Licensed Kindermusik Educator/ Administrative Assistant
Jessica “Jessie” Henry (she/her) has been working with children for more than 15 years, including over a decade as a professional nanny. In recent years, she has focused on supporting children on the autism spectrum and has developed a deep passion for helping children find their voices. Through coursework in language development and hands-on collaboration with occupational therapists, Jessie has seen firsthand how music can help connect communication, movement, and learning—especially for nonverbal children.
Jessie has loved music for as long as she can remember. From performing in musicals to singing in traveling choirs that competed across the country, music has always been a central part of her life. She brings that same joy and enthusiasm into every classroom, creating a welcoming and energetic environment for children and families.
At Kiddos and Kin, Jessie teaches classes at our community preschool partner locations as well as all levels of Kindermusik at the studio. She also serves as an Administrative Assistant, helping keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Lyndi Knox (Ms. Lyndi) Licensed Kindermusik & KeyNotes Educator
Lyndi Knox (she/they) is a professional clarinetist, educator, and Pacific Northwest native. She earned her Master’s degree in Clarinet Performance from The Ohio State University and her Bachelor’s degree in Clarinet Performance from Pacific Lutheran University.
Lyndi enjoys teaching musicians of all ages and brings a wide range of experience to her work as an educator. She serves as the Adjunct Clarinet Instructor at Pierce College, maintains a private clarinet studio for middle and high school students, and is a graduate of Kindermusik University. She also works as a clarinet and chamber music coach with the Tacoma Youth Symphony.
Lyndi is thrilled to be part of the Kiddos and Kin team and loves helping young children discover music through joyful early experiences that spark a lifelong love of learning.
At Kiddos and Kin, Lyndi teaches all levels of Kindermusik, as well as private clarinet lessons and group piano classes.
Maica Atienza (Ms. Maica ) Licensed Kindermusik Educator
Ms. Maica (she/her) has always loved children and music, and Kindermusik beautifully brought those two passions together. Through her experience teaching Kindermusik and working with children and families, she developed a deep appreciation for the power of music in early learning.
After a successful career in Sales and Marketing at IBM, Maica made a meaningful career shift to follow her passion for education. She earned her Certificate in Early Childhood Education and has been a preschool teacher for more than ten years. From the beginning, she has distinguished her teaching by using music to enrich daily routines and inspire a love of learning in young children.
Ms. Maica is also the mother of three children and partners with her husband, Vino, in pastoring their church in Federal Way. At Kiddos and Kin, she teaches our evening Kindermusik classes, bringing warmth, joy, and musical connection to every family she works with.
Cedar Ward (Teacher Cedar) Licensed KeyNotes Educator/ Private Instructor
Teacher Cedar (they/them) is a multi-instrumentalist and electronic music creator, producer, and artist.
They have spent much of their life collecting and learning to play folk instruments from around the world.
While they enjoy exploring a wide range of sounds, their primary instruments are the guitar and piano.
Music has consistently served as both an outlet and an inlet for them- a vital form of expression and connection.
With a deep appreciation for the idea that everything is made of waves, Teacher Cedar finds joy in creating across various sonic spectrums and sharing that passion with the next generation! Teacher Cedar brings group piano, private piano and private guitar to Kiddos and Kin.
McKenna Ryan (Ms. McKenna) Summer Camp Counselor
Ms. McKenna (she/her) is a passionate performer with experience in theatre, dance, and vocal performance. Her musical theater credits include featured roles in productions such as Chicago, Elf Jr., and Newsies.
McKenna has trained in dance for over 12 years, including competitive dance, performing in The Nutcracker, and competing at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix. She also has a strong musical foundation through years of private vocal study, advanced choir, orchestra, and playing the cello.
In addition to her performing experience, McKenna loves working with children and has several years of experience as both a dance teaching assistant and camp TA. She is excited to work with Kiddos and Kin campers this summer and help children build confidence, creativity, and a love for the performing arts.
Anika Alaoui-Fornesi (Ms. Anika) Summer Camp Counselor
Ms. Anika (she/her) brings a vibrant energy and deep love for the performing arts to Kiddos and Kin! She has over six years of theater experience and has appeared in productions such as Chicago, Frozen Jr., and Newsies, and has also competed in the national poetry recitation program Poetry Out Loud.
Anika loves working with children and has many years of hands-on experience caring for kids as the eldest of four siblings, along with extensive babysitting for family and friends. Her performing arts background also includes dance training and musical studies with her theater’s musical director, as well as experience in orchestra and guitar classes.
She is thrilled to be working with Kiddos and Kin campers and can’t wait to help children build confidence, creativity, and a love for musical theater!
Jan Ward Studio Manager
Jan Ward (she/her) has served as the Studio Manager at Kiddos and Kin since 2023. Prior to joining our team, she spent 19 years managing specialty medical clinics, bringing a wealth of organizational expertise and leadership to her role.
After retiring in 2021, Jan decided to return to the workforce in 2023 to become part of the Kiddos and Kin family. She helps keep the studio running smoothly and supports both staff and families behind the scenes.
In her free time, Jan enjoys traveling, camping with her family and their doodle, Bailey, and getting lost in a good book. She has traveled to more than 20 countries and loves listening to classical, salsa, and blues.