About Us

Mike and Molli Piper

Co-Founder and Preschool Music Teacher, Mike Piper has spent a lifetime immersed in music and has trained in a variety of musical instruments, with a primary focus and passion for piano. With a degree in Early Childhood Education and Music, Mr. Mike worked for 17-years as a Music and Cultural Arts Instructor for the Chicago Parks District, expanding their programs across multiple parks and teaching music to large numbers of students in the community. Mr. Mike pushes to make a positive difference in the lives of his students by encouraging musical exploration through movement and delivers one-on-one private lessons as well as instructing our music staff.

Co-founder, Preschool Program Director and Lead Pre-K Teacher, Molli Piper follows the philosophy that Early Childhood teachers lay the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Molli holds a Type-04 Early Childhood Teaching Certificate and has over 15 years of experience teaching Preschool age children. The Early Childhood curriculum she has refined for her classroom promotes advanced reading, writing, math and language skill development in our youngest students. Her teaching strategy is to provide children with hands-on, engaging learning experiences, that are fun but also serve to challenge students to use their “higher order” thinking skills.

Will Piper

Will holds a MBA with a HR Management focus from Central Michigan, and a BS in organizational Leadership from ASU. Will has over 7 years experience teaching music privately, and has provided music lessons at Illumination Learning Studio since its opening in 2013. Will works to support all ILS staff as they create environments of learning that allow students the opportunity to explore and create in the different art forms. He strives to provide a structured environment of progression and creative exploration in hopes that he can instill understanding, passion and love for the cultural arts in the students at ILS.

Tricia Piper-Bennett

Tricia moved to the Seattle area in 2021, shortly after welcoming her daughter in late 2020. With a diverse career spanning membership, customer engagement, administration, guest relations, and communications, she has worked across various sectors, including a PR firm in Oakland, nonprofits in San Francisco, Glasgow, and Chicago, and safari lodges in Tanzania.

Tricia holds a BA in Political Science and an MSc in Urban Policy and Practice. She cares deeply about education and the arts and is thrilled to work with her family and the incredibly talented and compassionate teachers at Illumination Learning Studio.

Tricia loves working within the community, assisting ILS families and teachers alike, and working to ensure children have a safe and inspiring space to explore the arts.

Ky Osburn

“It’s okay to make mistakes, so long as we make a new one next time.” – Ezequiel Abadie

Marissa Caraballo

Marissa Caraballo (she/her) is a graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and French. Marissa has been working with preschool, elementary, and middle school students since 2013, and is so excited to be back in the classroom after working as an Events Coordinator in New York City for the last few years. Recently relocated to the Greater Seattle Area, she is so excited to be a part of the ILS team to help foster the love of theater and the arts. She hopes to create an environment where students feel supported, respected, and inspired to learn; a classroom full of kindness and joy is a successful one! In her free time, you can find her singing choir music, playing video games, lifting weights at the gym, or cooking delicious meals.

Brianna Eng

Brianna grew up in Seattle and holds a BFA in Interdisciplinary Studio Arts, with a focus on drawing, painting, and design. She has worked in a variety of creative and educational settings, including summer art camps, after-school programs, and a studio for adults with developmental disabilities. She believes all children are artists and deserve the space, encouragement, materials, and opportunities to express themselves and build creative confidence. When she’s not in the classroom, she can usually be found outdoors— or inside, snuggling her bunny and exploring a wide range of creative hobbies, whether doodling, painting, sewing, throwing pottery, or trying out a new craft.

Bridget Kirk

Bridget attended East Carolina University for her undergraduate studies, earning a BFA and teaching license in Dance Education, as well as a teaching license in Special Education. In summer of 2022, she obtained her MA in Dance with a concentration in education from Texas Woman’s University. With her background in Special Education, she has a true passion for cross-curricular integration – teaching writing, math, science, etc. through creative movement. Through her dance classes, she hopes to develop students’ motor skills, critical thinking skills, self-confidence, abilities to work in groups, and appreciation for what other people have to offer us through movement.

“The space in which I teach is a safe space where risks are rewarded, not for their success, rather for their bravery of their attempts.”

Sophie Lunny

Kendall Yoder

Kendall Yoder is a local PNW performing and visual artist. They graduated from Central Washington University in 2020, completing degrees in Film Production, Screenwriting, and Theatre Arts. Since then, they have returned to Seattle to explore the local theatre and film scene, working as an actor, carpenter, designer, and youth educator.

Yi Lin Naumman

Yi Lin studied Computer Information Systems at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Originally from Beijing China, Yin Lin currently lives in Ballard with her husband, two sons and dog Paulie. She is passionate about children and education, and strives to create a fun, supportive and safe environment for her students.

Jordan Taylor

Jordan grew up in North Carolina, but is excited to be back in Seattle for the second time!

She was previously an assistant at the ILS Locks Studio, and has since worked as a Youth Services Library Assistant, a first grade TA for the NC public schools, and most recently run an aftercare classroom at a private school.

When she’s not teaching, she’s probably working on her second novel or gardening with her corgi, Ein.