About Us

For over 46 years, Horizon has been at the forefront of providing high quality care and education, significantly shaping the lives of children. Horizon offers programs for children 6 weeks to 14 years of age. This enduring legacy, established in memory of our founder Mary M. Smith, continues to inspire and guide our commitment to excellence.

Our Mission: to provide high-quality early childhood education, care and youth development programs.

All our child care centers are open 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Afterschool hours vary by location. See individual location pages for details.

Please note that Horizon Education Centers are closed on select dates throughout the year.

Our Service Areas

Horizon Education Centers proudly serves a range of communities in the greater Cleveland area, including Cleveland, Elyria, Grafton, Fairview, Lorain, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls, North Ridgeville, Sheffield, Sheffield Lake, Berea, and Lakewood. These primary communities are at the heart of our commitment to early childhood education. Additionally, we extend our reach to other cities in Western Cuyahoga County and Lorain County, ensuring that our dedication to exceptional care and comprehensive programs reaches an even wider audience. Join us as we create a brighter future for children and families throughout the region and beyond.

Find a Center Near You!

Our Primary Operations

Horizon Education Centers performs two operations, primarily through partnerships with local partner school districts and community action agencies or collaborations:

Early Childhood Education

Licensed by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, Horizon offers year-round child care and preschool programs.

Afterschool Programs

Horizon offers before and afterschool educational programs to students between the ages of 6 and 14 years old.

*Infant care offered at select locations only

Meet the Board of Trustees

Alex DePasquale

Trustee

Great Logistics LLC

Julie Hamman

Trustee

Julie A. Hamman is an Assistant Vice President – Account Executive at Lockton, bringing 35 years of experience in the insurance industry. Her expertise includes benefit insurance, vendor partnerships, insurance regulations, and mergers & acquisitions.

She is passionate about Horizon’s mission to provide high-quality childhood education and is inspired by its leadership and impact. Julie contributes her insurance and population health management expertise, supporting strategic direction and funding efforts for early childhood education at state and federal levels. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Lockton Companies

Georgia Hatzis

Trustee

Georgia Hatzis is a Partner at UB Greensfelder LLP, with 10 years of experience in civil litigation defense, specializing in medical device and pharmaceutical cases, mediations, and settlement negotiations.

As a mother of two, she is passionate about ensuring all children have access to high-quality, affordable education. She brings her legal expertise to support Horizon in navigating legal matters. Outside of work, Georgia enjoys traveling and baking.

UB Greensfelder LLP

Tom Herbster

Trustee

Tom Herbster is a former Board President of Horizon Education Centers, where he brought his expertise in Education Services and Funding. He is deeply invested in Horizon's mission, believing that early exposure to a learning environment significantly benefits children's development. Tom also leads the Horizon Educational Committee and currently serves on the North Olmsted School Board. Now retired, Tom continues to contribute his knowledge and passion to educational initiatives.

North Olmsted School Board

Dave Kenney

Trustee

Kenney & Son Home Improvements

Amanda Lamb

Trustee

Amanda Lamb is a Sales Operations Manager at PSS with five years of experience in process improvement, performance management, and coaching. As a mother of two, she values early childhood development and is passionate about Horizon Education Centers' mission. She is eager to contribute her expertise wherever needed. In her free time, Amanda enjoys skiing, cycling, strength training, and supporting her daughters' sports.

PSS-Innovations

Michelle Lazette

Trustee

Michelle Lazette is a Marketing Strategist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, with over 10 years of experience in email, social, and content marketing. She is passionate about Horizon’s mission, recognizing its role in supporting caregivers and laying a strong foundation for children’s futures—something she deeply appreciates from her own experience as a parent.

Michelle brings expertise in marketing, communications, and storytelling to the board. Outside of work, she is a sci-fi and fantasy writer and will be publishing her debut novel in 2025.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Matthew Maloney

Board Treasurer

Matthew J. Maloney is a Shareholder and CPA at Maloney + Novotny LLC, bringing 40 years of expertise in accounting and finance. He is dedicated to helping children grow and succeed, aligning with Horizon’s mission.

Matthew contributes his financial expertise to support the organization’s strategic goals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his grandkids and playing golf.

Maloney + Novotny LLC

Laura Reinhard

Trustee

Laura Reinhard is a dedicated advocate for children's education and a key member of the Horizon Education Centers community. As a former parent of Horizon students, she brings valuable insights to her role on the Board of Trustees. Laura is passionate about fostering collaboration between schools, parents, and caregivers to enhance children's educational experiences.

A resident of North Olmsted, Ohio, Laura lives with her husband and enjoys being part of their vibrant community. Through her role, she strives to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families.

Former Parent

Bill Barlock

Secretary of the Board

William Barlock has been the President of IT Support Specialists in Berea, Ohio, for the past 17 years. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in the company's growth and success. Prior to this role, Bill served as the President of Horizon Education Centers, where he made significant contributions in various capacities. He assisted Horizon with technology advancements, building maintenance, and upgrades, and played a key role in the purchase of the Berea center.

Bill is deeply committed to the mission of Horizon Education Centers and takes great pride in work that positively impacts children's lives. His dedication to helping kids and supporting educational initiatives is a testament to his character and values.

Outside of his professional life, Bill is a family man. He is married and enjoys spending his free time boating with his family, cherishing the moments they share on the water.

IT Support Specialists

Bret Fisher

Board President

Bret Fisher is the CEO of Achieve Credit Union with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry, helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. A Horizon board trustee since 2017, he is deeply committed to early childhood education, influenced by his work in an education-based credit union and his wife’s teaching career.

As the 2025 Board Chairman, Bret aims to leverage his financial expertise and leadership to help Horizon meet its goals. Outside of work, he is a Star Wars fan, former basketball player, and enjoys sports, movies, and family time with his wife and three sons.

Achieve Credit Union

Brendan J. Mackin

Board President Elect

Brendan Mackin is an Assistant County Prosecutor for Cuyahoga County, bringing 15 years of experience in legal compliance, labor issues, strategic planning, and financial development.

He is passionate about Horizon’s mission to prepare children for school and provide a supportive environment for learning and growth. Brendan contributes his legal expertise and strategic insight to help guide the organization.

Assistant County Prosecutor, Cuyahoga County

Meet the Executive Staff

Teria Bivins, MBA

Chief Academics Officer

Sharon Knaggs

Chief Financial Officer

JD Smith

Interim Chief Operations Officer

Education Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and minor in urban studies from Wittenberg University. Pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Cleveland State

About JD joined the Horizon team after three years of working in community development, where he oversaw housing programs and projects, community events, and farmers markets. He is excited to work with families and community partners to help Horizon grow.

David Smith, MPA

Executive Director

From Our Horizon Parents:

"Horizon's after school program has helped my son improve his performance in spelling and math. The staff gives him individualized attention that helps him meet his goals. The program also lets him make new friends and explore new interests. He has developed an interest in science thanks to the program and its excellent staff."

"My daughter suffers from separation anxiety and ADHD and with the help of the awesome teachers, she has improved drastically. They help you reach the milestones you set for your child and help get them ready for the outside world. The teachers make your child feel so welcome, it's like her second family."

"Two of my children attend Triskett Station. The staff has gone above and beyond for them. My daughter really struggled this year and they showed her compassion and love beyond expectation. They've never used a 'One Size Fits All' approach, but instead tailored their approach to her needs."

Meet the Administration Team

Meet our wonderful team of Horizon Education Centers' administrators, ensuring exceptional operations and early childhood education across a wide range of communities throughout Ohio!

Brittany Alvarado

Student Recruitment Coordinator

EDUCATION CDA from CCRC CDA Academy

ABOUT Brittany has been in childcare for four years where she has worked as a teacher and administrator. She enjoys being a part of a team making a difference in the lives of families and is excited for the journey in student recruitment.

Chrissy Belpulsi

Education Service Coordinator

EDUCATION Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Arts from Cuyahoga Community College, currently attending Grand Canyon University

ABOUT Chrissy Belpulsi taught preschool for 10 years in Medina, Ohio. As an early childhood education coordinator, she supports all of the preschool and toddler teachers by reviewing lesson plans, assessments, developmentally appropriate approaches in the classroom and coordinating any trainings that are needed. Chrissy is excited to take on a new role and to better assist teachers and staff members when she can.

Jennifer Butler

Finance Director

Education Business Courses at LCCC

About Jennifer came to Horizon in 2005 and through her experience in the centers and at Admin, has built up an extensive knowledge of the organization and its operations. Jennifer is QuickBooks certified. As Finance Director, she handles various aspects of Horizon’s accounting and supervises and trains the Finance Coordinators and Business Coordinators in technical knowledge and customer service. Jennifer is a firm believer in Horizon’s mission and works with her team to help accomplish it.

Tammy Dull

Accounts Receivable Coordinator

EDUCATION Received her GED

ABOUT Ms. Tammy enjoys working for a family-oriented company and loves to help the students and their families.

Jessica Feliciano

Lorain Accounts Payable Coordinator

I'm an Accounts Payable Coordinator with a passion for keeping things organized and running smoothly behind the scenes. I take pride in making sure vendors are paid on time, records are accurate, and every detail is handled with care. I enjoy problem-solving and finding ways to improve processes, and I believe good communication and reliability go a long way in building strong working relationships. Whether it's managing invoices or collaborating with teammates, I bring a positive attitude and strong work ethic to everything I do.

Dave Gerster

Division Executive Cuyahoga County

EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Policy Studies, with a focus on education policy from Syracuse University.

ABOUT Dave started with Horizon Education Centers in 2022. Previously, he was a program coordinator for the Shaw Center at Syracuse University, where he directed a program for English Language Learners from grades 1-12. He also managed over 200 K-12 tutors in partnership with the Syracuse City School District and taught government as an intern at the High School for Leadership and Public Service in Manhattan.

Alicia Gresko

Compliance Coordinator

EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree in Education with a major in Spanish from Bowling Green State University and Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

ABOUT Alicia has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education, 14 years as a preschool teacher and six years as the preschool supervisor at the Family Life Child Care Center. She believes early childhood education is the foundation for every child and she enjoys watching children develop and grow both academically and socially/emotionally.

Dana Grudzinski

Intake Coordinator

EDUCATION Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cuyahoga Community College

ABOUT Dana has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education and has worked as a teacher, administrator and enrollment specialist. She enjoys working with families and children to make sure their needs are met.

Wendy Johnston

Education Service Coordinator ECE, Lorain County

Education Associate in Applied Science Early Education and Bachelor's in Early Education Leadership

About Wendy is the Educations Services Coordinator for Lorain County. She enjoys supporting the teachers in Professional Development to enhance their skills with the families at the centers. She also supports them with curriculum in academics and Social and Emotional skills.

Stephanie Keffer-Beall

CACFP Coordinator

Education CDA (Child Development Associate) Certificate from Lorain County Community College

About Ms. Stephanie has always been passionate about working with families and children. She has worked with children since she was 13 with her church group.

Katie Mahilo

HR Coordinator

Education Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services with a Concentration in Child and Adolescent Development from Walden University

About Ms. Katie taught preschool for three years and then began her career with Horizon. Prior to that, she taught toddlers/infants for two years. She believes that Horizon Education Center has the passion to help the children flourish.

Julie Piazza-King

Director of Community Services

EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Bowling Green State University; Bachelor's Degree in Education from Ashland University; Master's Degree in Liberal Studies with a focus on Educational Leadership from Excelsior College

ABOUT Julie has more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education. She has dedicated herself to ensuring that all children have the opportunity for quality early care and education experience regardless of income. Julie believes the early years are a critical time in a child’s life in terms of brain development, and she is excited to see that the field is finally gaining the recognition that it deserves.

John Scalli

Staff Accountant

Education Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ashland University

About John joined Horizon in 2022 after previous stops working in various accounting positions. He is excited about the opportunity to use his prior experience to help the Finance team.

Renee Shells-Theriot

Marketing Coordinator

EDUCATION Associate Degree in Administrative Assisting from Bryant & Stratton

ABOUT Renee has been with Horizon Education Centers since 2014 as the executive assistant to Dave Smith. In this position, Renee develops and implements marketing and advertising campaigns, tracks sales data, and maintains promotion marketing materials for Horizon in print and social media. Renee is also a member of OACCP - Ohio Association of Child Care Providers. OACCP represents the directors and business owners of over 600 licensed child care centers in Ohio.

Melissa Snively

School-Based Site Director

EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree in Adolescence to Young Adult (AYA) Education with a specialization in Integrated Language Arts from Bowling Green State University, Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University

ABOUT Melissa taught English Language Arts for two years at Constellation Schools: Old Brooklyn Community Middle and five years at Shelby City Schools before coming to the administration office at Horizon Education Centers. She is excited to support all teachers in their instructional practices through data-based decision-making, organizing professional development, and monitoring lesson planning and curriculum.

Alyssa Strauser

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Education Pursuing business courses at Lorain County Community College

About Alyssa has worked in many different positions at Horizon since she was 16 years old. After working in a few of our centers, she found her way to the finance department as the accounts payable coordinator. Alyssa works closely to build relationships with current and potential vendors by receiving and processing invoices.

Wendi Sweeney

A/R Grant Coordinator

EDUCATION Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lorain County Community College.

ABOUT Wendi has worked in the childcare field for 23 years as a teacher for all age groups and a co-administrator. She has cherished working with teams of people to develop strong support systems for the overall goals of the children and families in her care.

Kathy Thome

School Age Education Service Coordinator – Lorain County

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science from Kent State University, Elementary Education, emphasis on Preschool – Third Grade.

ABOUT Have been serving children as a teacher in different programs in Northeast Ohio for 15 years, working with infants, toddlers and preschool. I am now acting as an Education Service coordinator for Lorain County School Age program. I grew up in Parma Heights Ohio, I spent 7 years in Cape Cod, Massachusetts after college, but came back to Ohio to be near family and friends. Now I look forward to the next chapter with Horizon as an education coordinator.

Amy Tinay

Administrative Support Coordinator

EDUCATION: Amy received her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cuyahoga Community College and studied Early Childhood Education at Cleveland State University.

ABOUT: Amy has been in the Early Childhood field since 1996. She has experience in every position in childcare. She loves witnessing the "A-ha" moments. Amy enjoys spending time with her family and watching Cleveland and Ohio State sports. Making a difference in children's lives is her passion.

Wendi Webb

Administrative Assistant

Education Altoona Area High School, Business Education, Altoona Beauty School-Cosmetology/Teacher

About Before starting her career as an Administrative Assistant more than 30 years ago, Wendi owned a hair salon. She loves learning something new daily, spoiling her four grandchildren, and hunting for sea glass.

Nick Wishner

Maintenance Coordinator

Education Electrical Maintenance Degree, Vatterott College

About Nick has worked in the maintenance field for over 10 years. As a child, he found the aspects of building maintenance and electrical systems fascinating and wanted to learn more. He feels this career allows him to do something new every day to help those around him. He also enjoys working around the children at the center and being a mentor to them. Currently, Nick leads a three-man team at Horizon.

Olivia Zink

School Based Education Services Coordinator

EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Studies with a focus in arts programming from Wittenberg University.

ABOUT After receiving her Bachelor's Degree, Olivia moved to Cleveland to become an Americorps member in 2019. She also began work with Horizon, part time, in 2019 as a lifeguard and grew to love the organization. In October of 2020, she began full time at Horizon as a tutor and TA. Olivia hopes to continue to grow with Horizon.

A Nonprofit Childcare Center

Horizon Education Centers is more than just a provider of early childhood education; we are a nonprofit community charitable organization. As a 501(c)(3) educational organization under 501(a) of the IRS code, we are committed to making a positive impact in our communities. We greatly appreciate the support of our donors, and we want you to know that all contributions made to our organization are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Together, we can continue to create a brighter future for children through quality education and care.

Learn How Our Centers Are Different.

Horizon's center-based programs are highly rated by Step Up to Quality, with programs and activities that promote wellness and readiness.

How We Compare

Schedule a Tour at a Horizon Location!

Get a firsthand look at one of our centers, with the opportunity to meet your child's teacher as well as learn more about the curriculum.

Schedule a Tour

Contact Horizon to Learn More

Join the Horizon family and experience the benefits our programs can have on your child's learning and development at every age.

Learn How Our Centers Are Different.

Horizon's center-based programs are highly rated by Step Up to Quality, with programs and activities that promote wellness and readiness.

How We Compare

Schedule a Tour at a Horizon Location!

Get a firsthand look at one of our centers, with the opportunity to meet your child's teacher as well as learn more about the curriculum.

Schedule a Tour

Contact Horizon to Learn More

Join the Horizon family and experience the benefits our programs can have on your child's learning and development at every age.