Assistant Teacher Part of Drumline

posted 3/11/24 -- LCCAA Head Start Assistant Teacher Steve Ortiz has been sharing his talents – and rhythm – outside the classroom since 2022.

As a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers 216 Stix, Steve has been drumming on all sorts of objects at home basketball games.

“I’ve always been fascinated with music for as long as I can remember,” he said. “It has been nothing but a blast! Each performance we put on for the fans is a spectacle because we not only play on buckets, but we also use trash cans, ladders and stools all while creating pieces that involve movements to capture the audience.”

Steve has been with LCCAA Head Start since 2017 and has worked at Hopkins-Locke and in collaborative classrooms in the Lorain City Schools. He is currently working in a classroom at Central Plaza. Last year, he completed his bachelor’s degree in early childhood education through the University of Toledo.

“While I do appreciate being a teacher for early childhood, I am very grateful that I get to use my gift of drumming not only as a hobby but for entertainment purposes as well,” he said.

216 Stix can also be seen at Cleveland Monsters hockey games. Visit this link to see the drumline’s schedule: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/entertainment/216stix.