MEET OUR TEAM
ATLAS is led by a team of directors who are highly accomplished teachers and administrators, and who are deeply passionate about our mission and core values. We are committed to collaboration and dedicated to creating a democratic school.
MARIA GIARRIZZO-BARTZ | Co-Director
Maria Giarrizzo-Bartz is a theater educator, professional actor, and director with over ten years of experience in educational theater. She holds a Master’s in Education from Harvard and a BFA from the University of Montana, where she was a Presidential Scholar. From 2008 to 2016, she ran the drama program at The East Harlem School; there she created and directed an interdisciplinary drama curriculum for grades 4–8. She has directed children’s theater productions for companies and schools across the nation.
CAROLINE GOLSCHNEIDER | Co-Director
Caroline Golschneider is an arts educator and policy consultant for the State of Connecticut. She recently served a term as Teacher Leader in Residence for the Connecticut Department of Education. She taught music for nine years at Windsor Locks Public Schools, where she was part of the Leadership Team. She also creates and leads professional development sessions for arts educators around the country. Caroline graduated magna cum laude from Yale with a BA in Music and a Certificate in Teacher Preparation. She received her Master’s in Education at Harvard.
MICHAEL BATTISTA l Teaching Fellow
Michael Battista is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University with a B.A. in Musical Theatre. He has recently served as the Associate Director of Audubon Arts at Neighborhood Music School. Since graduation, he has worked as a performer in several children’s theatre touring productions and as a director of musical theatre shows. He enjoys sharing his passion for theatre with ATLAS!