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 an experiential educator and curriculum designer with a passion for middle school. She holds a Master’s in Education from Harvard and a BFA from the University of Montana, where she was a Presidential Scholar and conducted research on the academic impact of theatre. From 2008 to 2016, she ran the drama program at The East Harlem School; there, she created and directed an interdisciplinary middle school drama curriculum and taught Math Lab. Prior to founding ATLAS, she designed experiential, project-based programming and curricula for AF Greenfield in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. She has directed children’s theater productions for companies and schools across the nation. Leading ATLAS is a dream come true.
CAROLINE GOLSCHNEIDER | Co-Director
Caroline Golschneider is an arts educator, policy consultant, and social justice advocate. Previously, she served as Teacher-Leader-in-Residence for the Connecticut State Department of Education; there, she specialized in talent development and standards alignment. Caroline spent her formative teaching years in Windsor Locks Public Schools, where she held several leadership positions. She has designed and conducted professional development for fellow educators across the country. Caroline graduated magna cum laude from Yale University 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!
