What We Do

It’s no secret that there’s a strong correlation between arts engagement and student achievement or that arts organizations, such as Opera Carolina, are eager to be a partner in cultivating student success. But art organizations are often left guessing about what teachers actually need for classroom success, making for less effective programing and relationships. That’s where pARTnership CMS enters.

We work with schools to identify key skills, content, and concepts that our signature arts-activated learning approach will support and -with the schools’ faculty as our guides-design residencies that put the arts to work, helping students and teachers explore curriculum in new, engaging ways alongside teaching artists.

Each in-school residency is also initiated with a professional development session for school faculty, ensuring teachers are fitted with new tools to use in their classrooms long after the residency ends.

Get in Touch:
Education@operacarolina.org
704-332-7177 x109

Our Partners

Built on the bedrock goal of paving a new way for our classrooms’ teachers and students, pARTnership CMS would not be possible without the power, passion, and perspective of its partners.

Ariadne Zitsos

Educational Consultant & Curriculum Writer

Ariadne Zitsos has been an educator for almost 15 years, and has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels, both in and out of school settings. She holds a Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Virginia Tech. As a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, Ariadne often realized that her love of music and the arts kept finding its way into her work as an educator. This realization eventually led her out of the classroom and into writing curriculum for arts organizations. Her award-winning curriculum written for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Words & Music, Teaching Language Arts through Lyric Writing, exemplifies her creative, interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. Ariadne currently works out of Charlotte, NC as an educational consultant and curriculum writer for arts organizations and museums.

With expert physicians and care providers in locations throughout our region, OrthoCarolina is one of the nation’s leading orthopedic practices and your destination for comprehensive orthopedic care. We bring expertise in the areas of foot and ankle, hand, hip and knee, shoulder and elbow, spine, sports medicine and pediatrics to offer a continuum of care unmatched in our region — and throughout the country. OrthoCarolina. You. Improved. Learn more about OrthoCarolina here.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) provides academic instruction, rigor and support each school day to more than 146,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across 17 schools throughout the cities and towns of Mecklenburg County. CMS believes setting high standards for all students creates a greater opportunity for future success – in our communities, within the region and across our diverse and global society.

CMS is proud of its diverse mix of students who represent 160 different countries and various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. CMS offers an extensive range of magnet programs in 37 of its schools to nurture the talents of students who have interest and ability in specific areas. CMS also educates, supports and meets the needs of students with learning and physical disabilities.

CMS has a rich and intricate history. Built upon the efforts of many individuals who firmly believed in the importance of education to this community, public schools in this area have had a tremendous impact on the growth and economy of the region – as well as the thousands of individuals it has served. Learn more about CMS here.