Staff

Ariadne Zitsos, Head of School

Ariadne Zitsos brings a dynamic blend of educational leadership, creative curriculum development, and a passion for fostering lifelong learners to her role as the Head of School at The St. Sophia School. Ariadne's journey in education began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Virginia Tech with a minor in Music, followed by a Master's degree in Education from Vanderbilt University. Her teaching journey spanned over a decade, with impactful roles in private schools in both Charlotte, NC, and St. Louis, MO. During this time, her dedication to nurturing intellectual curiosity and fostering a love of learning ignited a desire to expand her reach.

Venturing beyond the classroom, Ariadne dedicated the next phase of her career to curriculum development and consulting. Collaborating with prestigious institutions such as The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Opera Carolina, she worked with public schools and arts organizations to create transformative educational experiences. Her pioneering work on the Words & Music program for the Country Hall of Fame was recognized with the prestigious AAM (American Alliance for Museums) awards for excellence in curriculum.

As a visionary educator, Ariadne believes that education transcends textbooks, encompassing a holistic approach that molds students into critical thinkers. Her philosophy centers on instilling a love of learning, nurturing inquisitive minds, and equipping students with problem-solving skills applicable to both academic challenges and life's complexities.

With a specialization in Interdisciplinary, Multimodal Learning, Ariadne advocates for diverse curricular approaches that cater to individual learning styles. In her free time, she enjoys playing music with her husband and friends, gardening with her three children, arranging flowers, and taking her dog Finn on walks.

Hailing from the Greek Orthodox community in Charlotte, NC, Ariadne remains an active member, intertwining her heritage and faith with her educational vision. She firmly believes in each student's boundless potential to make unique contributions to their communities and the world at large.

Emily Hanegraaff, Business Manager

Emily Hanegraaff serves as the Business Manager of St. Sophia School, where she oversees finance, accounting, admissions, marketing, human resources, and school operations. She brings more than 13 years of experience in finance and business operations, having worked with startup companies in roles focused on financial management, organizational growth, and operational efficiency.

Since the school's founding, Emily has been an integral part of the St. Sophia community, helping support its growth and long-term sustainability. She is passionate about the school's mission and believes strongly in the value of small class sizes, joyful learning, and an education rooted in the Orthodox Christian faith.

As a member of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church for the past five years, Emily is grateful to help serve a school that reflects the values and traditions that are important to her family. She is also the proud mother of two sons, who will be enrolled in first grade and Transitional Kindergarten at St. Sophia School during the upcoming school year.

Emily is committed to helping St. Sophia School thrive as it continues to provide students with a nurturing environment where they can grow academically, spiritually, and socially. She considers it a blessing to support the school's mission and to help create a strong foundation for future generations of students and families.

Faculty

Diana Ghali, Kindergarten Teacher

Born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt, Diana earned her bachelor’s degree in Geography and History from Alexandria University. In 2003, she moved with her family to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she pursued her passion for education by earning a certificate in Early Childhood Development from the state of North Carolina.

Since 2005, Diana has been a dedicated educator within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), bringing nearly two decades of classroom experience. She also has two years of specialized experience as a lead teacher in both Montessori and Reggio Emilia settings, where she embraced child-centered, exploratory learning.

In addition to her work in schools, Diana has served as a pre- and kindergarten Sunday School teacher at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church since 2012, helping children grow in faith and character.

Diana believes that teaching is more than a profession—it is a calling. Watching her students light up with understanding and joy reminds her why she chose this path. She sees each child as a little plant, nurtured with kindness, faith, education, and inspiration. Her mission is to create a world where love and compassion shape learning, and where curiosity leads to growth.

Passionate about extending learning beyond the classroom, Diana is committed to connecting students to their communities and the wider world. As a lifelong educator, she strives to inspire children to discover not just knowledge—but themselves.

Madison Richardson, Middle School, Interdisciplinary Classroom Teacher

Madison Richardson joins our faculty as an Upper Elementary teacher after ten years working with students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She holds a double major in Biology and Religious Studies from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina, where she was deeply inspired by the opportunity to take interdisciplinary, Socratic-style classes. Her professional background includes mentoring 3rd-5th graders through Girls on the Run, tutoring high school math and science students, and teaching 7th grade science and AP and Honors Biology/ Chemistry. She has spent the past four years working at Charlotte Country Day School and is eager to bring her expertise to the St. Sophia School.

Throughout her career, Madison has been recognized for her ability to build strong relationships with students and promote thoughtful, student-centered learning. She has designed interdisciplinary projects that blend science with the humanities, created curriculum maps to support inquiry-based instruction across a school district, and led professional development on effective teaching strategies. She looks forward to fostering an environment that balances structure and independence, where students are free to wonder, work hard, and grow in virtue.

Ever a lifelong learner, Madison can often be found preparing for a monthly reading group or discussing philosophy and science with her husband. She enjoys strategy board games, eating chocolate, playing tennis, and watching her 1-year-old son discover the natural world.

Anastasia Holevas, Greek Language

Born in Charlotte, NC, brought up in Athens, Greece, and returning to the U.S. later to begin her college studies as a young adult, Anastasia Holevas encountered two very different cultures, broadened her perspective, and gained an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of human expression.

Studying various foreign languages over the course of her life, namely Modern Greek, English, French, Ancient Greek, Latin, German, Spanish, and currently Italian led her to pursue a career that would allow her to share her love of learning with young and old alike. Anastasia obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Magna Cum Laude, and secondary certification for grades 9 -12 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned a certificate in teaching Modern Greek as a second/foreign language through the 9-month online “Diadromes” program offered by the Center for the Greek Language in Thessaloniki, Greece.

She has taught the Greek language to children and adults since 1991 in private and group settings. She has served as a director and teacher at the St. Nektarios Greek Language School in Charlotte, NC for 6 years in the past and currently since 2023. Previously she was a teacher at the Holy Trinity Greek Afternoon School and a teacher at the Holy Trinity Preschool in Charlotte, NC. She has developed and led interdisciplinary summer Greek language camps promoting the Orthodox Christian faith and the Hellenic language and culture for elementary-age children through multimodal activities at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC. Continuing her education by reviewing research on educational issues, especially in foreign language methodology, and seeking ways to enhance her teaching and positively impact students' learning is a favorite pastime of hers.

Anastasia believes that foreign languages are passports to our world. One can never know where life might lead him/her. She is a living testament to that. Anastasia aims to empower learners, help them identify their strengths, and increase their intrinsic motivation through engaging and creative lessons. Teaching at St. Sophia School will be very rewarding to her because it will allow her to transfer her passion and enthusiasm for learning foreign languages to children. When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading, writing, gardening, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her husband and son.

Nino Japaridze-Vashakidze, Math Specialist

Nino Japaridze Vashakidze is deeply committed to childcare and education, with extensive experience that includes serving as a Lead Teacher at COS KIDS and a Catechism Teacher at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church Sunday School. She is dedicated to fostering a supportive and holistic learning environment, especially one rooted in Greek Orthodox values, which aligns perfectly with our school’s mission.

Originally from the Republic of Georgia, Nino’s background is enriched by her country’s rich Orthodox Christian history, dating back to the 4th century. This heritage deeply influences her values and commitment to education.

Nino holds a degree in Chemical Technology of Silicate and Refractory Materials from Georgian Technical University. She completed her studies in 1994 and was awarded the qualification of Chemist–Process Engineer. Her academic background reflects a strong foundation in science, problem-solving, and analytical thinking, which she brings to her work as an educator.

In addition to her professional background, Nino is a proud mother of three. Her eldest has graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill, and her two younger children are set to graduate from NC State. Raising and educating her own children has given her invaluable insights and profound empathy, which she brings into her role as an educator.

Nino is committed to contributing to the success of St. Sophia School and nurturing the development of young learners. We are so thankful to have her as part of our wonderful community, supporting our students’ growth and achievements.

Kristin, Literacy Teacher

Shannon, TK Teacher

With over 15 years in education, Shannon has had the privilege of teaching in a wide range of classrooms from a Montessori preschool to Christian elementary students in grades 3–6, and working in Special Education with nonverbal learners. These experiences have shaped my belief that every student deserves a voice in how they learn. I see my role not just as a teacher, but as a facilitator. Someone who helps each child discover and engage with their own unique path to learning.

Outside the classroom, I’m a proud parent of three and share my home with two dogs. I love spending time outdoors, gardening, reading, sewing, and baking. These simple joys keep me grounded and inspire both personally and professionally.

Dawn, 2nd-4th Grade LeadTeacher

Dawn is a seasoned 28-year veteran elementary-level teacher for grades 3-8 in AZ, NY, FL, and SC. She obtained her B.S. in Education from Northern Arizona University, her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, and her post-graduate educational leadership degree from Stony Brook, NY.

With over 90+ hours of mathematics training from the Intel Corporation and experience as a multi-age literacy tutor, Dawn loves creating an inquiry-based model of instruction for students, regardless of one-on-one, small group, or whole-class settings. Her core belief is that learning should be scaffolded, purposeful, hands on, and exploratory in nature. Dawn utilizes songs, games, total physical response, art, and manipulatives to generate excitement in her classrooms.

Dawn’s hobbies include all things athletic, artistic and creative. She resides in Clover, SC with her husband, Mr. Hasiotis, and is beyond thrilled to be welcomed into the St. Sophia community.

Renee, 1st Grade Lead Teacher

Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Renee Andrews is an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Having obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Renee has over 18 years of teaching experience in the classroom setting. In addition, she has taught Sunday School at both St. Nektarios and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Renee is a passionate educator, deeply committed to helping children grow academically, spiritually and socially. To successfully teach all of her students, Renee strives to understand them as individuals in order to learn their strengths/weaknesses, cultural differences and learning styles. This allows her to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, respected, and valued. She strives to provide a positive learning atmosphere where students can grow and explore their creativity.

In addition to her professional background, Renee is a proud mother of three. Her oldest will be graduating from NC State University this year and moving on to PA School. Her middle son will be a rising Sophomore at the University of Tennessee, and her youngest daughter will be a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

When not teaching, Renee enjoys working out, playing pickleball, reading, shopping and spending time with her family! Renee is excited to have been given the opportunity to join the staff at The St. Sophia School and be a part of helping to make this school a place where all students have the opportunity to succeed!

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