Home About Us Faculty/Staff Ms. Ariana Thomas

Ms. Ariana Thomas

Adolescent/Secondary Programs Coordinator

Ariana Thomas has a B.A. in Music with a concentration in Voice from The School of Music at Westminster College in Pennsylvania. Hailing originally from Western Pennsylvania/ Eastern Ohio, she has performed as a featured soloist in choir tours around the United States, as well as in Europe. Ariana has been a part of countless music and theatre companies and productions, including a large variety of plays, musicals, operas, choirs, and solo work. Ariana is on the Board of Directors at Rome Little Theatre, and is an avid advocate for the arts. She teaches a multitude of classes for the Adolescent and Secondary programs- her favorites being the Language Arts courses. She has been with us since the 2021-2022 school year, and is thankful for her family here at MSOR.

Favorite quote from Dr. Maria Montessori:

“There should be music in the child’s environment, just as there does exist in the child’s environment spoken speech.”

Testimonial

“I began MSR in the toddler program, and I was in Ms. Kumar’s last Primary class. On my first day in her class, she discovered within three hours that I needed glasses, and it changed my life. As a +8 power in glasses, I desperately needed them. After the world wasn’t just a big shadow, I really began learning. Montessori made my childhood experiences fun, and I learned so much without even realizing it. There were some tears in Lower El as the work expectations increased, but I am so thankful my parents stuck it out and listened to Ms. Dolores and Ms. Diane that I could do the work. They believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself, and I left Lower Elementary ready for the challenging program of Upper Elementary. That’s what we called the pinnacle where it all came together for some of the best days of my education so far. I’m still disappointed that there wasn’t an adolescent program for my group! I told Ms. Shemi to please begin the adolescent program again because she should offer the opportunity of a Montessori education for as many years as possible. When I graduated and went to Darlington, I really began to understand just how valuable my education had been–not just academically but because it taught me to be confident in my abilities and face the challenges of middle school and high school with the skills I needed. Now, I attend Belmont University where I am pursuing a Music Business degree. I am so grateful for my Montessori education, and my advice is to stay in the MSR bubble as long as you can! It’s a great place to learn!”

Elisa Montanaro 2009 Graduate of MSR