Ms. Andrikopoulos, born in Melbourne, Australia, earned a Bachelor of Science Education with a major in Mathematics from Melbourne University, Australia 1983.

Ms. Andrikopoulos has been teaching at ACS Athens since 1989. She has taught Science and Mathematics at all elementary, middle, and academy levels and has worked extensively with the curriculum. 

Ms. Andrikopoulos has also held Math Bowls, Math Clubs, Mathematical Olympiad Programs, and SAT classes for interested and motivated students. She has taught students in the Youth-to-Youth Program, helping them adjust and integrate within a regular daily school program.  

Ms. Andrikopoulos has been JK -12 Mathematics Coordinator for over ten years, developing and implementing curriculum initiatives. She has also led the school as an Internal Coordinator for Accreditation, leading the Middle School with Action Research and supporting the Sustaining Excellence protocol. 

Through many enriching experiences during her teaching career, Ms. Andrikopoulos has published articles on “The Art of Teaching Mathematics” and "Brain Research and Cognitive Thinking”. She has also been an active participant and school presenter at NESA Conferences in Europe and Asia, AERO Mathematics Conferences in Europe, and USA, ICODL and EDEN-OSOS Conferences in Athens, Greece.

Ms. Andrikopoulos has also published a series of mathematics books, "Mathematics A Thematic Approach Books 1, 2, 3" for upper elementary and middle school students to help them consolidate, use, and apply mathematical concepts. She has also published a mathematics book "General Knowledge Math Refresher" to help educators prepare easily and thoroughly for their Teaching Certificate.

As a scholar and educator, her research in recent years has involved finding ways to enhance conceptual understanding of mathematics. Her Action Research work mainly focused on Cumulative Assessments, Student-Designed Culminating Projects, Instructional Rubrics, Best Fit Differentiated Instruction Models, and Cultivating positive mindsets to demonstrate Sustainable Development Goals through student models to address global challenges.

Ms. Andrikopoulos has also created school videos through the ACS Media Studio as she has implemented various processes with her students in and out of the classroom on Project-Based Learning. 

Ms. Andrikopoulos is currently the Elementary School Principal. She takes great pride in being a member of ACS Athens and is always looking forward to implementing best practices supported by a professional learning community framework. She is passionate, and her goal is always to cultivate a positive, healthy school environment where students feel confident and strong. 

Ms. Andrikopoulos values providing opportunities for students to develop into independent thinkers and responsible, conscious citizens. She is continually and carefully working towards supporting the best-fit learning path for our students.

Ms. Andrikopoulos enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with family.

email: andrikopoulosd@acs.gr

Sophia Moros was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her studies at St. Xavier University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Literature, and a Master of Arts Degree in Reading. Currently, Ms. Moros is a candidate for an Educational Doctoral (EdD) degree at the University of Illinois, Urbana, focusing on Learning Design and Leadership.

Her career began with teaching elementary students in the Illinois public school system in 1998. After obtaining an M.A. in Reading, she worked as a Reading Specialist starting in 2001, serving grades K-8. She had the honor of collaborating with Sony Corporation Education on implementing an interactive reading program called Lightspan. Through the use of the Sony Playstation, she successfully utilized educational software as her primary tool to raise the achievement of the lowest twenty-fifth percentile students to meet state standards. Additionally, she worked as a Reading Literacy Teacher for ESL students between grades K-6 in 2007, collaborating closely with colleagues to achieve literacy goals through team teaching strategies.

After nine years of teaching, Ms. Moros seized the opportunity to study at Trinity College, Barcelona. There, she earned both a TESOL Certificate and a Business English Certificate. She briefly taught at this institute before relocating to Athens, where she accepted a position as the Director of English Studies at a prominent private language school.

With extensive international experience and a receptive mindset, Ms. Moros commenced her tenure at the American Community Schools, Athens, in 2009. She has served in a range of roles, spanning faculty and administrative positions. Throughout her journey, she embraced opportunities for professional development. Noteworthy accomplishments include completing online certification courses focused on Dyslexia through Buffalo State University of New York in 2010, participating in AERO International training for mathematics and social studies standards in 2011, and engaging in the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) conferences. Her involvement in ECIS included presenting in Athens, Greece, in 2012 and Zurich, Switzerland, in 2015. She was also a presenter at the 9th Annual Learning Difference Conference, showcasing the "iteach2!" initiative program she co-created for second-grade students with Ms. Stavi Dimas. Furthermore, in April 2016, she co-presented with Dr. Andreas Tsokos at the ACS Athens Colloquium, demonstrating the efficacy of Conceptual Mathematics in building computational accuracy.

Ms. Moros completed the Academic Leadership Course for Standards-Based Curriculum in Arlington, Virginia, U.S.A., as part of her pursuit to become a principal. She revisited Virginia during the summer of 2017 for further training through the Office of Overseas Schools, AERO, and the U.S. Department of State Mathematical Workshop. She facilitated collaboration among the Elementary School faculty, sharing conceptual mathematics techniques and introducing Jo Boaler's Mathematical Mindsets, based on Carol Dweck's Growth Mindset Research.

After a successful six-year tenure leading the Elementary School as Principal, Ms. Moros embraces her new role as the Director of Early Childhood Education and Development with boundless enthusiasm and honor. This role encompasses grades Pre-Junior Kindergarten through Second Grade. In 2022, she introduced the Early Childhood mascot, Conscious Cub, to the community. She has since incorporated Conscious Cub into her short stories, using it as a model to promote global awareness and conscientious citizenship traits among her students.

Ms. Moros firmly believes in establishing safe, nurturing, imaginative, hands-on, and empowering environments for young learners. She takes immense pride in her affiliation with ACS Athens Community Schools and looks forward with great enthusiasm to the 2023 school year, marked by her creative design of the Early Childhood Mascot, named Conscious Cub.

email: moross@acs.gr

Ms. Sophia Ponce Tsinakis was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She has earned a Master's in Elementary Education and a K-12 English Language Learners endorsement at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology - with a minor in Art Therapy - from Lesley University in Cambridge Massachusetts.

After teaching for four years at an innovative elementary public school in Nashville, Ms. Tsinakis joined the ACS Athens faculty in 2018, originally teaching first grade during the 2018-2019 academic year and fifth grade during the 2019-2020 academic year. In September 2020 she transitioned into the position of JK-6 Literacy Coordinator to further the aims of ACS Athens literacy program. The ultimate objective of the elementary ACS literacy program is the development of readers and writers across all the grade levels. To this end, she facilitates an ongoing collaborative literacy learning culture that aligns the school’s reading and writing curriculums (including Phonics and Grammar). Moreover, she champions teachers to support students in writing with fluency for an audience, about topics they care about. Lastly, she fortifies best instructional literacy practices through literacy coaching to bolster resilience, grit, and empathy in students to promote ethical decision-makers, strong relationships, and positive action. During the 2022-2023 academic year she was interviewed for the ACS Athens Owlcast (episode 16). She discussed her views about literacy in schools, coordinating the ACS literacy program, and coaching teachers in elevating their literacy instructional practices.

In addition, this is her second academic year teaching grade 6 Language Arts as a Middle School faculty member. Ms. Tsinakis has a great passion for teaching and her priority as an educator of young minds is to assist children of diverse backgrounds to find meaning, passion, and direction in their educational experience, and ultimately in their lives. Ms. Tsinakis is committed to fostering, inspiring, and sustaining high levels of authentic learning in all students as a path through which they become active, compassionate, independent, and global learners. Her continuous study of international literacy experts are a guiding influence in her inspired pursuit of refining and growing her literacy instruction.

email: tsinakiss@acs.gr

Evangelia Nefeli Patavou is a Licensed Child Psychologist with an international background raised both in Greece and Belgium. Evangelia’s academic background includes a BSc in Psychology from St Andrews University in Scotland, followed by an MA in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Leiden in Holland. Evangelia is fluent in French, English, and Greek.

Evangelia has four years of experience training and working as a child psychologist and protection assistant for safeguarding the rights and multifaceted needs of unaccompanied refugee minors in Greece. Evangelia is trained in conducting behavioral, mental, and learning diagnostic assessments for children. Furthermore, Evangelia has collaborated with the international schools in Holland to design and implement Kids Skills Interventions and Behavioral Modification Programs. These initiatives, rooted in Solution Focused therapy and Behavioral Modification Therapy approaches aim to enhance children’s problem-solving abilities.

As Citizenship and Student Life Coordinator in the Elementary school, she will guide students to develop a strong sense of global conscious citizenship and facilitate a supportive environment for students and parents.

email: patavoue@acs.gr

Ms. Chryssoula Xiggi holds a Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and a License in English as a Second Language (ESL) recognized by the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. She also holds the HAU Diploma in Translation having completed the Two-year Program in General and Specialized Translation from English into Greek.

At ACS Athens, Ms. Xiggi has held positions in the Middle School as the Counseling Office Secretary and the Middle School Principal’s Administrative Assistant, in the Academy she has served as the Registrar, the Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Student Services, and the Assistant to the IB Director. She currently holds the position of the Administrative Assistant to the Elementary School Principal, and she provides the translation services at ACS Athens. She is the liaison between ACS Athens, Greek schools, and the Ministry of Education in regard to enrolment services and the issuance of the ACS/IB Diploma equivalence to the Greek High School Diploma. She is proud to be a member of the American Community Schools of Athens, Greece.

Ms. Xiggi believes that education empowers individuals to grow and become active and ethical citizens, making a positive contribution to the world.

email: xiggic@acs.gr

Demetri Pelidis earned his Bachelor of Education from Boston College, a Master of Education (M.Ed), in Counseling Psychology, from Keene State College of New Hampshire, and his Advanced Graduate Degree in School Counseling from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts. Born in Zimbabwe, Africa, and reared in Athens, Greece, Demetri is a proud graduate of ACS Athens.

Mr. Pelidis first started working at ACS as a High School Counselor and has served in many capacities with both in the Middle School and Academy Counseling Departments. In his role this year as Pre-Junior Kindergarten-5th grade School Counselor he is responsible for approximately 400 students. As the Elementary School Counselor, he works with school personnel, secretaries, and administrators to meet the needs of our students. Demetri serves as a consultant to teachers and parents by providing support in regard to meeting student academic and emotional needs. While working together with teachers and administrators he will strive to build a partnership between the school and the home life.

Demetri has interned and worked in various school systems both in Boston, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire School Districts. Demetri has completed over 25 years of professional experience in counseling and teaching students in middle school, high school, undergraduate, and graduate school levels. He is a certified school counselor from the state of Massachusetts, and actively enjoys his professional affiliation with ASCA-The American School Counselor Association.

Mr. Pelidis also assists our ACS athletic department as the Boys Varsity Soccer Coach. It has been a very rewarding experience for him! Over the years our Lancer Boys Soccer Teams have earned first place gold medals in ISST championships. Prior to coaching soccer for ACS, Athens, Coach Pelidis played his collegiate soccer for the Boston College Eagles, where he was named Senior Athlete of the Year. He also played professionally in the American Soccer League for the Boston Bolts.

email: pelidisd@acs.gr

Ms. Korinna Kokkali was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her studies at the University of Illinois, in Urbana-Champaign, where she graduated with honors in her education courses. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and received her certification from the State of Illinois.  In addition to her degree, she also holds approval for Special Education.

Ms. Kokkali has been teaching children primarily in Junior Kindergarten since 2001. Having first worked in the Chicago Public School system and then moving on to ACS Athens in 2006, she has had much experience working with young children who come from a diverse background, many of which were students who spoke English as a second language.  

Ms. Kokkali is always pursuing new and innovative methods of facilitating the learning process so that she can enhance and improve her own teaching style. She has attended many conferences since attaining her certification. In recent years, her professional development includes the following: In 2019 Ms. Kokkali had the opportunity to attend the Play on Early Education Conference, an International Conference where best practices were shared regarding Early Childhood Education and the importance of play at this age. That same year, she also participated in the Next Generation Science Standards training, which gave her useful techniques to further her students’ curiosity in scientific concepts. In 2020, she participated in the ISS Hybrid Learning in Early Years Conference, AERO Math Workshop, Reading and Writing Project Workshop, and Documenting Learning in the Early Years Webinar. Through these experiences, she was acquainted with practices being used in the forefront of Early Childhood Education. During the summer of 2021, Ms. Kokkali attended a workshop on Systems Thinking which is a transformational approach to learning, problem-solving, and understanding the world. She is excited to use this approach in her classroom, helping her students see beyond the heart of a problem to find fair and lasting solutions that deliver benefits. On a yearly basis, Ms. Kokkali conducts action research so that she can strengthen her teaching while always preserving and cherishing the enthusiasm of learning through play and discovery in all her students. 

email: kokkalik@acs.gr

Ms. Zacharoula Stefanidou completed her Bachelor of Science in Education (Elementary Education grades 1 – 8) with a minor in Child Psychology at the University of Houston.

Prior to moving to Greece, Ms. Stefanidou was working with Gifted and Talented Kindergarten and First Grade children. She holds three endorsements, Early Childhood, Kindergarten, and Gifted and Talented. As a kindergarten teacher, she participated in an Early Literacy Writing Project where she was a writing advisor in other elementary schools.  This will be her seventh year as a teacher in the PJ/JK classroom at ACS.

Ms. Stefanidou was an active member and presenter of KToT (Kindergarten Teachers of Texas). Her presentations focused on encouraging other colleagues to include writing in their early childhood curriculum. In 1986, she was voted "Teacher of the Year" in the Houston Independent School District.

Apart from teaching, Ms. Stefanidou also filled the part-time position of assistant principal in the elementary school where she was teaching. Her summers were spent coordinating activities for young children at the Greek Orthodox Community Center Summer Camp in Houston, Texas.

Ms. Stefanidou strives to help every child grow as a learner and as a person.

email: stefanidouz@acs.gr

Ms. Katsipi has been working for thirty-three years at ACS Athens Elementary School. She was an aide in the Elementary School for ten years and has been working for the past twenty-three years as an aide and Day Care supervisor in the  JK and Kindergarten classrooms. Ms. Katsipi holds a Diploma in the Tourist Business from T.E.I. of Patras. She has also volunteered as a nurse for Red Cross Hospital.

email: katsipig@acs.gr

Dionysia Themeli, has been working at ACS since 1983. Initially, she started working as an Aide throughout all the grades at the Elementary school. Currently, she is an Aide in Kindergarten.

email: themelid@acs.gr

Ms. Despina Caparos graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her college career, Despina participated in fieldwork in a variety of elementary settings with a wide range of elementary-aged children. During the summer of 2021, Despina organized and led an English as a second language summer camp for a group of elementary school and middle school students in Differdange, Luxembourg. Here she created and carried out lessons to promote the use of the English language with an international group of students. 

Ms. Caparos was born and raised in a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Outside of school, Ms. Caparos enjoys reading, trying out new recipes, traveling to new places and staying active. In the US, she was involved in various styles of dance her whole life and values the importance of working as a "team." 

This is Ms. Caparos’ third year at ACS Athens. She is eager and excited to teach kindergarten and continue to be a part of the ACS Athens community. She is looking forward to connecting and learning from her future students.

email: caparosd@acs.gr

Maria Vardaros graduated Magna Cum Laude from CUNY Queens College with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Summa Cum Laude with a Master's Degree in English Literature, focusing her thesis on physical and psychological displacement within 21st-century world literature. While she studied, she began to work for the New York Board of Education as a teachers aid for grades K-5th grade and later on became a substitute teacher throughout the boroughs of New York. Maria Vardaros discovered her love for teaching and continued her studies to obtain a Master's Degree in Secondary Education Youth Services, which also allowed her to obtain her teaching certificate from the New York Board of Education. Whilst studying and working as an English teacher for middle and high school with a diverse group of students, she attended several seminars and professional development workshops such as DASA, EAS, and TESOL. Maria Vardaros has also worked with an education platform based in China, where she taught English to students between the ages of 4-10 for over two years on a virtual platform.

Maria Vardaros is a Greek-American who has been enrolled in both the American and the Greek Education system and has a great passion for English, Greek, and world literature. Due to her love of literature, she has traveled to over 18 European countries, 29 US states and a part of Asia in order to explore the world and understand the different cultures and facets of society and education. Her aspirations are to travel to the rest of the world and acquire knowledge that can be passed on to her students.

This is Ms. Vardaros second year at ACS, and looks forward to teaching and creating a safe space for all her students to learn and excel but also motivate them to become caring, accepting, and respectful human beings who will be active members of their society and transform the world.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X

email: vardarosm@acs.gr

Ms. Katerina Demoulini is an ACS Athens graduate. She has been a teacher's aide at ACS Athens Elementary School since 1981.

email: demoulinik@acs.gr

Ms. Maglara has been a Kindergarten Aide, Day Care Supervisor, and Bus Monitor at ACS Athens Elementary School since 1983. Ms. Maglara was born in Athens, Greece and moved to New York at a young age with her family. She graduated high school In the States and then returned to Athens.

email: maglarad@acs.gr

Raelynn Davis has been working in education professionally since 2019. She has experience teaching K-4 EFL and 3rd Grade. She has had the pleasure of teaching and building relationships with students in South Korea and Morocco. This is her first year in Greece. 

Prior to teaching, she studied creative writing with a focus on fiction and worked closely with various charity organizations in the United States.

email: davisr@acs.gr

Ms. Eleftheria Ferentinos holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science from St. John’s University. Ms. Ferentinos is certified in Early Childhood from the state of Florida. As well, she has completed the Educator Preparation Institute at NCATE, the accredited Professional Education Unit of the University of West Florida. Ms. Ferentinos has been a part of the ACS family and the Early Childhood Department since 2002.

Ms. Ferentinos participated in the ACS Athens Colloquium where she presented, along with Ms. Kokkalis and Ms. Lamprou, strategies of conceptual and constructive teaching in mathematics for Early Childhood. Ms. Ferentinos completed an online program on teaching math conceptually provided by Stanford University. Through her Action Research, she researched ways of effectively teaching writing in Kindergarten while using the Writing Workshop method. Ms. Ferentinos has participated in several conferences to further her professional development, including the ACS annual Conference on Learning Differences, the ECIS conference held at ACS Athens. Ms. Ferentinos attended the first international conference on Play in Early Education held in Athens. She has participated in workshops held at ACS Athens such as the Reflection and Revision course held by Mr. Medeiros, the Creating Respectful and Productive Learning Communities course held by Dr. Pelonis, and the training program on teaching STEM in Elementary Education with Dr. Cherif. Furthermore, she has completed courses towards her masters in Effectively Teaching in Early Childhood, Social media in the Classroom, and Teaching Children with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities.    

Ms. Ferentinos believes in keeping up to date with new ideas and innovations in Early Childhood and has developed curriculum changes in the Kindergarten Program. Ms. Ferentinos has been teaching in First Grade for the past 4 years. She is passionate about helping children grow during the early years and is continually looking at elements of effective teaching.

email: ferentinose@acs.gr

Marianna Panayiotopoulos was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and moved to the United States at the age of 4. She was raised in New York City, where she also completed the total of her education. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brooklyn College receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, with a strong interest in child psychology. Marianna went on to pursue a Master’s of Business Administration at Baruch College with a focus in International Business.

Marianna is linked to ACS as multiple members of her family are alumni.  In 2020 Marianna and her family moved to Athens. As a mother to a young child she was inspired to pursue a career in education and obtain her teaching license through the state of Arizona. She has a strong passion, understanding, and appreciation for childhood education and the firm foundation it provides students for future success in their lives.

Previously, Marianna was the permanent substitute teacher in the Elementary School. Marianna is now a full-time educator at ACS Athens in the Elementary School. She is confident that her experience in the US educational system and familiarity with professional development in the United States will help in the guidance she provides to the community of students who may also seek similar academic routes. 

Since her first day at ACS, Marianna has felt a sense of family with the faculty and staff and each day at this institution further confirms her decision to enter a career path in elementary education. She strives to always maintain a positive attitude in the classroom, and help students feel heard, appreciated, and supported. She believes every child has a unique superpower that should be embraced.

email: panayiotopoulosm@acs.gr

Iliana Eleftheriou received her B.A. degree in Elementary Education, Grades 1 - 6 from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She completed her M.A. degree in Special Educational Needs from the University of East London and earned her International Teacher Certificate (ITC) from the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and the University of Cambridge (International Examinations).

Ms. Eleftheriou previously worked at ACS Athens as a Shadow and Substitute Teacher and collaborated with private psycho-educational centers using her expertise in Special Education. She has participated in various professional development courses and seminars offered by the British Council, the University of San Diego Extended, and Stanford University. This past year she completed seminars offered by ECIS and the Institute for Responsive Schools. She presented at the ACS Athens Colloquium in 2016, demonstrating the "Shadow Teacher Partnerships" and the "Role of the Shadow Teacher" within ACS Athens.

She is a firm believer that every student is unique and capable of success. Helping students achieve their full potential is her greatest reward. This is her tenth year at ACS Athens. She has taught 4th grade for five years and this is her second year teaching 2nd grade.

"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world". - Nelson Mandela

email: eleftherioui@acs.gr

Lydia Freliech was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Connecticut. She completed her studies at Colorado College, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with a minor in Art Studio. She spent one semester studying in Athens, Greece in the fall of 2015. Ms. Freliech’s undergraduate thesis, titled "Culturizing the Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Elementary Students," highlighted her early dedication to understanding the complex dynamics of student confidence and cultural identity. In addition to her academic pursuits, Ms. Freliech also showcased her leadership skills as a NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse Captain at Colorado College. 

Ms. Freliech went on to earn a Master of Arts Degree in Teaching at Colorado College. Her thesis, "Empathy and Narrative Fiction: The Effects of Palacio's Wonder on Fourth-Grade Students' Empathy," demonstrated her commitment to nurturing empathy and emotional intelligence in young learners. Ms. Freliech's commitment to global education became evident during her Capstone Project in New Zealand, where she spent over two-hundred hours in Auckland Public Schools. Her action research on Culturally Responsive Teaching and its impact on indigenous Maori students resulted in a captivating short film that represented her findings. 

Ms. Freliech began her career as a 4th grade teacher in the Denver Public Schools system. Throughout her five years in Denver’s schools, she dedicated over 75 hours to coursework focused on educating Culturally and Linguistically Diverse students. She served as a mentor teacher, guiding teaching residents on their path to becoming professional educators. Ms. Freliech has participated in various training programs, including those centered on Culturally Responsive Teaching, the Science of Reading, IB concept-based teaching strategies, and data-driven instruction. She views her own learning through a growth mindset, and is eager to continue her professional growth at ACS Athens.

Ms. Freliech believes that each child is a brilliant and necessary asset to our community. She believes in co-creating a classroom environment that honors students’ diverse cultures and learning styles, rigorously prepares students to meet the demands of our 21st century world, and empowers students to make transformative change in our global community. Ms. Freliech strives to guide each individual student as they develop their curiosity, academic and social confidence, empathy, skills and knowledge, and conscious citizenship in 2nd grade.

email: freliechl@acs.gr

Ms. Vicki Klimou is Greek-Canadian who was born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada. There, she completed her BA from Simon Fraser University with a concentration in both Psychology and French Literature and Linguistics. She obtained her TESOL Diploma and is a certified ESL teacher. More recently, she studied at Moreland University and completed her teacher certification program and is in the process of obtaining her US teaching license. Furthermore,  Ms. Klimou is a Certified Positive Discipline Classroom Educator, as well as a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and, most recently, she was accepted as a Positive Discipline Trainer Candidate.

Prior to coming to Greece, Ms. Vicki Klimou's teaching career began in Canada at a Montessori institution, teaching the French language at Early Childhood levels. In 2007, she moved to Greece and worked at private language schools teaching both ESL as well as Kindergarten. She has been an educator at ACS Athens since 2008. An extensive and varied teaching experience, she has taught French in the Middle School, Junior Kindergarten, First Grade, and is now ecstatic to be teaching Second Grade for her sixth year!  

Considering herself a lifelong learner who is constantly looking for new knowledge and challenges, has attended and participated in many conferences, including the annual conference on Learning Differences and Innovative Summit held at ACS Athens, as well as the 2012 ECIS conference. During lockdown and throughout online learning, Ms. Klimou participated in numerous webinars specifically geared toward online learning.  Ms. Klimou has also participated in numerous webinars from ISS, AERO Science Critical Areas for K-5, and an intensive Math training workshop with Mrs. Emma Anderson, focused on teaching conceptual Math. Some other courses that she has completed include a Stanford Mathematical Mindsets course, a “Teaching Foundational Reading Skills” course as well as a “SEL for Educators” course. Ms. Klimou has also received intensive training in the NGSS (New Generation Science Standards). She has participated in an intensive Systems Thinking Workshop and incorporates elements of this model in her classroom. Very active in other areas of ACS, she has taught the beginner's Greek course at the Institute for Innovation and Creativity, coached the JV Girls Soccer team, assisted with the Varsity Girls Soccer Team, and has also coached elementary soccer in the after-school programs. This year, she is very excited to be coaching JV Girls soccer again! Moreover, she has worked for the ACS Summer Youth Camp for numerous years. Furthermore, she has been conducting action research over the past few years which explored the effects of cultivating a Growth mindset in her classroom while implementing mindfulness techniques and how this would affect her 2nd grade student behavior, as well as academic performance. She participated also in a series of workshops for differentiated instruction and inclusion as well. This year, she will be holding a Growth Mindset Masterclass for parents as well as Positive Discipline parenting classes. Finally, Ms. Klimou will travel to ACS in Doha, Qatar this November as she was selected to present at the 2023 ECIS Early Childhood Conference. The theme of the conference is “Rise Up, Elevating and Empowering the Joy of Early Childhood Learning” and her workshop is titled  “Class Meetings the Positive Discipline Way”.

Ms. Klimou is passionate about teaching young children and strives to make every child in her classroom feel happy, safe, loved, and accepted. Her goal as an educator is to connect with every child, and ensure that every student of hers feels belonging and connection. Ms. Klimou is passionate about Growth Mindset, where her students understand and learn that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence.

email: klimouv@acs.gr

Ioanna (commonly known as Yianna) was born and raised in Bloemfontein, South Africa. She is a qualified educator with a TESOL accreditation and is registered with the South African Council of Educators. She completed her undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Education, specializing in Intermediate Phase (grade 4 to 7) at the University of the Free State, and holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Language and Literacy Education from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). Her research explored and compared how language structures and conventions were taught in the Intermediate Phase English Home Language classroom at a public and at an independent school in central Johannesburg, South Africa. The aim was to identify challenges and strategies in an attempt at promoting pedagogies that enhance the learning of language structures and conventions.

Yianna’s career launched in 2018 where she completed her teaching practicum at Saheti School (a top independent school in South Africa promoting the ethos of Hellenism) and then continued to enhance her teaching experience at Curro School. Yianna’s first year of teaching second grade at ACS Athens was in the 2022/2023 academic year.

Her passion lies in unearthing the potential of every student by further enhancing their self-awareness so that they become the best version of themselves as they navigate through the globalized 21st century.  She has a key interest in creating out-of-the-box solutions and has dedicated her time in curating educational content for educators that would support them in enhancing the student’s learning experience. In addition, she aided in the design of various resources that would provide additional support for students. 

She takes pride in her specialization and not only keeps abreast with the trends within the field but is on a continuous journey to upskill herself by learning new skills that can complement her teaching style and uncover new interests. It is important in today’s age to foster one’s learning agility and she believes that one’s curiosity and openness to learn continuously will determine how well one thrives in a world of constant change.

email: koutrisi@acs.gr

Ms. Bibidakis earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Cleveland State University with a concentration in Mathematics and Science. She also completed her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a STEM certificate through the University of Cincinnati. Four years ago, Ms. Bibidakis attended the AERO conference, where she focused on the English/ Language Arts standards, as well as new teaching approaches. 

Ms. Bibidakis taught 4th and 5th grade at Paul L. Dunbar, a public school in Cleveland, Ohio. She also taught Greek to 6-8-year-old students in the Greek community in Cleveland. This is her sixth year teaching 3rd grade at ACS Athens. During the two previous school years, Ms. Bibidakis was the advisor to the ACS Athens Elementary School Honor Code. Honor Code’s goal was to provide the ACS Athens Elementary School students with a network of constructive and purposeful activities, as well as embody our school’s 3 R’s (Ready, Respectful, Responsible) in our actions and decisions in and outside of school. One of the most innovative and educating initiatives during the 2021- 2022 school year was Artificial Intelligence (AI). Ms. Bibidakis was a facilitator in the ACS Athens Elementary School as she was guiding the faculty in expanding their comfort level. Ms. Bibidakis is very excited to be part of the ACS Athens family. Ms. Bibidakis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and shared her childhood between the United States and Greece.

email: bibidakisk@acs.gr

Ms. Birbil graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Philosophy. She pursued her teaching career while simultaneously receiving her Master’s degree in Education from The University of La Verne. With her Graduating Thesis: The Socio-Emotional Benefits of Animals in the Classroom, and her Black Belt in Mixed Martial Arts, Ms. Birbil brings a select brand of empathy and perseverance into her life's work. She has been teaching here at ACS Athens since 2005 and is looking forward to welcoming third graders into their new school year.

Ms. Christina Birbil is a Greek-American who was born in Spain and grew up in Spain, Italy, England, South Africa, Mexico, the United States (Austin, TX. and New York City), and Greece. A true citizen of the world and a self-professed (Adult) Third Culture Kid, she understands the make-up of our student body as she, too, has traveled the world attending international schools.

In the fall of 2012, Ms. Birbil introduced Captain Chip (her tripawd rescue puppy) into the first-grade arena and the ACS Athens community at large. As a pioneer, Captain Chip became the mascot of the elementary school and an inspiration both academically as well as socially. In 2013, Ms. Birbil and Mr. Koutsopoulos joined forces and created what is now known as the Dogs in Learning program. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Birbil has participated in various professional development training programs and seminars, including a PYP training seminar in Burgos, Spain; a NESA conference in Athens, Greece; and several Learning Differences conferences hosted at ACS Athens campus.

In June of 2012, she completed her Critical Friends Group Coaches Training and is an accredited facilitator for the National School Reform (NSRF). Ms. Birbil has been a group facilitator here at ACS Athens from the start, helping to create a trust-based community through collaborative group processes in which colleagues reflect on their practices, share ideas and promote problem-solving. She is an active mentor in ACS Athens’ Mentorship program for onboarding new faculty.

In the spring of 2015, Ms. Birbil and Mr. Koutsopoulos (along with K9 companions) presented the ACS Athens Dogs in Learning Program at the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) conference in Zurich, Switzerland. At the ACS Athens Colloquium in 2016, Ms. Birbil and her first-grade students held an interactive demonstration for visitors, "Captain Chip – A Canine Literacy Partner: Demonstration of a novel Early Elementary school literacy project." Also, at the ACS Athens Colloquium, Ms. Birbil presented a Morphosis talk on Constructivist/Inquiry-Based Teaching and Learning, illustrating "Design Time: An ACS Athens Elementary School Genius Hour".

Ms. Birbil is a member of the Dogs in Learning Team alongside with Ms. Sophia Moros, Ms. Sophia Tsinakis, Ms. Carla Tanas, Mr. Theo Koutsopoulos and Ms. Xenia Vafopoulou.

email: birbilc@acs.gr

Anna Dimitri was born in Chicago, Illinois and lived there until her middle school years. She then moved to Greece with her family and attended ACS from where she graduated. She fostered a strong sense of community at ACS, a sentiment that she continues to hold until today.

Ms. Dimitri received her BA (Honors) in Psychology from Deree College and afterwards attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada. From there she earned a Masters in Education and eventually returned to Greece. She subsequently completed her teaching certification in Early Childhood to Third Grade from the University of Western Florida.

After completing her studies, she found her way back to the ACS family where she continues to grow as an educator through plentiful workshops and seminars. Ms. Dimitri has taught kindergarten at ACS Athens for twenty-two years and has truly enjoyed working with this unique, rewarding age group. Being a fervent child advocate, she continually keeps abreast of best practices in the classroom and related child care issues.

In her quest to grow as an educator, she attended the Annual Conference on Learning Differences held at ACS Athens, as well as the ECIS Conference. Additional professional development opportunities include AERO math workshops, the Reading and Writing Project Workshop, and multiple webinars focusing on hybrid learning techniques. Most recently, she participated in a Systems Thinking Workshop which is a transformational approach to learning, problem-solving, and understanding the world. 

Ms. Dimitri excitedly begins her second year teaching 3rd grade. She is eager to continue working in the upper elementary and supporting students during this pivotal developmental stage. 

email: dimitria@acs.gr

Ms. DiVecchia grew up about thirty minutes outside of Washington DC in Northern Virginia. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chapman University with a BA in Dance and a BA in Integrated Educational Studies. She went on to obtain her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University the following year. Ms. DiVecchia's thesis project for her Master's program was focused on how to cultivate a learning environment that promotes deeper learning. Ms. DiVecchia spent the last three years teaching upper elementary grades in Northern Virginia. She has extensive experience teaching students from all over the world, and students who are learning English as a second language. In addition to being licensed for elementary education PK-6, she is licensed to teach ESL for PK-12. Ms. DiVecchia enjoys integrating her dance background into the classroom to promote the arts and enrich learning experiences for students.

Ms. DiVecchia has attended several conferences and training on how to utilize personalized learning and culturally responsive teaching. She has several educational technology certifications including Kahoot, Edpuzzle, and Quizizz. She is so excited to join the third grade team and the ACS community as a whole!

email: divecchiaa@acs.gr

Marcell Bellfield III is a 4th grade teacher at ACS Athens for the 2023-2024 school year. He is from Corpus Christi, Texas, USA and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, master’s degree in business administration, professional teaching qualifications from America as a 4-8th grade generalist and served for many years as an international basketball coach. Prior to his arrival at ACS, Marcell taught Math and Science for 6 years, in Texas, to 5th and 6th grade students, receiving STAAR state awards and recognitions for improvements in science. In 2016, he journeyed his experiences towards several international destinations. In Beijing, China, he taught primary English at Beijing Foreign Studies University and later shifted duties to Nacel International School, teaching Biology Honors, Chemistry, and Algebra II. Pattaya, Thailand soon followed, as he served as the department head and lead teacher of middle school science at the International School Eastern-Seaboard. After this position, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Marcell became a secondary specialist in math, science, humanities, and English. His most recent experience was in Brasilito, Costa Rica, as a 5th grade homeroom teacher along with primary school coordinator.

Marcell finds extracurricular activities to be beneficial, in that it provides young minds healthy and diverse opportunities to develop and blossom their unique social and personal abilities through countless platforms of learning. His vast set of skills, talents, and experiences helps form a firm bridge that transitions student-thought from concrete to critical levels of comprehension. Implementing genuine forms of communication, creative independence, and diversified learning, students are given comfort and support through their journey of growth and achievement. He has discovered that by establishing realistic challenges for learners, their academic excursions remain enhanced, evolving their effectiveness as thinkers from the classroom into applications of real-world scenarios.

email: bellfieldm@acs.gr

Mrs. Herzig is a Greek-American teacher that was born in Iraklio, Crete but grew up in Las Vegas Nevada. Born to a Greek mother and an American father, Mrs. Herzig lived her childhood in both the United States and Greece. 

Mrs. Herzig earned her Bachelor’s of Psychology from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and her Masters in Elementary Education from the National University in California. She also received a STEM certification from VEX Robotics and was honored by the president of the National University for her academic excellence. 

Before graduating from UNLV, Mrs. Herzig worked as a teacher’s assistant or paraprofessional for special education classrooms from January 2013 - 2015. Then, she worked as a Teacher/Parent facilitator for Las Vegas High School from 2015 - 2019, leaving only to pursue a teaching career in elementary at Clark County School District in Nevada. Mrs. Herzig did her student teaching for 5th grade and went on to teach 4th grade, special education for 3-5th grade, 1st grade and is now a full time teacher at ACS Athens.email: herzigs@acs.gr

Niki Kitsiou received her B.A. degree in Elementary Education, Grades 1-6, from the University of Crete, Greece. She specialized in Special Education at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She completed her M.A. degree in Language Education for Refugees and Migrants at the Hellenic Open University. Ms. Kitsiou is an ACS Athens alumni who attended from 10-12th grade on a basketball scholarship. She has worked as a teacher and a researcher with multilingual and multicultural refugee and migrant students in the context of refugee camps and NGOs. She has also worked for three years at ACS Athens as a Shadow Teacher, when she co-presented a workshop about sketch note-taking and the importance of differentiated material on childhood education, at the ECIS Conference in Luxemburg, in 2019. She enjoys creating educational content that adheres to those principles of visually stimulating information that increases the students' motivation and enthusiasm to participate and learn, while at the same time, students become encouraged to capture and express their own ideas this way.

Her philosophy as a teacher is to guide her students to learn to think critically, work collaboratively and act boldly. She looks at each student's needs, values their creativity and ways of learning, and wants to provide students with the freedom and the tools to co-construct their understanding of the world through dialogic and collaborative processes in an effort to become curious, caring, and kind individuals. As a teacher, her goal is to make sure that her students believe in themselves, embrace their uniqueness, respect each other’s differences, and work together towards building a future that points the way to a more socially just world.

Being a 5th-grade teacher in the past has helped her have a solid understanding of where her 4th-grade students need to go. She is excited to be a 4th-grade teacher for another year and is confident she can support her students to reach their goals and have lots of fun along the journey!

email: kitsioun@acs.gr

Mr. Whalen holds a degree in audio engineering from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, as well as a BA in Interdisciplinary Education, specializing in Kindergarten through Grade 8, from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mr. Whalen has teaching experience in First and Fourth Grade classrooms in Michigan, working particularly closely with the school's special education program. During this time, he attended the MCTM Teachers of Mathematics conference, focusing on math instruction at the elementary school level. Mr. Whalen has also spent time as a volunteer teacher at Hestia Hellas, in Athens, Greece. While at Hestia, he was part of a team that taught English and mathematics skills to children from the ages of six to twelve. Prior to teaching, Mr. Whalen lived in New York City for twenty years, working as an audio engineer and studio manager at several of the city's premier music recording facilities.

email: whalenc@acs.gr

Ms. Dimas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the American College of Greece with High Distinction and a Master's degree in Museology from the University of Leicester with a concentration in Museum Education. Ms. Dimas received her teaching certification from the state of Florida, and has completed the educator preparation institute at NCATE, the accredited Professional Education Unit of the University of West Florida. Most recently she has been working towards a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Development at the University of Glasgow. Prior to joining the ACS Athens Faculty, Ms. Dimas worked with school and family groups at the Hellenic Children's Museum in Athens, specializing in inquiry-based learning and constructivist teaching models. Ms. Dimas was born and raised in Washington, DC.

Ms. Dimas taught kindergarten for two years and third grade for three; this will be her seventh year as a fifth grade teacher. In addition to teaching, Ms. Dimas has contributed to ACS Athens across the grade levels. She spearheaded the ‘iteach2’ project together with Ms. Moros in the second grade, the Writing in Action workshop with Ms. Zavacopoulou for middle school students and the Architects of Global Conscious Citizenships Club with Ms. Rocha for fourth and fifth grade. For nine years, Ms. Dimas has served as advisor to the Forensics academic team, Group Discussion, working closely with academy and middle school students to realize their potential as conscious and active members of an ever-changing global community. She has also advised the ACS Athens Elementary School Honor Code Club and the Academy TED-Ed Club.

Ms. Dimas has presented at multiple workshops and conferences over the years. In 2013, she presented the ‘iteach2!’ initiative at the 8th annual Conference on Learning Differences (Innovative Teaching and Inclusive Learning) together with Ms. Sophia Moros. Ms. Dimas and Ms. Moros also represented ACS Athens at the ECIS Early Childhood Conference in Zurich, showcasing the implementation of ‘iteach2!’ as a learning tool in elementary school classrooms. In September 2015, Ms. Dimas was invited to speak at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. at the annual International Council of Museums Conference on Education and Cultural Action. Here, she shared her work on the implementation of informal education learning techniques as teaching tools in a multicultural classroom setting.

At the ACS Athens Colloquium in 2016, Ms. Dimas presented a Morphosis Talk together with Ms. Amalia Zavacopoulou. Under the heading of Teaching Writing to Think and Learn, she and Ms. Zavacopoulou analyzed the project "Making Stories at the Acropolis Museum," which they designed for the Academy Honors Humanities course together with Ms. Kathy Jasonides. The initiative merged the writing process, informal learning resources, the course syllabus, and student ingenuity.

In 2017, Ms. Dimas wrote an essay, "Improving Multicultural Learning through Interpretations and Interactions with Museum Educational Practice," which was published in the Journal of Visual Literacy. In 2018 she served as the guest editor for a double issue of the same journal. She has also completed the Critical Friends Group Coaches Training and is an accredited coach for the National School Reform (NSRF). The last five years, Ms. Dimas has been an internal coordinator for the ACS Athens Accreditation process, and most recently she has served as a team leader in the facilitation of the ACS Athens Conscious Citizenship school wide initiative.

email: dimass@acs.gr

Ms. Pinelopi  Dimitroula was born and raised in Athens, Greece. Ms. Dimitroula has been educated both in Greece and the United States. Ms. Dimitroula holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Athens University of Economics and Business (ASOEE). Ms. Dimitroula continued with her graduate studies at Pace University, New York where she graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Ms. Dimitroula remained in New York where she lived and worked for 14 years. 

Ms. Dimitroula holds a second Masters with dual specialization in Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities from Touro University, New York. Ms. Dimitroula is also licensed in both areas of specialization (Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities) in the state of New York. Ms. Dimitroula has worked for the Department  of Education in New York in several  different roles, as a shadow teacher, teacher’s assistant, and teacher. Ms Dimitroula has worked in both general and special education classes where she worked extensively with a diverse school population ranging from Gifted and Talented students to students with severe disabilities. Ms. Dimitroula obtained additional teaching certification for Upper Elementary School by taking online classes from Touro College, New. York and passing the New York State Teacher Certification Exams. 

Ms. Dimitroula is also a member of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BCBA) and is a certified and registered Behavioral Analyst. Ms. Dimitroula has worked as Behavioral Analyst consulting and working with the Board of Education in New York offering services and guidance to teachers in several schools in New York. 

Ms. Dimitroula has also attended several seminars and professional development workshops some of which include, Pedagogical Approaches to Infants and Children, Seminar on Discrete Trial Training (DTT), and Self-Injurious Behavior.

Ms. Dimitroula is one of the advisors for the Elementary School Honor Code Club, a student-led activity group which promotes the ACS Athens values of Respectful, Responsible, and Readiness, through a variety of student-created initiatives.

Ms. Dimitroula was also one of the facilitators in the Elementary School for the schoolwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative. 

Ms. Dimitroula is thrilled to continue her work at ACS Athens for the fifth (5th) year!

email: dimitroulap@acs.gr

Christiana Oikonomidi has been working in Education since 2009, both in Greece and Doha, Qatar. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Aegean University. She is experienced in the Greek Primary School National Curriculum, the British Early Years Foundation Stage, the Montessori Method in Early Childhood, and the American Curriculum (AERO).

Ms. Oikonomidi has experience teaching Nursery to Grade 4 and has worked as an educational administrator. To put into practice her belief of the importance of inclusion in the classroom, Ms. Oikonomidi completed a year-long Ministry of Education project that trained general education teachers to work with mixed groups of children, including students with special educational needs in the general education classroom.

Ms. Oikonomidi was born and raised on the beautiful, cosmopolitan island of Rhodes, Greece, an environment that exposed her to many different cultures from a very young age. In 2013, she moved to Doha, Qatar, where she lived and worked for 7 years, gaining valuable life and work experience in a truly progressive, multicultural environment. Ms. Oikonomidi is proud to be part of the ACS Athens Faculty Team as a Fifth Grade Teacher.

email: oikonomidic@acs.gr

Ms. Lia Sinouris earned her Bachelor’s degree in 20th Century European History from Connecticut College, USA, (spending semesters abroad in India and the Czech Republic) and completed her MA in Special Education (Inclusion Studies) in London, England, at the Institute of Education. Her International Teacher Certificate (ITC) was obtained from ECIS and the University of Cambridge (International Examinations). She has, additionally, earned her Equivalency Degree from the Greek Ministry of Education.

Her teacher calling began 22 years ago where she tutored students with learning differences; she encouraged their learning styles and assisted them with their academic responsibilities. Since then she has worked in various international schools in Athens and remains fascinated with the realm of international education as she believes it provides the platform for authentic and innovative learning. She has previously worked at ACS Athens in the Optimal Learning Program and the 4th grade and avidly supports each student’s unique capacity to create magic and think outside the box. This year will mark her second year as a member of the 5th grade team.

Throughout her academic career Ms. Sinouris has attended numerous conferences and seminars related to her areas of interest including NESA, the Learning Differences Conference hosted by ACS Athens and other professional development conventions (in Teaching Math, Teaching Reading and Spelling, Developmental Disorders, and Co-Teaching). She has, additionally, co-written articles for the ETHOS magazine and presented at the 2016 ACS Athens Colloquium on the effects of planning time within a partnership model. Learning in an intercultural context, dimensions of language, inquiry-based learning, and student transition are ongoing research interests. Her educational philosophy is founded on the notion that not all students learn in the same way. Ms. Sinouris is overjoyed to be embarking on another learning adventure with the 5th graders this year and hopes to be able to leave a positive mark in all her students' lives.

email: sinourisl@acs.gr

Ms. Ghada Akkari was born in Syria and raised in Athens, Greece. She received her Baccalaureate in the Arabic Language from the Libyan School in Athens and her BA from the University of Pireaus, School of Finance and Statistics, Department of Banking and Financial Management. Her love of education and children led her to teach Arabic for the last 20 years with all her creativity and enthusiasm for bringing out the best in her students. Ms Akkari has been at ACS since 2019 and has actively contributed innovations through various student centered initiatives.  Ms. Akkari successfully completed a 9-month course on School Psychology offered by the University of Aegean. She is a life long learner devoted to student creativity and well-being.

email: akkarig@acs.gr

Mr. Tassos Benetatos studied music at Northwestern University in Illinois where he obtained his Bachelor in Music in 2002. He then spent a year studying classical guitar with Evangelos Boudounis and in 2004 went to the Hochschule fur Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin where he obtained the German Diploma in Classical Guitar Performance. He has experience as a music instructor and freelance musician and has obtained extensive knowledge in guitar performance practices  in Hellenic music traditions of the early 20th century. He has a passion for Music history and continues to explore a wide range of musical styles.  

Mr. Benetatos is an ACS Athens alumnus and is now in his seventh year teaching at ACS Athens.

email: benetatost@acs.gr

Ms. Farida El Gazzar is an ACS Athens alumna. She was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and raised in Kuwait and Greece.

Ms. El Gazzar received her Master of Arts degree from the Royal College of Art in London, after having graduated and earning her Bachelor of Arts Hons degree from Kingston University in Surrey, UK and Vakalo School of Art & Design in Athens. Prior to joining the ACS Athens faculty ten years ago, she gave seminars for portfolio preparations and fine art drawing classes to ACS Athens students in collaboration with AKTO School of Art & Design. More recently, she also taught at the Fine Arts and Graphic Design departments of the American College of Deree and at Campion School.

From 2003 to 2007, she was co-founder of the creative team WARDA. Ms. El Gazzar was an artist-in-residence at The Townhouse Gallery in Cairo 2008, and at Al Riwaq Gallery in Bahrain 2009, where she also gave workshops to local artists.

She is represented by Kalfayan Galleries, Athens-Thessaloniki and has exhibited in Greece and abroad. She is a visual artist and freelance illustrator. Her artworks have been exhibited at Art Basel, Miami and Hong Kong, Frieze London, The Armory New York, Artissima Turin, and are among institutional collections such as The Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah and major private collections in Europe, the USA and the MENAM. Among her clients, she has also collaborated with the National London Theatre, the Greek Ministry of Environment, ATHENS 2004, Cornell University Press, DOL Lambrakis and Kathimerini publications.

email: elgazzarf@acs.gr

Aya Haykel completed her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at the Lebanese American University in Lebanon. Ms. Haykel completed her Teaching Diploma in Biology at the University of Balamand. Ms. Haykel completed her teaching preparation practicum in grade 4 at SABIS International Schools in collaboration with the University of West Florida. Aya is an ACS alumnus who attended from 7th to 12th grade. Aya was an active member of the ACS community who took part in a variety of sports, including swimming and volleyball. 

Ms. Haykel has always had a passion for children, and she first started teaching back in 2014 at SABIS International Schools in Lebanon. She stayed within the same institution for eight years, where she taught all grade levels ranging from Junior Kindergarten all the way up to Grade 5. In 2021, Ms. Haykel relocated to the United Arab Emirates, working for the same school, where she taught grades 2 through 5 Science. 

Aya is a devoted, committed, and versatile teacher with an effective, positive, and flexible teaching style. Being an active team player and willing to work beyond the call of duty, she is well versed in using social skills and empathy to manage student behavior. Her goal as an educator is to empower students to become architects of their own learning by promoting creativity and high-order thinking abilities.

email: haykela@acs.gr

Ms. Efi Karatopouzi was born in Greece having a Greek Australian citizenship (Australian mother) and was raised abroad until she finished first grade. Then, she came to Greece where she graduated from Greek High School and continued her studies at the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where she earned her B.A. with specialization on Track and Field. In 2017, she earned her B.A. in Child Psychology at the University of the Aegean. She currently got her diploma in Mindfulness studies from the USMASS memorial institute of Massachusetts. She holds a Play therapy diploma, and she is also a Kids Yoga family instructor.

Ms Karatopouzi has participated in personal development courses regarding teaching methods for large classes as well as teaching physical education to kids with autism. She is an official Archery, Track and Field, and National Nordic coach. 

Ms. Karatopouzi has a rich experience in physical education. She has worked as a fitness teacher for many years in several sports clubs for adults and children and as a volunteer physical education teacher at Zannia Institution, where she worked with abused children. She has been a member of the Greek National Track & Field team for 15 years and has competed in national and international competitions in Greece and abroad.  She is co-founder and co-creator of Fitness Nordic. She is also the author of a children’s book on Role Exercise workout: A new way to make kids' fantasy work with creativity by listening and exercising.

Ms. Karatopouzi began working at ACS Athens in 2016 as a Physical Education Teacher in the Elementary School and has undertaken different posts in the Athletic Department in all three schools and ACS Athens Summer Camp since then.  In 2017 -2018, she piloted a Mindfulness program for students in Junior Kindergarten classes, which has continued to run up to this year also.  Her pilot Mindfulness research paper was presented at the International Mindfulness Convention, held in Slovenia. She has also offered her services voluntarily to the Youth-to-Youth Program at ACS Athens.

Ms Karatopouzi has done an action research in the MBS program that she has been working in ACS. School since 2017.She has published her research in books and magazines and presented as well in various conference in Europe.

Ms. Karatopouzi is also a member of the ECIS committee on Physical education.

Ms Karatopouzi is a certified Rescuer from the  Greek political protection  and a Certified BLS Instructor from ERC.

email: karatopouzie@acs.gr

Marilena Kitsaki is a Greek Language Teacher and a Special Needs Educator with a broad experience in many areas of teaching. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special and Inclusive Education, Graduate School of Education, Social Sciences and Law, University of Bristol, UK, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education specialized in the Science of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology, University of Ioannina, Greece.  Marilena recently took part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, a collaboration about SDG's between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul.

Marilena is a creatively minded Teacher with 13 years of experience delivering educational assistance and instruction to various levels of learners. She has been teaching both Greek and English to a variety of students and adults, and she has experience working both in public and private schools in London and Athens.

Marilena has always acknowledged the fact that she can be a very good listener and a good communicator, which is an important quality needed for her collaboration with children. Her love, her devotion, and her respect for children's personalities are her most distinctive features. She regards herself as a team player with a strong work ethic. Her reliability, responsibility, and friendly nature are assets she brings to her workplace daily.

emaill: kitsakim@acs.gr

Kleoni Manousaki studied Art and Design at Columbia College Chicago where she received her Bachelor of Arts. She continued her studies at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and received her Master in Interactivity and New Media.  She completed her Post-Master as a researcher at A.pass (advanced research and scenography studies) in Brussels exploring contemporary ceremonies and rituals in the arts.  

She has taught Video Art at Tisch School of the Arts and New Media at Parsons School of Design | The New School.

She has facilitated art exploration programs for groups of mixed abilities with the ALMA organization in collaboration with the Onassis Foundation and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture to bring awareness and try to break the social boundaries amongst the different groups.

She has taken part in many residencies around the world including the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Zsenne Art Laboratory, and the Bains Connective, among others, and has exhibited and staged multiple public performances in venues around the world, such as Times Square in NY, the Brooklyn Museum, the New York City Subway, the Union Square in NY, Syntagma Athens, Krinos Lime Factory, Agathi Art Gallery, and a 17th Century Cretan Byzantine Church.

She recently completed an expressive art therapy program with Avi Goran Bar which has increased her appetite to explore the therapeutic qualities of art making.

email: manousakid@acs.gr

Mary Orgianopoulou holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Greek Philology with a major in Greek Language and Byzantine Literature from the Democritus University of Thrace and a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. This year she has started a second master in Special Education for People with Oral and Written Language Difficulties. Ms. Orgianopoulou has attended various trainings and seminars related to the approach of teaching Greek as a Second or Foreign language.

Ms. Orgianopoulou began teaching the Greek language to refugees and immigrants in Athens and in Samos by funded NGOs. This is her fourth year in the ACS community, and she will be teaching Greek to students of all grades. Ms. Orgianopoulou will continue teaching the Greek Isotimia Program at ACS Athens and the Greek class for the Youth-to-Youth Program. She has taken part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, a collaboration about SDG's between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul. Ms. Mary Orgianopoulou also serves as an examiner for Greek Citizenship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

email: orgianopouloum@acs.gr

Ms. Papageorgiou was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. She holds a B.A. in Greek Literature with a major in Ancient Greek Literature and Latin from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Ms. Papageorgiou worked many years as a teacher of Greek and taught students of all grades (elementary through high school). She has also worked in a publishing house for two years as an editor of Greek Language and Literature school books.

Ms. Papageorgiou joined ACS Athens in 2007. She teaches the Language Arts and Advanced classes at ACS Athens Elementary School. Ms. Papageorgiou also teaches Greek in the Middle School to non-native speakers.

As a Fellow of the ACS Athens Institute, Ms. Papageorgiou has designed and taught two virtual courses: Modern Greek for Beginners I and Modern Greek for Beginners II.  She has also taught the Greek Isotimia Program of ACS Athens High school for several years.  Furthermore, Ms. Papageorgiou has taught at the Elementary Writing Center guiding students between grades 1 -5 with their writing for several years.

Ms. Papageorgiou has published articles in Ethos magazine on Greek language instruction, Greek national celebrations, and teaching Greek as a second language. She has also attended many educational conferences – seminars on Teaching, Technology in Education, and Learning Differences.

Ms. Papageorgiou successfully completed a 9-month seminar offered by the Aegean University on the subject: Greek as a Second/Foreign Language. She recently took part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, a collaboration about SDG's between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul.

email: papageorgioua@acs.gr

Ms. Dimitra Psoma holds a Greek Language and Literature Bachelor’s Degree from the National University of Athens (Greece) majoring in Linguistics, and a Master of Arts in Translation from the University of New Hampshire (USA). This is her eighth year at ACS Athens.

Ms. Psoma has been teaching English and Greek to students of all levels, as well as preparing students for their university Entrance Exams for 14 years. Last year, she taught the Greek 2 as Language B to Academy Students. This year, she is teaching Greek to elementary students from kindergarten to-5th grade and Greek 5, which is a course offered to Academy students who have achieved Greek proficiency and wish to further strengthen their language skills. Ms. Psoma has successfully completed a 9-month seminar offered by the Aegean University under the subject: Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.

email: psomad@acs.gr

Irini Rovoli holds a B.A. in Education from the University of Athens, School of Philosophy, and an M.A. in the Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs from the University of London, Institute of Education. She also pursued advanced piano studies at the National Conservatory of Athens and studied Drama at Veaki Drama School, Athens.

Ms. Rovoli began teaching at high school level at the Hackney Community School in London and in the Greek public sector at Varibopi Athens High School for Repatriated Greeks. She joined ACS Athens in 1995 and has been a teacher of Greek in Elementary and Middle School ever since. She also taught 5th grade English Language Arts class and has served as Team Leader. In 2017, Ms. Rovoli was also assigned the role of Elementary Interim Vice-Principal.

Ms. Rovoli actively contributed innovations in the Greek language curriculum of the elementary, including content design for grades JK-5 and the elementary school Greek national celebrations. She co-authored an article in the British Journal of Educational Psychology and has published articles in the Institute of Education Alumni magazine, NESA News magazine, and ACS Athens Ethos. As co-advisor of the ACS Athens Elementary Turtle Club, she presented this innovative environmental initiative on student leadership and action through Project-Based Learning at the ECIS Conference in 2012 in Athens and at the NESA International Conference in 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. Her presentation at the ACS Athens Colloquium 2016 was her original work on rhyming grammar rules for Greek language learners.

As a Fellow of the ACS Athens Institute, Ms. Rovoli has designed the HS virtual course Greek Language and History. Ms. Rovoli is a certified Critical Friends Groups Coach (National School Reform Faculty) and has served as a facilitator in the ACS Athens Collaborative Learning Communities. Ms. Rovoli successfully completed a 9-month seminar offered by the Aegean University on the subject: Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.

email: rovolii@acs.gr

Maria Veloudi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and a Master’s degree in Educational Policy and Administration from the Philosophy school of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She also holds a diploma in Special Education.

Before joining ACS, Ms. Veloudi taught Greek at the International School of Piraeus to both Greek nationals and non-Greek students, where she differentiated and tiered learning activities for all students. Prior to that experience, Ms. Veloudi worked at the Museum of Education, planning and delivering various learning activities for students of ages visiting the museum.

Ms. Veloudi is passionate about teaching and very excited to share her love of teaching and learning with the ACS Athens students. Ms. Veloudi will also continue teaching the Greek class for the Youth-to-Youth program and for the ACS Athens Virtual.

Ms. Veloudi successfully completed a 9-month seminar offered by the Aegean University on the subject: Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.

She recently took part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, a collaboration about SDG's between ACS Athens and Hisar School in Istanbul.

email: veloudim@acs.gr

Ms. Mariza Bessa holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physics from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her academic journey continued at the Master's level within the School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the National Technical University of Athens. During her studies, she had the chance to conduct her thesis research at the National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos" in Athens, Greece.

With a diverse teaching background, Ms. Bessa has engaged with students across various grade levels and educational institutions. While her primary focus had been on teaching Science to Middle and High School students, she embraced the exciting challenge of working with younger children. Last year, she joined ACS Athens as an on-call substitute teacher. In the present year, she eagerly transitions into her new role as the Math Studio Coordinator in the Elementary School.

Ms. Bessa's dedication to education goes far beyond the classroom, as demonstrated through collaborative initiatives. She has co-authored three Middle School physics books, designed to complement the core Greek curriculum and enhance students' learning experiences. Her active participation in workshops and seminars underscores her passion for innovative teaching approaches and continuous growth.

email: bessam@acs.gr

Mrs. Lanari is a graduate of the American College of Greece with a major in music and holds a music therapy certification from Athens Conservatoire "Opera." Her teacher training at Kingston University focused on the EYFS setting for ages 3-7. With extensive experience supporting early childhood development in various English schools, including forest school environments, she is passionate about outdoor learning and hands-on experiences. Her expertise lies in play-based learning, child-centered approaches, and proficiency in Makaton sign language and cued articulation. This proficiency enables her to create an inclusive classroom environment that supports diverse learning needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those for whom English is an Additional Language (EAL). With a strong background working with SEND and EAL students, Mrs. Lanari prioritizes fostering an inclusive classroom atmosphere where each student feels valued and supported. Embracing cross-cultural activities for student engagement, Mrs. Lanari's teaching philosophy centers on creating safe and empathetic spaces.

email: lanarii@acs.gr

Mr. Polychronopoulos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education & Sports Science from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Basketball (2016). He also has acquired the A category Basketball Coach Certification from the general secretariat of Sports. Additionally, he holds a Masters's degree in «Exercise and Quality of Life» with the orientation: Organization of Physical Activity and Sports Recreation from the Democritus University of Thrace.

He also has experience as a semi-professional basketball player in the third national category, with achievements such as second place in the U16 National Championship and in the U21 Attica Tournament.

Antonis is passionate about teaching. He has worked for years as a basketball coach in several basketball clubs (Olympiakos, Cholargos). He has also been an academy supervisor for the past two years. Furthermore, he has worked as a fitness coach in pre and elementary school programs organized by various municipalities. Last but not least, he has been an instructor in a variety of sports camps, including the ACS Summer Camp in 2021.

This year he will be teaching Physical Education in the Elementary School.

email: polychronopoulosa@acs.gr

Ms. Zoe Karatza received her B.A in Early Childhood Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She completed courses in the field of Psychology on Learning Disabilities and Psychology of Emotions during her studies at the Italian University of Padova. Ms. Karatza has also completed her M.A. degree in Information and Communication Technology in Education (ICTE) from the National and Kapodistrian University, University of Thessaly and Technological Education Institute of Piraeus. 

Ms. Karatza worked at a STEM learning center as an Early Childhood teacher as well as the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Programs (in Coding) developing the curriculum, implementing it as well as training other teachers. Ms. Karatza has worked with learners across grade levels at ACS Athens as an assistant to the Optimal Learning Program (OLP) for Elementary School, Middle School, and Academy. Having been exposed to different instructional environments in the Elementary School over the past 4 years, as the OLP assistant, the Permanent Substitute Teacher and Learning Support Specialist, Ms. Karatza has gained valuable experience in incorporating motivational activities and positive reinforcement, integrating engaging teaching methods as well as supporting students with learning differences. She has also been involved in many aspects of school life as a Learning Enhancement After School Programs instructor, the ES House System Coordinator and ES Student Council Advisor. 

Her research entitled "Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a Tool of Differentiated Instruction: An Informative Intervention and a Comparative Study on Educators’ Views and Extent of ICT Use” was presented at the 7th International Conference on Education and Management Innovation in Italy and published in the International Journal of Information and Education Technology. Ms. Karatza has also presented her research entitled “What are the effects of the Artificial Intelligence pilot program on 4th Grade students’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions?” at the 5th International Conference on Future of Teaching and Education.

In her Technology classes, She is highly interested in guiding her students to be conscious citizens while focusing on digital citizenship. Her action research on Promoting Social and Emotional Learning through Digital Citizenship lessons has been presented at the ECIS Inclusive Education Conference 2023.

Ms. Karatza is committed, inventive and finds her drive from the inside out while creating a positive, fun learning environment that encourages students to feel confident and inspires them to experience and use new technologies while being responsible digital citizens.

email: karatzaz@acs.gr

Ms. Spiliadi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Patras and a Master of Business Administration MBA from ALBA Graduate Business School.

She has worked as a Systems Development and Process Management principal engineer in the Telecommunications Industry for eleven years. Since 2012 she has been working as a Computer Science teacher at all levels, from Elementary to High School, in private Greek schools.

Ms. Spiliadi derives incredible joy and energy from teaching and interacting with students. Her goal as an educator is to keep students motivated and to encourage them to live up to their true potential.

Among her interests are chess, table tennis, and photography. She also loves playing the piano and has received an academic degree in piano performance from Skalkotas Music School.

email: spiliadid@acs.gr

email: davisk@acs.gr

Originally from Athens, Ms Martha Chiskaki was raised in Bulgaria, Italy, India, and Thailand. During her time abroad, she attended several international schools, which contributed to her fluency in four languages: Greek, English, Italian, and French. She holds two bachelor’s degrees- one in English and Greek Language and Literature and one in French Language and Literature both obtained from NKUA (the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens). She is currently a junior at NKUA, pursuing a degree in Italian Language and Literature. Additionally, she earned her Master's Degree in Business Administration at the Bolton University, UK.

Throughout her career, she has worked in various roles, including positions at the National Bank of Greece, at the European Public Law Organization as junior editor for the European Review of Public Law, at Teletypos SA Mega Channel as a translator, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She recently participated in the Metaverse Cultural Diversity project, a collaborative initiative focusing on SDGs between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul.   

Currently in her fifth year as an educator at ACS Athens, Ms Martha Chiskaki is dedicated to teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary School. Her objective is to create an optimal learning environment that facilitates the improvement of English skills for each student.

email: chiskakim@acs.gr

Sofia Gennimata was born in Thessaloniki, Greece and has lived most of her adult life in Athens, however her educational experience in Florida, U.S.A, during middle school was what shaped her life. Being an ESL student in Florida, she looked up to her teachers and that was when the spark of teaching ignited. Upon her return to Greece, she pursued a B.A. in English Language and Literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. At that time, she started working with students learning English as a second language. In 2016, she earned her M.A. in Developmental and Learning Disabilities from Deree - The American College of Greece, and she completed her Practicum as an intern in the Optimal Learning Program (OLP) at ACS Athens. She then joined the OL Program of ACS Athens working with Middle and High School students. She later worked in the Elementary School for three years as an OLP Specialist. Sofia then became a part of the ESL department in the Elementary, working with students in Grades 1-5.

In her work, Sofia assists students in reaching their true potential through differentiating classroom curriculum and accommodating resources based on student needs. She continues to expand her knowledge and dive deeper into education through participating in various courses and programs. She has attended courses on Differentiated Instruction in the Classroom,  Conquering Behavioral Challenges, Inclusive Virtual Learning Practices for Diverse Learners, and ECIS Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate in Child Protection, among others. Sofia has also presented in the 2023 ECIS Inclusive Education Conference on the application of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in a multilingual classroom. Sofia has also completed the Wilson Reading System (WRS) Level I Certification and as a licensed Reading Specialist she is eager to apply this teaching approach to the ACS Athens population. Sofia is excited to be a part of the Elementary School faculty and apply her pedagogical knowledge in the ACS Athens ESL classroom.

email: gennimatas@acs.gr

Dr. Jenny Grigoropoulou was born in Athens, Greece, and raised in Maryland, U.S.A.. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration in 1989, from the University of La Verne and her M.A. degree in International Management and Business Administration. In 1992, she earned her teaching education and certification in the United States, qualified to teach ESL/EFL K–12 and Business Studies 6 - 12. She is an IB educator as well as an IB examiner for Business Management. In May 2019, she graduated from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, earning her Doctorate Degree in Education, Leadership, and Management. 

Dr. Grigoropoulou is a contributing author of the books Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i2Flex Classroom Model and Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model. She has authored articles, such as “The Role of Ethics in the 21st Century Organization” (IJPE-April 2019), and is the co-author with Dr. Gialamas of the manuscript, “Educators Leaders: Inspiring Learners to Transform Society by Becoming Architects of their Own Learning” (IJPE - October 2018) and with Dr. Pelonis, Dr. Gialamas, and Dr. Cherif of the manuscript,  "How Can Manifesting Leadership Skills Infused with Ethos, Empathy and Compassion, Better Prepare Students to Assume Leadership Roles" (IJPE, February 2020) . She has presented her work and practices in colloquiums and conferences. She is one of the founding members of the Recycling Project, which is a school-wide initiative.

Dr. Grigoropoulou had been teaching ESL in the Middle School and the Elementary School for grades K – 5 to non-native English speakers. Overall, she has been an ESL educator for 35 years. She has been actively involved with the Saturday Youth-to-Youth program since the initiation of the program, providing unaccompanied minors with skills and knowledge of the English language. In addition to her teaching assignments, educator of the EFL Language Arts and Language Development courses. While being the ESL/EFL K-12 Coordinator, she's also the Admissions & Outreach Counselor.

email: grigoropoulouj@acs.gr

Julia Stephanidou has a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Athens and an M.A. in World and Comparative Literature from San Francisco State University.

She has taught English as a Foreign Language and English as a Second Language at the elementary, middle, and high school levels since 2001 at private schools in Athens. She is particularly interested in English language acquisition at the primary stages of learning with a special emphasis on speaking activities. She has been working at ACS Athens since 2014, initially, as an EFL aide and, subsequently, as an EFL teacher.

Her experience in previous schools also includes coaching students of the Forensics Club, setting up lesson plans for the first and second-grade afternoon program, editing the elementary school magazine, and completing the Harvard online course “Visible Thinking”. She also participated in a longitudinal growth plan that focused on the collection of data in order to better assess the needs and record the growth of the EFL and ESL population. Finally, Ms. Stephanidou has been teaching ESL at the Elementary School since September 2021, a position she very much enjoys since she adores teaching younger learners of English who are also beginners.

email: stephanidouj@acs.gr

Sarah Kaldelli earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, U.S.A. Her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education was achieved from The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. She also acquired her Degree Equivalency from the Greek Ministry of Education.

She has worked in international schools in Greece, and in the Greek private school sector for the past 25 years. She has taught students with learning differences and disabilities ranging from Junior-Kindergarten to the 12th grade.

This is her 18th year at ACS Athens in the Optimal Learning Program (OLP). For the first 12 years, she was the Elementary School Optimal Learning Specialist and for the last few years has been working as the Coordinator for OLP. She has experienced many diverse professional development opportunities such as ECIS, NESA, the Learning Difference Conferences at ACS Athens, and ADHD conferences across Europe. She also routinely benefits from online coursework through different universities and programs. She has been a mentor to those seeking teacher certifications and to those doing internships during their academic studies. Additionally, she has authored and co-authored articles for the ACS Athens Ethos magazine. She played an active part in the development and establishment of the ACS Athens Diagnostic Center and continues to collaborate closely with both the Center and the school’s Counselors. Moreover, she participated in the CIS Child Protection and Safeguarding conference in The Hague, and she actively assisted in creating the ACS Athens handbook on this subject, as she is one of the ACS Athens Child Safeguarding Liaisons. She is an advocate for early intervention, focusing on each child’s best interests, and building each child's confidence to become the architect of their own learning.

email: kaldellis@acs.gr

Andreas Kokkinos was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He holds a B.A. in Theatrical Studies from the  Faculty of Fine Arts, obtained from the University of Peloponnese. During his B.A. studies, Mr. Kokkinos worked in the elementary school of Kyveri, Argolida as a drama practitioner. This was an excellent experience that truly sparked his interest in working with children. In 2015, he moved to the United  Kingdom and pursued an M.A. in Applied and Participatory Theatre at Royal Holloway University of  London. 

After concluding his studies, Mr. Kokkinos worked at the St. Mark’s Social Education Day Service in London for three years. There, he gained extensive training and valuable experience in the fields of autism, special education, and social training. This professional experience taught him to truly recognize, understand and cater to students’ unique personalities and traits, encouraging and assisting them to improve their capabilities and talents through specialized and goal-driven educational methods. During his time at St.  Mark’s Social Education Day Service, Mr. Kokkinos also obtained the Diploma Level 3 in Health & Social  Care (autism-specific) from Pearson Edexcel and First Aid training. 

Upon his return to Athens, Greece in 2020, he joined the ACS Athens community as a Shadow Teacher.  Mr. Kokkinos has focused on supporting students academically by implementing specific strategies and interventions. He also devised creative organizational methods to support students in following the pace of the classes, staying up to date with responsibilities and commitments as well as developing concentration, participation, and multitasking skills. Mr. Kokkinos also takes great interest in building students’ self-confidence and social skills within the school environment. He is very committed to meeting students’ personal, unique needs and improving their skills through his collaboration with them. Last but not least, Mr. Kokkinos’ work ethic and trust in his students are driving forces in not only helping them improve their academic performance but also motivating them to thrive in anything they set their hearts and minds on conquering. In January 2021 Mr. Kokkinos joined the OLP Department as the Elementary  OLP Aide.

email: kokkinosa@acs.gr

Michela Martines holds dual citizenship from Italy and Norway. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Sussex. For her academic achievements, she received a full scholarship to complete her Master's degree from the same university in Clinical Psychology and Mental Health. She is a fellow at the Hellenic Institute for RECBT. Following a four-year training and supervision program, Ms. Martines is specialized in applying Rational-Emotive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to support children, adolescents, parents and educators. With this experience, she approaches her students through a holistic lens and is further equipped in successfully supporting children through their academic journey. Ms. Martines participated in the course “Online Learning and Support for Students with Special Needs” through Moreland University to gain further knowledge on how to best support students during virtual learning. Through The Institute of ACS Athens, Ms. Martines designed, created and taught a virtual course aimed at supporting middle school and academy students to develop their organizational and time management skills. Ms. Martines holds an ECIS Level 2 Certificate in Child Protection. She is passionate about supporting students with learning differences in reaching their potential.

Ms. Martines has been a member of the ACS Athens community since 2017. She has effectively held different positions at ACS Athens and in OLP. She has supported students across all schools (K-12) and has worked closely with teachers to promote inclusive practices in the mainstream classroom. She is excited to be in her third year as Elementary OLP Specialist.

email: martinesm@acs.gr

Anna Makris was born and raised in Athens, Greece, and is an alumna of ACS Athens. Ms. Makris is a Licensed Psychologist and has received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto with a double major in Psychology and Sociology as well as a Master of Science in Psychology from Kingston University. In addition she is trained in psychoeducational diagnostic testing and is one of the founding members of the Educational & Diagnostic Testing Center at ACS Athens.

She began working at ACS Athens in 2012 as an Academic Advisory Specialist and IB CAS Coordinator, assisting Junior and Senior students with the university application process as a whole. Ms. Makris is currently the Academy Counseling Coordinator in the Office of Student Affairs.

email: makrisa@acs.gr

Ms. Androniki Manoli earned her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2015). She holds a Master’s degree in Special Educational Needs from the University of Leeds, UK (2017).

Ms. Manoli has been working at ACS Athens since 2021 as a Shadow Teacher and a LEP Instructor. This is her first year as OLP Elem/MS/Academy Inclusion Specialist, supporting students in OLP in all three schools by collaborating closely with faculty in a co-teaching model to ensure that differentiation is being implemented.    

 Prior to that, she worked as a Special Educator in the UK where she practiced evidence-based interventions for students with neurodevelopmental disorders. She has also worked at the Amsterdam International Community School as a Learning Support Teacher, where she built expertise in differentiation and inquiry-based approach. During her undergraduate degree, she volunteered at SOS Children’s Villages by implementing psycho-educational activities to enhance the emotional, social, and cognitive skills of children aged 4-7 years old. While in the UK and the Netherlands, Ms. Manoli taught Greek as a second/ foreign language.

Ms. Manoli has also attended several seminars and professional development workshops some of which include, ECIS, “Applied Behavior Analysis”, “Refugee and Immigrant Education and Support: Intercultural Views and Practical Applications”, “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Intervention”, among others. She speaks Greek, English, and Spanish.

She is adept at creating a positive difference in her student’s learning development by promoting a socially just, multicultural classroom environment that delivers meaningful and long-lasting results for a diverse range of needs and interests. She is passionate about implementing inclusive teaching strategies as differentiation empowers all students to reach their maximum potential. Finally, Ms. Manoli is fond of surfing, hiking, and art exhibitions.

email: manolia@acs.gr

Ms. Alexopoulos is a Greek American ACS Athens alum who went on to the United States where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. During her undergraduate studies, she worked in a school and fell in love with teaching. She later moved to Houston TX and obtained her Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Houston and is now certified to teach general education from Early Childhood to 6thGrade and Special Education from Early Childhood to 12th Grade. 

During her time in Texas, Ms. Alexopoulos worked as a General Education and Special Education teacher in the public school system where she primarily worked with students on the Autism Spectrum and students with developmental disabilities. Other than her special education experience Ms. Alexopoulos worked in a kindergarten classroom and gained experience teaching all subjects in a general education classroom. 

After living and working in the United States for several years she decided to return to Greece and work as a Kindergarten teacher at a bilingual kindergarten. As she considers ACS Athens her home she is now back as permanent substitute for the Elementary school.

email: alexopoulosa@acs.gr

Ms. Sitarenios earned her degree in Child Psychology at the University of Rome ("La Sapienza" in Italy) and later pursued her Masters at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands. Given her educational background, she has been working in education for many years.  

Upon moving back to Athens, Ms. Sitarenios happily embraced her role as a Permanent Substitute at ACS Athens. Ms. Sitarnios is currently enhancing her expertise through a post Master's program in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. 

As a half Greek half Italian, she is fluent in a total of four languages. She shares her life with her Dutch partner and their two daughters. Ms. Sitarenios is committed to education, and loves working with children.

She feels privileged to be part of the ACS Athens community.

email: sitareniosm@acs.gr

Alexandra Georgiou is a seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience, holding a K-6 Teaching Certificate from the State of Florida. She serves as a Math Studio teacher in the ACS schools, providing support to students ranging from 1st to 5th grade in their mathematical inquiries. Born and raised in Athens, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Thessaly. She then pursued a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership in the United States at Northeastern Illinois University. During her time in Chicago, she held various teaching positions and took pride in her role as a Master Teacher at a Learning Center serving low-income communities. Ms. Georgiou worked tirelessly to bridge the learning gap and develop a high-quality curriculum for her students. Additionally, she played a key role in supporting the organization through the accreditation process with the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

In 2010, Ms. Georgiou underwent a significant transition in her teaching career when she moved to Miami, Florida, to join an innovative Charter School employing a departmentalized teaching approach for elementary education. Focusing on mathematics, she discovered her passion and developed a profound love for teaching math. She expanded her skills by becoming a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Over the following years, she taught math across various grade levels, gaining a thorough understanding of the curriculum, and she was recognized as a High Impact Teacher in Mathematics in Florida.

She began offering support to new teachers in their roles as mathematics educators and continued to contribute by assuming the position of Mathematics Coordinator for the elementary school. With the support of her colleagues, she led the development of a vertically aligned curriculum, created pacing guides, and prepared practice materials for various topics and standardized tests.

During her tenure, she also coached upper elementary students who participated in various mathematics competitions. They achieved success in state competitions, Math Olympiads, as well as in the Perennial Math and Math Kangaroo international competitions. They even traveled to the National Finals for the Alpha Math Contest in California and MathCon in Chicago.

Alexandra prioritizes building strong student relationships, fostering open dialogue, and promoting critical thinking in her classroom. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time hiking in the countryside with her family, her dogs, and her cat.

email: georgioua@acs.gr

Ms. Monahogiou was born in New York City and raised in the suburbs of Long Island. She graduated and attained a Bachelor's Degree from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook. Maria moved permanently to Athens, after having graduated from the university.

She worked at two foreign language institutes as an English teacher upon her arrival to Greece. She also owned an English daycare and Kindergarten center, where she taught and ran the business in the northern suburbs of Athens.

She has been working at ACS Athens since 1994. She has worked with the ESL Department in both elementary and the middle school, where she was assisting and teaching.

Her talent and hobby is singing and she shares her passion at school when performing in various ACS Athens concerts and talent shows. She also keeps occupied outside of school as a member in various choirs.

email: monahogioum@acs.gr

Mr. Nick Naoum was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a coaching certificate in soccer.

He has coached boys and girls soccer at all levels and has also been a Varsity Coach at  ACS Athens for several years. As an athlete Mr. Naoum has played soccer in semi-pro level and was a member of the Belgian league for the team of Anderlecht.

Mr. Naoum is an ACS Athens alumnus (class of 1979).

email: naoumn@acs.gr