ACS Athens

Brian F. Gerbracht, Principal

Mr. Gerbracht grew up in Williamsville, New York just outside of Buffalo. (Yes, there was a lot of snow in Buffalo).  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Sound Recording Technology from State University of New York at Fredonia, a Certificate of Advanced Study in Secondary Education from Buffalo State College, a Master of Science in Reading Education from the State University of New York at Cortland, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in School District Administration from the State University of New York at Cortland.

He is a certified School Administrator, k-12 reading, and k-12 music teacher. He spent 4 years teaching middle level and high level science classes, and 4 years as an academic intervention teacher to middle school students.  He spent 3 years as an assistant principal at Union-Endicott High School, and 4 years as k-12 principal at Andover Central School. This is his first year as ACS Athens Academy principal.

Brian and his wife, Courtney, have three children.  This is their first experience overseas. They have been married 18 years. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing his guitar, swimming, and cheering on the Buffalo Sabres.

“Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness.”
~ James Thurber

Ph. : 210.639.3200 x241

email: gerbrachtb@acs.gr

Stacy Filippou, Administrative Assistant

Ms. Filippou was born and raised in Athens and Chicago. She graduated from the small private girls college prep academy of St. Scholastica and went on to attend Wright College.

Ms. Filippou has worked at ACS Athens since 1997, and has served as Admissions Officer; she has also held various administrative support roles at the school.  She is currently the Administrative Assistant to the Academy Principal.

email: filippous@acs.gr

Leigh Anderson, Library Coordinator

Ms. Anderson received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Douglass College, an Master of Science from Rutgers University in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Columbia University in Finance. 

She is the library manager for the Elementary and the Academy/MS Libraries.

email: andersonl@acs.gr

Heike Arnold, Faculty, German Language

Ms. Arnold teaches German at the ACS Athens Middle School and the Academy. She is German and has been living in Greece for 15 years. She studied German linguistics and literature at the University of Athens and specializes in teaching German as a foreign language.  Next to German and English she speaks Greek and French.

Ms. Arnold has co-published with Klett Verlag an exercise book for Magnet A1 , Griechisches Begleitheft.

email: arnoldh@acs.gr

Angelo Athanasopoulos (EdD.), Faculty, Computers & Business Economics

Angelo has earned a B.Sc. in Political Science from Northeastern University in 1993. He earned his M.Sc. in Education from the University of Massachusetts in 1995 specializing in Curriculum Development and Teaching. He earned his Doctoral Degree from Boston University in 2003 specializing in Educational Media & Technology.  

While working towards his degrees he worked for one year at the K-9 Boston Renaissance Charter School as the director for technology and for two years as Boston Public School teacher at Dorchester, MA teaching computers, desktop publishing and web development. At the same time he taught undergraduate education related courses as adjunct faculty in various US institutions of higher learning. Upon coming to Greece in 2004 he taught in six different universities as an affiliated lecturer.

At ACS Athens he teaches mathematics and Information technology courses, along with American Studies and business economics. He also works with the technology department to find new ways to design, develop and utilize new educational media to infuse technology in the learning process.

email: athanasopoulosa@acs.gr

Dean Bradshaw, Faculty, English Language

Born and raised outside of Chicago, Mr. Bradshaw is new to ACS Athens for the 2012-2013 year.  He has a B.A. in English, an M.A. in teaching, and is completing a Masters in Educational Leadership.  He has taught all levels of high school in English for the past seven years in Illinois. 

Prior to realizing his dream of teaching, Mr. Bradshaw spent ten years in corporate finance.  During his previous teaching positions, he advised the student newspaper and founded a peer tutoring center.  He knows how crucial literacy and technology skills are in today’s world.  He challenges his students to be curious and ask questions so they will be leaders for the future.

Mr. Bradshaw and his wife have two children attending ACS Athens.  This is their first time living outside the US.  

He will be teaching English 10 - Language and Literature and World Literature this year.

email: bradshawd@acs.gr

Marca Daley, Faculty, English Language

Marca Daley earned a B.A. in English from UMass, Amherst, and an M.A. in Writing / Writing about Literature from Northeastern University.   She has also completed post-graduate study at the University of California - Berkeley (Extension) and is an approved instructor for the National Writing Project.   She has been a faculty member at ACS Athens since 1982 and as well as holding several administrative positions, has been a teacher of English, Social Studies, Theory of Knowledge, Chorus, Speech and Drama.  She currently teaches 9^th grade English, Speech and IB English. 

email: daleym@acs.gr

Tina Dellas, Faculty, Science

Ms. Dellas finished high school in Minnesota and went to Oberlin College on a National Merit Scholarship, receiving the Bachelor of Arts in Biology.  At UMass Amherst she earned the master’s degree in Botany. In Athens, she completed the Master of Arts in Psychology from Ball State University. 

At the University of Athens she pursued Doctoral Research on the evolutionary relationships of the Hawaiian Drosophila, in collaboration with New York University, work which was published in Roux’s Archives of Developmental Biology.  At Boston University School of Education, she pursued further coursework in the teaching of science, and has presented workshops at the National Science Teachers’ Association and NESA.

Her special interest in ecology and field biology has led her to study diverse ecosystems at summer programs at the Duke University Marine Laboratory, the University of Colorado Arctic and Alpine Research Station, the University of Michigan Biological Research Station, and others.

email: dellast@acs.gr

Angelos Dimitropoulos, Faculty, Physical Education
P. E. Coordinator

Mr. Dimitropoulos is a Physical Education Teacher and Coordinator for Physical Education.  Mr. Dimitropoulos was raised in Athens, Greece. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Physical Education from the University of Physical Education and Sport Science in Athens and then received his Masters Degree in Sports Management, through a program ran by the International Olympic Committee, from University of Lyon, France.

Mr. Dimitropoulos has worked as the Baseball Competition Manager for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and has also observed the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He has published a book on baseball.

He has also worked as a basketball coach in Greek Professional League and has attended a number of basketball clinics in Greece as well as in the States.

Mr. Dimitropoulos is a certified lifeguard and an emergency responder (CPR/First Aid for adult/child/infant).

email: dimitropoulosa@acs.gr

Emilia Drogaris, Faculty, Social Studies
Social Studies Coordinator

Ms. Drogaris is originally from New York, NY.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio and a Master of Science from the Athens University of Economics and Business (ΑΣΟΕΕ), where she graduated with honors. She is currently completing a M.Sc. in Educational Theory and Practice from Arkansas State University. 

Before coming to teach at ACS Athens, Ms. Drogaris was a teacher in Brooklyn, New York.  Upon moving to Greece, she entered the business field where she was Manager of Sales and Marketing for an American multinational in the emerging markets, as well as owner of her own business.  She decided to return to her true love which is teaching and is very happy to be back in the classroom.   This year Ms. Drogaris is teaching four sections of IB Economics and one section of Business Economics.

email: drogarise@acs.gr

Mandy Dragatakis, Educational Planning

A native of Athens, Ms. Dragatakis following the completion of her schooling at Athens College-HAEF, she graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a BA in English studies with a direction in literature.

She has completed her M. Ed. in Psychology of Education at the University of Manchester. Ms. Dragatakis has worked as a tutor of English as a Foreign Language for Elementary and Middle school students. She has worked at ACS Athens  as a teacher assistant for Academic Advisory (9th – 10th grade) and as the supervisor in Junior/Senior Advisory (11th - 12th grade) as well as the SAT and ACT testing coordinator and CAS coordinator for the International Baccalaureate program.

She is currently an Academy Counselor for students in grades 9 – 12.  As a counselor she provides comprehensive counseling, guiding students through the entire application process, future career exploration, four year academic plans, scheduling and working within the Junior and Senior Advisory classes to provide comprehensive guidance for colleges and universities in group and individual meetings.

email: dragatakism@acs.gr

Georgia Exintavelonis, Faculty, Greek Language

Ms. Exintavelonis earned a BA in Philosophy – Education - Psychology from the National Capodistrian University of Athens and a MA in Sociology of Education with Distinction from the Institute of Education, University of London. Upon completion of her postgraduate studies, she worked as a learning support assistant at the City of Westminster College in London, UK. When Ms. Exintavelonis returned to Greece, she joined the Center for Intercultural Education (Κε.Δ.Α.) at the University of Athens, where she developed research programs for the educational and social integration of foreign students and repatriated Greeks. In addition to planning research, she was responsible for designing research-based education programs which addressed the needs of multicultural schools in the field of Greek Language, Literature, and Culture.

A member of the ACS Athens faculty since 2005, Ms. Exintavelonis teaches Middle School Greek Language Arts. She has also taught Greek in the Elementary School, as well as World Literature in the Academy. 

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has been a member of the ACSTA Executive Council, Forensics Duet Acting Coach, and Advisor of the Middle School Greek Club and National Honor Society. 

email: exintavelonisg@acs.gr

Maria Falidas, Faculty, Mathematics

Ms. Falidas earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the City University of New York at Queens College in 2002. In 2005 she earned her master’s degree in Mathematics from the City University of New York at Queens College and her master’s degree in Mathematics Education from the City University of New York at Hunter College.

Ms. Falidas holds a permanent New York State teaching certificate and she has worked in New York City public and private schools from 2002 to 2006. In addition she worked as lecturer for the Mathematics Department at LaGuardia Community College in New York. Ms. Falidas has been a teacher of Mathematics at ACS Athens since 2007.

At ACS Athens she is member of the National Honors Society committee and an advisor for the Mathematics Literature Club.  She is currently an external examiner for the International Baccalaureate Organization in Mathematics, a member of Thales and Friends and a member of the Scientific Association for Mathematics Education.

email: falidasm@acs.gr

Margarita Gournaris, Faculty, Social Studies

Margarita Gournaris received her BA from Barat College, Lake Forest, Illinois and her MA in Education from La Verne College, Athens, Greece. After teaching in the United States for two years, she joined the faculty at the American Community Schools in 1983, as a member of the Humanities Department.

She has been an advisor to the junior and senior classes and was the Yearbook advisor for eight years. She was also a co-advisor of Close up Washington, a week long program which introduces students to the functions of the U.S. government. Ms. Gournaris is an advisor for Model United Nations, a simulation of the United Nations which participates annually in The Hague International Conference, Qatar Foundation Conference, and in other local conferences. In 1995, as a co-chair, she initiated the first Model United Nations conference held in Greece. She has also worked closely with the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Athens, a branch of the UN’s department of Public Information and has helped organize local conferences, and has led workshops for advisors in Greece.

In addition to teaching a variety of courses in the Humanities Department, she was a teacher of IB History at the Higher and Standard Levels for over 10 years. She is also presently teaching European History Standard and Honors, and Topics in Modern History.

email:  gournarism@acs.gr

Jakob House, Faculty, History

Mr. House hails from the small town of Spring Hill, KS (USA). He earned his B.A. in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Social Studies. He also earned his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching. He is certified to teach social studies from grades 6-12. Both degrees were obtained through the University of Kansas and he is an avid Jayhawks Fan!

Mr. House has experience teaching all age levels from Kindergarten through High School. In the summer of 2009, Mr. House adventured to Carpi, Italy to teach abroad to a group of middle school students. History, English, Math, Science, and sports were a few subjects he had the opportunity to instruct.

This year at ACS, Mr. House will be teaching European History, European History Honors, ESL Support 9 and ESL Support 10. As well as coaching the JV boys basketball team.

email: housej@acs.gr

Dr. Tonia Firigou, Faculty, French Language
Foreign Languages Coordinator

Dr. Firigou is a foreign Language Teacher (French) and the Coordinator of Foreign Languages. She earned a Bachelor’s in French Literature from the Greek Capodistrian University of Athens and in 2008 she received her master's degree in the History of French Civilization again from the Capodistrian University of Athens. Dr. Firigou defended successfully her doctorate thesis in History of French Civilization on July 2012 and received her doctoral degree. The thesis title was “Antonin Proust et son voyage en Grèce”.

She has been working in the ACS faculty community since 1999 and has taught both in Middle School and High School. She is an IB teacher and an IB examiner in French language.

For many years, she has been the advisor of the High school French Club. She has established different educational collaborations between ACS Athens and other institutions worldwide. She is a life-long learner and she always strives for better results.

email: firigout@acs.gr

Kathy Jasonides, Faculty, English Language
Division Chair

Ms.  Jasonides holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and a Masters degree in Journalism from the University of California, Los Angeles.  She has been a member of the ACS Academy faculty since 1974 and English Department Chair for 21 years.

After retiring from full-time teaching in 2008, Ms. Jasonides has continued to serve as English Department Chair and to team-teach the Honors Humanities class. She is also Director of the ACS Writing Center and is currently teaching two classes of IB English.

Ms. Jasonides and her teaching partner have developed two on-line Humanities courses which offer the highlights of this interdisciplinary approach, including the field study opportunities, to both ACS and non-ACS students.  She has co-authored articles on field study as a strategy for interdisciplinary study, and presented workshops at the NESA Conference in 2007 and the ACS Conferences on Learning Differences in 2009 and 2010.

email: jasonidesk@acs.gr

Dr. Likourgos Hristakos, Faculty, Science

Mr. Hristakos completed his undergraduate degree in physics (B.Sc.) at the University of Lancaster (UK), he then continued his graduate studies at the University of New Hampshire (USA) where he obtained his Master of Science in Experimental Physics. Following this, he successfully defended his doctorate thesis (Dr. rer. Nat.) in experimental low temperature physics at the University of Bayreuth (Germany). The thesis title was “Ultrasonic investigations on ³He immersed in silica aerogel at low temperatures”.

Mr. Hristakos has worked as a research scientist at the University of Tübingen (Germany) in the solid state physics laboratory as well as in the Centre des Etudes Atomiques in Saclay (France) with emphasis on q-bits and quantum computers.

Mr. Hristakos has been involved in teaching undergraduate student classes and laboratories at university level as well as high school students. This is his 5th year at ACS Athens.

email: hristakosl@acs.gr

Stelios Kalogridakis, Academy Counselor

Five years at ACS Athens, Mr. Kalogridakis was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Rutgers University in NJ, later completed his Master of Arts in Teaching from Boston University, and holds both Massachusetts and New Jersey teaching certifications. He is currently completing a Masters in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Indianapolis, Athens Campus.

As an Academy Counselor, Mr. Kalogridakis works with 9 - 12^th grade students with last names beginning from L-Z in order to provide comprehensive guidance counseling. Focusing on college advising and the entire application process, students' four year academic plans, digital portfolio work, career exploration, scheduling, planning, accompanying students on ACS Athens' College Visit tours to the United States, and guidance counseling. At times working with the Senior and Junior Advisory classes for group instruction, as well as individual meetings, Mr. Kalogridakis was also a Model United Nations adviser, is an active instructor within the Athletic Department and the current 9^th grade class representative.

email: kalogridakiss@acs.gr

Markella Kaplani, Aide, Optimal Learning Program

Markella Kaplani has a Bachelor’s in Psychology (Empire State College) and a Master’s degree in Clinical-Counseling Psychology (LaSalle University).

Ms. Kaplani has academic and counseling experience with students of all age levels through her current as well as several of her former professional positions, and internship placements. She has extensively worked with students to provide them with skills that will allow them to enhance their performance and confidence, whilst simultaneously assisting them in decreasing feelings of anxiety, frustration, and boredom, behaviors of avoidance, and thoughts of self-downing.

This is Ms. Kaplani’s second year as an Academy Specialist Assistant at the Optimal Learning Program at ACS, Athens, as well as an instructor in the After-School and Gateway Programs, where she is responsible for assisting students in performance improvement through several courses including Study/Organizational Skills, Test-Taking Skills, High/Middle School Survival skills, and more.

email: kaplanim@acs.gr

Janet Karvouniaris, Faculty, Social Studies
Division Chair

Ms. Karvouniaris is a Social Studies Teacher and the Division Chair of Social Studies & Arts.

Ms. Karvouniaris teaches 9th grade European History and Humanities Honors, an innovative interdisciplinary course for 10th, 11th and 12th graders. A member of the ACS faculty since 1979, she has also taught Middle School Social Studies/Language Arts and IB History and was Chair of the Social Studies Department from 1990 until 2006. Ms. Karvouniaris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Miami University (Ohio) and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Western Michigan University.  Post graduate studies include history, education and writing across the curriculum.  

As a firm believer in life-long learning beyond the classroom, she has organized many interdisciplinary field study experiences for ACS students in Greece and abroad. Based on these experiences, she and her teaching partner, Ms. Jasonides have presented workshops on field study as a strategy for individual inquiry at NESA and Niarchos Foundation Learning Differences Professional Conferences.

She is a member of the international chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, the honorary organization for professional educators.

email: karvouniarisj@acs.gr

Sana Kassem, Faculty, Science

As a chemistry and biology teacher at ACS since 2004. Ms. Kassem earned a BSc Science (Biology/Chemistry) from the American University of Beirut and a M.Ed from the University of LaVerne, Athens.  She taught biology and chemistry for IGCSE, A level, AP, French Baccalaureate and IB classes in many international schools in Beirut, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Athens.

In addition to teaching Ms. Kassem worked as an academic advisor for curriculum development of science at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, as Head of Science in International Schools in Abu Dhabi and Athens and has been an IB Biology examiner since 2000.  

Go online to view Ms. Kassem's class assignments and general information: http://chemkassem.com/

email: kassems@acs.gr

Matina Katsiyianni, Faculty, Mathematics

Ms. Katsiyianni was born and raised is Athens, Greece.  She holds a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics, from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in applied mathematics.  She holds a Master of Science in Economic Mathematics, from the National Technical University of Athens.

During the past 10 years she had the opportunity to teach math to students of different levels and she has been challenged to accommodate their special needs.

Currently, she will be teaching Geometry Honors, Algebra II and Trigonometry Honors and Pre-Calculus, for the Academy students.

email: katsiyiannim@acs.gr

Sevasti Koniossis, Faculty, English

Ms. Koniossis was born in Athens, Greece and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  She holds a B.A. degree in History and Education and M.A. degree in Social Studies Education, both from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York.

She has taught NYC Public High School students of diverse academic placements and linguistic levels since 2004 and joined the ACS faculty in 2010.

Ms. Koniossis also enjoys devoting time to philanthropic work ministering to underprivileged individuals and families and has been actively involved both in NY and Athens.

email:  koniossiss@acs.gr

Dr. Maria Konstantoulaki, Faculty, Science

Ms. Konstantoulaki received her degree in Biology from Kapodistrian University of Athens.  As an undergraduate student she worked in a number of research labs in the field of AIDS (Medical School of Athens), Altzheimer disease (Kapodistrian University) and immunology of cancer (Vrije University in Brussels).  She received her Ph.D in Pharmacology from University of Illinois at Chicago and continued her training as a researcher in Stanford University and University College London. 

She has taught in greek-american school in Chicago in elementary and middle school students.  She also tutored and trained a number of students to university level.  She has attended Psychology courses. Gradually teaching became more important than research.  She recognizes in teaching a “butterfly effect” with far-reaching implications and a potential for metamorphosis for every student. 

Ms. Konstantoulaki is teaching IB Biology and Environmental Sciences and Theory of knowledge since 2008 and she also got involved with the environmental activities and clubs and Quality Management for Educational Institutions.  She joined the ACS in 2010 and she will be teaching IB Biology, Environmental Sciences and Health.

email: konstantoulakim@acs.gr

Sonia Kormaris, Faculty, Greek Language
Greek Language Coordinator

Ms. Kormaris was raised in Cyprus and in Greece (Kastoria, Thessaloniki, Giannitsa, Samos, Patra and Athens). She was born in Corfu. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies (Ancient and Modern Greek Literature and Latin) from The National Capodistrian University of Athens and she is currently following an MBA at the University of Indianapolis.

She has been a faculty member at ACS Athens since 1997 teaching Greek and mainly Greek Pre IB and Greek IB A1 /A2 classes. She has been Greek Coordinator and since 2008 Greek Department Head. She is an approved member of Validation Team in Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

email: kormariss@acs.gr

Athanasia Kotsiani, Faculty, Physical Education

Ms. Kotsiani Athanasia was born and raised is Athens, Greece. She holds a Bachelor degree in Physical Education & Sports Science from the the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Swimming. She has recently completed her Master in Education and Creative Learning.

Ms. Kotsiani is a certified lifeguard and an emergency responder (CPR/First Aid for adult/child/infant).  She has worked as a swimming instructor for several years in various clubs in Athens and since 2005 she is coaching the ACS HS swimming team.

She has been at ACS Athens for the past 6 years, as a PE Middle and High School teacher, and she is in charge of the ACS Aquatics and after school swimming program.

email: kotsiania@acs.gr

Chris Kourtis, Aide

Mr. Chris Kourtis was born and raised in Athens, Greece.  He studied at the University of Athens, in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science and earned a BA with specialization in tennis.

He has attended several seminars organized by the National Federation of Tennis Instructors, including “Mini Tennis” and “Professional tennis and Club Tennis”.  He has also attended the ITF “line umpire” seminar.

Mr. Chris Kourtis has been teaching tennis at various tennis club since 2001. Since 2007 he has been teaching tennis in the ACS Athens Tennis Academy and also coaches the Middle School Tennis Team.

Besides his tennis background, he is actively involved in teaching Physical Education as an Aide since 2009, at all school levels (Elementary School, Middle School and in the Academy).  He is a certified lifeguard and has successfully completed an emergency first response course that follow current guidelines for emergency patient care.

email: kourtisc@acs.gr

Fefi Lampiris, Library Assistant

Ms. Lampiris was born in Patras Greece and raised in New York. She was a graduate of ACS Athens. She has  been at ACS Athens since 1985 and is currently the Academy Library Assistant. 

email: lampirisf@acs.gr

Dennisse Legoretta, Faculty, Spanish Language

Ms. Legorreta is the Academy School Spanish teacher. She recently moved to Athens from Mexico where she earned a B.A. in Communications and Spanish Literature. She also holds a MS Degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language.

email: legorretad@acs.gr

Anna Liasides, Optimal Learning

Ms. Liasides received her BS in Biology from New Jersey State University, her Teachers Certificate from St. Peters College, NJ and her MA in Special Education Student Needs from Lesley College, Boston.

She holds a Certificate for Modern Greek language from Athens University and is a certified First Aid and Safety Instructor with the American Red Cross.

Ms. Liasides has taught middle school and high school science classes for the past 20 years and is currently an Optimal Learning teaching specialist. 

email: liasidesa@acs.gr  

Pauline Mamouzellos, Faculty, Science

Ms. Mamouzellos received her BA, MA, and M.Ph. from NYU. She also studied at The City University Graduate Center, NY and Trier University in Germany.  Her teaching experience ranges from elementary school students through university students. Pauline began working at A.C.S. in 1988 and has since taught the subjects of German IB, Biology IB, Environmental Science IB, Physics, Chemistry, and Health. Pauline has also been coordinator of the IB CAS program, Advisor to the Service Club, German Club, the Executive Student Council, and the Environmental Club. She served as Foreign Language Department Chair for four years.

email: mamouzellosp@acs.gr

Athina Mitsopoulou, Faculty, Music
Arts Coordinator

Ms. Mitsopoulou is from London, Ontario, Canada, where she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (1997) and a Bachelor of Education (1998) from the University of Western Ontario. Upon their completion she began teaching with the Thames Valley District School Board. She completed a Master of Music at the University of Toronto in 2002. Each of the aforementioned degrees includes English Literature as a second teachable.

Ms. Mitsopoulou joined the ACS Athens faculty in 2006.

Listen to previously recorded performances conducted by Ms. Mitsopoulou.

Ontario College of Teachers (OCT): Certificate of Qualification Intermediate/Senior, Active Membership since June 1998.

email: mitsopouloua@acs.gr

Tatiana Myrkou, Faculty, Dance

Ms. Myrkou holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance from the Professional Dance School of Stavroupoli (Greece) and Dance-Maker and Choreography in Arnhem Danceacademie (Netherlands). She studied and graduated treble recorder and flute from the Macedonian Conservatory of Thessaloniki (Royal Academy of Music Diploma).

She was for 10 years a member of the Philharmonic  Orchestra of Kalamaria.  She participated in the 11th and the 12th Biennale of Young Artists (Athens and Naples); worked in the Special Olympics Athens 2011, as creative choreographer for the opening-closing Ceremonies. She has also collaborated with the Greek Festival, National Theater of Northern Greece, Opera of Thessaloniki,  Municipal Theaters, as performer, choreographer, movement instructor.

email: myrkout@acs.gr

David Nelson, Faculty, Social Studies
Faculty Development/Growth Programs

Mr. Nelson has been teaching in the Social Studies department at the American Community Schools of Athens since 2000. Prior to teaching in Athens, he taught for twelve years in secondary schools in the Oregon, USA.

Mr. Nelson has a Master of Arts in Education from Western Oregon State University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Pacific University.  He specializes in Cold War studies, American history and sociology. He teaches American Studies, IB History, Theory of Knowledge, and has vast experience with curriculum design.

Additionally Mr. Nelson is the ACS Representative to the NESA organization, he has coached Cross Country for the past twenty years, and is an advisor of the Model United Nations.  He enjoys frequent travel, snowboarding, and running.

email: nelsond@acs.gr

Nicholas N. Parakatis, Faculty, Mathematics

Mr. Parakatis is a faculty member of the Mathematics/Technology Department at the American Community Schools, Athens. He has his B.Sc in Physics from York University,Canada, B. Ed from the University of Toronto, Canada and M.Sc in Medical Physics from University College London, UK.

Mr. Parakatis has taught Physics and Mathematics in Canada and in Greece. This will be his 10th year teaching at ACS. Nicholas Parakatis has served as department chair and has taught students mathematics in the IB level, at the Academy and at the Middle School. He has served on the accreditation team as the Quantitative Team Leader and has participated in many ACS Athens Math Department sponsored events such as the Mathematics Club, the Annual ACS Mathematics Competition, and the AMC 10/12.

His interests include astronomy, team sports, music and traveling. Mr. Parakatis is a member of faculty that was present at mission control, during the launch of the Rosetta Mission, by the European Space Agency. Nicholas believes that caring and concern over content and curriculum is one of the keys in helping students remain interested in school therefore helping them achieve their academic goals.

email: parakatisn@acs.gr

Paraskevi Papadimitriou, Faculty, Art

Ms. Papadimitriou earned a Bachelor of Arts in Painting and Byzantine Iconography from the School of Fine Arts in Athens as well as an M.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has also attended the School of Fine Arts in Rome.

Ms Papadimitriou has taught afterschool art classes to both middle school and high school. She has been a faculty member at ACS Athens since 2009. She currently teaches Graphic Arts, Design and Drawing and Painting and she is a teacher aid for the AP Interdisciplinary Humanities course.

Ms. Papadimitriou is currently a student in the School of Fine Arts, in the course of completing her second BA in Printmaking.  She is a member of Greek Printmakers Association. Her work has been exhibited both in the United States and in Greece.

email: papadimitrioup@acs.gr

Demitri Pelidis, College Planning

Born in Zimbabwe, Africa and raised in Athens, Mr. Pelides earned his BA in Education from Boston College, Master in Education in Counseling Psychology from Keene State College of New Hamphire, and a C.A.G.S. in School Counseling from Boston University. Mr. Pelides has worked at various school districts both in Boston, MA and New Hampshire.

Mr. Pelides has over 20 years of counseling experience, teaching students in Middle School, High School, Undergraduate and Graduate School levels.

He is a US certified school counselor, who also enjoys his affiliation with the Adlerian Institute of Athens, where he continues to develop his practice in Adlerian psychology. Mr. Pelidis is a member of ASCA- a membership that helps him stay current with recent counseling trends in America.

email: pelidisd@acs.gr

William Papatassos, Faculty, English Language

Mr. Papatassos is a teacher and journalist who as a professional, unconsciously completes full circles.  Born and raised in Athens, he acquired a passion for reading and writing at the American Community Schools of Athens. 

At Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, he earned his BA, with a major in English literature and education, and a minor in journalism.  From 1994 to 1995, Papatassos was World News Editor at the Athens News.  As a free lance journalist, Mr. Papatassos has written for the Athens News and Odyssey magazine. 

Since his return to ACS-Athens in September of 1995, Mr. Papatassos has taught American and world literature.  Currently, he teaches Language Arts 8, and the American Literature Honors “Combo” class. 

email: papatassosw@acs.gr

Katerina Pisanias, Faculty, Greek Language

Ms. Pisanias, has been teaching in the Modern Language Department at ACS Athens since January 1995. She has been teaching Modern Greek IB A2 since the inception of the program.

Ms. Pisanias holds a Bachelor of Arts in Greek and French Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a Masters in Translation from Université de Mons-Hainaut & Université Libre de Bruxelles, in Belgium and  a Masters in Education from the Hellenic Open University. The post graduate courses she has taken are in the areas of Child Development, Cross-cultural Education, School Administration and Distance Learning. The subject of her thesis was “Communication and Interaction between students in Distance Education”. She has represented the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges as a member of an accreditation Validation Team.

While at ACS Athens she has been advisor of the Greek Literary Magazine, the Greek Club and several class Councils.

email: pisaniask@acs.gr

Evelyn Pittas, Faculty , English Language
English Department Coordinator

Evelyn Pittas earned her B.A. in English Literature, and her M.A. in English Literature. She has also earned her Teaching Certificate from the state of Pennsylvania and attended numerous workshops and conferences in IB, Learning Differences, Writing for teachers, and Leadership for the 21^st Century. Currently an IB English Teacher at the Academy and the English Department Coordinator, Ms. Pittas has been at ACS Athens since 1997. She has been a teacher of Language Arts, English 9A2, English 11, English 12, Themes in World Literature, IB English A2 and is currently teaching English 10 Language and Literature, IB English Language and Literature HL and SL Year1 and Year 2.

In addition to her responsibilities as Teacher, Ms. Pittas has been involved in a variety of positions at ACS Athens, including Forensics Oratory Coach, Coordinator and Judge at Pan-Hellenic Tournaments, 10^th and 12^th grade Student Council Advisor, Blue and Gold School Newspaper Advisor, MUN Advisor, Activities Coordinator, and is a member of the National Honor Society committee. She also serves on the ACSTA Executive Council and the Federation Executive Council.

Her mission as a teacher is to develop confidence in each and every student so that they will seek knowledge, question answers, and believe in their own abilities to become life long learners.  She supports her students, listens willingly, and provides a loving environment so they can understand the bliss in learning and take pride in their accomplishments.

email: pittase@acs.gr

Dr. Elina Prodromidi, Faculty, Science

Ms. Prodromidi received a BSc in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Essex, an MSc in Immunology and a PhD in Renal Medicine from Imperial College London-University of London. She has worked in research and her work has been presented in conferences world-wide and has been acknowledged numerous times with international awards like the one of the Best New Scientist (2006, UK). She has also published articles in scientific journals and co-authored books.

Since her recent return in Greece, she has worked as a researcher and an educator since she loves teaching and considers it a communicative, creative, inspirational and challenging profession. Her teaching experience ranges from middle school students through university students. This is her second year in ACS, where she teaches Science in the Academy.

email: prodromidie@acs.gr

Labrini Rontogiannis, Faculty, Science and English

Ms. Labrini Rontogiannis was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and moved to Athens in 2004. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology at McGill University and a Bachelor of Education, specialization in Science and English Literature, also from McGill. Ms Rontogiannis is very excited to be two courses short of completing a MEd in Educational Technology through an online program at the University of Calgary.

Ms. Rontogiannis has been teaching at ACS since 2005 and she takes pride in getting involved in all aspects of student life; both in and out of the classroom. She has coached the girls’ volleyball teams and is this year’s Middle School student council advisor. Ms Rontogiannis is teaching Middle School Science and English in the Academy.

email: rontogiannisl@acs.gr

Christina Rocha, Faculty, Spanish Language

MS. Rocha earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor each in French and Spanish from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, P.A. and an Master of Arts in Education with a special emphasis on Foreign Language Instruction from The College of Notre Dame of Maryland.

She has also participated in post graduate studies at American University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland in the fields of cultural anthropology and linguistics.

Ms. Rocha has taught both French and Spanish, all levels, including, AP, IB and immersion levels for Baltimore County Schools prior to joining the ACS faculty in 2007. In addition, Ms. Rocha has taught several Continuing Education courses in both French and Spanish and ESOL for the Community Colleges of Baltimore County.

Ms. Rocha has served as Department Chair and has been involved in curriculum development and writing within the Baltimore County School System. She currently teaches Spanish, standard level and IB  for both the Middle School and the Academy students. She has also led her students on trips abroad, and looks forward to such opportunities with the students of ACS.

email: rochac@acs.gr

Dr. Nikolaos Romanos, Faculty, Chemistry

Dr. Romanos earned his Chemical Engineering Diploma from the National Technical University of Athens (N.T.U.A.) and a Ph.D. from the same School in the field of computational materials science and engineering (computational chemistry).

While pursuing his Ph.D., he worked as a lab assistant at N.T.U.A. for four years and he was a teaching assistant, as well as a system administrator in unix/linux computer clusters.

He has participated in various conferences and has publications in scientific journals in the fields of thermodynamics, materials science, process design and computational chemistry. He has a very good knowledge of programming languages in various operating system environments.

At ACS Athens he is teaching Chemistry at the Academy.

email: romanosn@acs.gr

Imad Samad, Faculty, Arabic Language

Mr. Samad is the Arabic teacher for both ACS Athens’ high school and middle school. He was born in Ammatour-Lebanon. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arabic language and literature from the Lebanese University of Beirut (Lebanon).

Mr. Samad worked as Head of the Arabic Department at Campion School in Athens, Greece from 1981 until he joined ACS Athens in 1994. He has been with ACS Athens as an IB faculty member for 17 years. He has also served as the Advisor of the Arabic Club in Middle and High schools.

email: samadi@acs.gr

Natasha Stratoglou, Faculty, Greek Language

Natasha Stratoglou is a teacher of Modern Languages at ACS Athens. She holds a B.A. in French Literature from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a M.Sc. in Management of Cultural Institutions from the Greek Open University. Her post graduate work includes studies in Human Development at the University of La Verne, Athens, Writing Across the Curriculum at the University of Berkeley (extension), Education at the University of Athens.

She has taught French as a foreign language and Greek Language Arts as well as Greek as a foreign language in the Elementary School, Middle School and the Academy. She has served as Foreign Language Coordinator in the Middle School, Middle School Yearbook Advisor and French Trip advisor for over ten years. She has been French Club, Greek club advisor and Cairo Exchange advisor. She has attended many professional development programs and professional conferences related to teaching and learning.

email: stratogloun@acs.gr

Anastasia Syrsiri, Aide, Attendance & Discipline

Ms. Syrsiri is the Attendance and Discipline Aide to the Principal at ACS Athens Academy.

Ms. Syrsiri has been at ACS since September 2010.  She has held the position of Shadow Teacher and has also substituted in various offices during that time.

email:  syrsiria@acs.gr

Cim Thomakos, Faculty, Art

Ms. Thomakos holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art from Skidmore College. She has received Artist Grants for four residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and a Fellowship in Painting for graduate work from Skidmore College.

As a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant, she conducts research, present workshops, and has instructed teacher training programs (K-college) in the uses of Writing across the Curriculum. She is a published writer and illustrator, and has had solo exhibitions in the United States and Greece.

She has been a member of the ACS Athens faculty for 29 years.

email: thomakosc@acs.gr

Sophia Thanopoulou, Faculty, Theater

Ms. Thanopoulou holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Athens and a Master of Arts degree in Physical Theatre from the universities of Surrey & Royal Holloway University of London.

Ms. Thanopoulou is a trained dancer and performer and has been participating in numerous theatre and dance productions since 2001. She started teaching drama in London and since 2007 she has been teaching IB Theatre and Drama at ACS Athens.

email: thanopoulous@acs.gr

Dr. Andreas Tsokos, Faculty, Science
Division Chair

Dr. Tsokos is a Science Teacher and Division Chair of Science / Mathematics & Technology.  Dr. Tsokos was born in Cyprus. He attended the University of Birmingham in the U.K with a full scholarship and was awarded a double Honors degree in Physics and Mathematics. At Birmingham, he received the Nora Calderwood Prize for highest achievement in the final examinations. He obtained a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Physics from Cornell University in the USA.

Dr. Tsokos has served as Assistant, Deputy and Chief Examiner for IB Physics. He is the author of Physics for the IB Diploma, Series and Differential Equations, IB Physics in a nutshell and about 20 research papers dealing, mainly, with Quantum Chromodynamics. In one paper he showed how the high temperature limit of chiral gauge theories leads to the appearance of topological mass terms for the associated gauge fields. His main interests are Physics, Mathematics and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

He has been a faculty of ACS Athens for 15 years.

email: tsokosa@acs.gr

Dr. Evelin Toumpakari, Faculty, Mathematics

Dr. Toumpakari was born and raised in Athens and attended the University of Athens where she studied Mathematics. She holds an MSc. in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford and a PhD. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago in an area that combined mathematics, statistics and theoretical computer science. She is interested in the statistical study of epidemics and was recently involved in a research project on childhood leukemia at the Childhood Cancer Research Group in Oxford.

While a graduate student at Chicago, she occasionally taught at Thurgood
Marshall Middle School, she mentored gifted teenagers at a math-themed summer camp and lectured regularly at the University of Chicago. After her graduation she took up a teaching post at Columbia College Chicago. She has also been an A-levels tutor during her stay in the UK.

Dr. Toumpakari is teaching Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, the Heart
of Mathematics and AP Calculus.

email: toumpakarie@acs.gr

Alexandros Vamvoukos, Faculty, Theater and Drama

Having graduated top of his class at Anatolia College, Mr. Vamvoukos went on to receive his Law Degree with honors from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he also acquired an LLM in International and European Law. He trained as an actor at the École Philippe Gaulier in Paris and he also holds a Master’s degree in Theater Studies from the University of Athens.

Mr. Vamvoukos has worked for the National Theater in Athens, the National Theater of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki, and for many independent Greek- as well as English-language productions since 1994. This year he will be teaching Drama at the Academy as well as IB Theater Arts. He enjoys cooking, playing the uke, and going on long walks with his young daughter.

email: vamvoukosa@acs.gr

April Wanex, Faculty, English

Originally from NY state, Mrs. Wanex received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University with a double major in Anthropology and Classical Studies. Subsequently, she earned her Masters of Arts in Teaching degree with a focus in Social Studies from Binghamton University (SUNY). Prior to coming to ACS Athens, Mrs. Wanex taught English at a military school in Virginia.

Currently, Mrs. Wanex teaches 9th grade English and AP English in the Academy.

email: wanexa@acs.gr

Ellen Froustis-Vriniotis, Faculty, Social Studies
Academic Advisor

Ms. Vriniotis was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Arizona State University, a Master of Education—Special Emphasis in Counseling from the University of La Verne, California, a master’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of Indianapolis and is completing Post Graduate work in psychotherapy from the Adlerian Training Institute, USA.

As an advocate of community service, she is the Vice President, Habitat for Humanity Greece and a founding member of, Friends of  KEPEP Lehainon, for youth with severe physical and cognitive limitations.

Ms. Vriniotis has presented the following workshops: Service Learning Workshop for IB CAS Coordinators (2003, 2004, 2005), Learning Through Service, NESA Spring Conference (2007), Asset Building for Successful Teens, ACS Learning Conference (2008) and completed a Positive Psychology course from University of Pennsylvania (2010).

Her most recent published articles include: Learning through Service (ECIS, Autumn 2009) and Academic Leadership: Inspired by Civic Responsibility, A Practitioner’s Approach, (The Department Chair, Winter, 2009).

Ms. Vriniotis is an active member of the American School Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, Counseling Association for Humanistic Education & Development.

email: vriniotise@acs.gr

Yi-Nai Wang, Faculty, Chinese Language

Ms. Wang is originally from Taiwan. She obtained her Bachelors Degree from National Taipei Institute of the Arts, where she studied Piano Performance, Violin Performance as well as Chinese Language and Literature. She has won the 2^nd prize in Taiwan Piano competition. Ms. Wang also trained at Luebeck Musikhochschule in Germany, and obtained her Masters Degree in Piano Performance.

Each summer Ms. Wang travels to Taiwan and participates in the seminar “Chinese Language Research”. In the summer of 2009, she obtained a certification following 2 month course “Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language” from Tunghai University.

In Taiwan and Germany, she worked as teacher, teaching Chinese Language and Piano Performance. She has 8 years of experience teaching Chinese and 20 years of experience teaching Piano Performance. This year is Ms Wang’s 4th year teaching Chinese at ACS.

email: wangy@acs.gr

Amalia Zavacopoulou, Writing Program Specialist

Ms. Zavacopoulou was born in London, but was raised in Athens and attended a British international school.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern European Studies, a four-year course with majors in History, French and Italian from University College London, and a Masters degree in Journalism from University of Westminster, London.

A qualified secondary school teacher, she taught French and Spanish in an inner city London school through Teach First, a ground-breaking graduate training program that combines two years teaching in challenging London schools with business and leadership training.  She also worked as a substitute teacher in over 20 different London schools in long-term and short-term placements for a further two years.

After moving back to Greece in 2008, she worked as a freelance writer and translator for several travel magazines, such as Conde Nast Traveller Hellas and 2board, the official Athens International Airport publication.  She joined the ACS team in 2010 and started working in the Writing Center, where she helped and advised students on a variety of written assignments.  Last year she began her teaching internship in the Humanities Honors program, in addition to staffing the Writing Center, co-coaching the ACS debate team and leading the High School Cinema Club.  This year, as Writing Program Specialist, she will also be leading the IB Theory of Knowledge Senior Seminar, guiding students on their final written assessment.

email:  zavacopouloua@acs.gr