ACS Athens

Mary-Ann Augoustatos, Principal

Mary-Ann Augoustatos is from Manhattan, New York and has returned for her fifth year as the Principal of the ACS Athens Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Manhattan College in New York and a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of La Verne, California (Athens campus). She is a certified International School Administrator and received her certification as a High School Mathematics teacher from the State of New York. She has spent 23 enjoyable years as an educator, most of which was spent at ACS Athens.   Currently, she is seeking to enroll in a Doctoral program in Education.

Her teaching experience consists of High School Mathematics courses throughout all academic levels with an emphasis on IB and Honors level courses. She has 19 years of mathematics teaching experience with ACS Athens. In addition to her responsibilities as a teacher and a principal, she has held a variety of professional positions within the ACS Athens community. For 16 years of her instructional career she acted as the JK-12 Mathematics Department Chair at having created the position of Elementary School Math Specialist and the ACS Athens Mathematics Competition as a few of her highlights. Two years prior to becoming principal, she assumed the position of JK-12 Technology Department Chair concurrently.

She also served as a team member on the Committee of Institution-wide Accreditation of the Middle School Association of Colleges and School (MSA). In addition, she was also was invited to attend an MSA Chair training Workshop and shortly after its completion she acted as a Co-Chair and Chair of the MSA. For the academic year 2009-2011 she also held the position of JK-12 Academic Department Chair Council Coordinator. This year she is working on implementing Quantitative Reasoning skills in all disciplines JK-12.

email: augoustatosm@acs.gr

phone: 210. 639. 3200x261

Jenny Kosmas, Administrative Assistant

Ms. Kosmas was born and raised in Athens, Greece.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in “Hotel Management” and a Master’s degree (funded by the EU) in “Innovation Studies” from the University of Huddersfied, UK.

Ms. Kosmas has been working at ACS Athens as an Administrative Assistant since July 2006.

email: kosmasj@acs.gr

Dora Andrikopoulos, Faculty, Mathematics
Mathematics Department Coordinator

Dora has been teaching at ACS since 1990. She has taught Science and Mathematics at all levels-elementary, middle and academy. She has acted as core leader, team leader and held a math bowl and math club for middle school students. In the elementary school, Dora held after-school Olympiad classes for interested and motivated students. In the academy she held after-school preparatory SAT classes.

Dora has participated in a number of professional development conferences. She has been involved in NESA conferences and in 1998, wrote a paper on “The Art of Teaching Mathematics”.

 In 1999, she presented a successful workshop in Cairo, Egypt on "Brain Research and Cognitive Thinking", and in 2009, she attended another conference in Cairo, involving standards of mathematics-Aero Mathematics-.

In 2010, Dora presented a workshop at the "Learning Differences Conference" at ACS, inviting other teachers to share fun and creative projects that inspire her students.

This year Dora has been appointed mathematics coordinator.

She will be involved in monitoring  the development and implementation of curriculum initiatives.

Dora has also compiled a series of units in mathematics for middle school students to help them consolidate, use and apply concepts.

email: andrikopoulosd@acs.gr

Vicky Akrivou, Faculty, Language, Arts & Social Studies

Ms. Akrivou was raised in Chicago, Illinois.  She earned a BA in International Relations with a minor in History from the University of Indianapolis.  She then studied Political and Human Geography at King’s College, University of London, where she received her Master’s degree (MA) in Environmental Politics and Globalization.

She worked for a public relations firm and also worked for various English language institutions. Having also worked for various non-governmental organizations concerned with environmental education, she decided to officially enter into the field of education.  She has been trained in the United States to teach , and is certified by the State of Illinois. She recently completed her Masters degree in teaching at National-Louis University in Chicago. In addition to this, she was chosen to represent ACS Athens at the Spring 2011 NESA conference in Thailand.

She has been working at ACS Athens since 2007 and has been teaching Language Arts and Social Studies. This fall she is co-coaching girls JV Soccer.

email: akrivouv@acs.gr

Patrick Akrivos, Counselor

Patrick Akrivos attained his BSc. in Psychology from the University of La Verne, California, and has completed a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the University of Middlesex, UK.  Other training and educational achievements include earning a diploma in Addictions Counseling, Gestalt Therapy and Family Counseling.  He obtained a ‘Training Certificate’, from the Hellenic Centre for Focusing.  The latter includes training in the Focusing approach to trauma therapy.  Since 2007 Mr. Akrivos regularly attends ICASSI (International Committee of Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes). Lastly he is a certified Parental, Teacher and Youth Effectiveness Trainer.  He is currently completing a Master’s level training in Person Centered Counseling at ICPS in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde.

Patrick has been working in the field of psychology since 2000 and has a varied work experience including substance abuse treatment, child abuse and trauma.  Since 2004 he has been assisting teenagers, adults, couples and families in various capacities.  He is also active in research with numerous conference presentations and publications in the fields of business and psychology.  Additionally teaches seminars and workshops in Greece and abroad and sustains a lively interest in cross-cultural issues.

email: akrivosp@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

Christina Bakoyannis, Faculty, Science
Science Department Coordinator

Ms. Bakoyannis was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, in the field of Biochemistry. She then received a Master of Education, Special Emphasis Degree from La Verne University.

She has been a member of the ACS faculty since 2000 and has taught both in the middle school and high school. She is presently teaching 6th and 7th grade science. She also holds the position of science coordinator and is involved in the development and implementation of curriculum initiatives.

In 2010, Ms. Bakoyannis co-presented a workshop at the ACS 5th Annual Conference on Learning Differences titled “All for One, Science for All”. For the past 3 years, she also holds the position of NESA Virtual Science Fair (NVSF) Coordinator.

ACS Athens is one of the largest schools in the NVSF and participates with over 80+ teams each year.

email: bakoyannisc@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

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

Ann Freeston, Optimal Learning

Ms. Freeston was raised in Rockford, Illinois and completed a bachelor's degree in Education at the University of Iowa, Iowa City. Soon after graduating, Ms. Freeston moved to Portland, Oregon to begin her teaching career. Ms. Freeston enjoyed teaching at the elementary, middle and high school levels where she designed and  implemented differentiated instruction to meet the unique abilities of each student. Before moving to Greece, Ms. Freeston completed her Master of Education degree at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

This year Ms. Freeston is providing support to students through the Optimal Learning Program.

email: freestona@acs.gr

Patty Green, Faculty, English as a Second Language (E.S.L.)

A member of the ACS faculty since 1984, Pat Green-Wenman teaches ESL and Language Arts. Pat has taught English at the Elementary School, Middle School and High School levels.

She has also trained aspiring ESL teachers, taught Cross-Cultural Awareness courses to educators at the graduate level, and assisted refugee children acculturate to their new lives.

Her terminal degree is a Masters of Arts in Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages (MAT) and her professional interests include curriculum design, reflective practice, and the interface of content subjects and ESL. Her professional website can be viewed at: http://www.eslfolio.com/

Professional Affiliations: TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), LSA (Linguistic Society of America)

Graduate credits earned: Georgetown University-TESOL Certificate School for International Training, Brattleboro, Vermont-MAT University of California, Berkeley -Extension.

email: greenp@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

Helen Liakos, Counselor

Ms. Liakos earned her BA in English Literature with a minor in Psychology from the American College of Greece and an MA in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University. She holds a Certification in School Counseling K-12 from the State of Maine.

Ms. Liakos has been a teacher and counselor in the ACS Middle School and High School and she currently holds the position of Counseling Psychologist K-12 and co-supervises the internship program at ACS.

email: liakosh@acs.gr

Rannelle McCoy, Faculty, Social Studies

Rannelle McCoy received a BA in History from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, an MA in History from The Ohio State University at Columbus, and an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University at Bozeman.

She specializes in European history, World Studies, political science, and religion. Ms. McCoy currently teaches 7^th grade and 8^th grade social studies. She joined the ACS faculty in 2005 and has also taught American Studies and 6^th grade social studies. Previous teaching experience includes graduate teaching of undergraduate history courses at The Ohio State University and teaching English as a foreign language to children and adults.

Ms. McCoy also coaches the Cross-Country team, and is a proud alumna of ACS. Her love of travel has taken her to over 55 countries around the world. She also competes in trail running in her spare time.

email: mccoyr@acs.gr

Vasilis Mikros, Faculty, Physical Education

Mr. Mikros was born in New Jersey and raised both in the United States and Greece. He earned a bachelor’s in History from Kean University in Union New Jersey and a Post Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education with a specialization in Health Education from the same University.

He worked as a substitute Physical Education teacher in public schools in the United States before moving to Greece. He is certified by the State of New Jersey to teach Physical Education and Health. In addition to coaching, Mr. Mikros continues to teach Greek Folk Dances in various clubs and organizations.

He has been a member of the ACS faculty since 2005 and is the coach for both the Junior Varsity Boy’s soccer and Middle School Track & Field Teams.

email: mikrosv@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

Maria Monahogiou, Aide

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 has moved permanently to Athens, after having graduated from the university.

She has worked at two foreign language institutes as an English teacher upon her arrival to Greece. She also owned an English day care 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 schools, where she is currently assisting and teaching.

Keren O'Connor, Faculty, English

Keren O'Connor is from Chicago, Illinois.  She holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History, from Loyola University Chicago.  Ms. O'Connor was an event coordinator when she started volunteering at a tutoring program for under privileged children.  It was then she realized she had a love of teaching.

She went back to school and earned a Masters in the Art of Teaching from National Louis University.  She is certified to teach by the State of Illinois and has subject area endorsements in Language Art, Art and Social Science.  She has also participated in continuing education, attending the Reading Institute at Teachers College at Columbia University.  She has worked for the Chicago Public Schools and the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute.

email: oconnork@acs.gr

Mary Papalanis, Health Specialist

Ms. Papalanis was born and raised in Manchester, CT., USA. She graduated in 1978 from Greater Hartford Community College Nursing Program with an Associate’s Degree in Science. She is licensed as a Registered Nurse in the state of CT.

She has worked in various areas of hospital nursing including, Medical-Surgical, Geriatric and Psychiatric. She also spent many years working in a facility caring for patients with developmental disabilities.

She has been the school nurse at ACS for thirteen years, is married and has one daughter.

email: papalanism@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

Mary Petroutsa, Faculty, Drama

Mary Petroutsa was born in Los Angeles and raised in Athens, Greece.  She graduated from Athens College and she has a B.A. in English from Deree College, and a M.L.A. from University of St. Thomas, Houston.  She studied acting in Chicago at the Actor’s Center and at The Second City both in Chicago and in Los Angeles.

She has taught in schools in the United States and she has been working as an actress in Los Angeles and Greece, doing theater, TV and films.  In Greece she has worked with some of the most highly acclaimed directors and actors.

email: petroutsam@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

Lambrini Rontogiannis, Faculty, Science and Language Arts

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 recently completed a M.Ed. specializing in Educational Technology through an online program at the University of Calgary.

Ms. Rontogiannis has been teaching at the ACS Athens Middle School 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’ Varsity volleyball teams for a number of years, both at ACS Athens and in Montreal public schools.

This year, Ms. Rontogiannis will be teaching Science and Language Arts, both in the Middle School.

email: rontogiannisl@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

Hrisi Sandravelis, Discipline Coordinator

Ms. Sandravelis earned her Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies From Eastern Illinois University, USA. She also completed a Master of Art in Teaching From National-Louis University, Chicago Campus, USA. She has taught middle school Language Arts in Florida, where she also served as Grade Level Content Area Facilitator as well as a Team Leader. Ms. Sandravelis is joining the ACS Athens community this year, serving as the Discipline Coordinator.

email: sandravelish@acs.gr

Sophia-Stella Soseilos, Faculty, Art

Sophia Stella Soseilos was born in Bonn, Germany, did her High school years in Nicosia, Cyprus and completed her BA Fine Arts Education degree at the University of Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, South Africa. After that, she enrolled in the Drama Department of the same University doing Theater Design. Since then she has worked in South Africa, Greece and Cyprus as an Artist, Art Teacher, Interior Designer and Stage Designer for numerous theaters and TV set productions.

She is, at the same time, a qualified and experienced Art Teacher with international teaching experience both as a private and school teacher. She has recently finished a 12 month training course in Cyprus - held by the Cypriot Government and the EEC - targeted at qualified teachers with the objective of equipping them with contemporary teaching skills.

email: soseiloss@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

Dr. Cristina Tsibiridi, Faculty, Mathematics

Dr. Tsibiridi was born and raised in Athens. She earned a B.Sc. in Mathematics & Economics and an M.Sc. in Mathematics from London School of Economics in London, UK. She then received her Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Imperial College in London, UK. The thesis title was "Option Pricing Theory with Stable Distributed Underlyings". While at her Ph.D. she was teaching Mathematics to undergraduate students at LSE and Imperial College.

After her studies she worked in the financial sector for many years both in London and Athens. She then decided that teaching is more challenging and invigorating. She has been teaching for the past three years and her teaching experience ranges from Middle School through University. Dr. Tsibiridi is also an IB examiner in Mathematics.

email: tsibiridic@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

Edward Woolbert, Faculty, Instructional Technology
Technology Coordinator

Mr. Woolbert is an Instructional Technology Teacher and the Coordinator of Instructional Technology.  Mr. Woolbert was born and raised in Orange County, California. He received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Woolbert holds a M.A in International Education from Framingham State College, Massachusetts. He is credentialed in K-12 Multiple Subjects, Social Science, and Industrial Technology. He is currently working towards a M.S. Degree in Instructional Technology. Mr. Woolbert has taught at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua, Nicaragua and public schools in Orange County, California. 

This is Mr. Woolbert's third year teaching at ACS Athens.

email: woolberte@acs.gr