Dr. Peggy Pelonis was raised in Los Angeles, California. She is an active leadership and professional growth instructor and a facilitator of school leadership transformation conducting workshops, trainings, and lectures in Europe, the Middle East, and the USA. Her work with educators and professionals across the globe focuses on initiating and navigating Change. Having taught in both K-12 and university, her educational philosophy stresses the importance of a healthy mind and body while developing skills and gaining knowledge that will intentionally transform the world around us. Dr. Pelonis is a Licensed Psychotherapist and certified School Counselor in the State of California and holds school leadership certification from the Harvard Business School and Harvard School of Education. She is also a National Certified Psychologist. Dr. Pelonis was on the staff of Cal State University Fullerton as well as the University of LaVerne, teaching in the Master’s Psychology programs, she was on the staff of the Adlerian Training Institute, USA, and is currently on the staff of ICASSI (International Committee of Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes). She is on the Board of the European Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) as well as the Board of Middle States Association (MSA) for school accreditation.
Her Doctoral work from the University of Bath, UK involved international schools from around the world examining the practice of Heads of Schools and Principals regarding professional development worldwide. She also holds an M.Sc. degree in Counseling and School Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Indianapolis, and a B.S. in English Literature and Psychology from the American College of Greece.
She is a frequent lecturer at conferences as well as an invited speaker on various TV and radio programs. Her work on Coping with Change, Resilience as well as on Leadership in Education and Educational Transformation has been cited in journals, magazines, and books. She is the author of numerous journal articles, book chapters, and magazine & newspaper articles, as well as three books: *"Resilience and the Internationally Mobile Family; Navigating Changes and Transitions”, *"Change in the journey of life" and "Υπάρχω Αλλάζω" (published in Greek). Published articles include:* An International Perspective of Academic Leadership, * Providing Exceptional Educational Experiences to Students with Financial Need; A Modern Challenge for International K-12 Schools, * Leading Educational Change to Transform the Community, * Modeling 21 st Century Education with Intentional Excellence, *Can Good Citizenship be Taught? * Metamorphosis; A Collaborative Leadership Model to Promote Educational Change.
email: pelonisp@acs.gr
Ms. Tokatlidou completed her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the School of Law and Economics at the Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki in 1981. She continued her studies in Toronto, Canada, where she completed her Master of Arts in Economics and all but the thesis requirement for the Ph.D. program in Economics. In 2013 she received her M.B.A from the University of Indianapolis as well as her Certificate for International School Leadership.
Ms. Tokatlidou has been a member of the ACS Athens community since 2005. Initially, as an IB Economics faculty, then as Director of IB and AP programs, as Academy Vice-Principal, and currently the Dean of Academics.
For more than a decade, Ms. Tokatlidou has worked along with the IB Diploma and AP Faculty in expanding and enhancing the IB and AP programs as well as the curriculum and professional development of faculty, making the IB Diploma program one of the most sought-after programs in Greece.
In 2019, she spearheaded the launch of ACS Athens Virtual, offering online courses. Ms. Tokatlidou led a team of educators and administrators to create a new curriculum while at the same time adapting the existing one. Currently in its third successful year, ACS Athens Virtual placed ACS Athens amongst the leading schools worldwide that incorporated and effectively applied technological developments in education that addressed different types of learners through an extended variety of courses. Further, ACS Athens Virtual helped create a framework for hybrid learning during the extended Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
Ms. Tokatlidou strongly believes in learning and citizenship development through service, innovative projects, and personal growth through education. This led to the development and creation of the ACS Athens Youth to Youth Educational and Social Integration Program in collaboration with The HOME Project organization. The program addresses the social and educational needs of unaccompanied minors in Athens that fled to Greece due to the Syrian civil war through a student-to-student partnership learning model running since January 2017. The program now includes the Part-time Youth to Youth that runs on Saturdays and involves numerous student and faculty volunteers, and the full-time Youth to Youth program run through the Ed Shapiro Foundation scholarships.
Ms. Tokatlidou, as an educator, strives for lifelong learning unconfined by physical proximity, global citizenship, effective risk-taking, and ethical decision-making. She has led various workshops and has published in numerous scientific journals.
Ms. Tokatlidou was born and raised in Drama, Greece.
email: tokatlidouj@acs.gr
With over 35 years of experience in education, Dr. Leonardatos brings an abundance of knowledge and expertise to the American Community Schools of Athens.
Dr. Leonardatos began his journey in education as an English and Social Studies teacher at the Greek American Institute (GAI) in the Bronx, NY. He then took on the role of Chair of Social Studies at Archbishop Molloy High School before returning to GAI where he began his career as a high school principal. His leadership extended over 19 years as the principal of Clarkstown High School North, and most recently, he served as the Head of High School at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School. Among his notable achievements are developing a Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program, expanding IB and AP course offerings, initiating an IBDP Programme, participating in the IB for All program, and serving as president of the School Administrators Association of New York State.
Dr. Leonardatos earned his Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University at Albany. He has enhanced his global perspective by visiting and building relationships with high schools on four continents. His contributions to the field of education include publishing articles in educational journals, teaching School Law at the graduate level, and serving as a peer reviewer for professional education publications.
Outside of his professional commitments, Dr. Leonardatos enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Kristy, and their two mini huskies, Hudson and Nooma. You can often find them walking their pups, hiking, exploring, cooking, or catching a basketball game. Both are eager to immerse themselves in their community and make a meaningful impact.
email: leonardatosh@acs.gr
Dr. Matina Stergiopoulos, a native New Yorker, began her teaching career as an English teacher in the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) in 2005 shortly after earning her Bachelors of the Arts in English from Fordham University and her Masters of Education in Secondary Curriculum and Instruction from The George Washington University. Dr. Stergiopoulos then moved to Greece, where she served as an English teacher at the ACS Athens Academy. After ten years of teaching, her passion for impacting a greater number of students than those within her classroom grew, and she pursued a role as an Assistant Principal after earning her Certificate in Educational Leadership from SUNY Stony Brook. While serving as a tenured Assistant Principal in NYC, she considered strategies for promoting system-wide changes that would lead to strengthening parent partnerships and engagement. This inspired her to pursue her doctoral studies at the Johns Hopkins University where she completed her Doctorate in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education. As a researcher, she had the opportunity to explore education through evidence-based strategies, guided by quantitative and qualitative data, grounded in improvement science. She continued serving as an Assistant Principal and until recently worked at the Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School (NYS), a Blue-Ribbon school, where she continued to explore her passion of building parent partnerships and fostering safe and inclusive learning environments for students. Dr. Stergiopoulos is a recipient of the prestigious New York State English Council’s Educator of Excellence Administrator Award, a finalist of the NYC Big Apple Teacher Award, and a recipient of the NYC Teachers of Tomorrow grant. She has published various articles and chapters on classroom management, student development, and parent involvement.
Dr. Stergiopoulos believes that taking a holistic stance on student success, one that approaches learning with high expectations and an unwavering sense of love and emotional support, can provide students with the tools they need to become productive citizens that are prepared to navigate an ever-changing global society. Dr. Stergiopoulos is thrilled to serve as the Principal of the ACS Athens Middle School, bringing with her over 20 years experience and passion in working with students and their families.
email: stergiopoulosm@acs.gr
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
Ifigeneia Rodopoulou was born and raised in Athens Greece. She is a professional with studies and experience in Secondary Education and College Counseling. Her bachelor’s degree is in Pedagogy, Psychology and Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, her master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Nicosia and she holds a certificate in College Counseling from UC San Diego. Ms. Rodopoulou has obtained many skills and strategies from seminars and extended studies, guiding students on their academic path not only as a Secondary teacher but also as an Academic Advisor. Experience has proven that she can effectively communicate with students from various backgrounds and age groups and provide psychological support to students, parents, and teachers that deal with academic and behavioral needs.
Ms. Rodopoulou has been a member of ACS Athens since 2017 employed as Advisory Teacher for grades 11 & 12, Special Educator and Online Instructor for the ACS Athens Institute. Alongside, she has worked as Secondary Teacher in a Greek Special Education School in Ilioupoli, which provides education for children with special educational needs and as Digital Storytelling teacher at ACS Athens Summer Camp. Her experience as an educator has been multidimensional as she has been working with students from various backgrounds. Her work always prioritizes student’s wellness in a multicultural environment that respects educational values and gives the opportunity to students to thrive and become strong and independent people.
email: rodopouloui@acs.gr
Mary-Ann Augoustatos is an educator. Her field of specialty is high school mathematics and international school administration. Born and raised in Manhattan, New York and being of Greek descent she has spent over three decades as an educator at the American Community Schools of Athens Greece (ACS Athens). She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Masters of Arts in Education. She is a certified International School Administrator and has received her secondary mathematics teaching certification from the State of New York.
She is currently the Director of the Learning Commons at ACS Athens, an entity in our school that she was instrumental in co-establishing. The Learning Commons is the center of student and faculty collaboration, learning, research and knowledge construction at ACS Athens. This learning space provides our students and faculty with state of the art facilities, such as a media studio, a math and science studio, a writing/research studio, an incubator of students’ creative ideas , an Artificial Intelligence lab and more. These spaces are staffed with professionals having expertise in the fields of Mathematics, all Sciences, Writing, Research, Literacy, STEAM education, and Media. Students and faculty function as architects of their own learning as they pursue their intellectual curiosities. The Learning Commons is commonly referred to as the heartbeat of education at ACS Athens.
Prior to being a Director of the learning Commons, she spent almost a decade as a Middle School principal at ACS Athens and almost two decades as mathematics department chair.
Upon entering ACS Athens she taught mathematics for 20 years and spent 16 years of her instructional career as the Mathematics Department Chair having created the position of Elementary School Math Specialist and the ACS Athens Mathematics Competition as a few of her highlights. Her teaching experience consists of High School Mathematics courses throughout all academic levels with an emphasis on IB and Honors level courses. Two years prior to becoming Principal, she assumed the position of JK-12 Technology Department Chair concurrently. During her principalship, she began and completed a full curriculum review process for all courses school-wide at ACS Athens.
Additionally, Ms. Augoustatos is a chair of the Middle States Association. She has been on multiple team visits as a team member and chair serving the Committee of Institution-wide Accreditation of the Middle School Association of Colleges and School (MSA) in the Middle East and Europe. At ACS Athens she is currently chairing the re-accreditation process school wide through MSA's Sustaining Excellence protocol.
email: augoustatosm@acs.gr
Evi Evloyias completed her studies at Wheaton College, MA and graduated with honors from the American College of Greece (Deree) with a B.Sc. in International Business and European Affairs with a minor in Economics. She has earned a Master’s degree in International Educational Leadership from Wilkes University. Furthermore, she is certified to teach grades K-6 from the State of Florida and is an AAIE Fellow. She has attended numerous professional development opportunities from international organizations such as ECIS, NESA, AAIE and AERO.
Ms. Evloyias has been teaching for 15 years. She has taught second, fourth and fifth grade and began her teaching career as a shadow teacher. In addition to teaching Ms. Evloyias has been involved in a variety of positions at ACS Athens, including Honor Code and Student Council Advisor, Professional Development and New Faculty Orientation Program Co-coordinator, Mentor for University Students, NESA Representative and also served on the ACSTA Executive Council. She is also a CFG coach and has served in the ACS Athens Collaborative Learning Communities. Furthermore, she has authored a chapter for the Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning Through the i2Flex Classroom Model and has also contributed articles for the ACS Athens Ethos magazine.
Ms. Evloyias’ educational philosophy is founded on the principle of student-centered decision making and allowing every student to feel valued because of their strengths, gifts, and challenges. She believes in inclusion and creating environments where everyone belongs.
email: evloyiase@acs.gr
Anna Makris was born and raised in Athens, Greece, and is an alumna of the American Community Schools of Athens. Ms. Makris is a Licensed Psychologist and has completed a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Science in Psychology (with distinction) from Kingston University, London. In addition, she has completed training in psycho-educational assessments, Child Safeguarding and Protection and College Counseling and is currently enrolled in a Clinical Training program to specialize in systemic diagnosis and psychotherapy for children and adolescents.
Mrs. Makris has been working at ACS Athens since 2012, where she began as the Academy Advisory Specialist, IB CAS Coordinator and AP Coordinator and Academy Counselor, assisting Junior and Senior students with the university application process as a whole. From 2019 to 2025 she served as the K-12 Counseling Coordinator. Currently, she is the Head of Social-Emotional Learning & Wellbeing and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at ACS Athens, working with Elementary School, Middle School and Academy.
email: makrisa@acs.gr
Ms. Carla Tanas is a successful entrepreneur with strong social leadership. A citizen of the world with deep intercultural understanding and international experience having lived in 3 continents United States, Middle East, and Europe. She started working from a young age and managed to have successful exits. Carla is the co-founder and managing partner of Industry Disruptors-Game Changers (ID-GC), a not-for-profit organization empowering the youth and problem-solvers towards innovation and entrepreneurship in Greece and abroad. Carla founded and is the Managing Director of the Future Agro Challenge (FAC), a global initiative for the future of food & agriculture, which is the main arm of Industry Disruptors as an effort to seek sustainable solutions in food insecurity, biodiversity, and climate change by bringing together a passionate and innovative ecosystem. FAC's mission is to bring agripreneurs to the frontlines for an improved food system by integrating all cultures, and empowering farmers as caretakers of our earth's land. FAC, since its inception in 2015, is continuously growing now operating in 64 countries across 5 continents. Ms. Tanas, is also a visiting lecturer in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the top-rated international MSc program of the Athens Medical School (internal evaluation 2016) in collaboration with Alexander Fleming Biomedical Science Research Center, in Molecular Biomedicine, training the next generation of Biomedical Researchers and Innovators. Ms. Tanas is passionate about innovation and ecosystem building. She is part of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a TEDx advocate and organizer, as well as a member of the United Nations Committee of World Food Security Private Sector Mechanism and Youth Council Advisory. Ms. Tanas is a graduate of the Questrom School of Business, Boston University.
Ms. Tanas is an alumna of ACS Athens, (class of '99) who has now returned to ACS Athens to assume the Dean of The Institute position.
email: tanasc@theinstitute.gr