Panayiotopoulos, Marianna, Faculty, 4th Grade
Marianna Panayiotopoulos was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and moved to the United States at the age of four. Raised in New York City, she completed her academic studies there, graduating magna cum laude from Brooklyn College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, specializing in child development. She later earned a Master of Business Administration in International Business from Baruch College.
Marianna shares a deep connection with ACS Athens, as several members of her family are alumni. After relocating to Athens with her family in 2020, motherhood inspired her to pursue a career in education, leading her to earn her teaching license through the state of Arizona. She brings a strong passion for early childhood and elementary education, recognizing the vital foundation it establishes for lifelong learning and personal success.
Having previously served as the Elementary School’s permanent substitute teacher across grades JK through 5th, Marianna is now a full-time fourth-grade educator at ACS Athens. Her firsthand experience within the American educational system and professional development landscape allows her to guide and support students considering similar academic pathways.
Dedicated to continuous growth and reflective practice, Marianna actively contributes to collaborative leadership within the school community. At the ACS Athens Sustaining Excellence Colloquium, she presented a workshop on fostering self-awareness in first-grade students, sharing practical strategies in emotional literacy, mindfulness, and reflective habits to cultivate conscious, empowered global citizens.
From her very first day at ACS Athens, Marianna has experienced a strong sense of community with the faculty and staff, continually reinforcing her dedication to elementary education. In the classroom, she is committed to maintaining an uplifting environment where every student feels heard, valued, and encouraged to discover their own unique superpower.
email: panayiotopoulosm@acs.gr