Director's Welcome
Welcome to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement Programme at ACS Athens.
As the IB / AP Director, it is my great pleasure to welcome students and families to a learning community defined by academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and global engagement. At ACS Athens, we believe that rigorous education should extend beyond the acquisition of knowledge. It should cultivate thoughtful, principled, and internationally minded young people who are prepared to navigate complexity, embrace challenge, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
With more than 25 years of experience in international education, as an IB educator, examiner, curriculum developer, Teacher Support Material contributor, Academy Vice Principal, and IB / AP Director, I bring to this role both extensive pedagogical experience and a deep commitment to student learning and success.
My formal journey with the International Baccalaureate began in 1999, when I became an IB English A2 teacher. I subsequently transitioned to teaching English A: Language and Literature at both Higher and Standard Levels, an area that continues to fuel my passion for inquiry, critical thinking, interpretation, and interdisciplinary learning. Since 2004, I have also served as an IB Diploma Examiner for Group 1 and the Extended Essay. This longstanding role has strengthened my appreciation for academic integrity, assessment rigor, and the pedagogical precision that underpins meaningful teaching and learning.
Beyond teaching and examining, I have had the privilege of contributing directly to IB curriculum development, an experience that allowed me to combine my expertise in curriculum design with my commitment to interdisciplinary learning. In 2017, I was invited by the International Baccalaureate Organization to contribute to the revision of the Group 1 curriculum, working specifically on the meaningful integration of Theory of Knowledge (TOK) into language and literature studies. This work contributed to the curriculum launched in 2019 and remains an important reflection of my commitment to conceptual learning, innovation, and academic excellence.
Professional learning and contribution to the wider IB community remain central to my educational practice. In 2020, I was honored to be selected as a presenter for the IB Global Conference in The Hague, where I was scheduled to present on empowering young people through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the conference was ultimately canceled due to the global pandemic, its focus continued to shape my professional inquiry, research, and educational leadership.
I am therefore especially honored that this work has come full circle. In October 2026, I will be co-presenting at the IB Global Conference in Lyon, France—Shared Learning, Shared Futures. Our presentation, “One System, Two Ways of Knowing: A Dual-Pathway Model for Interdisciplinary Extended Essays through SDG Contexts Applicable Across All IB Subject Groups, Illustrated through Collaboration between Group 1 and Group 5 in Alignment with the 2027 EE Guide,” has been accepted for the conference.
This work reflects an educational principle I value deeply: some of the most powerful learning occurs when we move beyond traditional subject boundaries while preserving the intellectual integrity of individual disciplines. By using the Sustainable Development Goals as authentic global contexts, the model explores how students can approach complex real-world questions through different disciplinary ways of knowing while remaining firmly aligned with the expectations of the 2027 Extended Essay Guide. Although illustrated through collaboration between Groups 1 and 5, the framework is designed to be applicable across all IB subject groups.
This same philosophy is embedded in our work at ACS Athens. Our IB Diploma Programme is far more than a rigorous academic pathway. It is a community in which students are challenged to question assumptions, think critically, communicate thoughtfully, act responsibly, and reflect deeply. We seek to cultivate intellectual curiosity, intercultural understanding, academic integrity, resilience, and a genuine sense of purpose.
We also believe that education must remain connected to the world students will inherit. Classroom learning should therefore engage with authentic global challenges, including sustainability, responsible citizenship, and the interconnected nature of contemporary society. These principles also underpin my doctoral research in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), which examines sustainability and global competence within international education.
At the heart of our programmes, however, are our students and faculty. Our teachers are not simply subject specialists; they are educators, mentors, and advocates for student growth. They understand that academic excellence and student well-being must work in partnership. Together, we strive to create an environment in which every learner is known, challenged, supported, and empowered to reach their potential.
The IB and AP pathways demand commitment, perseverance, intellectual discipline, and courage. Yet their value reaches far beyond examinations or university admission. They prepare students to become independent thinkers, lifelong learners, ethical decision-makers, and globally engaged citizens who can approach an increasingly complex world with knowledge, confidence, and humanity.
I warmly invite you to explore our programmes and discover the opportunities they offer. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to lead the IB and AP Programmes at ACS Athens and to continue building upon our school's longstanding tradition of excellence, innovation, integrity, and international-mindedness.
I look forward to accompanying our students and families on this important educational journey.
Warmly,
Evelyn Pittas, Ed.D. Candidate
IB/AP Director, ACS Athens