Dr. Kypraiou is a Doctor of Greek Language and Literature with a specialization in Classical Philology. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philology with distinction and two Master’s degrees: the first in Ancient and Modern Greek Literature (with distinction) and the second in Papyrology and Classical Literature (with distinction).

In 2024, she was conferred the degree of Doctor of the Department of Philology, Division of Classical Philology, at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, after having successfully defended her doctoral dissertation unanimously with distinction, which focuses on the study of rhetorical speeches of the Classical period. Her dissertation is expected to be published as a monograph during 2026–2027, alongside a series of original academic articles currently under preparation.

During her research activity, she participated as a fellow in a research project on the study of papyri at the Austrian National Library. She collaborated with the “Nautilus” research project of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, possessing extensive experience in the use of electronic databases for the study and teaching of the Greek language. Dr. Kypraiou has attended and participated in international conferences on Classical Philology. She served as a member of the Jury in the Student Rhetoric Competitions (2016–2022), following a series of related training programs. She is an active member of the Society of Greek Philologists, the International Society for the History of Rhetoric, and the Society of Greek Papyrologists.

In her teaching career, Dr. Kypraiou has extensive experience in preparing high school students for the Panhellenic examinations. She has been working in the ACS faculty community since 2024, serving as a Substitute Teacher of Greek Language, with teaching experience across various grade levels in both primary and secondary education. For the academic year 2026–2027, she has undertaken the online teaching of Greek in six classes (Grades 11th–12th), where she applies her philological expertise and research findings to enhance the students’ learning autonomy. She has also attended seminars on teaching Greek as a second/foreign language and on the pedagogical application of Artificial Intelligence in the teaching of philological subjects. During the academic year she is also a member of the Elementary School faculty team, a role that offers her the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to early literacy development and to the cultivation of a strong linguistic and cultural grounding at the foundation stages of educational development.

Dr. Kypraiou combines deep philological knowledge and active research engagement with an innovative and creative teaching approach, promoting excellence, critical thinking, student autonomy, while also effectively supporting younger learners through age-appropriate strategies that foster genuine interest, confidence, and meaningful engagement of students with the Greek Language and Culture.

email: kypraioui@acs.gr

Ms. Arnold earned a Bachelor Degree of German Linguistics and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2007, where she graduated with honors. Ms. Arnold also obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Education and Media from the University of Rostock in Germany in 2014 and a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Duisburg/Essen in Germany in 2023.

She specializes in teaching German as a foreign language. In addition to German and English, she also speaks Greek and French.

 A member of the ACS Athens faculty since 2010, she teaches the Middle School and High School students German as a foreign Language, as well as develops e-learning concepts for foreign languages in general, which will be applied to her academic research. A fellow of the ACS Institute, Ms. Arnold participates as an online instructor at the ACS Athens Virtual Program and prepares students for the AP German Language and Culture exam. In 2024 and in cooperation with the ACS Athens Innovation Lab, Ms. Arnold also participated in an educational pilot project of integrating Virtual Reality as an innovative learning space into language teaching.

Ms. Arnold co-authored a chapter in the 2016 publication "Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning Through i2Flex Classroom Model" and in the 2021 publication "Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning Through the i2Flex Classroom Model". In addition, she provides professional development (presentations, workshops, and webinars) to other foreign language teachers in Greece and abroad.

Since 2017 Ms. Arnold has been working as an accredited TestDaf examiner. TestDaf is one of the mandatory language proficiency tests for foreign students who want to enter a German university.

Ms. Arnold was born and raised in Germany and moved to Athens in 1996.

email: arnoldh@acs.gr

Mr. Arsenikos was born in Athens, Greece. He was raised in Melbourne, Australia. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry and a Master in Environmental Chemistry and Technology obtained from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. During his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, he participated in numerous oceanographic and environmental programs.

He has been in education since his early academic years teaching science to students of all levels. Since 2010 he has been responsible for the creation of multiple e-learning projects in chemistry and math for elementary, middle and high school students.

Mr. Arsenikos deeply believes in hands-on learning as a vital component in the process of fostering scientific thinking in students.

He is excited that he'll be able to share his love for science at ACS and support students to creatively discover on their own, new ideas and concepts.

email: arsenikoss@theinstitute.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

Ms. Chamosfakidis graduated from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a Bachelor's in Philosophy, Pedagogy, and Psychology (concentration in Psychology). She earned a Master’s in Educational Psychology from McGill University, focusing on teachers' expectations for children of divorce, and taught in primary and secondary schools in the Montreal area.

Later on, Ms. Chamosfakidis joined KETHEA (Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals), where she led a team of professionals for over 10 years, providing educational and counseling services to adolescents and young adults with substance abuse problems. She also earned a post-graduate Certificate in "Administration and Social Planning in the Field of Drug Addiction" from the Athens School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Psychiatry Department of the University of California in San Diego.

Ms. Chamosfakidis joined ACS Athens in 2014, where she teaches IB Psychology and currently serves as the Division Chair of Social Studies, K-12. She has also served as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Youth-to-Youth Program, an ACS Athens Educational and Social Integration program for unattended refugee minors in Greece. In this role, as well as the current one, she supports curriculum development for diverse groups of students and implements inclusive and adaptive learning strategies. As an active contributor to curriculum development, Ms. Chamosfakidis has attended several Teaching and Inquiry-Based Learning trainings and workshops, including the AERO Social Studies Summer Institute, further refining her expertise in educational frameworks and instructional design. 

Ms. Chamosfakidis co-advises the Model United Nations (MUN) club and the Intersection Club: Where Biology Meets Psychology. She holds a Teaching Certification from the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) and the Greek Ministry of Education and is a certified IB Psychology Examiner (IBO). Her mandate is learning by doing, fostering an environment where students thrive through engagement and critical thinking.

email: chamosfakidisa@theinstitute.gr

Mr. Justin Cramer grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. He went on to Buena Vista University where he earned his B.A. in General Science with an emphasis in Biology and Secondary Education. He taught for 8 years in Midwestern United States teaching a variety of science subjects including Earth Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Physical Science, Astronomy, and Physical Education. He earned an M.A. in Secondary Education Administration from University of Central Missouri.

This is his thirteenth year at ACS Athens and he will be teaching Biology 9, Earth & Beyond, and AP Environmental Science.

Outside of school Mr. Cramer enjoys spending time with his family, being active, playing and watching sports, traveling, movies, listening to music, and reading.

email: cramerj@acs.gr

Ms. Falidas earned her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the City University of New York at Queens College. 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 license and she has worked in New York City public and private schools. In addition, she worked as a lecturer for the Mathematics Department at LaGuardia Community College in New York. She holds a Certificate  in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education & Business School. She is a fellow at the ACS Athens Institute and a member of Thales and Friends, a non-profit organization aiming to bridge the chasm between mathematics and other cultural forms.

Ms. Falidas has been a teacher of Mathematics at ACS Athens since 2007 and is an IBO Mathematics Examiner since 2009. At ACS Athens she served as the Division Chair of Mathematics from 2020 to 2024. She is the Founder of the after school Math Circles program, an innovative program for students training for American and International Mathematics Competitions in grades 2 through 10.

email:  falidasm@theinstitute.gr

Rhodell Theodore Fields was born in Germany and was raised between the U.S and Greece. He studied piano and theory at the National Conservatory of Athens - Greece and then moved to the U.S where he earned his Bachelors and Master's degree in Music Composition from the University of South Florida. He taught Music Theory, Orchestration and Advance Oral Skills for music major students at the university level for three years.

In 2008 he was one of only five finalists for the terminal DMA Music degree at the world's top music institute, the Juilliard School. As a pianist, he has been a performer with a long roster of well-known artists both in Greece and abroad. As a composer, he has been commissioned numerous works and his compositions have been featured and performed in numerous international events. His large orchestral works can be found in worldwide CD and digital media distribution.

email: fieldsr@theinstitute.gr

Dr. Tonia Fyrigou is a language educator and academic leader with extensive experience in teaching, curriculum development, and international education. She holds a B.A. in French Literature, an M.A. in the History of French Civilization (2008), and a Ph.D. in the History of French Civilization (2012) from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Since joining ACS Athens in 1999, Dr. Fyrigou has taught Greek and French at the Middle and High School levels and has served as an IB teacher and examiner. From 2007 to 2016, she served as Chairperson of the Modern Languages Department, and since September 2025, she has served as Division Chair of Greek Language and Literature, contributing to curriculum development, faculty collaboration, and academic leadership.

In addition to her work at ACS Athens, Dr. Fyrigou is an Adjunct Professor at Hellenic American University, where she teaches undergraduate courses in interdisciplinary and intercultural studies. Her professional interests include innovative language pedagogy, blended learning, intercultural education, and the i²Flex methodology. She has designed and implemented Greek and French language and culture courses incorporating i²Flex and has contributed chapters to Revolutionizing K–12 Blended Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model (2016, 2021).

Dr. Fyrigou has presented at international conferences and has supported international educational collaborations, including partnerships with École de Longperrier in France and Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to academic excellence, innovation, intercultural understanding, and lifelong learning.

email: firigout@acs.gr

Venie Gaki was born in Ioannina, Greece and holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the Hellenic American University (HAU) and a BA (Bachelor in Classics) from the University of Ioannina, Greece. During her university years she attended a one-year course in Classics at the University of Liverpool, UK.  She also holds a Certificate in Advanced Methodology in Teaching English as a Second Language acquired at the Hellenic American Union in Athens, Greece in 1998 and has been a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certified instructor since then. 

Venie Gaki has rich experience in teaching both Greek and English as a second language in private schools and has been a member of ACS Athens faculty since 2007. She has taught both English and Greek to Elementary School, Middle School and High School students of all levels (beginning to Language Arts). In addition, Venie Gaki has also taught Latin through the IIC.

Venie Gaki believes in constant professional development; therefore, she pursues such opportunities through seminars, conferences (ECIS, AERO) and book exhibitions in order to be updated with the latest publications, methodologies and approaches in teaching the English and the Greek language to speakers of diverse linguistic backgrounds. She has been a member and presenter at TESOL Greece since 1993. 

Writing is one of her favorite occupations as it makes her feel more creative. She has written several plays, poems, song lyrics and texts (in both Greek and English) through which children's understanding and consolidation of the language they learn is reinforced. 

Venie Gaki designs and adjusts the content of the classes she teaches to meet her students’ needs.

For the EFL Social Studies class, she has simplified the curriculum students are presented with in grades 6 & 7 Middle School to make it more accessible for students with low proficiency in English.

ACS Athens has published three of her books, which have been taught at the Elementary School for a few years now: a listening and speaking activities book and two textbooks for Elementary School children who learn Greek as a foreign language.

email: gakiv@acs.gr

Leonidas (Leo) Gontzes is a historian and a political analyst born in New Jersey and raised both in the U.S. and Athens, Greece. Mr. Gontzes has a Bachelor's degree in History from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia, USA), and two graduate degrees in European History from University College Cork (Cork, Republic of Ireland) and Diplomacy, with an international conflict management concentration, from Norwich University (Northfield, Vermont, USA). He has been teaching History, Government and Politics, and International Relations at several international institutions in the Greek capital and abroad since 1999 at secondary school level as well as on the graduate and undergraduate levels. He taught at New York College from 2001 to 2021 and at Empire State College (State University of New York) from 2007 to 2021. Moreover, he held the office of Associate Dean heading New York College's International Relations Department from 2008 to 2018. His responsibilities have also included the office of Academic Director of Graduate Studies at the New York College Educational Group in Athens, Greece, for a total of ten years (2006-2016).

His papers include: "Re-Examining the 1925 Bulgarian Incident", "To what extent has the United States used the international economic system in order to exert power in global politics?", 'Evaluating peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peace enforcement in Kosovo", "Security and Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Kosovo", "Organizing and conducting a future military intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina". He has co-authored articles for CNN Greece on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and has appeared several times on Greek and Arab television, as well as Radio France International, as a political analyst vis-à- vis U.S. and Greek political developments.

This year he will be teaching IB History Years I and II, and Grades 6 and 7 Social Studies.

e-mail: gontzesl@acs.gr

Dr. Jenny Grigoropoulou was born in Athens, Greece, and raised in Maryland, U.S.A.. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Business Administration in 1989, from the University of La Verne and her M.A. degree in International Management and Business Administration. In 1992, she earned her teaching education and certification in the United States, qualified to teach ESL/EFL K–12 and Business Studies 6 - 12. She is an IB educator as well as an IB examiner for Business Management. In May 2019, she graduated from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, earning her Doctorate Degree in Education, Leadership, and Management. 

Dr. Grigoropoulou is a contributing author of the books Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i2Flex Classroom Model and Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model. She has authored articles, such as “The Role of Ethics in the 21st Century Organization” (IJPE-April 2019), and is the co-author with Dr. Gialamas of the manuscript, “Educators Leaders: Inspiring Learners to Transform Society by Becoming Architects of their Own Learning” (IJPE - October 2018) and with Dr. Pelonis, Dr. Gialamas, and Dr. Cherif of the manuscript,  "How Can Manifesting Leadership Skills Infused with Ethos, Empathy and Compassion, Better Prepare Students to Assume Leadership Roles" (IJPE, February 2020) . She has presented her work and practices in colloquiums and conferences. She is one of the founding members of the Recycling Project, which is a school-wide initiative.

Dr. Grigoropoulou had been teaching ESL in the Middle School and the Elementary School for grades K – 5 to non-native English speakers. Overall, she has been an ESL educator for 35 years. She has been actively involved with the Saturday Youth-to-Youth program since the initiation of the program, providing unaccompanied minors with skills and knowledge of the English language. In addition to her teaching assignments, educator of the EFL Language Arts and Language Development courses. While being the Admissions & Outreach Counselor, she is also the ESL/EFL K-12 Coordinator.

email: grigoropoulouj@acs.gr

Dr. Hristakos completed his B.Sc. in physics at the University of Lancaster in the UK. He then continued his graduate studies in experimental physics (M.S) at the University of New Hampshire in the USA. Following this he successfully defended his Ph.D. in experimental low temperature physics at the University of Bayreuth in Germany. Dr. Hristakos worked as a post-doc research scientist at the Centre des etudes atomiques in Saclay-France and at the University of Tuebingen in Germany.

He has taught IB physics at ACS Athens for over a decade and he has also worked as an AP physics teacher at the American School of Dubai.

email: hristakosl@theinstitute.gr

Ms. Kathy 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. As a member of the Academy faculty at the American Community Schools of Athens, Greece since 1974 she has taught English, Journalism, History, Humanities, IB English Literature and IB Theory of Knowledge.

Since retiring from full-time teaching in 2008, Ms. Jasonides has continued to team teach the Honors Humanities courses, and she also serves as Chair of the Division of Language and Literature. In addition to the two-year Honors Humanities program, Ms. Jasonides and her teaching partners have developed three additional online Humanities courses which offer the highlights of the program’s interdisciplinary approach, including the field study opportunities, to both non-ACS Athens students and ACS Athens students who are not enrolled in the regular program.

Ms. Jasonides has co-authored articles about interdisciplinary teaching for the ACS Athens magazine ETHOS and participated in presentations at NESA conferences and the ACS Athens Conferences on Learning Differences. She also co-authored chapters in the 2016 publication Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through i2Flex Classroom Model and the 2021 publication Handbook of Research on K-12 Blended and Virtual Learning Through the i2Flex Model.

email: jasonidesk@theinstitute.gr

Ms. Matina Katsiyianni holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She also holds a Master of Science in Economic Mathematics from the National Technological University of Athens.

Ms. Katsiyianni is a Mathematics educator with over 15 years of experience in a variety of curriculums at the Secondary level and she is published in the ACS Athens initiative on the revolutionary blended teaching methodology i2flex. She has participated in many conferences around the world as she always seeks for the best professional development opportunities for the benefit of her students.

Ms. Katsiyianni is currently teaching IB Mathematics in the Academy as well as Algebra I in Middle school.

email: katsiyiannim@acs.gr

Dr. Antonios Karampelas holds a B.Sc. in Physics and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). His research career includes projects funded by the European Space Agency at NKUA and the National Observatory of Athens, as well as research grants from NKUA. His scientific work covers the Gaia space mission, extragalactic astrophysics, data mining, and machine learning. He has published nearly ninety works — journal articles, book chapters, and conference contributions — and his astrophysics research has been cited more than 28,000 times (Google Scholar; H-index: 16), appearing in journals such as Astronomy & Astrophysics and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. His educational research has been published by AIP Publishing, IGI Global, the Irish Journal of Technology-Enhanced Learning, the European Distance and E-Learning Network, the Proceedings of EdMedia, the International Schools Journal, Business Partners, the MSA Accreditation Newsletter, and Medium. He has served as a reviewer for academic journals in both fields, delivered the keynote "AI and Critical Thinking in Fighting Disinformation" at the National Multiplier Event of the S.HI.E.L.D. vs. Disinfo Erasmus KA2 project at NKUA (2025), and taken part in expert panels and podcasts, including the Inside Learning series.

At ACS Athens since 2016, he teaches IB Physics, Physics 1 and 2, and the Artificial Intelligence and STEAM–Modern Technology Topics Academy courses, which he designed and developed himself. He introduced Artificial Intelligence into the ACS Athens curriculum in 2018 and launched the school's standalone AI course in 2024. At university level, he teaches Learning Analytics in the MA in Learning Design and Technology at the American College of Greece. He taught Artificial Intelligence in Education in the MSc in Educational Applications with STEM Epistemology at the University of Thessaly and ASPETE, contributed into the development of the Artificial Intelligence and Education professional development course for teachers offered through Learn Inn, NKUA's Center of Continuous Education and Lifelong Learning, and served as a lab instructor for Physics 2 and Introduction to Astrophysics in the NKUA Department of Physics.

He has held a range of leadership roles at ACS Athens. He served as Chair of the Division of Technology (2024–2026), Coordinator of the Artificial Intelligence Framework (2020–2024), Accreditation Internal Coordinator, and Action Research Coordinator, and currently serves on the Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) team, the AI Ethics Committee as Technology Specialist, and the school's Strategic Planning team. Through the RAIL team he contributed to ACS Athens becoming one of the first ten schools worldwide to earn the RAIL endorsement, the first AI endorsement for schools, established by the Middle States Association. He led the spACS program, which sent student-designed experiments aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule on two consecutive flights in 2019 and drew media coverage in Greece and the United States. He also coached the student team that took first place in the inaugural Aerospace Contest of the Hellenic Physical Society in 2018, and has guided student research projects from first idea to publication.

Dr. Karampelas works on bringing Generative AI and Learning Analytics into teaching and on building AI curricula. He is developing the 4Think (4T) Framework, which sets out new thinking paradigms for AI education — machine learning thinking, generative thinking, and agentic thinking — alongside computational thinking.

email: karampelasa@acs.gr

Dr. Kerkines received his B.Sc. in Chemistry (1997) and his M.Sc.(1999) and Ph.D.(2003) in Physical Chemistry from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA).

He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the NKUA (2004-2006), at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, USA (2006-2008), and at the National Hellenic Research Foundation (2008-2011, 2013-2015). His research focus had been the application of Quantum Chemistry to novel main-group and transition-metal chemistry, as well as to the study of the interaction of materials with light for modern energy applications.

Dr. Kerkines has been teaching Chemistry since 2000. Before joining the ACS family in 2017, he had worked in the private sector as a content creator for e-learning courses and phone support for students from 4th to 12th grade (Chemistry, Physics, Math, Geography, Biology) as well as in a tutoring center for Panhellenic examinations. He also worked as a quality control head in a cosmetics company, being responsible for ISO and ΕΟΦ accreditations.

Dr. Kerkines has co-authored over 30 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and has presented his work in scientific conferences in 12 countries. He has received scholarships from the Association of Hellenes from Egypt, the Hellenic State Scholarships Foundation, and the Marie Curie Foundation (twice). He received the 2008 Atlanta Area Chemical Physics award for his postdoctoral research, and he has briefly worked at CERN (Switzerland) and Karlsruhe University (Germany) as a visiting scientist. A firm supporter of the communication of science to the public, he received the honor to give invited talks at the Athens Science Festival/Cafe Scientifique Athens (2016, 2021), as well as at the inaugural Pint of Science Greece (2018).

Dr. Kerkines was born and grew up near the center of Athens, Greece. In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights and engaging with website design and development.

email: kerkinesi@acs.gr

John Papadakis is the Director of Institutional Advancement & Alumni Affairs at ACS Athens and the school's certified Data Protection Officer.

In September 2025, he assumed his duties leading Institutional Advancement and Alumni Affairs of ACS Athens. After two decades leading Enrollment Management—and along the way also serving as Director of Technology and Communications—this transition is a natural and meaningful progression, drawing on the skills, insights, and relationships built over these years to strengthen our school’s advancement and alumni engagement efforts.

From 2017 to 2026 he oversaw the operation of the "Suheil Sabbagh" Media Studio at the Learning Commons. He is the producer of the "Owlcast," the official podcast of the school with over 120 episodes documenting the life and successes of the ACS Athens community. He has been involved in the strategic implementation of the Media Literacy program and initiatives throughout the school, especially organizing the annual Media Literacy Festival.

Since 2021, he leads ACSAthensGlobal, the official platform connecting the school's global alumni community. He also serves on the school's RAIL team (Responsible AI Learning), which spearheads efforts to empower educators and students to utilize AI in teaching and learning ethically and responsibly. 

John Papadakis has been the school's certified Data Protection Officer (email: dpo@acs.gr) since 2018, overseeing its compliance with GDPR. He received his DPO certification from TÜV Austria in 2018. He has also served as the managing editor of the International Schools Journal, published by ACS Athens, between 2019 and 2023.

After 14 years in the United States, where he served the American K-12 education in different capacities as a Math teacher, educational technologist, tutor, and administrator, he returned to Greece with his family in 2001. His academic studies include an Executive M.B.A. degree from the University of Indianapolis (Athens Campus), a B.A. in Communications/Electronic Media/Broadcasting from Columbia College Chicago, and an associate degree in Electronics Engineering from Triton College, IL. He has extensive experience in radio/TV production and has worked as an editor/staff writer in weekly ethnic newspapers based in Chicago, IL. John Papadakis was the Director of Communications and Operations of the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) – North and South America Region, based in Chicago, from 1995 to 2001, covering and promoting the educational, civic, and cultural activities of the ethnic Greek community on the American continent. After his arrival in Athens in 2001, he was involved in technology projects as a training consultant and as a project manager for new media projects (e-commerce, online Content Management Systems, web 2.0, etc.).

Previous business ventures in the U.S. include: a TV satellite company operating as a Dish Network dealer and distributor of Greek satellite TV channels in the Midwest; a weekly radio program promoting the activities of the Greek American community; and various business technology and communication consulting services to organizations and businesses in the Chicagoland area.

John Papadakis is a lifelong learner, music lover, and global-minded citizen of the world.

email: papadakisj@acs.gr

Trina Langsenkamp holds a Master's degree in Arts in Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Art Education from The Ohio State University. She has a K-12 visual arts education licensure and certification from the state of Ohio.

This is Ms. Langsenkamp's fifth year teaching Visual Arts at ACS Athens. For three years, she worked as the K-5 Visual Arts teacher and Elementary Yearbook Coordinator, and this is her second year in the Middle School and Academy. Currently, she teaches Print Publications 1 and 2, Design, Drawing and Painting and Graphic Arts at the Academy as well as Design 8 at the Middle School. She is also the Academy Yearbook Coordinator and an adjunct teaching fellow for the ACS Athens Virtual School.

Previously, Ms. Langsenkamp worked as an Artist in Residence for Project Zero (PZ) at Harvard University. During the residency, and in conjunction with PZ's Out of Eden Learn project, she developed methods and practices for integrating mindfulness into the arts curriculum. 

Ms. Langsenkamp is currently a freelance painter whose work primarily focuses on abstraction and landscapes. In 2019, she presented work at international art fairs, such as Art Athina and Art Thessaloniki with Epsilon Gallery. In 2018, she was a resident artist at The Mudhouse in Agios Ioannis, Crete. In 2015, she presented at the Ohio Art Education Association conference on her work with sensory engagement in art-making and was the recipient of the 2015 Fergus Fellows Award. Ms. Langsenkamp's interest in international arts education began when she studied in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. She later studied at the Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston, Jamaica, where she worked directly with arts educators in public, private and non-traditional education sectors.

email: langsenkampt@acs.gr

Ms. Perakis was raised in Newport, Rhode Island. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary and Special Education from Salve Regina College and a Masters of Arts in Special Education from Lesley College. 

A life long learner has been at ACS Athens since 1981 serving the school in many capacities, such as, a teacher, coordinator, director of programs, and after retiring has been serving the school as a consultant in various departments as needed.

She is currently working as a special consultant for Institutional Advancement.

email: perakisc@theinstitute.gr

Dr. Prodromidi earned a B.Sc. in Cell & Molecular Biology from the University of Essex, UK. She then continued her graduate studies at Imperial College London, UK, where she obtained a M.Sc. in Immunology and a Ph.D. with a full scholarship in Renal Medicine and Stem Cell Biology. She has worked in research and her scientific work has been presented in conferences world-wide, and has been acknowledged numerous times with international awards, such as the Best New Scientist (2006, UK). She has also published articles in scientific journals and co-authored books.

After the completion of her post-graduate studies and since her return in Greece, Dr. Prodromidi has worked both as a research scientist and an educator. To her, teaching means inspiration, creativity, and even challenge to pass on knowledge and ethos to every student. Her teaching experience ranges from middle school students through university students. Recently, she co-authored the book entitled "Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model" contributing to this novel pedagogical approach introduced by ACS Athens.

email: prodromidie@theinstitute.gr

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 has also received a M.Ed. specializing in Educational Technology through an online program at the University of Calgary.

Ms. Rontogiannis has been teaching at the 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 taught Language Arts in the Middle School and Academy and Science in the Middle School. She has coached Girls Junior Varsity and Varsity Volleyball teams for a number of years, at ACS Athens and in Montreal Public Schools. 

Ms Rontogiannis has also taken part in many professional development opportunities both in Athens and abroad, as well as presented her own work at a number of conferences. In 2014, she presented at the ICALT conference in Athens, and was the recipient of the Best Poster Award. She has also designed and implemented both the Online Summer Health course that she has been teaching since 2014, as well as the eighth grade i2Flex Health course that she designed and taught in 2016 and is still running today. She has also taught online course through ACS Athens Virtual.

This year Ms Rontogiannis is teaching 10th grade Health, both F2F and through ACS Athens Virtual and is the coordinator for ACS Athens Virtual and Technology Integration.

email: rontogiannisl@acs.gr

Ms. Dimitra Psoma holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Greek Language and Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with a major in Linguistics, and a Master of Arts in Translation from the University of New Hampshire, USA. She is currently in her eleventh year at ACS Athens.

With over 16 years of teaching experience, Ms. Psoma has taught both English and Greek to students of all levels and has prepared students for university entrance examinations. Her diverse teaching experience includes Greek Language and Mythology through the ACS Athens Virtual program, as well as instruction across a range of educational settings and age groups. She also designed and taught Modern Greek Language and Art, developing engaging, interdisciplinary learning experiences that integrate language, creativity, and cultural understanding. This experience has further strengthened her ability to foster student-centered learning and make language instruction meaningful and engaging. Currently, she teaches Greek to elementary students from Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Ms. Psoma has successfully completed a nine-month seminar at the University of the Aegean on “Greek as a Second/Foreign Language.” In 2025, she further enhanced her professional development by attending the Conference on Teaching Greek as a Second/Foreign Language, organized by the Greek Language Institute. She also participated in a one-week program in Salamanca, Spain, as a chaperone, where she attended Spanish language courses and explored effective methodologies and approaches to foreign language instruction.

Committed to lifelong learning and continuous professional development, Ms. Psoma has also successfully completed a professional seminar in Digital Marketing and Online Branding, including the corresponding certification examinations. This training expanded her knowledge of digital communication, online presence, and the effective use of digital tools, complementing her teaching practice and supporting her interest in innovative, technology-enhanced, and forward-thinking approaches to education.

email: psomad@acs.gr

Irini Rovoli holds a B.A. in Education from the University of Athens, School of Philosophy, and an M.A. in the Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs from the University of London, Institute of Education, by a scholarship from IKY. She also pursued advanced piano studies in the National Conservatory of Athens and studied Drama at Veaki Drama School, Athens.

Ms. Rovoli began teaching at high school level at the Hackney Community School in London and in the Greek public sector at Varibopi Athens High School for Repatriated Greeks. She joined ACS Athens in 1995 and served as teacher of Greek in Elementary and Middle School ever since. She also taught 5th grade English Language Arts class, has served as Team Leader and as Elementary Interim Vice-Principal (2017).

Ms. Rovoli actively contributed innovations in the Greek language curriculum of the elementary, including content design for grades JK-5 and the elementary school Greek national celebrations. She co-authored an article in the British Journal of Educational Psychology and has published articles in the Institute of Education Alumni magazine, NESA News magazine, and ACS Athens Ethos. She also presented an innovative environmental initiative on student leadership and action through Project-Based Learning at the ECIS Conference in 2012 in Athens and at the NESA International Conference in 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. Her presentation at the ACS Athens Colloquium 2016 was her original work on rhyming grammar rules for Greek language learners. At the Colloquium of 2026 she co-designed and presented an innovative learners' research project on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As a Fellow of the ACS Athens Institute, Ms. Rovoli has designed the HS virtual course Greek Language and History. Ms. Rovoli is a certified Critical Friends Groups Coach (National School Reform Faculty).and has served as a facilitator in the ACS Athens Collaborative Learning Communities. Ms. Rovoli is certified in AI for Education.

email: rovolii@acs.gr

Dr. Sax holds a Bachelor's degree from Hampshire College (U.S.A.) in Psychology and Child Development. She graduated from New York University (U.S.A.) with a Clinical Master's degree in Clinical Social Work; Children, Adolescents and Adults. She has completed her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and Supervision in Counselor Education at Argosy University (U.S.A.).

She has been a Psychology Lecturer of Clinical Interviewing and Consultation, Child Psychology, Life-Span Development, Cultural Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Advanced Psychopathology and Group & Music Therapy. Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor at the Hellenic American University in Athens, teaching graduate students of the Psychology Department. She is also a licensed psychotherapist who has been in private practice for twenty -four years with children, adolescents and adults.

From September of 2006, she was working at ACS Athens Elementary as the Counselor for grades PK-5. Since 2011, Dr. Sax has been the Coordinator of the Psychology Intern Program with the Department of Student Affairs. As of 2012-13, Dr. Sax has also been providing PK-12 school wide services as Counseling Psychologist, via the Wellness Center. Additionally, Dr. Sax provides all clinical supervision to faculty and staff of the Counseling Office, as well as the Educational Testing Center.

Dr. Sax also presents her work at Professional Conferences within the ACS Athens Community and throughout Europe and has published articles and book chapters on her research interests and clinical work in the field. She currently is a member of the editorial board and peer reviewer of the American Journal of Applied Psychology, The International Journal of Elementary Education of SciencePG and The International Journal of Progressive Education. She is a member of the European Branch of the American Counseling Association and RSA Fellow (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).

email: saxlanea@theinstitute.gr

Ms. Sidiropoulou is a Greek Philologist and experienced educator with over 22 years in education, the last 10 at ACS Athens. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Education, and Psychology, majoring in Pedagogics, an M.Sc. in Teaching Methodology and Assessment, both from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and an M.Ed. in Adult Education from the Hellenic Open University; both Master’s degrees were completed with distinction. She has also specialized in Teaching Greek as a Foreign Language through programs at the Universities of Patras and the Aegean and completed the ACS Athens Virtual School Training Program.

Since joining ACS Athens, Ms. Sidiropoulou has taught Greek Language Arts in Middle and High School, Greek B classes, and the Greek “Youth-to-Youth Program.” She also established and taught the Virtual School course “Greek Language through Mythology.” Her broader academic experience includes teaching at Higher Military Educational Institutions and serving as an academic associate at the School of Pedagogical and Technological Education, focusing on teaching methodology, assessment, and pedagogical demonstrations for educators.

A committed author and researcher, she has published educational books and articles in Greek, French, and Arabic, presented at international conferences, and contributed to ACS Athens Ethos. She co-authored the chapter “Middle and High School Implementations of Moodle Facilitated Blended Instructional Designs” and contributed to the development of the ACS “Approaches to Learning Rubric.” Her current Action Research, “Best Types of Feedback to Improve Students’ Writing Tasks Performances,” has been presented at Colloquium 2026 and explores how targeted feedback can strengthen student writing, reflection, and agency.

A certified adult trainer and Greek Language Center assessor since 2009, Ms. Sidiropoulou remains deeply committed to lifelong learning. Her continuing professional development focuses on educational technology, blended and digitally supported learning, contemporary teaching methodologies, differentiation, assessment for learning, and strategies that promote student engagement and independence.

Her goal is to equip students with the tools to become reflective, self-directed learners and responsible advocates of Conscious Citizenship.

email: sidiropouloum@acs.gr

Ms. Evdokia (Evi) Sotiropoulou holds a Masters degree in Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She has a K-12 Visual Arts education licensure and certification from the state of Massachusetts.

Ms. Sotiropoulou was born and raised in Athens, Greece and moved to the United States in 2011 for her studies. She is an ACS Athens Alumni, attending the school from junior kindergarten to 12th grade.

After receiving her Bachelor's degree, Ms. Sotiropoulou worked as an art teacher at a Greek-American bilingual school in Arlington, Massachusetts and discovered her passion to teach art. She then decided to continue her studies and received her M.A. in Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City.

This will be Ms. Sotiropoulou’s ninth year at ACS Athens, teaching 8th grade Design, 6-8th grade Art Studio and High School Art Appreciation 1 through ACS Athens Virtual.

Ms. Sotiropoulou's ultimate priority as an educator is to create a student-centered classroom, where her students feel comfortable to design and express themselves freely.

email: sotiropouloue@acs.gr

Dr. Angeliki Stamati earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees through the extended program in Applied Mathematics and Science Studies at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). She subsequently earned a second Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics, specializing in Mathematical Analysis, and a Ph.D. in Systems Theory from NTUA, supported by a full scholarship from the Papakyriakopoulos Foundation. Her academic and professional career brings together advanced mathematics, research, teaching, curriculum development, and educational leadership.

Dr. Stamati’s research has been published in leading international journals, including IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control and Systems & Control Letters. During her doctoral studies, she taught at NTUA’s School of Applied Mathematics and Science Studies, the University of West Attica, and the School of Engineering Officers of the Greek Army. Following the completion of her Ph.D., she served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Economics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a Scientific Associate at the University of West Attica, and an Instructor at the School of Greek Navy Cadets. Her extensive teaching experience encompasses Calculus, Linear Algebra, Optimal Control, Higher Mathematics, and programming with MATLAB and Mathematica. She has also contributed to research programs focused on the development and implementation of mathematical algorithms.

Since joining ACS Athens in 2013, Dr. Stamati has held a range of academic and leadership positions and has made significant contributions to the school’s mathematics and IB programs. She continues to serve as the Mathematics Division Chair for Grades 7-12, providing leadership in curriculum development, instructional practices, assessment, faculty collaboration, and professional learning. In this capacity, she works to strengthen coherence and continuity across the mathematics curriculum while supporting faculty in delivering rigorous, engaging, and innovative learning experiences aligned with international standards and the diverse academic pathways offered at ACS Athens.

Alongside her role as Mathematics Division Chair, Dr. Stamati continues to serve as IB Council Advisor and Math Circles Content Leader, supporting student leadership, enrichment, and a strong culture of mathematical inquiry. She has also served as an ECIS Ambassador and Co-Coordinator of the Professional Development Team. Her commitment to educational excellence has been recognized with the University of Chicago’s Outstanding Educator Award.

Dr. Stamati has served as an IB Examiner since 2021 and was recently selected as an AP Calculus Reader for the College Board, further extending her expertise in international curriculum, assessment, and academic standards. Through these roles, she brings a broad perspective on assessment and instructional practice to her work with students and faculty. She has presented at international conferences, including the ECIS Leadership Conferences, and contributes to professional conversations surrounding mathematics education, curriculum, assessment, and interdisciplinary learning.

In October 2026, Dr. Stamati will be a co-presenter at the IB Global Conference in Lyon, France, Shared Learning, Shared Futures. Together with her co-presenter, she will present “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,” presents a framework for interdisciplinary Extended Essay development through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals. The presentation highlights how purposeful collaboration across IB subject groups can foster deeper inquiry, strengthen interdisciplinary connections, and create meaningful opportunities for student learning.

Throughout her career, Dr. Stamati has remained committed to advancing mathematics education through academic rigor, innovative teaching, and strong academic leadership. She is passionate about cultivating mathematical thinking, curiosity, and intellectual independence in students and strongly believes in Paul Halmos’ enduring words: 

“The only way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics.”

email: stamatia@acs.gr

Ms. Natasha Stratoglou is an experienced educator in Modern Languages with a strong academic background. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Literature and a Master's degree in Cultural Institutions Management. She is a Fellow at the Institute of Innovation and Creativity, where she has designed, developed, and implemented an online course focused on Greek Language and Culture through Art. Her most recent professional development endeavor is a yearly course on "Teaching Greek as a Second and Foreign Language" from the Aegean University. Ms Stratoglou is a member of the Greek Applied Linguistics Association.

Ms. Stratoglou has extensive postgraduate training, including studies in Human Development at the University of La Verne, Writing Across the Curriculum at the University of Berkeley, and Education at the University of Athens. She has been a member of the ACS Athens faculty since 1990, teaching French and Greek as native, second, or foreign languages across all three education levels.

In her various roles at ACS Athens, Ms. Stratoglou has served as the Middle School Foreign Language Coordinator, Yearbook Advisor, and advisor for the French and Greek Clubs, among other positions. She has also played a key role in organizing educational trips and exchanges, such as the French Trip and the Cairo Exchange.

Ms. Stratoglou has actively participated in professional development, attending numerous IB Middle Years Program conferences in Athens and Istanbul, Learning Differences Conferences, and NESA Conferences. She has presented her work at two graduate student conferences in Museum Studies, organized by the Kapodistrian University of Athens, and in 2016, she showcased her research on the effective implementation of the i2Flex methodology in a multi-level language class at the ACS Athens Colloquium.

Ms. Stratoglou is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning. With her extensive experience and dedication, she continues to support, encourage, and inspire her students, creating diverse and engaging challenges that promote a love of learning.

email: stratogloun@acs.gr

Dr. Evan Syropoulos is an accomplished educator, researcher, and an IB and AP Capstone-certified teacher, with a unique interdisciplinary academic background spanning English Literature, Critical Theory, and the Performing Arts. He earned his BA in English Language and Literature (1995), his MA in English Literature and Culture (1999), and his PhD in Musical Theater (2008) from the School of English Language and Literature of Aristotle University. He conducted postdoctoral research and/or taught literature and theater courses at Aristotle University, Ghent University (Belgium), and Goldsmiths College (University of London). His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals in Greece, Belgium, and the UK. 

His commitment to advancing his teaching methodology led him to become a College Board-certified AP Capstone teacher in 2017, after training at McBride High School, Long Beach CA. In 2019, he further honed his skills at the AERO Summer Institute at Marymount University, Virginia, receiving training in the English Language Arts AERO standards. 

In 2016, he began his impactful journey at ACS Athens, initially working as the Writing/Research Studio Coordinator and then primarily teaching IB English A: Literature, IB English A: Language and Literature, and IB Theory of Knowledge. In 2019, he joined the ACS Athens Institute as Fellow, designing and teaching an online course in English Literature for ACS Athens Virtual. From September 2022, he also serves as Division Chair of Language and Literature. This year, he teaches IB English A: Literature Yr. 1 and Yr. 2 and IB English A: Language and Literature Yr. 2. 

Currently, Dr. Syropoulos is also collaborating with Ms. Sophia Thanopoulou on the development of the Inquiry and Performance Learning Model (IPLM). This endeavor marries his love for literature, theater, and teaching, underscoring his commitment to pioneering effective and engaging teaching methods.

email: syropoulose@acs.gr

Dr. Toumpakari was born and raised in Athens and attended the University of Athens where she studied Mathematics. She obtained a M.Sc. in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago on a full scholarship from the University, while being an honorary scholar of the Onassis Foundation.

Dr. Toumpakari has made presentations in several mathematics conferences in the US. In Greece, she presented at the 1st Congress of Greek Mathematicians on a statistical project she participated in at the Childhood Cancer Research Group at Oxford. Her teaching experience includes a variety of undergraduate classes at the University of Chicago, mentoring gifted teenagers at a math-themed summer camp and teaching under-privileged students in the Chicago Public Schools, as well as teaching A-levels in the UK.

Dr. Toumpakari has been a teacher of mathematics at ACS Athens since 2012. Classes taught at ACS include Geometry with Algebraic Topics Standard/Honors, Algebra 2 Trig Standard/Honors, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, IB Higher Level, IB Applications and Interpretation HL/SL, Algebra 1 in the Middle School and in the Academy, Pre-Algebra, Math 7 and Math 6. 

Dr Toumpakari has been a coach in the Math Circles Program for Grades 7-8 and a Mathcounts coach as well. She is also a Senior Fellow at the ACS Athens Virtual Institute, where she has taught Geometry with Algebraic Topics HN and an IB Prep course. This year, Dr. Toumpakari is teaching IB Math AI SL Year 2 and Geometry with Algebraic Topics Honors in the Academy, and Math 6 in the Middle School. 

email: toumpakarie@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

Dr. Liana Tsigaridi holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Patras, graduating top of her class and receiving an award from the State Scholarships Foundation. She pursued two concurrent M.Sc. degrees: one in Applied Mathematics at the Technical University of Athens and another in Astrophysics at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). She completed a Ph.D. in Astronomy and Applied Mathematics at NKUA, specializing in Galactic Dynamics, supported by a full scholarship from the Leventis Foundation.

Alongside her academic achievements, Dr. Tsigaridi holds degrees in Music and Dance, plays piano and viola, and has been a member of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Athens since 1991.

Her research experience includes participation in programs funded by the Academy of Athens in collaboration with the Research Center for Astronomy and Applied Mathematics. She has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, presented at academic conferences, and served as a visiting researcher at the European Southern Observatory in Munich, working on the "Galactic Potential Extraction" project.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Dr. Tsigaridi has been a faculty member at ACS Athens since 2017 and has served as an IB Mathematics examiner since 2021. This academic year, she teaches IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA) at both Higher and Standard Levels, as well as Algebra 2 & Trigonometry Honors, while also serving as Mathematics Division Chair for Grades K–6. Beyond her teaching and leadership responsibilities, she contributes to the ACS Athens community as a CAS Advisor, Senior Class Advisor, and Mathematics Competition Coach for the Grades 6–8 MathCounts Competitive Team. 

Dr. Tsigaridi is committed to helping students develop not only an understanding of mathematics, but also a lasting appreciation for its significance and beauty.

email: tsigaridil@acs.gr

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 European Social and Political Studies, a four-year course with majors in History, French and Italian from University College London (2004), and a Master's degree in Journalism from University of Westminster, London (2008).

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 joined the ACS Athens team in 2010 and started working in the Writing/Research Studio, where she helped and advised students on a variety of written assignments. She has since been involved in many aspects of school life: she coached the ACS Athens debate teams for 15 years, has participated in the Mentorship Program and has co-presented a workshop at the NESA Conference. With her teaching partner, she has also developed and taught authentic Humanities courses for ACS Athens Virtual. She also served as Division Chair for Social Studies, K-12 for 6 years, from 2018 - 2024. This year, she is teaching Social Studies in the interdisciplinary, team-taught Humanities program in the Academy, and Grade 9 History, Europe and the World.

email: zavacopouloua@acs.gr