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. Dimitropoulos is a Physical Education Teacher and Department Chair for Physical Education. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Physical Education from the University of Physical Education and Sport Science in Athens (1996) and then received his Masters Degree through an International Olympic Committee's Program (MEMOS - Executive Masters in Sports Organisation Management), from University of Lyon, France (2001).

Mr. Dimitropoulos has worked as the Baseball Competition Manager for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and has also observed the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He has published a book on baseball (2001).

He authored a chapter in the 2016 publication "Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through i2Flex Classroom Mode".

Mr. Dimitropoulos has been the Varsity Girls Basketball coach, Varsity Boys Volleyball coach and HS Track & Field coach since 2006.

He is a certified lifeguard and an emergency responder (CPR/First Aid for adult/child/infant).

Mr. Dimitropoulos was raised in Athens, Greece.

email: dimitropoulosa@acs.gr

 Mr. Lianos was raised in both New York and Athens, Greece. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Maryland, University College and an M.A. in Mass Communications from the University of Leicester. His dissertation focused on the role proximity plays in the reporting of international conflicts.

Prior to joining the ACS Athens faculty, he was an editor and project manager at Macmillan Hellas publishers and edited for the weekly English language newspaper The Hellenic Star. He also handled marketing and communication for Aurion Image and Sound Distributors.

Mr. Lianos currently teaches American Literature Combo 10, Humanities, IB Language and Literature Yr. 2 and Media Literacy, Communication and Production. His students produce The ACS Athens Observer and The Literary Arts Magazine, which showcase student media projects, literature and visual art. He has also held a position at the ACS Athens Writing / Research Studio where he guided students to become more effective, confident and independent writers. 

As always, he is looking forward to the academic year and collaborating with his students.

email: lianosh@acs.gr

Ms. Xenia Thomopoulos earned her B.A. in Communications & Media / Film Studies and English Literature. She worked in Fashion PR right after university, and then pursued a Masters in English Literature and Adolescent Education. She taught in New York City public schools for 11 years before coming to ACS Athens three years ago. In NY she developed and wrote curricula in an array of secondary Humanities courses including AP Literature, 10-12th grade English, as well as electives-style courses such as Filmmaking, Photography, Philosophy, and Advisory. There she was the High School Advisor and Department Lead; she initiated inter school debates, and has acted as a film liaison with Tribeca Teaches Film Institute, among others, to help promote student work in authentic spaces and productions. 

At ACS Athens, Ms. Thomopoulos is teaching Combo 9, Perspectives, Theory of Knowledge, and AP Literature. Ms. Thompopoulos believes in Competency-Based Education and Project Based Learning as a pedagogical approach that reaches a plethora of learners by connecting real-world skills to relevant / authentic projects. She is incredibly passionate about blending the traditional with the innovative, creating spaces for self-advocacy in nurturing environments where students can become independent, yet conscious thinkers, ethically minded global citizens, and compassionate risk-takers. Ms. Thomopoulos is thrilled and honored to be part of the ACS Athens team where she will infuse her expertise, passion, and vision in her classroom and hopes to create a safe and creative space for a dynamic space for a community of learners.

email: thomopoulosx@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. This is her tenth year at ACS Athens.

She has extensive teaching experience of over 15 years, having taught English and Greek to students of all levels, while also preparing students for university entrance examinations. In addition, she has taught Greek Language and Mythology through the ACS Athens Virtual program. Currently, she is teaching 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 enriched her professional development by attending the Conference on Teaching Greek as a Second/Foreign Language, organized by the Greek Language Institute. Moreover, she participated in a one-week program in Salamanca, Spain, as a chaperone where she attended Spanish language courses with the aim of studying effective methodologies for teaching a foreign language.

email: psomad@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 eighth 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

Ms. Thanopoulou received her degree in Theater Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master of Arts in Physical Theater from the universities of Surrey & Royal Holloway University of London.

She is a trained performer and dancer and has appeared in numerous venues, including the Athens Concert Hall, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, and the Opening Ceremony for the Athens Olympics 2004. She worked in a wide variety of capacities in theater production before discovering her love for teaching in 2004.

Ms. Thanopoulou holds a teaching license from the University of Athens and from the Teaching Council UK (QTS), where she first started teaching and built the programs for A Level and BTEC Drama & Performing Arts in 3 inner-city London schools. She started at ACS Athens in 2007 and, since then, she has developed the curriculum for Middle School and Academy Drama and the syllabi for IB Theater; she has directed over 20 full-scale student productions as well as many other performance projects; she is a leader of the school’s team for the Panhellenic Forensics Tournaments, yielding many distinctions every year; the principal coach of the Duet Acting team and many other performance-related extracurriculars; she has shared her research, insights and innovative practices in numerous conferences in Greece and abroad (Educational Collaborative of International Schools, World Alliance for Arts in Education, National Kapodistrian University of Athens and more). She is a firm believer in the power of arts in education and does everything in her power to nurture her students’ creative needs and celebrate their talents.

email: thanopoulous@acs.gr

Originally from Athens, Ms Martha Chiskaki was raised in Bulgaria, Italy, India, and Thailand. During her time abroad, she attended several international schools, which contributed to her fluency in four languages: Greek, English, Italian, and French. She holds two bachelor’s degrees- one in English and Greek Language and Literature and one in French Language and Literature both obtained from NKUA (the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens). She is currently a junior at NKUA, pursuing a degree in Italian Language and Literature. Additionally, she earned her Master's Degree in Business Administration at the Bolton University, UK.

Throughout her career, she has worked in various roles, including positions at the National Bank of Greece, at the European Public Law Organization as junior editor for the European Review of Public Law, at Teletypos SA Mega Channel as a translator, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She recently participated in the Metaverse Cultural Diversity project, a collaborative initiative focusing on SDGs between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul.   

Currently in her fifth year as an educator at ACS Athens, Ms Martha Chiskaki is dedicated to teaching English as a Second Language in the Elementary School. Her objective is to create an optimal learning environment that facilitates the improvement of English skills for each student.

email: chiskakim@acs.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, and Astronomy. He earned an M.A. in Secondary Education Administration from University of Central Missouri.

This is his twelfth 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

Dr. Tonia Fyrigou is a Language Educator with extensive experience in teaching, curriculum design, and academic leadership. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in French Literature from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, followed by a Master’s degree in the History of French Civilization (2008) and a Ph.D. in the same field (2012).

Since joining ACS Athens in 1999, Dr. Fyrigou has taught both Middle and High School students, serving as an IB teacher and examiner. From 2007 to 2016, she was the Chairperson of the Modern Languages Department, and in September 2025 she assumed  the role of Division Chair of Greek Language and Literature, further supporting the school’s mission and vision through academic leadership.

Beyond ACS Athens, Dr. Fyrigou serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Hellenic American University, where she teaches undergraduate courses in the Department of Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies. She has also fostered international collaborations, building educational partnerships with École de Longperrier in Paris and Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong.

Her professional work integrates innovative teaching practices, particularly through the i²Flex methodology, which blends independent learning with guided instruction. She has designed and implemented French and Greek language and culture courses that reflect this approach. In addition, she has contributed chapters to Revolutionizing K-12 Blended Learning through the i²Flex Classroom Model (2016, 2021), focusing on blended learning effectiveness and the Community of Inquiry framework.

A frequent presenter at international conferences, Dr. Fyrigou is a lifelong learner committed to excellence. Through her teaching, leadership, and collaborations, she brings ethos, creativity, and innovation to ACS Athens while advancing the role of Greek and French language education in a global context.

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, American Studies Combo Grade 10, IB TOK Year I, Grade 6 Social Studies, and Grade 7 Social Studies.

e-mail: gontzesl@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 contributions focus on the Gaia space mission, extragalactic astrophysics, data mining, and machine learning. He has published nearly ninety works, including journal articles, book chapters, and conference contributions, with his astrophysics research cited more than 18,000 times (H-index: 16). His work has appeared in leading outlets such as Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, while his educational research has been featured 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, Medium, Business Partners, the MSA Accreditation Newsletter, and the Inside Learning podcast series. He has served as a reviewer for academic journals, delivered a keynote speech, and participated in expert panels and podcasts.

Now in his tenth year at ACS Athens, he teaches IB Physics, Physics 1 and 2, as well as Artificial Intelligence and STEAM-Modern Technology Topics – Academy courses he designed and developed to enrich student learning in technology. He introduced Artificial intelligence into the ACS curriculum in 2018. His university teaching portfolio includes serving as instructor of the Learning Analytics course for the Master in Learning Design and Technology at the American University of Greece, co-instructor of the Artificial Intelligence in Education course for the MSc in Educational Applications with STEM Epistemology at the University of Thessaly and ASPETE, and co-developer of the Artificial Intelligence and Education professional development course for teachers offered through Learn Inn, the Center of Continuous Education and Lifelong Learning at NKUA. He has also taught as a lab instructor for Physics 2 and Introduction to Astrophysics in the Department of Physics at NKUA.

Beyond teaching, Dr. Karampelas has taken on multiple leadership roles at ACS Athens, including Chair of the Division of Technology, member of the Responsible AI for Learning (RAIL) team, Technology Specialist on the AI Committee, Coordinator of the Artificial Intelligence Framework, Accreditation Internal Coordinator, Action Research Coordinator, and member of the school’s Strategic Planning team. He has led innovative student projects, most notably the “spACS” program, which sent student-designed experiments aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard capsule on two consecutive spaceflights in 2019, receiving media coverage in both Greece and the United States. He has also guided students to first place in the inaugural Aerospace Contest of the Hellenic Physical Society in 2018 and has mentored student research projects from inception to publication.

Dr. Karampelas is a strong advocate for the integration of Generative AI and Learning Analytics in education and for the systematic development of AI curricula. He is currently developing the “4Think (4T)” Framework, which explores new thinking paradigms in AI education (machine learning thinking; generative thinking; agentic thinking) alongside computational thinking. He serves as co-coordinator of the “STEM and Artificial Intelligence in Education” Working Group of the Hellenic Educational Society of STEM. His professional areas of expertise span Astrophysics, Physics Education, Curriculum Design, Educational Innovation, AI in Education, Learning Analytics, and Professional Development.

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

Mr. Nikolopoulos was born in Athens, Greece. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master's Degree in Computer Applications from the University of West Attica. Prior to ACS Athens, Mr. Nikolopoulos worked in various private educational institutions working with kids from ages 12 to 18. In addition, he worked as a professor at the University Independent Studies of Technology. 

Mr Nikolopoulos will be teaching at ACS Athens for 6th year and he will be teaching Computer Science in grades 8 and 7 and Robotics in grades 6 and 7.

Mr. Nikolopoulos believes highly in meeting all students’ needs while inspiring them to reach their full potential. Furthermore, he wants students to understand the importance of Computer Science and how this connects to their everyday life.  

His interests include reading books, watching movies, and playing basketball. Mr. Nikolopoulos is also a member of the Forest Fire Protection Volunteers and often acts as a volunteer guard on the mountain of Ymittos.

email: nikolopoulosa@acs.gr

Ms. Elizabeth Ktorides attended ACS Athens K-12 and returned to teach in 2016. She studied at Bard College in Upstate New York where she received a B.A. in Literature in 2005. Ms. Ktorides received EFL teacher training from CELTA run by Cambridge, and her teacher training and certification from the University of Western Florida. She completed her MA in Folklore and Southern Culture at the Northwestern State University of Louisiana in the fall of 2022.

After completing her BA, Ms. Ktorides moved back to Greece and began her career as an educator through tutoring. She also worked as a Shadow Teacher at ACS Athens for four years. Looking for change and adventure, Ms. Ktorides moved to Bratislava, Slovakia, where she taught Middle and High school Literature for one year and preschool for three years at the American School, QSI. At QSI, Ms. Ktorides participated in the Professional Development Conferences both as an attendee and as a presenter delivering presentations about Behavioral Differentiation and a two-day workshop titled "Playing as Learning in Early Childhood.” Additionally, Ms. Ktorides has also attended a number of conferences on Learning Differences at ACS Athens. She also completed two IB Workshops for both Language A: Literature and Language A: Language and Literature. Currently, she teaches IB English A: Language and Literature Years 1 and 2 as well as 9th-grade Combo.

email: ktoridese@acs.gr

Ms. Papageorgiou was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. She holds a B.A. in Greek Literature with a major in Ancient Greek Literature and Latin from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Ms. Papageorgiou worked many years as teacher of Greek and taught students of all grades (elementary through high school). She has also worked in a publishing house for two years as editor of Greek Language and Literature school books.

Ms. Papageorgiou joined ACS Athens in 2007. She teaches the Language Arts classes at ACS Athens Elementary JK - 5. Ms. Papageorgiou has also taught Greek to non – native speakers and LA classes in Middle / High school.

As a Fellow of the ACS Athens Institute, Ms. Papageorgiou has designed and taught two innovative virtual courses: Modern Greek for Beginners I and Modern Greek for Beginners II.  She has also taught the Greek Isotimia Program of ACS Athens High school for several years.  Furthermore, Ms. Papageorgiou has taught at the Elementary Writing Center guiding students between grades 1 -5 with their writing for several years.

Ms. Papageorgiou has published articles in Ethos magazine on Greek language instruction, Greek national celebrations, and teaching Greek as a second language. She has also attended many educational conferences – seminars on Teaching, Technology in Education, and Learning Differences.

Ms. Papageorgiou successfully completed a 9-month seminar offered by the Aegean University on the subject: Greek as a Second/Foreign Language. She recently took part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, a collaboration about SDG's between ACS and Hisar School in Istanbul. Ms. Papageorgiou is also certified in AI in Education.

email: papageorgioua@acs.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

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 the National Scholarships Foundation (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, including content design for grades JK-5 and the 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.

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

Ms. Sidiropoulou, a Greek Philologist with over 22 years of experience in Education, holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Education, and Psychology, with a Major in Pedagogics, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens which is extended with a M.Sc. in Teaching Methodology and Assessment. She then further advanced her studies with an M.Ed. in Adult Education from the Greek Open University; both her Master Studies are complete with distinction. In addition, she is specialized in Teaching Greek as a Foreign Language through Programs at the University of Patras and the Aegean University, and has completed the ACS Athens Virtual School Training Program.

Since joining the ACS Faculty in 2015, Ms. Sidiropoulou has taught the Greek Language Arts Courses in Middle and High School and the Greek "Youth-to-Youth Program". She has established and taught the Virtual School Course "Greek Language through Mythology." Currently, she continues teaching Greek Language Arts and Greek B Classes in Middle School. Her extensive teaching experience also includes a lecturing position at the Higher Military Educational Institutions and an academic associate role at the Higher School of Pedagogical and Technological Education, where she focuses on Teaching Methodology and Assessment and conducts pedagogical demonstrations for teachers.

Authorship is one of her main interests and through enriching teaching experiences during her career has published numerous articles and educational books in Greek, French, and Arabic. Dedicated to optimizing the learning process and fostering student growth and success, she consistently creates new and differentiated materials.  An assessor for the Greek Language Center since 2009 and a certified adult trainer by the Ministry of Education, her contributions to the field are extensive, having presented her work at various international conferences and the ACS Ethos magazine. She co-authored the chapter "Middle and High School Implementations of Moodle Facilitated Blended Instructional Designs"; recently she collaborated in establishing and developing the ACS Project "Approaches to Learning Rubric”, a pivotal tool for providing feedback to students on lifelong learning opportunities and soft skills.

Ms. Sidiropoulou's goal is to support students with the essential resources and tools to foster independent learning and inspire self-reliance in them to evolve into reflective inquirers and advocates of Conscious Citizenship, while herself is a strong advocate for lifelong education and personal development.

email: sidiropouloum@acs.gr

Christos Stachikas was raised in Athens, Greece, and Miami, FL, in the United States, where he graduated from high school.

Following his return to Athens in 2010, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Science and Physical Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a Specialty Diploma in Biology of Exercise. In May of 2020, he completed his postgraduate studies, earning a Master’s Degree in "Applied and Molecular Physiology" from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. 

In 2016 Mr. Stachikas served his military duty in the Greek Presidential Guard, the honorary unit of the Hellenic Armed Forces. He has also been working as a professional basketball coach for thirteen years, for multiple teams, including Panathinaikos BC Academy. 

Mr. Stachikas is entering his seventh year at ACS Athens, teaching Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Health Ed and Physical Education.

email: stachikasc@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

Mr. Nikolopoulos was born in Athens, Greece. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from the National Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master's Degree in Computer Applications from the University of West Attica. Prior to ACS Athens, Mr. Nikolopoulos worked in various private educational institutions working with kids from ages 12 to 18. In addition, he worked as a professor at the University Independent Studies of Technology. 

Mr Nikolopoulos will be teaching at ACS Athens for 6th year and he will be teaching Computer Science in grades 8 and 7 and Robotics in grades 6 and 7.

Mr. Nikolopoulos believes highly in meeting all students’ needs while inspiring them to reach their full potential. Furthermore, he wants students to understand the importance of Computer Science and how this connects to their everyday life.  

His interests include reading books, watching movies, and playing basketball. Mr. Nikolopoulos is also a member of the Forest Fire Protection Volunteers and often acts as a volunteer guard on the mountain of Ymittos.

email: nikolopoulosa@acs.gr

Ms. Thanopoulou received her degree in Theater Studies from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a Master of Arts in Physical Theater from the universities of Surrey & Royal Holloway University of London.

She is a trained performer and dancer and has appeared in numerous venues, including the Athens Concert Hall, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, and the Opening Ceremony for the Athens Olympics 2004. She worked in a wide variety of capacities in theater production before discovering her love for teaching in 2004.

Ms. Thanopoulou holds a teaching license from the University of Athens and from the Teaching Council UK (QTS), where she first started teaching and built the programs for A Level and BTEC Drama & Performing Arts in 3 inner-city London schools. She started at ACS Athens in 2007 and, since then, she has developed the curriculum for Middle School and Academy Drama and the syllabi for IB Theater; she has directed over 20 full-scale student productions as well as many other performance projects; she is a leader of the school’s team for the Panhellenic Forensics Tournaments, yielding many distinctions every year; the principal coach of the Duet Acting team and many other performance-related extracurriculars; she has shared her research, insights and innovative practices in numerous conferences in Greece and abroad (Educational Collaborative of International Schools, World Alliance for Arts in Education, National Kapodistrian University of Athens and more). She is a firm believer in the power of arts in education and does everything in her power to nurture her students’ creative needs and celebrate their talents.

email: thanopoulous@acs.gr

Mr. Thymianos holds a B.Sc. in Physics with a specialization in Astrophysics, Astronomy, and Mechanics. During and after his undergraduate studies, he actively participated in numerous space-related projects, including the construction and launch of Greece's first High Power Model Rocket.

Mr. Thymianos has been a passionate Science and Mathematics educator since his early academic years, with experience teaching a variety of curricula at the secondary level. He strives to go beyond traditional teaching methods by organizing innovative projects for his students and engaging them in international competitions. Notably, he and his students earned second place nationally in a STEAM competition. He has also participated in conferences and seminars around the world, constantly seeking to improve and evolve as education and the world change.

Mr. Thymianos embraces the quote by B. Franklin: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."

Having taught in various institutes and international schools in Greece and Spain, he is currently teaching at ACS Athens, where he instructs courses in AP Physics, Physics 1, Physics 2, Computer Science 8 and STEAM.

email: thymianosa@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. Recently 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 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, as well as Grades 7-8 in the Math Circles Program. She is also a Fellow at the ACS Athens Virtual Institute, where she taught an IB Prep course during the summer of 2024. This year, Dr. Toumpakari is teaching Algebra 1 and Math 7 in the Middle School.

email: toumpakarie@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

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 Masters 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 coaches the ACS Athens Academy and Middle School debate teams, 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. Currently she is teaching Social Studies in two interdisciplinary team-taught courses in the Academy, Humanities and Grade 9 Europe and the World.

email: zavacopouloua@acs.gr