Michael Januzzi was born and raised in San Diego, California. Mr. Januzzi received his B.A. degree in Political Science, with a Minor in Writing from the University of California, Davis. After University, he spent three years teaching and coaching middle and high school students on civic engagement and community empowerment projects in Michigan and New Orleans. Michael further expanded his love of teaching and travel when he taught English as a second language in China. Michael then returned to America to complete his Masters degree in Education, with a focus in Counseling and Guidance from Point Loma Nazarene University in California. His thesis analyzed the various goal setting strategies for improving student academic achievement and self-efficacy. Michael has 16 years of experience teaching English and counseling middle and high school students in the USA.

Michael looks forward to using his student-centered educational philosophy and diverse experience to improve the writing and communication skills of all ACS students towards the aim of long-term flourishing.

email: januzzim@acs.gr

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

Mr. Chris Kourtis was born and raised in Athens, Greece. He studied Physical Education and Sports Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where earned his Bachelor's Degree in 2003, specializing in Tennis. In 2018, Mr. Kourtis was recognized by Stanford University for exceptional teaching for his dedication as an educator and a mentor.

He has been actively involved in teaching Physical Education at ACS Athens since 2009, spanning all three school levels. Currently, he is teaching High School Physical Education. During the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns, Mr. Kourtis participated in the "Home Base PE Summit," where he engaged in over 20 webinars with physical education professionals from around the world. In 2024, as part of his ongoing professional development, Mr. Kourtis attended the 4th World Tennis Conference hosted by the GPTCA/Segal Institute and supported by the ATP. Mr. Kourtis is a member of the American Coaching Academy, where he is actively engaging in professional development and accessing valuable resources. Besides his teaching background, Mr. Kourtis, is a certified lifeguard, a (Level D) wall climbing operator/supervisor and has successfully completed the Emergency First Response Course that follows current guidelines for emergency patient care. Mr. Chris Kourtis has been coaching tennis since 2001 and joined the ACS Athens Tennis Academy coaching team in 2007. He also serves as the coach of the ACS Athens Middle School Tennis team. In February 2025, Mr. Kourtis' expertise was recognized internationally where he was selected to present in Doha, Qatar, at the ECIS PE Conference with his workshop titled "Using Positive Discipline Class Meetings to Build Classroom Community in High School PE Classes".

Mr. Kourtis' teaching philosophy centers on empowering students through positive reinforcement and a Growth Mindset, guiding them to achieve their personal goals and demonstrate continuous growth. His approach is grounded in mutual respect and an appreciation for individual differences and skill sets. He firmly believes that with teamwork and cooperation, every student can thrive in Physical Education.

email: kourtisc@acs.gr

Mr. Mertzanis holds a Masters of Science in Mathematics & Physics with a specialization in Nuclear Physics & Advanced Technological Materials from The National Technical University of Athens of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

With nearly a decade of experience, Mr. Mertzanis has successfully translated his academic knowledge into impactful educational practices, particularly through his work in various teaching programs. His strong foundation in mathematics and physics has enabled him to inspire and guide students across diverse age groups, fostering their intellectual growth and curiosity.

Driven by a passion for continuous learning, Mr. Mertzanis is dedicated to expanding his expertise while empowering students to achieve their academic aspirations. He is committed to making a meaningful difference in their educational journeys, blending his love for teaching with a steadfast commitment to excellence.

email: mertzanise@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. Dimitropoulos joined the ACS Athens Physical Education Department in 2005. He served the Department as a Physical Education Division Chair for a number of terms. He is currently teaching P.E. in the Middle School.  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 coaches the Cross Country and Track and Field teams, the Varsity Girls Basketball Team and the Junior Boys Volleyball Team.

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 and IB Language and Literature Yr. 2. 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. 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

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

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 co-leader of the school’s team for the Panhellenic Forensics Tournaments, yielding many distinctions every year; 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 three bachelor’s degrees in English, French, and Italian Language and Literature, all obtained from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). Additionally, she earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Bolton, UK.

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

She has participated in the Metaverse Cultural Diversity Project, a collaborative initiative focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) between ACS Athens and Hisar School in Istanbul. She also participated in the ACS Athens 2026 Colloquium II.

Currently, Ms. Martha Chiskaki is an educator at ACS Athens, 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, 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

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. 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

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 the 7th year and he will be teaching Robotics in grades 6, 7, 8 and Computer Science in grade 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 IB Workshops for both Language A: Literature, Language A: Language and Literature and Extended Essay. Currently, she teaches IB English A: Language and Literature Year  2, ToK Year 2, English 9th-grade and Creative Writing.

email: ktoridese@acs.gr

Ms. Anastasia Papageorgiou was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece. She holds a B.A. in Greek Literature from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, specializing in Ancient Greek Literature and Latin. She is also currently an M.A. Candidate in New Technologies, Innovation, and Instruction in the Educational Sciences at the International Hellenic University (DIPAE). 

Ms. Papageorgiou has extensive experience in Greek language instruction across all grade levels (elementary through high school) to native and non-native speakers. She joined ACS Athens in 2007, where she teaches Language Arts (JK–5), while also having taught Middle and High School classes and the Greek Isotimia Program. Additionally, Ms. Papageorgiou has taught at the Elementary Writing Center guiding students between grades 1 -5 with their writing for several years. Her professional background also includes two years as an editor of Greek Language and Literature school textbooks for a publishing house.

As a Fellow of the ACS Athens Institute, Ms. Papageorgiou has designed and instructed innovative virtual courses, including Modern Greek for Beginners I & II. Additionally, she took part in the Cultural Diversity Day project on Metaverse, an international collaboration on SDGs between ACS Athens and Hisar School in Istanbul. 

Ms. Papageorgiou successfully completed a comprehensive 9-month seminar offered by the University of the Aegean on teaching Greek as a Second/Foreign Language. In April 2026, she participated in the ACS Athens Colloquium II, presenting on "Fostering Conscious Citizenship in the Greek Language Arts classroom." Ms. Papageorgiou is also a certified educator in AI in Education, incorporating technology-driven teaching methods. Furthermore, she regularly attends international conferences on educational technology and learning differences, and her work on Greek language instruction and culture has been published in Ethos magazine.

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 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

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

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 the 7th year and he will be teaching Robotics in grades 6, 7, 8 and Computer Science in grade 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 co-leader of the school’s team for the Panhellenic Forensics Tournaments, yielding many distinctions every year; 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 serves as the Technology Division Chair and instructs courses in Physics 1, Computer Science 8, and Algebra 1.

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. 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

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 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