32 minute read
by Konstantinos Kouvopoulos
Events
The 2020 Ideagen EU Global Goals Digital Summit
by Konstantinos Kouvopoulos, Assistant Director of Communications cializing in cross-sector collaborations and convening the world’s leading companies, NGOs, and public sector organizations, organized the 2020 EU Global Goals Digital Summit on July 22nd, 23rd, & 24th. Organized by Ideagen, the “2020 Ideagen EU Global Goals Digital Summit” is addressing one of the most important issues of our time, as a distinguished panel of over 25 global leaders and luminaries will come together in a three-part summit to discuss ways of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how the EU is tackling the global issues. In Part 1 panel, ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis moderated and discussed the importance of making a social impact through entrepreneurship, relief work, community serving start-ups, communication, and volunteerism. Apart from Dr. Pelonis, the panel included Hanne Dalmut - Sr. Director / Partnership Development at Concordia, Melina Taprantzi - Founder of Wise Greece, Michalis Stangos - Co-Founder ID-GC, Vassilis Michailidis - Chief of Staff at The HOME Project, Yanna Darili - Media Executive and Elina Pipa - ACS Athens student. cussion with George Sifakis, Ideagen® Global Chairman, Founder, and CEO on the role of education in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In her interview, Dr. Pelonis highlighted the vital importance of education in providing an example and framework to the next generation and creating a positive impact in their environment and in the societies that they live in.
Dr. Pelonis also explained the significance of these goals to ACS Athens and how, in collaboration with the faculty, the School has integrated them into the curriculum through its Citizenship Academy which will be launched in the fall of 2020: “Our mission is to prepare this generation by offering resources, researched knowledge and support to see this through”.
Education addresses each and every one of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. ACS Athens remains true to its commitment to working with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the field of education and contributes to the discussion with its president, Dr. Peggy Pelonis, Board of Trustees Members Mr. Mark Wolper - President and Executive producer at The Wolper Organization and Ms. Effie Tsiotsiou - Executive Director & Director of Education, Onassis Foundation, Faculty member Ms. Christina Venos, student Ms. Elina Pipa, and ACS Athens Alumna Ms. Lydia Pinirou - a student at Royal Holloway, University
Ideagen, a US-based civic & social organization spe-
of London.
times, and 2020 will be a year to remember! The global pandemic caught everyone by surprise, and we are all navigating through a “new normal” in many aspects of our lives: daily routines, work, education, travel, and much more. People went from being stunned to being creative as days and weeks went by, and through challenges that came our way, opportunities were created. As the Winter (March) sports competitions were being cancelled one by one, and fellow colleagues in the athletic community around the world were disappointed to see a sudden “flatline,” the importance and need for staying connected professionally was evident more than ever. As a result, in an effort to stay focused on our profession, a sports administrator with many years of international experience - Nick DeForest from the American International School of Vienna - initiated the “Globetrotting Ads” Online Conference for International School Athletic & Activity Directors, Coaches and program associates across the world. It was an opportunity to connect and to share best practices. A two-day virtual event took place on April 21st and 22nd, and speakers from 17 countries engaged in 38 workshops and 30 roundtable discussions over a period of 22 hours! A wealth of information was made available (free of charge) to more than 200 educators who chose to participate (even at odd hours of the night due to the different time zones)
I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to present two workshops and share with others what we do at ACS Athens: how we prepare student-athletes to move on to higher education in the United States, and the role of the Athletic Council as a student leadership program in our school. Detailed information was provided and I was pleased to see that a number of participants were interested in finding out more and connected with me individually for further discussion. Since time was not an issue during quarantine, I had the chance to listen to other presenters as well and exchange ideas on several topics; learning is truly a lifelong process.
Sharing Knowledge During Quarantine… Summer… And Always “The Virtual Way”
It was apparent that a lot of work was put in by the hosts to prepare this online conference. When asked how he did it, Nick DeForest’s response was both simple and somewhat profound: “During the lockdown, there was so much great content popping up online, but nothing was specific for International School Athletic Directors and Coaches. I realized that I was in a unique position to not only help our global community with some Professional Development specifically for them but also give many of our colleagues the opportunity to present some of the amazing things that they do at their own schools. I felt it was my way to
by Annie Constantinides Director of Athletics, Recreational Programs & Theater Operations
We are definitely living through unprecedented
give back and to be a real servant leader”. The feedback from the conference was very positive; people wanted an “encore”, so preparation for the planning of the Summer Conference Series (July 8th & 22nd) began, and the outcome included, once again, many presenters from all over the world! Same format, same time schedule but NEW topics and ideas! Another professional development opportunity without having to go anywhere! ACS Athens was once again represented through my workshop of “Leading and Mentoring Coaches – from Theory to Practice,” and it was a great way once again to network with fellow colleagues.
From participating in these online conferences, it was obvious that all of us, no matter what part of the world we live in, have one thing in common: we serve the students through sports. We are all committed to education based athletics whose purpose is the growth and development of young people.
Finally, it was crystal clear that we all experienced similar challenges before COVID-19 and certainly during the pandemic “era.” Now is a time where continuous collaboration and sharing knowledge will keep us going.
Commencement Ceremonies 2020
Elementary, Middle School And Academy Commencement Ceremonies 2020
by Sophia Moros, Elementary School Principal, Stelios Kalogridakis, Interim Counseling Coordinator K-12 and David Nelson, Academy Principal
From Grit to Graduation Ceremonies During Spring of 2020 by Sophia Moros
Grit is defined as “passion and perseverance” by renowned psychologist Angela Duckworth. Perseverance is the exact trait that allowed ACS elementary students to forge their way to the end of the school year despite having experienced a major disruption in their school life. These changes roughly started during the onset of the pandemic, February 2020, and included sacrificed field trips, enforced social distance rules, alternating schedules including blended learning, virtual classroom, and hybrid classes, along with many other adjustments. Daily practices required training children for heightened hygiene routines that were imposed on all students while adhering to dis-
tancing rules, avoiding group work, frequently sanitizing hands, personal belongings, tabletops, etc.. This was certainly not how I pictured the end of the year to come to a close, nor did I ever believe that we would be dividing kindergarten students into smaller groups in an effort to keep them socially distanced from their peers.
The sad truth about the C19 pandemic is that it strained students’ daily conveniences and interrupted their safe living conditions, including precious time with friends and opportunities for extracurricular or social events. Even worse, it tested their technical skills by forcing them to navigate online platforms for learning - including ages under 10. The early childhood program offered students, from the age of 3, to join synchronous sessions (with their parents’ help, of course) in order to keep strong bonds and communication with their homeroom teachers, while 10-year-old students were tasked with completing online assignments, collaborating with peers, and independently coordinating their schedules to submit online assignments.
Despite all the adjustments and discomforts the pandemic inflicted on our students, it also brought forth the possibility for personal growth with new learning opportunities. Fifth-graders, in particular, quickly rose to the occasion and learned to work cooperatively, communicate through writing emails, scheduled appointments with peers or teachers, accessed online support tools and resources. They came together, and each demonstrated a collective persistence towards completing the school year with a strong readiness for moving to middle school. ACS Athens students shifted overnight from brick-and-mortar classrooms to virtual classrooms, and students had no choice but to adapt to an entirely different way of learning.
Individual feedback from student reflections included heartfelt gratitude for their teachers - specifically during the period of lockdown. An unexpected appreciation for ‘normal’ school arose because students could then see the difference in attending school faceto-face on a daily basis. Again Angela Duckworth’s research “argues that an individual’s grit is a better predictor of long-term success, more than talent or IQ. Grit is a combination of passion and perseverance for long-term goals.” (Daniels, 2017)
Early childhood students, on the other hand, were simply exposed to such modalities for the first time, meaning their earliest experiences of school included virtual learning, turning this into a standard expectation for school. Regardless of grade, students relied on technology, cooperation, teamwork, and exposure to various learning modalities. They created communities that took risks and created a culture of care and respect for each other’s ideas.
Elementary School Graduation 2020
Middle School Commencement by Stelios Kalogridakis
During these unprecedented times of the pandemic, our school quickly shifted into our Virtual Learning Phases to ensure our students’ learning had the fewest disruptions and continued to meet curriculum expectations. We shifted our MS schedule into 3 Phases; during Phase 1, we provided two synchronous sessions for our students with Virtual Office hours at the beginning and end of the school day. This shifted in the second week of the phase to synchronous and asynchronous sessions, meaning more time for our students to be supported outside of the classroom sessions.
Phase 2 (April 8-May 15) of Virtual Learning shifted in the following ways:
A minimum of three synchronous blocks per class every two weeks A strong connection between asynchronous and synchronous interactivity for students 20-minute breaks in between the sessions Uninterrupted planning time
An organized schedule for adding any additional synchronous sessions (mandatory or optional), without creating any conflicts for students
This culminated with the 3rd and final phase when we welcomed our students back to campus. We allowed the possibility for families that were either abroad or unable to return to campus to continue with their online learning while welcoming two separate groups within our school. Each group would come in for three days, transitioning from group A to group B, and so forth. We continued this format leading up to our Virtual Final assessment week in early June and then closing out the year with our Virtual 8th Grade Step-Up Ceremony. While a very difficult and challenging year, our students pivoted greatly into this new e-learning reality and were more equipped with the transition through years of working in their classrooms with the i²Flex teaching methodology.
Class of 2020 ACS Athens Academy Graduation by David Nelson
It was a time of great pride for the ACS Athens community as we came together to celebrate the class of 2020 with an unprecedented hybrid graduation that showcased our students’ resilience, leadership, friendships, and academic success. While the “Live” YouTube event featured the Academy graduates who received their diplomas on the campus of ACS Athens, the recorded event also honored the classes’ Valedictorian Barbara Simonetou and Salutatorian Marianthi Bitsikas, who addressed their class. President of the Class of 2020, Jason Stavropoulos and Vice President, Gerogios Soukakos have since read the roll call to thousands of online viewers.
This special event allowed families and friends to convene, both during watch parties and in online events, where they listened to the inspiring words of ACS Athens President Dr. Peggy Pelonis, Chairman of the ACS Athens Boards of Trustees, Suheil Sabbagh, and commencement speakers, His Excellency Geoffrey R. Pyatt, U.S. Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, and Dr. Michael Amiridis, Chancellor of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
You too can visit the following link and see the student honorees, talented performers, and award recipients from the class of 2020. [https://bit.ly/31xSBir] ored to address the graduates and to highlight their range of interests, skills, strengths, and attributes. I called on the students to not “race through life with things to do”, but rather to kiss the end of the alphabet and place their “Y before their X marks the spot” to discover their own “WhY in life”. With an “invitation to think differently”, I welcomed them to the world, their world as work in progress, and reminded them to always ask the most important question, “Why do I?” I have all the confidence that they will move forward with purpose and willpower as graduates of ACS Athens and future leaders of our world.
Once again, congratulations to the class of 2020 !
A special thank you to the faculty and staff of ACS Athens and to our Graduation Coordinator Evelyn Pittas, Co-Coordinator Stacy Filippou, as well as the amazing video production and editing crew from our own ACS Athens Media Studio: John Papadakis, Thanasis Palos, and Linos Meitanis.
To The Class Of 2020 And A Life Well-Lived!
by Evelyn Pittas, Academy IB Faculty, Senior Class Advisor
It gives me great pleasure to speak to you, as you are entering the next phase of your lives; a step into a world that I hope you will find exciting and fulfilling! As you set out to explore the horizons of your future, I hope you seek to claim the lives that rightfully belong to you.
You will not only enter an ever-changing world but also a somewhat frightening one where security cannot be taken for granted. This will call upon all of your independence, determination, and perseverance. It means you will undoubtedly face setbacks and have times when life seems unfair. Such experiences promise adventure, thrill, wisdom, and mystery. It is opportunities like these that can bewilder both young and old alike; much more you, now that you will embark into unknown territory, a journey that is definitely unfamiliar from your adolescence and teenage recklessness.
It is often believed that adolescents do not consider themselves young adults until after the age of 18. The media and a raw desire for attention have created this blurry border between adolescent and young adult. Yet, there is one significant distinction that must be recognized and avoided. A teenager today can live carefree and casual, light-hearted and cheerful without consideration of what tomorrow may bring. A young adult, on the other hand, is faced with life-changing decisions. The young adult must settle cause with effect, action with reaction, ambition with apathy. Being a young adult means being legally and morally independent, ethically, and consciously responsible; it means being free to select your own course of action.
For the first 18 years of your lives, your character has been molded by your experiences and education; and it is this character that now slowly paves its way into adulthood. Do not forget that a significant part of this character is the set of values that you have carefully developed so dearly. Open-mindedness, empathy, integrity, ethos, diligence, and solidarity should not be “tags,” but fundamental truths and golden principles symbolizing your moral compass as you spread your wings to soar high into the skies of the future.
As you leave ACS Athens, you must designate a new course and develop your own vision. I hope that you will never allow others to persuade you against striving for those things that you really want from life. I hope that you will not be so insistent upon demanding rights that you will not discharge your obligations. I hope you will remember that you are responsible for what you say and do. I hope you will aim high! There is nothing wrong with aiming high and failing, but there is waste in failing because you did not try in the first place. So dare to dream, so that, when you are older, you will have no regrets.
I hope that you will have enjoyed more laugher than tears. Discover new heights to conquer, new worlds to explore, new people to encounter. I trust that you will be able to examine the way you have lived and be proud that you have identified the strengths in people, their gentleness, and how they smile; that you will have found the goodness in others; that you will have been kind. As you go into the world, do not forget about others. Your family, your friends, and your nation depend on you and should be somewhere in your heart. Look back sometimes and remember the friends you made at ACS, Athens, and the things you learned. Never stop learning and respect yourself and others!
Finally, remember that you are not only an individual but also a conscious citizen who must remain informed and who must reflect on what is happening around the world. Use your logic to understand politics, embrace social issues, debate war and peace, and do not blindly accept the declarations of any creed or the bliss of ignorance. Seek the truth from the facts instead.
As you face and tackle the inevitable changes, hold true to yourself. Remember to hold onto your value system, your work ethic, and , most importantly, your humanity. It is these qualities that will guide you further on your journey. So, as you continue this journey which started when you were just a child and now sees you move into your young adult years, watch out for the steps along the way that will lead towards deciding who you will be – and remember that whatever decisions you make, there will always be a choice.
As you leave us today, my love and best wishes go with you. Thank you for sharing the sparkle in your eye, the trust from your heart, the curiosity of your mind.
I trust that you will be able to look back on your life and see that it has been a life of achievement and a life well-lived!Good luck to you all
Facilities
Response To Challenging Times ACS Athens Crisis Management Plan
by Annie Constantinides Director of Athletics Crisis Management Team, Chair
The world is facing a health threat, unparalleled by no other in the past 100 years; the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged individuals, institutions, organizations, and governments since early 2020, and it seems that we will be in this turmoil for a number of months ahead of us.
It is important for any organization, including educational institutions, to be prepared in case of unexpected crises or threats, from dealing with fires or earthquakes to human loss. A plan is needed not only to identify the threats, but also to be able to manage them effectively for the wellbeing of all constituents. The safety and well being of our students, faculty, staff, and parents of our community is of primary importance to ACS Athens.
The ACS Athens Crisis Management Team consists of the Dean of Academics, the Director of Finance, the Facilities Manager, the Director of Athletics & Activities, and the Middle School Principal. This team is responsible for the creation and constant review of the Crisis Management Handbook, which includes the safety protocols and policies of our institution,
in regards to major threats, such as possible fire and earthquake incidents, school closures for various reasons, and other. The team meets regularly throughout the year, reports to the President, and, depending on situations arising, acts accordingly. In matters of public health, the school nurse is actively involved in the creation and communication of our health protocols
While no one in the world was ready for the global pandemic, the ACS Athens Crisis Management team was able to take necessary action (as dictated by the authorities) and simultaneously navigate our school administration, faculty, students, and the entire community through uncertain times full of anxiety and in some instances, fear.
Since the beginning of the year, when COVID 19 was spreading, ACS Athens took action by:
Following current events – news and government announcements
Meeting virtually and in-person with medical doctors to clarify gray areas and provide clarifications regarding COVID-19.
Communicating with government entities (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health) as needed.
Communicating with the Regional Security Office of the U.S Embassy and the Medical personnel from the Medical Unit of the U.S Embassy.
Working diligently to prepare all classrooms and indoor spaces.
Collaborating with the cafeteria to determine new procedures for the food services operation, abiding by government regulations.
Creating new outdoor seating areas to be used by students for lunch.
Making arrangements for masks, disinfectant gels and sprays, and additional cleaning materials.
Providing appropriate signage all around campus
Creating a new website section on “Return to School 20-21” with COVID-19 information and announcement s.
Providing specific COVID-19 documents (health office procedures and general information) prepared by ACS Athens Head Nurse to parents, faculty, staff, and students.
Establishing new campus protocols in regards to drop off, pick up points, staggered departures, visitor entry, staggered recess time, and more. Working with the transportation company to ensure that all hygiene protocols and procedures are followed.
Working with the cleaning company about new cleaning protocols as well as new schedules of additional personnel.
Working with our maintenance and security personnel to ensure that all safety measures are followed.
Identifying a “quarantine” area, should there be a case of COVID 19 on campus.
Communicating with our community with important information.
As we are going through constant change and uncertainty, it is essential to react immediately, effectively, focus on the matter at hand, know the facts, and have clear communication channels among all the constituents of our community.
The ACS Athens Crisis Management team will continue to work diligently to ensure the safety and well being of all.
Improvement And Transformation 2019-2020
by Stavros Tzanetakos, Facilities Manager
As every year, a significant part of ACS Athens’ planning is the upgrading of the facilities and infrastructure.
Several projects on campus were carried out this year targeting the improvement of the premises and raising the standards for the benefit of our students.
At this point, we feel the need to especially thank the people who shared our vision for continuous improvement and financially supported us to realize it.
Mr. Hercules Prokopakis, a parent and Treasurer of the Board of Trustees, for his generous donation of two Dell servers and 25 computers for the Academy computer lab.
The IKEA and personally Mrs. Ada Gianneskis, a member of the Board of Trustees, for her contribution of the new cabinets’ furniture in the Elementary school Teacher’s lounge.
Structural Upgrade of Theater Currently, in its 13th year of operation, the theatre building went through a structural upgrade so that it conforms to the latest structural standards. The decision was made after the completion of a technical study by static engineers, taking into consideration the large number of people that may be gathered in this area (approximately 500). This complicated and challenging project commenced in the summer of 2018 and was completed near the end of 2019.
The principal design focused on the erection of supplementary columns and beams, ensuring that the structurally upgraded theatre building could withstand even a significant earthquake. In addition, for the needs of the structural upgrade, heavy electromechanical equipment installed on the terrace of the theatre was fully dismantled and temporarily moved to another location of the school, and moved back again and reassembled after the completion of the structural works.
Major phases of the project can be described as follows:
The dismantling all the electromechanical equipment, main machineries, piping, and electrical installations.
The moving of all main machinery, pipes, cables, and air-ducts to various terraces of the campus.
Taking down one of the two main power supply stations of the campus.
Building new structural elements, columns, and beams required for the reinforcement of the theater building.
Moving back all the electromechanical equipment onto the theater terrace and reassembling it.
Carrying out the complete piping, electrical, and air ducts installations, as well as the required automations.
Waterproofing the terrace.
Sitting Area Outside Main Cafeteria / Restaurant The area outside the main restaurant of the campus, behind the Academy, has been fully renovated and turned into a contemporary and stylish sitting area for the enjoyment of our school students.
We have raised a polycarbonate roof canopy, providing wall mounted solid wood sitting benches and a wholly renovated tile floor. The whole surrounding area has been architecturally “touched” to reflect elegance. New furniture has been added which, together with the hidden lighting techniques that were implemented, reflect a cozy and pleasant environment.
Storage & Multipurpose Canopies To satisfy the diverse functional needs of our campus, we built two new metal canopies. One of them serves as a storage canopy for the needs of the maintenance department, and the other one has a multipurpose scope serving the various needs of the campus.
architectural guidelines, meeting the urban planning requirements of the school to avoid any future conflicts with the authorities.
Outdoor Side Area Behind Academy and Gym The side area behind the Academy and Gym has been fully restructured and resurfaced to provide an attractive area for walking or even light physical activities.
During the project, the ground was fully torn down and removed, the in-ground aged piping and wiring was fully replaced for safety reasons, and the whole area was resurfaced and paved to a smooth industrial cement looking new surface. Furthermore, during the works, we had the opportunity to build new inground drainage, in place of the old one, which was in poor condition.
Prep-Labs During the summer, the old prep labs for the Middle School and Academy were fully renovated, refurbished and equipped with all the necessary facilities to function as high standard prep-labs, meeting the needs of our modern campus.
For this purpose, we resurfaced and paved the floors with tiles; we fully redesigned and installed tailor made cabinets, counters, and working benches. We also installed new electrical wiring, piping, sinks, and faucets as well as a stronger, more effective, and ad-
justable ventilation system to match the increased fresh air needs of the prep-rooms.
In addition, we equipped the prep-labs with special cabinets certified for storing potentially hazardous chemicals for the storage of flammable substances that may be hazardous under special conditions.
IT works During this year, several works regarding our IT department were carried out.
We replaced the Annex Rack and fixed all network cabling problems on the Annex Building.
We bought two new laptop carts with 20 laptops each to be used by 4th and 5th Grade Elementary School students.
We replaced 25 computers at the Academy Computer Lab. The computers were a kind donation by Mr. Prokopakis.
We installed two new DELL servers that replaced five existing old servers through virtualization Technology. The servers were also a kind donation by Mr. Prokopakis.
We upgraded our Servers to Windows 2019 Operating Systems.
We upgraded most of our network operating systems to Windows 10 (about 380 computers). Elementary School Teachers Lounge The Elementary teacher’s lounge was redesigned and renovated, following a design proposed by IKEA expertise.
The faculty lounge was refurbished and equipped with the appropriate facilities to provide a practical, elegant, and comfortable sitting area for our elementary school educational personnel.
The design process, supply, and installation of the furniture were a kind donation of IKEA and Mrs. Ada Gianneskis.
Electrical Works As part of our annual maintenance plan, we proceeded to the replacement of some aged main electrical panels and switchboards, in order to ensure safe and continual operation of the power supply. The need for replacements was determined after inspection and according to the recommendations of the safety engineer and our technical team confirmation.
BMS upgrading BMS (Building Management System) is a computer-based control system installed in buildings that controls and monitors the building’s mechanical and electrical equipment. BMS consists of software and hardware and offers the possibility of monitoring and operating the installations from a distance through a personal computer.
We fully replaced the main campus BMS last year with the latest version of Siemens, after our existing BMS was rendered obsolete.
Our new BMS is an advanced system that provides our school with a more efficient and cost-effective operation, increasing the safety standards as well.
Waterproof works Major waterproof works on the roof of the theater terrace have been done, with the use of high-standard insulating materials, to meet the needs of the new structural reinforcement of the theater.
effect but also the prevention of the concentration of heavy rainwater. The whole installation has been combined and matched with an extensive drainage system as well, providing a safe intergraded system.
Playground Area Floor Last year we built a new playground area for our Elementary school kids. The playground area was designed according to standards and legislation and was TUV certified as a safe play area for our kids.
During this year, we exceeded the required by law standards and upgraded the floor area, adding a second layer of impact absorbant floor tiles to provide an extra level of safety level to our students in case of a fall.
Chimney Replacement Following our recent transition to natural gas for heating purposes, a technical need to modify the chimney was deemed necessary to keep up the performance and safe operation of the heating system at the recommended standards.
For this year, we carried out the modifications that concern the two boilers in the pool machinery room. We replaced the old chimneys with stainless steel, thermally insulated ones, ensuring the safe and long-lasting operation of the boilers.
Finally, we would also like to sincerely thank our school’s maintenance team for their continuous support, which allowed us to complete the projects without affecting the school’s day-to-day operation.
Dr.G
by Dr. Peggy Pelonis, President
Stefanos Gialamas was in the habit of surprising people with his innovative ideas, inspiring colleagues with his abundant energy, and mesmerizing others with his strong convictions about education and ethos. The greatest surprise however, took place on a crisp, cold morning, October 18, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, where he failed to arrive for his keynote speech at the Alliance for International Education conference. It was not unusual for Stefano to be late; he had a unique ability to connect with others, igniting conversations that frequently distracted him from the task at hand. So, this unusual morning, I assumed that he was engaged in one of those conversations and would any moment run to the podium, making some humorous remark that would immediately put the audience at ease. Instead, he had taken the ultimate journey that marked the end of a life well-lived.
Fifteen-year prior, Stefanos Gialamas arrived at ACS Athens. A former mathematician and expert in knot theory, he spent a number of years teaching both secondary and higher education students. Eventually, his desire to be where decisions that shape education are made led him to education administration. He served as Dean, Provost, and Vice President at several higher educational institutions in the United States as well as Greece, but it was his tenure at ACS Athens that impacted the educational world most. It all began with a vision at a time when ACS Athens was struggling; the demographics were changing quickly, and competition with other international schools found ACS Athens fraught to redefine itself and develop an identity. Stefanos recognized this struggle and decided to implement a management style not common in K-12 education; the development of a leadership structure that included several layers of administrators as functional area leaders. This university management model ensured continuity as the transient populations, due to work assignments, continued to come and go but also provided opportunities for people to develop administrative skills and eventually seek such positions. Stefanos believed strongly in developing leaders and giving opportunities. He knew that in order to inspire lifelong learning in students, he must start at the top. Even after years of success at ACS Athens, he made it a point to continue writing and engaging the educational community in dialogues that would bridge the gap between K-12 and higher education. His development of the I2flex model of blended learning created the foundation for online teaching/learning that inevitably took place over the lock down. Under his leadership, ACS Athens flourished both in numbers and in programs and ultimately led to achieving the highest level of accreditation under the Sustaining Excellence protocol by Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges.
Many wondered what made this leader tick. I was fortunate to have worked by his side from the start and though he struggled to see the connection between mathematics (his love) and psychology (my love), we eventually found our way to a middle ground that led to the development of multiple programs, partnerships, publications and most of all an educational institution that is at the forefront. What do I most remember? I’m often asked; the endless conversations that led to writing, that led to projects that led to programs that led to a school that develops the type of student that goes out into the world committed to making it better. In this sense, Stefanos Gialamas’ legacy lives on.
was an educator in the true sense of the word. He recognized true beauty and inspired in his students, colleagues and friends a love of beauty. His own education from the finest institutions; Yale, Harvard, Middlebury, provided an endorsement for a mind and heart that was in continuous search of truth and beauty. In more than 35 years of being a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent and Dean at ACS Athens, Steve mostly loved his role as a teacher. He cherished his time with the students and the opportunity to unleash their minds and hearts towards ultimately becoming the best version of themselves. He taught with seemingly little effort; he could walk into a room full of students and later full of educators, for the first time, and within minutes turn it into a learning incubator. When Steve spoke you couldn’t hear a pin drop, yet, his humility never allowed him to walk ahead of others, he walked beside us; friends, colleagues, students, new educators, VIP’s. Most remember him in relation to ACS Athens for his contributions, but I will always remember him as a man who walked this earth touching the hearts of so many; as a man who taught me to look for beauty even in the midst of ugliness. It is no wonder that writing about Steve has met me with resistance; there really are no words to capture who he was and how much his presence on this earth is missed. So, I defer to Maya Angelou whose efficacy with words far outweigh mine and who captures the
Steve
by Dr. Peggy Pelonis, President
“The object of education is to teach us to love what is beautiful”. Plato. Yet there is no education without an educator. Steve Medeiros true spirit of this man; Steve Medeiros. When Great Trees Fall by Maya Angelou
When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, lions hunker down in tall grasses, and even elephants lumber after safety. When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear. When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity. Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid, promised walks never taken. Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us. Our souls, dependent upon their nurture, now shrink, wizened. Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance, fall away. We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves. And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration. Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us. They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.
INSIDE TRACK THE TO GREATER LEADERSHIP
