KOSTAS VASILEIOU
educator, school leader, activist, European school projects
Changing the World, One Student at a Time
I am a Greek educator, activist and dreamer. I strongly believe that Education is not a symphonic orchestra but a jazz band. So I explore, experiment, experience, learn, work, create, walk, discover, travel, get lost, and then found, suffer, fall down, get back up, develop, conquer, invent, reinvent, live, but most importantly, I am open to new things, ideas, options possibilities. There many paths that lead to enlightenment or happiness exactly as it happens in our dreams.
About me
Educator
A 21st-century educator is one cognizant of the rapidly changing technology trends, taken the role of an ethos mentor, wrapped in the costume of an animateur/trice and given the charisma of a talent incubator and leaders hunter.
School leader
A successful school leader has Vision, Courage, Passion, Emotional Intelligence, Judgement, Resilience, Persuasion, Curiosity, Playfulness, Community building attitude. But mainly knows that each student is unique and that disadvantage need is not a barrier to achievement.
European School Projects Manager
15 Years of European collaboration experience, exchange of good practices, common goals, new places, great ideas, exceptional initiatives. Students, teachers, leaders, different curriculum and policies, the power of learning, thank you EUROPEAN UNION.
Activist
Be the ONE you needed when younger. Something very small for us can be a life changer for a person next to us. Don’t let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on the big inequities. It will be one of the great experiences of your lives, Gates said in a Harvard University commencement speech.
Key Note Speaker
I am able to capture the essence of your meeting and highlight it to your audience in a short period of time in a unique presentation just for your audience. I may use humor, audience participation, show funny clips, do magic tricks or even sing. My job is to weave your keynote message in a memorable and fun way.
Inspirational Speaker
My faith in human values and my passion on the positivism of failure gave me the opportunity to travel the world and speak about stories, life changing experiences and sharing my thoughts on how we can transform education with a sensor, two gears and three LEGO® bricks. Soon in a theater near you.
Radio Producer
One of my best friends in life challenged me by offering a weekly radio show based on education. I took my chances and created a radio show that promoted life long learning and students creativity. Since then “The powerful chords that emanate from the radio heat me from the inside out, like a microwave” • Sandy Ward Bell, In Zoey’s Head
Education Consultant
During recession times in Greece I had the privilege to be chosen by many companies and organizations to offer my activist experience and counseling services on teaching young people how to make a life instead of how to make a living. The more you share the more you learn. Learning is powerful only when shared.
Basketbal Coach
Our coach, leads by example dedicated and determined, teaches teamwork, motivates and listens, builds character, challenges and develops, committed to our team. Our biggest fan! My 96ers team members wrote about me in 2009. For 16 years I experienced that a coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a life time. That was the biggest life skills school I could ever attend.
Founder/ Entrepreneur
Find the sparkle to start, make the plan to grow and train your brain in order to expand. Leadership, inspiration, growth strategies, marketing, technology, social media, finance, trace the news and trends, lifestyle. It is a hard job but I am happy I do it. From theory to practice since it is easier to speak than to act.
International Collaboration Manager
Connectivity and networking is one of my main priorities. European Projects, Immersion Projects, Learning School, Future School, Europe Meets India, the Cultural Immersion Projects and the Global Gateway for Teachers an overseas teaching experience for Indiana University, School of Education students together with any other web driven connectivity project student centered is in my top five action list every school year.
International Visitor Leadership Program
From TUFTS University , Harvard and MIT to Iowa and San Francisco. Getting to know educators from Nigeria, Iraq, Belize, Maldives, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Bahrain, Liberia, India, Cambodia, Haiti, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Thank you US Consulate in Thessaloniki, Thank you US Embassy in Athens, Thank you US Department of State.
#makingithappen
«Η κρίση δημιουργεί ευκαιρίες: ωριμάζει τον άνθρωπο, αλλάζει νοοτροπίες, μειώνει στο ελάχιστο την έννοια του ρίσκου. Τότε είναι που πρέπει να αφήσεις τον εαυτό σου ελεύθερο, να χρησιμοποιήσεις όλα σου τα ταλέντα και να εκτοξευτείς»
My Story
Experience
Oct 2013 – Now
Scientific Consultant
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), Greek Cancer Society, American College of Greece, Antismoking Campaign (HEART II)
Consult the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), The Greek Cancer Society and The American College of Greece in the terms of Educational Activities and Pedagogic Issues.
Coordinator of the Antismoking Campaign ( HEART II) for Central Macedonia and the North Part of Greece.
Sep 2008 – Now
Coordinator of European and International Projects for the Directorate of Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki
- Directorate of Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki
Coordinating European Projects for the Directorate of Primary Education of Western Thessaloniki. Advising the schools to create a European Profile concerning ways of collaborating with institutions and NGO’s from Greece and around Europe. In the same time Promoting all the E.U. (LLP) projects organized by the Greek National Agency. Organizing European and International School Networks. Organizing Promotional Events for Innovation and Technology, Vocational Education and Training ( VET) through Life Long Learning Projects. Promoting interaction with other initiatives, with academic institutions, research organizations, business community and with various Commission’s services in Greece such as: The European Commission representation in Greece or The European Parliament information office in Greece.
Sep 2014 – Jun 2015
Head Teacher
- Primary education teaching professional
1.To lead and manage a school with 296 students age (6-12) and 27 Teachers.
2. To ensure the achievement of excellent educational standards
3. To create an environment that ensures the welfare of children and the productivity of the Teachers.
4. To create a network of collaboration among the school and the rest of the world.
Oct 2010 – Feb 2016
Promoter of European (LLP) Projects
- Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Central Macedonia, Greek Ministry of Education and Life Long Learning
Promoting all the E.U. (LLP) projects organised by the Greek National Agency. Organising European and International School Networks. Organising Promotional Events for Innovation and Technology, Vocational Education and Training ( VET) through Life Long Learning Projects. Promoting interaction with other initiatives, with academic institutions, research organisations, business community and with various Commission’s services in Greece such as: The European Commission representation in Greece or The European Parliament information office in Greece. Organising autonomous & independent networks between E.U. and non E.U. countries offering new chances for European schools to co operate with schools outside Europe
Sep 2008 – Aug 2011
Primary education teaching professional in – Coordinator of European Projects
- 5th Primary School of Stavroupoli Thessaloniki
Teaching students (6-12)
Introduction of innovations to the school unit.
Addressing educational challenges and learning problems in a multicultural environment. In the large Nicopolis complex, where the school is located, the majority of students come from immigrant families. The school management and teachers who worked together successfully and faced the greatest challenge of modern Greek educational reality, the challenge of multinationality. They treated her not as a problem but with radical educational actions, with respect for diversity.
Sep 2004 – Aug 2008
Primary education teaching professional – Coordinator of European Projects
- Primary School of Pella
Teaching students (6-12)
Organizing European School Projects
Introducing new ideas and innovation to the school society
Sep 2002 – Aug 2004
Manager of European and International Projects
- 5th Office of the Directorate of Primary Education of Eastern Thessaloniki
Promoting all the E.U. projects organised by the Greek National Agency, Organizing European and International School Networks. Organizing Promotional Events for Innovation and Technology though Life Long Learning Projects.
Sep 2001 – Aug 2002
Primary education Head Teacher
- Lipsi Island Primary School
To lead and manage a school with 101 students age (6-12) and 17 Teachers
To ensure the achievement of excellent educational standards
To create an environment that ensures the welfare of children and the productivity of the Teachers
To create a network of collaboration among the school and the rest of the world
Jan 2000 – Jun 2001
Religion Teacher
- Secondary education teaching professional
Teaching Religion and Ethics to students (16 – 18)
My Story
Testimonials & press
Kostas has done impressive work with kids and STEM education with his robotics activities and camps in Greece and it would be great to see him bring that to the vocational education programs. The students are obviously excited to learn and Kostas’ passion and enthusiasm clearly rub off on the students. Throughout our collaboration, Kostas has always been enthusiastic, accommodating, willing to try new ideas, and passionate about his students. I think his vision and passion is very useful.
I have known Kostas for many years in his capacity as an educator and promoter of European Projects for Primary & Secondary Education with the Greek Ministry for Education. Kostas has been an outstanding partner on a variety of projects looking at such areas as students who dropout of school, school improvement at a regional and national level and most recently Early Years Education. He is a most innovative and hardworking partner in projects and a real pleasure to have as part of any team. I look forward to working with Kostas on many projects in the future.
I have known Kostas for almost a decade. In that time I have had the pleasure of working with him on the development of innovative and creative strategies designed to help students learn – and to learn to learn. Kostas combines creative flair with sound practical and effective organisational skills. These are well demonstrated in the outstanding work achieved and in progress by the NGO Eduact founded and developed by Kostas. Kostas inspires, innovates and initiates deep and effective learning programmes. He builds futures for all who participate.
I met Kostas through Global Gateways a program that allows university students to live abroad and teach English as a second language to K-12 students as well as understand education systems different than our own. I was lucky enough to be placed in Thessaloniki, Greece, where Kostas welcomed me into his family and helped me adjust to living in a new city that I was to call home for three months. Also, Kostas provided me with opportunities to visit both public and private schools in the city as well as meet and discuss education with other members of the Directorate of Primary Education. Because of these wonderful experiences, I was able to grow culturally and professionally. Now, I am working as a primary school teacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and I truly believe my experience living and teaching in Thessaloniki has broadened my perspective of education and influenced the teacher that I am today.
My name is Dan Lamhauge, and I am at teacher in RunavΓk in the Faroe Islands. As at teacher, I also worked with the great First Lego League team called Lego Vinir. At a competition in Paderborn in Germany 2013, I meth Kostas Vasileiou, who was there to find inspiration for a starting FLL in Greece. He invited Lego Vinir to Greece to give greek children inspiration to FLL. January 2014 we went from the Faroe Islands to Greece, traveling on this fantastic idea, children teaching children, children inspiring children. Kostas and his crew organized the whole week in Greece. Lego Vinir have experienced a lot during their time in FLL. The best trip was the one to Thessaloniki in January 2014. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of the event. I admire the job you are doing in Greece.
My Story
COLLABORATION & OUTREACH
2013 – Now
Founder and President
Eduact, The Organisation for Future Education
2013 – Now
Consultant Global Gateway for Teachers
Indiana University School of Education
2013 – Now
Operational Partner
FIRST® LEGO® League Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Abania