Efthymia Karatopouzi

Physical Educator, American Community School of Athens (ACS)

Ms. Efi Karatopouzi earned her BA with a specialization in Track and Field at the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In 2017, she earned her B.A. in Child Psychology at the University of the Aegean. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in School Psychology. She holds a degree in Family-Kids Yoga and has participated in personal development courses on teaching methods for large classes as well as teaching physical education to kids with autism. She is an official Archery, Track and Field, and National Nordic coach. This year Ms Karatopouzi earned a Mindfulness Diploma as a Mindfulness -Based -Stress -Reduction Instructor (MBSR) from The Center of Mindfulness UMass Memorial Health Center. Also, this year she earned her specialization in Special education teaching, also this year she has studied online in YALE University for the Science of Well-Being. She holds a life-guarding certification from the Red Cross. Ms. Karatopouzi was born in Greece and grew up in Australia and Greece. Ms.Karatopouzi has a rich experience in physical education. She has worked as a fitness teacher for many years in several sports clubs for adults and children and as a volunteer physical education teacher at Zanneio Institution,where she worked with abused children. She has been a member of the Greek National Track & Field team for 15 years and has competed in national and international competitions in Greece and abroad. She is co-founder and co-creator of Fitness Nordic. She is also the author of a children's book on exercise; a new way to make kids' fantasy work with creativity by listening and exercising. Ms.Karatopouzi began working at ACS Athens in 2016 as a Physical Education Teacherin the Elementary School and has undertaken different posts in the Athletic Department in all three schools and in ACS Athens Summer Camp. In 2017,she piloted program, called Mind Body Soul (MBS) for students in Junior Kindergarten classes, which will continue to run this year. The MBS Program is also continuing in a very positive way in all classes in Elementary school She presented her research findings about this pilot program at the International Mindfulness Convention, held in Slovenia. She has also offered her services voluntarily to the Youth to Youth Program at ACS Athens.