Christiana Kalantzi

Teacher of English

My lifelong dream was to become a Primary Education teacher – a milestone I proudly achieved in 2013. Immersing myself in this profession challenged me to be exceptionally creative and nurturing, qualities that came naturally to me out of my deep love for working with children. For me, education is a continuous journey of mutual growth where I learn alongside my students every day.

My commitment to teaching is backed by a continuous pursuit of academic excellence. In 2015, I completed my first Master’s degree in Special and Inclusive Education at UCL Institute of Education, London. This experience deepened my compassion for diverse learners and fueled my commitment to helping them fully integrate into society. Driven by the belief that educators should never stop learning, I went on to complete a second Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at UCL, London, in 2023. This program was pivotal in refining my strategic vision, enhancing my ability to mentor fellow educators, and understanding how to foster collaborative, high-performing school environments.

I began my teaching career in 2014 in the UK, instructing Year 3, where I successfully embedded and practiced the English National Curriculum while building vital classroom confidence. In 2016, I moved to Romania to work at an International School. Navigating classrooms where many students spoke English as an Additional Language (EAL) inspired me to adapt my pedagogy using creative techniques like gestures, visual aids, and role-play.

In 2017, I underwent specialised training in Mantle of the Expert – an imaginative, inquiry-based teaching approach where students take on the roles of experts to solve real-world problems. I have been enthusiastically implementing this methodology in my classes ever since to boost engagement and critical thinking. I also served as an Early Years Coordinator, organising staff training sessions and modeling lessons to support my colleagues.

In 2020, I proudly joined the Avenor team as part of the nursery team, where I spent my first year as a Year 1 teacher and then transitioned into the role of Literacy teacher, focusing on early language development. Recognising my passion for literacy, I transitioned to the Primary school in 2022 to take on my current role as an English and ESL teacher.

Beyond the classroom, my greatest passions are reading and travelling. I love immersing myself in diverse cultures and exploring new places. Reading  also allows me to constantly discover new ideas and stories. I enjoy combining these interests to find creative communication methods, often volunteering my time to share best practices and make language learning an interactive experience for everyone around me.

At Avenor, my dream is to continue fostering a vibrant, inclusive environment where literacy and language learning become a joyful adventure for every student. Combining my background in the English National Curriculum with my experience in language acquisition, I aim to nurture confident, fluent, and empathetic communicators. I hope to contribute to the strong sense of community at Avenor, collaborating closely with parents and colleagues to inspire a lifelong love for reading and learning in all our primary students.