BALTIMORE, MD – Athanasia (Sia) Kyriakakos of Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School (Mervo) is Baltimore City Public Schools’ 2016 Teacher of the Year.
City Schools CEO Gregory E. Thornton presented the award during a surprise visit to her class on the morning of April 18.
It is “one of the high points of the academic year for me because it’s an opportunity to shine the spotlight on extraordinary teaching. Great teachers are critical to the development and success of our students and must be celebrated,” said Dr. Thornton. “They inspire our students to excel and give them the incentive to pursue their dreams. What Ms. Kyriakakos has accomplished in and out of the classroom is exceptional and her commitment exemplifies those goals. It is our privilege to have her as a member of the City Schools family.”
Kyriakakos began her tenure at City Schools as an art educator in 2011 at Baltimore Civitas Middle/High School. She taught at Baltimore Talent Development High School in 2013 and arrived at Mervo the following school year. Over the course of her teaching career, she has taught art to students in grades ranging from pre-kindergarten through college.
Her influence is seen throughout Mervo, and she is credited with transforming the halls and cultural environment of the school using student artwork.
Students and staff describe her as a passionate advocate for education and equity for
all children in their artistic pursuits. Her talents and skills not only bring the world of art to her students, but she works tirelessly to provide opportunities for her students to display their talents outside the classroom. By including her students’ artwork in exhibits across the city, she has highlighted the importance of the arts in schools.
Kyriakakos holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Maryland Institute College of Art; a teaching certificate from Central Connecticut State University and a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She also lectures and provides staff development and leadership training. Her passion for art education and equity was recognized in Washington, DC, where she presented her research at TEACH 2016, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) National Conference.