Greek-Born Penny Panayiosouli Teaching Greek in the Bronx

News of a teacher working in a school of ill fame in a degraded US neighborhood is like watching Michelle Pfeiffer starring in “Dangerous Minds”.

This time it is a Greek born teacher, who is not simply teaching in a Bronx school but has managed to introduce and include the Greek language as the official foreign language course of the public school’s curriculum.

Mrs. Penny Panayiosouli is the current principal of the KAPPA INTERNATIONAL High School of Bronx, which is being attended by children from different ethnic origins, especially minorities.

Mrs. Panayiosouli was born in Guatemala but her father comes from Pylaros of Kefallonia, Greece. Being the daughter of a Greek-American author, Mr. Gabriel Panayiosoulis, Penny adores the Greek language and admits that her experiment in the High School was inspired by her father.

The whole story begins almost three years ago at KAPPA IV High School in the Harlem neighborhood of NY. John Elroy, head of a NGO, proposes Panayiosouli to become the principal of a new model school for the children of the area.

Mrs. Panayiosouli said “yes” without a second thought. And this is how her successful and unique career began.

After a thorough research, the new principal decided to introduce the Greek language as the official foreign language of KAPPA and none of the responsible members had any objection to that.

The programme began with the Greek courses merely focusing on grammar, vocabulary and some basic cultural knowledge. Over time, however, the courses became a vital source of knowledge to all other classes, with constant comments on the Greek history, tradition and culture.

Children who have grown up facing several and serious difficulties find shelter in the new school, learning about the ideals of democracy, the values of the Greek cultural heritage and the Greek language.

Peny Panayiosoulis is not alone in this effort. Mrs. Olga Zisi from Ioannina, Greece, is a theatre professor, who has voluntarily offered her services to the High School. Following the US tradition of theatrical school plays, some years ago the KAPPA students had performed Aristophane’s “Birds” in a rap version and through their own interpretations. Ever since, the students have staged other famous Greek plays, while they have also visited Greece and other countries presenting their work.