With a commitment to continuous professional development and the goal of creating a school that responds to the needs of the modern era, the Pierce professional development conference, entitled “Teachers and students in an evolving community”, was held on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the Divani Apollon Palace and Thalasso Hotel. 

The conference began with a welcome address by Ms. Iliana Lazana, Senior Vice President of Administration and Pierce, followed by a presentation by the President of the American College of Greece, Mr. Edward C. Wingenbach, who presented the school’s vision and priorities.

The first part of the conference focused on two particularly current topics:

• Dr. Efstratios Papanis, tenured Assistant Professor at the University of the Aegean, spoke about the psychological resilience and psychological capital of educators, presenting a model for professional and existential empowerment.
• Ms. Vasiliki Eirini Karagiorga, MD, FAPA, Child and Adult Psychiatrist, spoke about the emotional lives of adolescents, anxiety, and anxiety disorders.

In the second part, Pierce educators, heads of academic departments in the Gymnasium and Lyceum, shared experiences, reflections, and good practices from the classroom. The presentations focused, among other things, on the value of oral assessment and participation, the cultivation of critical thinking, active participation and student agency, the use of digital technology, as well as the opportunities and challenges that Artificial Intelligence presents for the educational process.

The conference provided a valuable opportunity for dialogue and reflection, highlighting the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous professional development.

At Pierce, educators and students learn, create, and evolve together, building a dynamic learning community every day.