Maria
Menti
Position: Philologist
School Level: Middle School, High School
Microsoft Innovative Education Expert
Microsoft Certified Educator
Employed Since: 2015
I was born in Athens, but my roots are in the mountainous and verdant Arcadia, a place of austere beauty that taught me to appreciate the essentials in life. From my parents, Panos and Chara, I learned responsibility and the effort to understand even what seems beyond my grasp. My love for history and art grew through the explorations with my father and brother in museums. Literary books enriched my school years with dreams of traveling the world. Memories of participating in charitable activities with my mother continue to shape my choices to this day.
I studied in the Department of History and Archaeology at the School of Philosophy of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. I graduated with a double specialization in History and Archaeology and History of Art.
My professional journey began in 1998 when I was called upon, at just 24 years old, to teach adult students at the Public IEK of Tripoli the course "Cultural Identity." The scents of the earth hiding the secrets of other eras guided my professional choices for the next five years (1999 – 2004). I had the invaluable opportunity to learn the excavation method from the distinguished Curator of Antiquities of Arcadia and current General Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Anna Karapanagiotou. After the end of my five-year involvement in Archaeology, I worked for two years (2004 – 2006) as a Philologist at a Secondary Education Tutoring Center, and from 2006 to 2015, I ran my own private tutoring business in Tripoli, offering private lessons in philological subjects to Gymnasium and Lyceum students, focusing on their preparation for the Panhellenic exams. I always recall those years with emotion, and every time I meet my "once-upon-a-time students," I am delighted to hear about their achievements and progress.
Since 2015, I have been working at the private educational institution "RODION PAIDEIA," when, during a life transition, I chose Rhodes as my place of residence and work. Since then, I have felt the warmth of another family, learning to evolve through the innovative educational design of our school, supported by my directors, enjoying the privileges of a high-quality professional environment, and feeling deep gratitude for the integrity of my colleagues and the excellent cooperation with them.
I hold a Master's Degree in Archaeology of the Peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean and a Diploma in the Didactics of History. I am still toying with the idea of pursuing a doctoral dissertation, gathering research material not out of ambition, but from my... "Arcadian" persistence in journeying through the inexhaustible world of knowledge.
I am proficient in English and Italian and have translated archaeological guides from English to Greek for the tourist publications TOUMBI. I have worked on the editorial review of literary and historical-research books, and I enjoy writing articles on topics that pique my interest.
I believe in the value of lifelong learning and make it a point to regularly attend seminars and further my education through programs offered by universities and private institutions.
I consider it a great challenge to mature in matters of teaching practice, and my invaluable allies in this goal are my beloved students.
With them, I improve, share methods of self-initiative, self-education, and exploratory learning, and become familiar with their perspective on life. In my daily life, I choose to be moved by modesty and charmed by purity. I choose to be inspired by clear gazes and strengthened by authentic human relationships.
I studied piano for seven years and, in my free time, I engage in exercise, decoration, volunteering, and reading literary and historical books. Although I no longer explore the Arcadian mountains, I feel just as fulfilled when I explore the shores of Rhodes with good company. I greatly enjoy traveling as a cultural adventure and as yet another opportunity to discover my inner self. On the journey of my life, I am accompanied by the beauty of the souls of my loved ones and the bright smile of my 14-year-old daughter.
