The Bilingual School in Greece That's Redefining How Kids Learn

Jan de Vries · 2026-11-02

### A Different Kind of Bilingual School Tucked away in Varkiza, on the Athenian Riviera, DES Interactive European School isn't your typical bilingual school. It's a place where learning feels like serious fun. The school welcomes children from nursery through secondary education and has built a truly international community representing nearly 30 nationalities. We sat down with Dr. Billie Konstantara, the founder and CEO, after DES was named Best Bilingual IB School 2026 – Attica at the Hellenic Business Awards. She shared what makes this school tick. ### Mixing IB with Multiple Intelligences DES is the first bilingual school in Greece to combine the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. That's a mouthful, but here's the gist: the IB framework provides rigorous, inquiry-led learning, while Gardner's theory recognizes that kids have different strengths—linguistic, logical, musical, and so on. By blending the two, DES creates an environment where every student is seen as distinct. "At DES, innovation begins with a simple question: does this improve the way a child learns, belongs, or understands the world?" Dr. Konstantara says. Currently, DES is authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), with the Diploma Programme coming soon. ### Four Campuses, One Mission Today, DES spans four separate complexes in the southern suburbs. Across its nursery, kindergarten, primary, and middle school, it serves about 450 students with a staff of 150. Since opening its first location in 2004, the school's mission has been to inspire young minds through a curriculum built around them. That's why DES treats all subjects as primary—whether it's sport, music, art, literature, languages, or math. The campuses themselves are more than just places to teach. They're an integral part of the curriculum, with gardens, outdoor spaces, and animal interactions that help kids connect with the natural world. Technology, robotics, creativity, and social responsibility are woven into the learning ecology, too. ### Values That Go Beyond Results Teaching at DES is guided by core values: intellectual curiosity, inclusion, responsibility, international-mindedness, and genuine care for each child. It's a school that cares about more than test scores. "Our goal is not merely to prepare students for examinations," Dr. Konstantara explains. "It is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, and emotionally secure young people who can think independently, collaborate across cultures, and contribute meaningfully to society." Every staff member works to ensure each child is seen, understood, and challenged appropriately. They set high but achievable expectations, backed by close observation, strong relationships, and differentiated teaching. Because DES is also an international microschool, teachers really know their students and can respond quickly to their needs. ### Connecting Across Subjects and Cultures Strong connections are developed across subjects, age groups, and cultures. For example, students might work on a project that combines science and art, or older students might mentor younger ones. These connections help students see the bigger picture and prepare them for a diverse future. In short, DES is a place where learning is serious fun—and where every child is given the tools to thrive.