Inside the Greek School Fusing IB with Multiple Intelligences

Jan de Vries · 2026-11-02

### A School Where Curiosity Leads the Way Tucked into Varkiza on the Athenian Riviera, DES Interactive European School has been quietly reshaping what bilingual education can look like. It serves children from nursery through secondary school, and its halls hum with nearly 30 nationalities. That diversity isn't a side note—it's the whole point. The school recently earned the title of Best Bilingual IB School 2026 – Attica at the Hellenic Business Awards, and after speaking with founder and CEO Dr. Billie Konstantara, it's easy to see why. ### The IB Meets Multiple Intelligences What sets DES apart is its refusal to pick a single lane. It's the first bilingual school in Greece to pair the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. That theory argues people have several distinct intelligences that work together—not one fixed "general intelligence." So instead of teaching to a test, DES teaches to the whole child. Right now, the school is authorized for the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP), with the Diploma Programme on the horizon. ### Four Campuses, One Mission Across four separate complexes in the southern suburbs, DES serves about 450 students with a staff of 150. The first campus opened in 2004, and the mission hasn't budged: inspire young minds through a curriculum built around them. That's why you won't hear anyone there call one subject "primary" and another "secondary." Sport, music, art, literature, languages, math—they all get equal billing. > "At DES, innovation begins with a simple question: does this improve the way a child learns, belongs, or understands the world?" — Dr. Billie Konstantara ### Learning Beyond the Classroom Walls The campuses themselves are part of the curriculum. Kids learn across classrooms, gardens, and outdoor spaces, often with animals involved. It's one thing to read about the natural world; it's another to connect with it directly. The school also weaves in technology, robotics, creativity, and social responsibility, recognizing that tomorrow's careers will demand a broad mix of skills. ### Values That Go Beyond Results Teaching at DES rests on five core values: intellectual curiosity, inclusion, responsibility, international-mindedness, and genuine care for each child. Billie puts it plainly: "Our goal is not merely to prepare students for examinations. It is to develop knowledgeable, ethical, and emotionally secure young people who can think independently, collaborate across cultures, and contribute meaningfully to society." ### Small School, Big Attention Because DES operates as an international microschool, teachers really know their students. High but achievable expectations meet close observation and strong relationships. Instruction is differentiated carefully, so every child is seen, understood, and challenged appropriately. Connections stretch across subjects, age groups, and cultures—creating a community where learning feels less like a chore and more like serious fun.