Hellenic Classical Charter School

718-499-0957

Facebook
Instagram
Parent Portal
Employee Portal
20th Anniversary

Faculty & Staff

HCCS-PS Faculty & Staff
HCCS-SI Faculty & Staff
Christina Tettonis

Christina Tettonis

Executive Academic Officer, Co-Executive Leader
View Bio
Joy Petrakos

Joy Petrakos

Chief Operating Officer,
Co-Executive Leader
View Bio
Natasha Caban Vargas

Natasha Caban

Principal, HCCS-Park Slope

View Bio
Cathy Kakleas

Cathy Kakleas

Principal, HCCS-Staten Island
View Bio
Anastasia Etimos

Anastasia Etimos

Dean of Guidance, HCCS-Park Slope

Dena Capetanakis

Dena Capetanakis

Director of Community & Engagement of Schools

Maria Bonakis

Maria Bonakis

Dean of Student Development & Hellenic Cultural Studies of Schools

Denise Catapano

Dean of Special Education of Schools

Deirdre Cruz

Deirdre Cruz

Dean of Early Childhood Grades Pre-K-2, HCCS-Staten Island

Melissa Hionas

Melissa Hionas

Dean of Mathematics & Instruction of Schools

Alicja Hus

Early Childhood Instructional Coach, K-2
Adam Konstantopoulos

Adam Konstantopoulos

Dean of Physical Education & Athletics of Schools

Kevin Linehan

Dean of Technology & PLTW Lead of Schools

Dawn Romano

Middle School Instructional Coach
William Tinney

William Tinney

Dean of Students, HCCS-Park Slope

Per Janson

Per Jansen

Theater Director, HCCS-Park Slope

Jo Ann Katsaros

Jo Ann Katsaros

Instructional Match Coach & AIS Teacher, HCCS-Park Slope

Joann Koufos

Joann Koufos

Special Education Instructional Coach, HCCS-Park Slope

Stephanie Stroud

Stephanie Stroud

ENL Lead & Operations Assistant of Schools

Joseph Szal

Joseph Szal

Student Development & Guidance Counselor HCCS-Park Slope

Carla

Carla Elboustani

Business Manager of Schools

Stacy Kokkoros

Operations Manager, HCCS-Park Slope

Maria Krisilas

Maria Krisilas

Operations Manager, HCCS-Staten Island

Anthony Underwood

Anthony Underwood

Technology Operations Specialist of Schools

Joyce Liappas

Joyce Liappas

Office Manager, HCCS-Park Slope

Gabrielle Konstantinidis

Administrative Assistant & Data Analyst, HCCS-Park Slope

Tina Tsarnas

Tina Tsarnas

Administrative Assistant, HCCS-Park Slope

Dawn Demengas

Dawn Demengas

Administrative Assistant, HCCS-Staten Island

Stacy Tsangaris

Stacy Tsangaris

Administrative Assistant, HCCS-Staten Island

Diana Gavnoudias

Diana Gavnoudias

School Aide, HCCS-Staten Island

Maria Ragavanis

School Aide, HCCS-Staten Island

Despina Ssouggatakis

Administrative Assistant
Damien Johnson

Damien Johnson

IT Lead
Scroll to Top
Christina Tettonis

Christina Tettonis

Executive Academic Officer and Co-Executive Leader

Christina Tettonis is the Executive Academic Officer and Co-Executive Leader of the Hellenic Classical Charter Schools (HCCS), which rank among New York City’s top-performing Pre-K’8 schools. HCCS has earned national recognition for academic excellence, including being named a 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary Charter School.

With more than four decades in education, including 19 years leading HCCS as principal and superintendent, Christina has been instrumental in advancing the schools’ academic excellence, growth, and innovation.

Under her leadership, HCCS Park Slope earned National Blue Ribbon School recognition and was designated by the New York State Education Department as a High Performing, Recognition, and Reward School. She also led with her team the successful replication of HCCS, establishing its second school on Staten Island, NY.

Christina has been a member of the Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University since 2007 and currently serves as an advisor. She also serves as a Trustee of the Brooklyn Public Library.

Prior to joining HCCS, Christina served as principal of Public School 170 with the New York City Department of Education and as Director of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program for Community School District 20.

A daughter of Greek immigrants, Christina cherishes her Hellenic heritage and above all, her growing family. One of her greatest joys is spending time with her beloved granddaughter and embracing her newest role as yiayia.

Joy Petrakos

Joy Petrakos

Chief Operating Officer and Co-Executive Leader
Joy Petrakos has spent more than two decades helping build and lead Hellenic Classical Charter Schools, where she serves as Chief Operating Officer and Co- Executive Leader. As the founding Director of Operations, she played a pivotal role in building the organization from the ground up-establishing the systems, structures, and partnerships that supported its growth from one campus to two. Throughout her tenure, Joy has led critical areas including operations, finance, compliance, grants, admissions, facilities, and organizational accountability. She has helped secure six five year charter renewals, the successful replication of the Staten Island campus, and the Park Slope National Blue Ribbon recognition. Joy also built and cultivated strong partnerships with the Greek government, strengthening the schools' connection to their Hellenic heritage and broader community. Today, she oversees more than $20 million in annual budgets, has guided multimillion-dollar capital expansions, maintains strong audits, and continues to build upon the strong fundamentals and deeply rooted culture of HCCS. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that strong schools are built through thoughtful systems, shared accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the students, families, and communities they serve.
Natasha

Natasha Caban

Principal, HCCS-Park Slope

Natasha Caban is the Principal of the Hellenic Classical Charter School- Park Slope. She previously served as Assistant Principal for 11 years and as Special Education Coordinator and teacher from 2005-2007. As Coordinator of Special Education, Natasha established and developed the school’s special education program during its first year of operation in 2005, ensuring all IEPs and related services met state compliance standards. She also served as testing coordinator and liaison while supporting HCCS-PS through multiple five-year charter renewals. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Natasha is the eldest daughter of a former DOE Assistant Principal and a current DOE employee. She is married and has a daughter.

Cathy

Cathy Kakleas

Principal, HCCS-Staten Island

Cathy Kakleas has been with the Hellenic Classical Charter School since its founding in 2005. As a first-grade teacher, she fostered a love of reading and served as a mentor to new teachers, using her classroom as a model for effective instruction. In 2011, she became the Literacy Coach for grades K-8 after completing advanced training at Columbia University’s Teachers College. She led study tours on Socratic Seminars, organized a Foundational Skills Institute with Columbia, and participated in Danielson’s Framework for Teaching Clusters Pilot, inspiring schoolwide peer collaboration and reflection. Appointed Dean of Academics in 2016, Cathy guided instructional staff, led a team of teacher leaders, and oversaw the Pre-K program, which exceeded NYC DOE averages on the 2017 CLASS assessment. She currently serves as Principal of the Hellenic Classical Charter School- Staten Island. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Cathy lives in Staten Island with her family.