Greek teacher Giota Chatzopoulou won Europe’s top teaching award demonstrating dedication and innovation in shaping the entrepreneurial skills of future generations.
A teacher from Lithuania and Austria joined Chatzopoulou in the 2024 Junior Achievement (JA) Europe award after an intensive review of numerous inspiring applications.
The selection jury, comprised of representatives from UPS, the European Commission, OECD, the European Training Foundation, and Lifelong Learning Platform, selected three exemplary winners from across Europe.
The Awardees honored in a ceremony in Brussels were Edita Naidaite from Lithuania, Georg Frauscher-Emler from Austria, and Giota Chatzopoulou from Greece.
Giota (Panagiota) Chatzopoulou has been an inspirational figure at the American Farm School of Thessaloniki since 2010, teaching Mathematics and coordinating the school’s Entrepreneurship Clubs.
She has played a pivotal role in implementing Junior Achievement programs, especially the JA Company Programme, which she has successfully led since 2012.
Under her mentorship, her students have consistently excelled, winning multiple awards at national and European levels.
Chatzopoulou is known for her innovative teaching methods, integrating case studies, role-playing, and new technologies to create a dynamic learning environment. Her commitment to student growth is evident in her personalized teaching approach, ensuring that each student reaches their full potential, JA says in a press statement.
She goes above and beyond, offering after-school support and guiding students to develop essential life skills, from business planning to effective communication, it adds.
Beyond her classroom, Chatzopoulou is a mentor to fellow educators and a driving force in expanding JA programs across Northern Greece. Her work has been recognized in Greek media, and her dedication to professional development makes her a role model in her field. Her passion for entrepreneurship education has transformed her students’ lives, many of whom have gone on to prestigious careers worldwide, the press statement reads.
Related: Greece Has the Lowest Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Europe
Luciana Caciuleanu, HR Vice President UPS EMEAI said: “Teachers make a lasting difference by guiding students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. At UPS, we recognize that their influence extends far beyond the classroom, empowering the leaders and innovators of tomorrow. We are proud to sponsor the 2024 Teacher of the Year Award in honor of their dedication and impact.”
Salvatore Nigro, CEO JA Europe said: “Teachers and educators are instrumental to JA’s work empowering almost 7 million young Europeans every year, and we are so grateful to their daily commitment across Europe. Together with UPS, we want to recognize and celebrate the most inspiring teachers through the Teacher of the Year Award. The JA network in Europe looks forward to continuing the close collaboration with schools and teachers, who can count on us to build bridges with the world of work for the benefit of the next generation of Europeans.”
JA Europe is the largest and leading organization in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health.
In the last school year, the JA Europe network in over 40 countries provided 6 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats with the support of nearly 110,000 teachers and almost 90,000 business volunteers.
In 2024, JA Worldwide was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, the third nomination in three years.
Related: Greek Teacher Receives International Teacher of the Year Award
