ICS Community Welcome: Serena Tzortzaki

ICS is delighted to welcome Serena Tzortzaki to our Early Years team. Serena has studied and worked across Europe and North Africa, gaining rich experiences in global development, cultural exchange, and human connection that now inspire a creative and empathetic approach to teaching.

Serena shares with us:

I was brought up by a Greek mother and a Welsh father, and I had the opportunity to begin university-level studies in both countries. My academic path led me to pursue a BA in Creative Advertising at the University of Lincoln in the UK, which I later decided to leave in order to explore a different direction. This experience gradually guided me to Norway and sparked my interest in Global Development, Political Science, field research, and development work in the Global South, leading me to engage with multinational teams, minority groups, migration communities, and local populations in Norway, Cyprus, Georgia, and Morocco.

During this time of exploration, I also embarked on a 9,000 km cycling journey from Norway to Morocco with a friend. Along the way, we connected with more than 600 individuals, being welcomed into their homes and immersing ourselves in the local cultures of nine different countries, within a period of 15 months. These encounters not only broadened my worldview but also deepened my appreciation for human connection and cultural diversity.

During these four years of exploration, I also discovered my love for teaching. For me, teaching is a way to share the life skills I have gained through experiential learning, while contributing to an educational system that fosters belonging and encourages each child to share their unique light with the world. Although I come from a family of educators spanning four generations, I found myself resisting the traditional educational system in which I was raised. Interestingly, this very resistance inspired me to pursue a creative degree and then to carve out a life guided by purpose, authenticity, and personal passion. 

Today, I am entering my third year of teaching in Early Education (3 to 6 years old), and I am excited to begin my first year at ICS Côte d’Azur as the Assistant Teacher of KG1 English alongside Miss Sasha (KG1 English Teacher). I look forward to bringing creativity, empathy, and curiosity into our classroom, and to supporting children as they grow with joy and confidence.