Our Mission

Fanari Academy is a non-profit Educational Institute providing Greek Language, History and Cultural Programs to Children and Adults.

Our Values

Fanari Academy is a thriving educational community that strives to be a beacon of quality education in Greek language, culture, and history for all ages. Serving the San Francisco Bay Area, this non-profit organization, founded and run by parent volunteers, is grounded in the core values of educational excellence, service, community, and inclusiveness.

Educational Excellence

Fanari’s esteemed educators are passionate about inspiring students from all backgrounds and levels to attain their desired facility with the Greek language, culture, and/or history.

Inclusiveness

All are welcome at Fanari! Inclusiveness is foundational to our belief that diversity strengthens our community and all cultures are celebrated!

Service

As a parent founded and run organization, service has been fundamental to Fanari’s values since inception. Parents and teachers all contribute time, energy, and expertise to support our students.

Community

Beyond our educational focus, Fanari believes the school community enriches the learning experience, fosters life-long connections, and is vital to engaging students and their families both in and beyond the classroom.

Why Fanari

Our History

Fanari Academy was incorporated in 2006 by co-founders Tasos and Eva Constantin, Mel Hatzis, and Aidona Kakouros. They met after a San Francisco Film Festival event and shared a common dream of creating an independent Greek language program for families from the ‘South Bay’, which had no local options at the time. 

Ms. Spiroula Rodenborn, a pillar of the local Greek community in Sunnyvale, Greek-born educator, and owner of Rainbow Montessori in Sunnyvale, generously offered her classroom space to house the initial Fanari Academy program. 

The word spread to the Hellenic Republic’s San Francisco office of education, and then director Evagellos Kasvikis then encouraged the program’s launch and even arranged for a teacher sponsored by the Hellenic Ministry of Education to be assigned to the school.

An impressive 45 new students registered for classes in the Fall of 2006 when only 25 were expected. 

Fanari Academy was born!