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Mark Ives is Academic Director of Global Summers Academy

An Ontario Secondary School educator since 2007 and founding Academic Director and designing architect of Blyth Academy Online, Mr. Ives has also been Academic Director, Program Manager, Photography Teacher or Activity Coordinator on over 25 month-long international student summer school programs. His passion for experiential and life-long learning has led him on many adventures around the globe including Europe, Central America, Caribbean, Oceana and Asia. As Academic Director since 2015, he has mentored over 100 teachers a year and allocated them to student programs in countries in almost every continent in the world. While leading these student programs, he has seen first-hand how beneficial such culturally enriching experiences can be for the development, growth and learning of students. He knows that when students have the opportunity to travel while learning, life skills and strong bonds are developed, and as a result, life-long friendships are formed.

Mr. Ives is a new father and looks forward to international travel in the coming years with his daughter and wife, who is also a teacher.

Alicia Della Maestra is the Marketing Director of Global Summers Academy. As a Commerce graduate from Queen’s University with a specialization of marketing and human resources, Alicia has always been keen to help organizations share their incredible products and services with people who will appreciate it the most. After a five-month backpacking tour across Europe, it was clear the travel industry was where she’d like to be.

With over five years of experience in marketing education travel programs, Alicia is dedicated to ensuring products and services are accurately represented and the client journey is a headache-free, enjoyable one.

When she isn’t sharing Global Summers Academy’s story, Alicia is active in various professional charity groups, taking some kind of online course (you’ll notice everyone at Global Summers Academy don’t want to stop learning!), and exploring the world.

Carolyn Lahoud is the Admissions & Operations Manager of Global Summers Academy.

Carolyn is very passionate about travelling and believes that the core of experiencing the world is to indulge yourself in the sights, smells and feelings of the people and the cultures. She spent four years living in Europe and Southeast Asia, where she was able to realize her passion for travel guidance and education.

With five + years of experience developing her skills and knowledge in the travel industry both locally and abroad, Carolyn has become extremely confident in her ability to successfully coordinate programs for students wishing to study internationally while earning their high school credits.

She is always looking for new and exciting opportunities to enhance her cultural knowledge every day, and wherever her path takes her, she will continue to nourish her soul with all of the beauty that the world has to offer.

Chris Fuller is Principal of Global Summers Academy.

He has 4 degrees from 3 institutions of higher learning and is the first to tell students that “education has no end date”.

An Ontario Secondary School educator since 1989, Mr. Fuller has also been an Academic Director, Program Manager or English Teacher on over 20, month long, international summer school programs. He has expertise and extensive knowledge of “on-location”, experiential teaching practices. Mr. Fuller has traveled with teachers and classes to a great many European and Central American countries where on site teaching took students out of the regular classroom to enrich and “bring to life” the standard course curriculum. He knows this often leads to life changing educational excitement. Continuing to make these international learning opportunities available to as many students as possible is an important priority for him.

Mr. Fuller’s wife and daughter are also teachers with international teaching experience on their resumes. A true family affair.

Dina Poulopoulou is the Managing Director of Global Summers Academy.

With nearly two decades of experience managing student travel programs, Dina firmly believes that international travel gives students the opportunity to learn and grow.

Dina has extensive leadership experience in travel operations and logistics management. She keeps her sleeves rolled up and is involved daily in air and land arrangements, hiring and managing onsite program staff, and maintaining supplier relationships around the world.

Dina and her team pride themselves on providing safe, supported, and fun programs for students.

Dina is the proud mom of her teenage son and spends her free time taking courses in a variety of subject areas to always continue learning.