Wilmington, DE – Odyssey Charter School in Wilmington, Delaware, marked an important visit this week as it hosted Ekaterini Nassika, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, and Michael Skopelitis, Greek Consul in Washington, DC. The visit highlighted the school’s nationally unique Greek language and culture program—the only Greek immersion program of its kind in the United States.
Ambassador Nassika and Consul Skopelitis toured the campus, met with students and staff, and observed the school’s dual-language curriculum in action. They were joined by members of the Greek-American community, including educators and public officials.
Following the tour, Ambassador Nassika—Greece’s senior diplomat in Washington, with decades of experience and a mother of two—shared her reflections: “These are children who love their country, the United States, but who are also learning to love Greece—its civilization, its history, and most of all, its language,” she said. “I was surprised by their authenticity and how well they speak, read, and write in Greek. I love this school, I love these children, and I love this amazing language of centuries.”
Founded with the support of AHEPA, Odyssey has developed into a national model for dual-language instruction. It introduced the first—and still the only—Greek immersion program in the country. The Greek Department now includes more than 40 Greek-speaking and English-speaking educators, serving a diverse student population—98% of whom are not of Greek heritage.
Odyssey has earned recognition for academic performance and school culture. It recently received the largest charter renewal in Delaware’s history.
The school also maintains international ties. It collaborates with the Greek Ministry of Education and universities in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Western Macedonia, and has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware. Odyssey also sponsors visas for international students, promoting exchange and cross-cultural learning.
Consul Skopelitis emphasized the value of language in shaping how young people see the world. Odyssey’s leadership also pointed to philotimo—a Greek concept reflecting dignity, empathy, and responsibility—as central to the school’s mission.
A new facility dedicated to the immersion program is expected to open soon. It will serve K–12 students and may be the only building of its kind outside Greece.
The visit concluded with a school-wide photograph, bringing together all 2,300 students and staff alongside the visiting dignitaries—a moment that reflected the scale and significance of the occasion.