Eleni Filippatos

New Language (ENL) Teacher, PS 8, New York City Public Schools

Eleni Filippatos is from New York, New York, and is an English as a New Language (ENL) Teacher at PS 8, part of New York City Public Schools. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees in Childhood and Early Adolescent Education and Spanish from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a Master of Arts in TESOL and Bilingual Education from New York University. A doctoral candidate, Eleni’s research focuses on educational equity and school choice. Her dissertation explores how school leaders support families in navigating New York City’s public school choice system, with a particular focus on expanding opportunities for minoritized students. She examines the strategies school leaders use to engage and inform families, aiming to identify practices that promote greater fairness and access in the middle school application process. Eleni chose the University of Kentucky for the unique opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at a Research I institution fully online, allowing her to continue teaching full time in New York City. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new restaurants in NYC, going to Pilates, and soaking up the sun at the Jersey Shore with her husband, Josh.