Who we are

 

Natalie Tzobanakis

I am an experienced religious educator, certified by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and volunteering for over ten years as a Church School instructor and coordinator in Union, New Jersey. I am also a trained artist and certified teacher of Greek as a second/foreign language.

Witnessing the scarcity of specifically Orthodox, age-appropriate teaching materials for young children, I decided in 2016 to take advantage of my diverse education and skills to produce teaching tools that complement the official Church curricula. This led to the creation of Orthodox Pebbles, to which I am now devoting the majority of my working time.

I was born in the United States and spent most of my life in Athens, Greece. I first studied medicine, and then graphic design, illustration, and Byzantine iconography. I later obtained a B.A. degree in Greek Civilization Studies, and received the official Greek state certification for teaching Greek as a second/foreign language. Since 2012, I live in New Jersey with my husband, George, and our three children, Eleni, Antonios, and Loukas. Even though I am truly grateful for our life in America and the wonderful blessings it has brought forth, my dream to one day return to my beloved Greece is still very much alive.

Find me online:

  • Homeschooling blog, where I recorded my experience teaching Greek History to my own children (in Greek).
  • Personal blog, where I wrote about my transition from Greece to the U.S. (in Greek).

d_polaroidDespina Lachanaris

Born and raised in Athens, and with origin from the beautiful island of Chios, I have been living in New Jersey since 2003. I am currently a full-time teaching assistant both in regular and special education classrooms at the Madison School District, which brings me a step closer to earning an official teaching certification. I am also wife to Andreas, and mother to Myrsine and Nicholas.

I am grateful to be teaching Sunday School at the Greek Orthodox parish of St. Demetrios in Union, NJ, as this activity has helped channel my longtime passion for religious education. I also feel fortunate to be a contributor to the Orthodox Pebbles venture as a researcher and writer. I hold a B.A. degree in Statistics and Actuarial Studies, and I have previously worked as an administrative assistant, book-keeper and business software analyst. I love reading, painting, hiking, and getting together with friends over a cup of coffee – even tea.