Our Team
The Center for Academic Support
Owner and Director:
Costa Papanicolaou
Specialist:
Katerina Koutros
Spoon Therapy Group
Partners:
Dr. A Vo
Dr. Whitney Nguyễn
Owner and Director:
Costa Papanicolaou
Specialist:
Katerina Koutros
Spoon Therapy Group
Partners:
Dr. A Vo
Dr. Whitney Nguyễn
Biographies Below
Costa Papanicolaou
Costa Papanicolaou, a life-long educator, founded The Center for Academic Support in Houston, Texas in 2004.
Costa began his professional life in the field of aviation early in life, earning his Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument, CFI, CFII and MEI by the age of 19 at Fletcher Aviation under the tutelage of Lt. Col. “Bob” McDaniel and the renowned aviator Maybelle Fletcher. Upon earning his certificates, he began teaching as a flight instructor at Fletcher Aviation and then entered the world of corporate aviation, flying for various private interests.
After several years living and working throughout the country, Costa resettled in Houston where, while still maintaining ties to aviation through consulting and other enterprises, he completed a Bachelors in Mathematics from the University of Houston and was then admitted to the Graduate School of Mathematics at UH. It was during his time as a graduate student that he became fascinated by the educational prospects in STEM pursuits and published a 428-page textbook entitled Algebra with Trigonometry: A Guided Tour for the College Bound Student [2004 Trafford Publishing]. Having published this text, Costa then founded The Center For Academic Support, which grew to serve numerous students of all ages between the years of 2004 and 2012. In 2012 he moved The Center from its West University location to offices on Richmond Ave. to facilitate collaborations with Leisure Learning Unlimited.
It was during the years between 2012 and 2016 that Costa explored several business opportunities and eventually returned to aviation as an educator. In 2016 he opened his own flight school, Quality Flight Training, which subsequently led him to dialogues with Texas Southern University where he accepted the position of Chief Pilot and Chief Instructor, serving in this capacity from 2018 through 2023. During this period, Costa taught university lecture courses in aviation science, aerodynamics and associated topics, helped to develop the University’s curriculum in the Aviation Department, as well as overseeing the development of the University’s flight training program. Having completed a 5 year term at TSU, and at the insistence of many of his former students, Costa now has engaged himself to re-open The Center for Academic Support and bring his talents and methods to another generation of students!
Costa has always been committed to serving his community as an educator but also in a myriad of other ways. He is extremely proud to have been a founding board member of The Apollo Chamber Players, a non-profit classical musical ensemble whose performing credits includes such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He also served as President of his Home Owners Association for several years and served many years as Secretary and then President of the parish council of The Assumption of The Virgin Mary.
Katerina Koutros
Katerina began her teaching carer in the field of Special Education, teaching elementary levels K-5. For the past 8 years, she has been working with students who have been identified with a variety of Learning Differences, including Dyslexia and students on the Autism Spectrum. Katerina started her teaching career in HSID and Fort Bend ISD. She currently calls Lamar CISD home, where her sole position is a Dyslexia Specialist. Katerina has a special passion for teaching students with Dyslexia, helping students build confidence in themselves and their abilities to reach their full potential.
Having taught in the classroom for 8 years, she has fined tuned her practices to what have been tried and tested approaches for students with disabilities and has created her own Reading Intervention Program called The Classroom & Back 2 Basics especially for students in need of reading intervention or Dyslexia.
Katerina is board state certified in Special Education EC-12, Core Subject (elementary), English as a Second Language, and Region 4 Dyslexia.
Costa Papanicolaou
Costa Papanicolaou, a life-long educator, founded The Center for Academic Support in Houston, Texas in 2004.
Costa began his professional life in the field of aviation early in life, earning his Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument, CFI, CFII and MEI by the age of 19 at Fletcher Aviation under the tutelage of Lt. Col. “Bob” McDaniel and the renowned aviator Maybelle Fletcher. Upon earning his certificates, he began teaching as a flight instructor at Fletcher Aviation and then entered the world of corporate aviation, flying for various private interests.
After several years living and working throughout the country, Costa resettled in Houston where, while still maintaining ties to aviation through consulting and other enterprises, he completed a Bachelors in Mathematics from the University of Houston and was then admitted to the Graduate School of Mathematics at UH. It was during his time as a graduate student that he became fascinated by the educational prospects in STEM pursuits and published a 428-page textbook entitled Algebra with Trigonometry: A Guided Tour for the College Bound Student [2004 Trafford Publishing]. Having published this text, Costa then founded The Center For Academic Support, which grew to serve numerous students of all ages between the years of 2004 and 2012. In 2012 he moved The Center from its West University location to offices on Richmond Ave. to facilitate collaborations with Leisure Learning Unlimited.
It was during the years between 2012 and 2016 that Costa explored several business opportunities and eventually returned to aviation as an educator. In 2016 he opened his own flight school, Quality Flight Training, which subsequently led him to dialogues with Texas Southern University where he accepted the position of Chief Pilot and Chief Instructor, serving in this capacity from 2018 through 2023. During this period, Costa taught university lecture courses in aviation science, aerodynamics and associated topics, helped to develop the University’s curriculum in the Aviation Department, as well as overseeing the development of the University’s flight training program. Having completed a 5 year term at TSU, and at the insistence of many of his former students, Costa now has engaged himself to re-open The Center for Academic Support and bring his talents and methods to another generation of students!
Costa has always been committed to serving his community as an educator but also in a myriad of other ways. He is extremely proud to have been a founding board member of The Apollo Chamber Players, a non-profit classical musical ensemble whose performing credits includes such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He also served as President of his Home Owners Association for several years and served many years as Secretary and then President of the parish council of The Assumption of The Virgin Mary.
Katerina Koutros
Katerina began her teaching carer in the field of Special Education, teaching elementary levels K-5. For the past 8 years, she has been working with students who have been identified with a variety of Learning Differences, including Dyslexia and students on the Autism Spectrum. Katerina started her teaching career in HSID and Fort Bend ISD. She currently calls Lamar CISD home, where her sole position is a Dyslexia Specialist. Katerina has a special passion for teaching students with Dyslexia, helping students build confidence in themselves and their abilities to reach their full potential.
Having taught in the classroom for 8 years, she has fined tuned her practices to what have been tried and tested approaches for students with disabilities and has created her own Reading Intervention Program called The Classroom & Back 2 Basics especially for students in need of reading intervention or Dyslexia.
Katerina is board state certified in Special Education EC-12, Core Subject (elementary), English as a Second Language, and Region 4 Dyslexia.