Welcoming Our New Faculty and Staff at ACS

George Koinakis – Physics Teacher

I was inspired above all by ACS’s long history and its educational approach which is very close to mine. I have been teaching, tutoring and mentoring since 1993. There’s nothing else I would rather do. My favorite subject is Physics, for the IB, AP, A level and IGCSE curriculum.

My ambition is to become a valued member of this amazing community and contribute to the achievement of its noble goals. Outside of work, I enjoy playing volleyball, wine tasting, driving go-karts and watching WRC races. A fun fact about me: I try to become fit at the age of 58, but I fail due to my love for pizza and Greek souvlaki.

Savannah McCard – English Language and Literature Teacher

My name is Savannah McCard, and I am excited to enter into my 13th year of teaching English Language and Literature; I couldn’t be more thrilled to do so at the American College of Sofia. I am accompanied by my husband, who is teaching history and geography at ACS.

We were inspired to teach internationally, leaving our hometown of Atlanta in the United States behind, to experience new and diverse cultures both in and out of the classroom. Last year, I taught a student whose mother is Bulgarian, and I knew from the first taste of banitsa that she brought to class that I wanted more. I am very fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to combine my passions for teaching, traveling, and banitsa with this amazing opportunity at ACS.

I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm for English Language and Literature to ACS students so that they can find joy in learning how to become skilled readers, writers, and thinkers. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, baking, and gaming (of any kind), and something interesting about me is that I was a part of a highly competitive and successful drumline in high school; it was an experience that shaped me forever.

Michael McCard – History and Geography Teacher

My name is Mike McCard, and I will be teaching history and geography to grades 9 and 10. This will be my sixteenth year teaching history and my first at the American College of Sofia. I am accompanied by my wife, Savannah, who will be teaching English Language and Literature for grades 9 and 10.

Throughout my career as an educator I have taught grades 6–12 at a variety of levels, and I am excited to bring that experience to the students at ACS. What inspired me to join ACS is the commitment by the school to foster a community between the teachers and students that is one of trust, communication, and understanding. My experience so far has been unlike any other school I have worked at, and I feel it gives me an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of students and for them to make an impact on me.

In my free time I enjoy reading, playing video games, writing, and staying fit. A fun fact about me is that I coached an NBA player.

Cory Scott – English Language and Literature Teacher

In my three-decade-plus career teaching high school English, I have worked with students in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. My wife, Julie, and I raised our two daughters in international school communities, and I’m thrilled to be returning to yet another welcoming overseas environment in ACS.

A fun fact about me is that I’ve traveled to 55 countries over six continents and plan to add to that list during my time in Bulgaria. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, walking, bird watching, and eating out – but not all at the same time.

Brody Fredericksen – History Teacher

I became aware of ACS several years ago after meeting several graduates of the school. I was highly impressed by their academic achievements and how highly they spoke of the school. This experience inspired me to join the faculty. 

I have been a teacher for more than 20 years and have worked in the United States and Switzerland. I am excited to bring my approach to teaching and learning to ACS. 

I enjoy many activities, including hiking, motorcycles, horseback riding, skiing, SCUBA, and anything with a bit of adventure. I also happen to be a certified Sommelier.

Sofia Tadzher – ESL Teacher

I am excited to join the American College of Sofia as an ESL teacher for 8th grade students. I hold a BA in English Philology and an MA in Human Resource Management, and my background includes teaching English language and literature at the senior high school level. In addition, I bring 20 years of experience in global HR project management and corporate training in multinational companies.

What inspired me to join ACS is its strong values and commitment to fostering both academic excellence and character development, which resonate deeply with me as a graduate of the American Baptist School in Jordan (now Amman Baptist School). At ACS, I hope to contribute not only to students' language development but also to their confidence and curiosity as global learners.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and travelling to explore new cultures.

Ana Staneva – Computer Science Teacher

For many years I taught Computer Science at the Sofia High School of Mathematics. I also have experience as a software developer in the IT industry. I have also worked as an assistant professor of mathematics at technical universities in Sofia.

In 2018, I defended my PhD in mathematics in the field of probability and statistics,  my PhD thesis being “Statistical Estimation of Multitype Branching Processes.” I continue to have interests in this scientific field and participate in various world scientific conferences.

Now, I am at ACS and it is inspiring. It is a pleasure for me to work with you.

Ralitsa Stoynova – School Psychologist

My name is Ralitsa Stoynova, and I am excited to join the ACS Student Support Team as a school psychologist. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and my Master's degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Greenwich, London. I have years of experience working with children and adolescents with additional support needs, as well as a year of experience as a school counsellor.

What inspired me to join ACS was the school's commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. I am most excited to support students by helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to navigate academic and social challenges. I’m also eager to contribute to a school culture that prioritizes mental health awareness and reduces the stigma often associated with seeking support.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling and trying new cuisines, going to the gym, and attending aerial yoga classes. A fun fact about me is that I am a good singer; I even used to participate in singing competitions in primary school. Also, I'm very good at imitating cartoon character voices.

Dr. Ventzeslav Sholtze – Bulgarian Language and Literature Teacher

I was inspired to join the American College of Sofia because of its challenging but safe, collaborative, and academically honest work environment – all things I truly appreciate.

I’ve been teaching for more than ten years now, both the Bulgarian national curriculum and the IB Language A. I also have experience teaching at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” where I obtained my PhD in 2020.

I believe I can contribute to the community by delivering my lessons at a high but accessible academic level and by teaching students the importance of hard work.

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, watching movies, exercising, and hanging out with friends. A fun fact about me is that I wasn’t a particularly good student in primary and secondary school. 

Elisavet Konidari – Spanish Language Teacher

My name is Elisavet Konidari, and this is my first time stepping into the teaching role. For the past eight years, I have devoted myself to my fascination with the Hispanic language and culture and now, I am excited to take my first steps as a Spanish teacher in a community that is built precisely on the symbiosis between different cultures of teaching and learning. What impressed me most about ACS is the sense of diversity within the community – something I find both refreshing and eye-opening for everyone involved. Languages are a getaway to embrace it and I am going to do my bit.

Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, exploring new gallery exhibitions, art fairs, or movie premieres that catch my interest, and spending time with friends either out in nature or around the city. 

Mihail Gyurev – English Language Teacher

My name is Mihail Gyurev. I hold a Bachelor's degree in English Philology from Sofia University and a Master's degree in Literature and Society from Edinburgh University. As part of my English Philology degree, I completed my mandatory teaching practice at various schools in Sofia. I also recently obtained an iPGCE from the University of Bath. 

I have experience teaching both ELL (English Language and Literature) and ESL (English as a Second Language) at various grade levels. What motivated me to join ACS was the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as its long history of academic excellence. I hope that my work here will advance both, in Bulgaria and wherever ACS students go. 

Outside of work, I am interested in hiking, hygge, and healthy living. A fun fact about me is that I take care of two dogs and a cat – though the cat comes and goes as she pleases, so it's not on a permanent basis.

Maiya Young – Geography Teacher

My name is Maiya Young, and this is my third year teaching. I am thrilled to spend it beginning my journey at ACS with 10th grade Geography! I have a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and have credentials for Geography, History, Government, and Theatre. In university, I completed my educator training in Dublin, Ireland, with students ranging from 7th to 12th grade, and I have spent the past two years teaching 8th grade in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. 

I love to travel and hold the concept of becoming a "citizen of the world" as a pillar of who I am, so teaching internationally has been the path set for me since deciding to become an educator. After my first meeting with ACS, I knew it was the school I wanted to be at. I immediately connected with the core values and collective mission toward fostering community and creating lifelong learners. 

I enjoy painting, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family. I love to try new things and frequently attempt new hobbies (most recently it has been beaded embroidery!)

Maria Vasova – Economics Teacher

My name is Maria Vasova and I am new to high school teaching. I have an AP Degree in Marketing Management from UCN Aalborg, a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Business Administration from Aarhus University and a Master’s Degree in Economics and Business Administration – Information Management from Aarhus University. Мost of my experience is related to project management in the IT and other sectors in the corporate world. I joined ACS with the mission of contributing to an exciting and practice-based learning environment. The courses I teach are IB Economics and three modules of the Entrepreneurship profile, Market Economy (11th grade), Business Management (12th grade), and Project Based Learning (11th grade). 

In my free time I do calisthenics. Мy current goal is to master the balance in hand-standing. The next step is doing the muscle up. Besides, I have experience as a chess player competing in World and European Youth Chess Championships and a Chess Olympiad. I easily become friends with people and this makes me feel happy.

Philip Prodanov – Bulgarian Language and Literature Teacher

My name is Philip Prodanov, and I am delighted to have joined the Bulgarian Language and Literature Department at ACS. I have a Bachelor's degree in Bulgarian Philology from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and am currently a Master's student in the Literary Studies program. I have two years of teaching experience.

What prompted me to apply for a job at the College is the excellent working environment – an environment  where you have to be creative and dedicated, and you have the strong support of colleagues and the administration. I am glad to have found a place where community and teamwork are just as important as the quality of education it provides.

In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends, travel, collect die-cast cars, and write. An interesting fact about me is that I have two published books of poetry: “Наивният пътешественик” (The Naive Traveler, 2017) and ”Петна от роса” (Dew Stains, 2021). You can learn more about them if you type my name into Google.

Todor Pavlov – Mathematics Teacher 

My name is Todor Pavlov and I am joining ACS to teach Mathematics. I graduated from Cambridge with a Masters in Mathematics four years ago. I have since taught at international schools, gaining experience with working with students from grades 6 to 11.

I decided to join ACS because of its well established academic reputation, with the aim of inspiring students to reach their full potential. This year I am teaching Grade 11, both regular and profile classes.

Outside work, you might catch me at the local bridge club.

Aneta Stefanova – Director of Communications

My name is Aneta Stefanova, ACS’s new Director of Communications  since this summer. I’ve spent 20+ years in communications, media, and public affairs, most recently at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia. I joined ACS because I admire its reputation and the amazing impact it has on Bulgaria’s public life and  I’m excited to help share the amazing stories of our students, teachers, and alumni.

Born and raised in Sofia, I’m a first-generation college grad with а Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from the University of London - LSE and I strongly believe in the power of great education. Outside work, you’ll find me reading, traveling, dancing. I speak English, Russian, and a few Balkan languages, and I can’t wait to be part of ACS!