Faculty & Staff

What parents are saying: “I could not agree more that SCDS is doing an amazing job on all fronts. My child enjoys going to school, likes the curriculum and the faculty and has made a number of new friends… all good! Thank you for all you and the faculty and staff at SCDS do day in and day out.”

The Scottsdale Country Day School staff have been carefully selected to represent a plethora of educations, experiences, and unique skills to ensure each of our students are afforded a rounded education. Staff at the SCDS charter goes above and beyond when it comes down to helping each individual student be successful and will often be found after school working with students individually or in small groups.

Open communication is imperative for each child to be successful and our staff encourages parents to be involved with their child to optimize learning opportunities.

Click here for employment opportunities at SCDS.

Click on any Staff Member’s name to read more about them.
Any image with the video icon (video_icon) indicates a video introduction is available.

[VIEW VIDEO] My name is Steve Prahcharov and I am the Co-founder and Principal of Scottsdale Country Day School. I am in my 19th year of education having started my career in England. I have a Masters degree in Educational Administration and have worked as a School Principal for the last 11 years. I love my job and am extremely fortunate to be in a position where I can help children and see them grow each and every day. I have been married to my wife Kathy for 20 years. We have 3 children in High School. Soccer is a passion of mine and after playing semi-professional in England for seven years, I then coached soccer for nine years. I love to play golf whenever I get the chance and have been lucky enough to have achieved a hole in one! I also enjoy traveling and so far have visited 23 different countries so far. Scottsdale Country Day School is a wonderful school and one which has a rigorous academics and a great variety of enrichment programs. I invite you to join our Scottsdale Country Day School family! Please contact me at 480-452-5777 should you have any questions about our school or email me at [email protected].

Hello, my name is Kathy Prahcharov, and I am the Director of Operations at Scottsdale Country Day School. A native of New York City, I moved to Phoenix 20 years ago. I graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in business communication.

I possess extensive experience in event planning and international business communication. My business background and love of travel have presented many opportunities to experience different cultures such as enjoying brick oven pizza in Italy, coming face to face with monkeys in Costa Rica, enjoying the view from the Eifel Tower, and watching USA play at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

At SCDS, I supervise the daily operations and management in the main office. A highlight of being the first point of contact in the office is the opportunity to get to know parents and interact with the students. It is personal relationships with our families that helps create a family community at school.

We are fortunate to have such hard-working and talented teachers who make great contributions at SCDS for our students. My goal in the office is to create an atmosphere that fosters learning, acknowledgment of successes, school pride, and an environment in which it is enjoyable to work and learn.

I can’t help but smile when I talk about our 3 wonderful children, Elle, Henry, and Spencer. They are the inspiration for SCDS and the driving force that gives Steve and me the continued knowledge, creativity, and dedication to this wonderful school. I look forward to watching each student flourish at SCDS.

Please contact me at 480-452-5777 or at [email protected] with any questions about our school.

[VIEW VIDEO] Hello! My name is Mrs. Stanek and I will be teaching kindergarten at SCDS. This will be my 21st year teaching kindergarten and my 6th year at SCDS. I grew up in Indiana and went to Ball State University where I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. I taught 14 years in Indiana before moving to Arizona. During my time off I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I also enjoy running, hiking, biking and kayaking. I have three little chihuahuas named Bandit, Bentley, and Brooks who also enjoy hiking and kayaking. I believe that each child is unique and learns in his or her own way. In my classroom we will do a lot of fun and exciting lessons that promote different learning styles. We will also be working on certain life skills such as, patience, sharing, kindness and respect. I’m looking forward to another great year at Scottsdale Country Day School.

[VIEW VIDEO] Hello! My name is Taylor Waters and I am the first grade teacher at SCDS. Before going into 1st grade, I taught Kindergarten in Arizona. I am a Phoenix native and received my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University. My teaching style emphasizes hands-on learning and differentiated instruction. This ensures that all students are engaged in class and able to share their knowledge in a variety of ways! Some of my hobbies include painting, photography, and camping. I can’t wait to get to know all of my new students and team up with each family. Together we are going to make this year a great one!!

[VIEW VIDEO] My name is Sydne Hooper and I am the second grade teacher at SCDS. I am very passionate about cultivating a positive relationship with learning for all students! Some facts about me: I am from Las Vegas, Nevada and I moved with my dad, stepmom, and sisters to Arizona last year to be closer to our extended family. I have two younger sisters, Lily (age 4) and Brooklyn (age 6). I am lucky to have had the privilege of being so involved in their upbringing. I have a dog named Rusty who is my best friend, as well as a new kitten named Scar who is my baby! I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and camping. I also am a big book worm, and have recently discovered a love for kickboxing! My motto is that I want my classroom to be like Disneyland; the happiest place on Earth! I cannot wait for an amazing year at SCDS.
[VIEW VIDEO] Hello! My name is Jacquelyn Riekena and I am teaching 3rd grade this year. This is my 7th year teaching, but my first year at SCDS. I’m really looking forward to getting to know all the scholars and their families this year. I attended the University of Montana where I received my bachelors degree in elementary education. A little about me- I am from Eureka, Montana. I moved to Arizona about 7 years ago with my husband. We have two boys. Carter is 7 and Charlie is 2. As a family, we love the outdoors and spend as much time outside as the weather allows here. Some hobbies of ours are; sports, fishing, hiking, and camping. I am looking forward to an amazing year in 3rd grade!
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[VIEW VIDEO] Hello, my name is Yahira Romero. I am excited to be a part of the Scottsdale Country Day School community. Teachers have inspired me throughout my life, which is one of the main reasons why I wanted to become a teacher. With teaching, every day is different and each day is an opportunity to inspire and learn something new. I graduated from Arizona State University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. I have taught 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th grade. I am super excited to teach 4th grade again! A little bit about me: I was born in Huntington Park, California, and moved to Arizona in 2005 with my family. My hobbies include cooking, traveling, attending sporting events, and simply staying active. This year is going to be filled with a lot of learning, positivity, and tons of laughs. I cannot wait for the start of this school year. Thank you parents and guardians for all your support this year!
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[VIEW VIDEO] Hello! My name is Erin Sandler and I am excited to be teaching another year at Scottsdale Country Day School! I am also happy to take on the position of assistant principal.

I grew up in southern Idaho with five sisters and three brothers! After high school, I moved to New Jersey to work as a nanny and experience life on the east coast. While there, I attended William Paterson University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. My husband and I decided to move west to be closer to family, and ended up settling in Arizona. We have two children, Lindsey (23) and Austin (19), who both attend Arizona State University!

In 2009, I started my teacher education at Rio Salado College in Tempe, AZ. I earned my teaching certification and endorsement in Structured English Immersion in June 2011. In June 2017, I earned my middle grades English Language Arts certification. I joined Scottsdale Country Day School in 2012 and have been here since!

I believe that every child deserves to learn in an environment that is safe, respectful, supportive, and fun. My goal as a teacher is to create that environment in my classroom and help each student reach their full potential. Every child learns differently, and it is my job as a teacher to adapt my lessons to the different learning styles of my students. I want my students to become responsible, accountable, and caring people.

Other things about me: I enjoy being active, traveling, shopping, baking, crafting, reading, treasure hunting in thrift stores, and spending time with my family. I look forward to another great year at Scottsdale Country Day School!

Hi! My name is Brook Stout and I am so excited to join the SCDS community as your Physical Education teacher. I am originally from Illinois, where I received my bachelor’s in education and played soccer at Northern Illinois University. I went on and received my Master’s in Reading Education at Concordia University. I moved to Arizona 11 years ago with my husband and have two beautiful girls, ages 7 and 9. I have 10 years of full-time teaching experience and have been a substitute in all areas, PE being my favorite, for the past 4 years. Some fun facts about me include my love for crafting, hiking, camping, all things family, and hanging with our sweet pup, Chase. I am so excited to get to know your student, cultivate an environment that fosters growth, and have FUN! It’s going to be a great year!