Category: People

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Michaela Salačová

Teacher of Czech

Michaela comes from Mladá Boleslav, but studied in Hradec Králové at the Biskupské gymnázium Bohuslava Balbína. She decided that one school would not be enough for her and she also wanted to further pursue her love of singing by studying classical singing at the Prague Conservatory while also enrolling in the Czech Studies Bachelor’s Degree programme at Charles University. She fell in love with Czech literature and language, leading her to deepen her knowledge and obtain a grounding in pedagogy. In 2024, she graduated with a Master’s Degree in two programmes at Charles University: Czech as a Second Language and Czech Language and Literature.

Since 2019, Michaela has enjoyed the experience of teaching Czech as a second language in several language institutions in Prague. She is especially grateful for the experience she gained taking seminars on Czech as a second language at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University. Additionally, she enjoyed teaching Czech language and literature in a primary school in Prague, where she was able to apply her academic background and practice methods of inclusive teaching. She also continues to enjoy singing, so if she isn’t teaching, reading or walking with her dog, you might find her performing at the occasional concert.

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Eric Huang

Teacher of Mathematics and Computer Science

Eric Huang is a Chinese American who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Prague in 2021. He was a teacher at the New York City Department of Education after teaching Mathematics and Computer Science in secondary schools for over six years and university-level Mathematics for over three. He has Bachelor’s Degrees in Mathematics and Secondary Mathematics Education and a Master’s in Professional Mathematics Education from Brooklyn College and Hunter College in NYC. He also spent half an academic year studying Mathematics and Chinese Philosophy and Education at the Nanjing Technology University in China as part of his undergraduate programme.

Eric was a teacher coach/mentor and pedagogical course facilitator at the Math for America (MfA) a not-for-profit education organisation in NYC. In his spare time, he enjoys playing indoor volleyball and singing while accompanying himself on the piano.

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Leidy Arenas

Spanish

Leidy is from Colombia. While studying Business Administration, she was building a career in the financial sector as a Commercial Director for HSBC Colombia.

In 2014 she decided to leave Colombia in search of new adventures and experiences, settling in Prague a few years later. She started to teach Spanish by chance and discovered how rewarding the world of teaching is and so she decided to train for a professional teaching qualification and certification at the Cervantes Institute of Prague. As a Spanish teacher, she has worked on her own project teaching Spanish to mothers and children, has taught many one-to-one lessons and has taught Spanish in both a public and an international school in Prague.

As a teacher, Leidy’s goal is to have her students learn in a practical and dynamic way, bringing Hispanic culture into the classroom as much as possible.

Outside work, Leidy is a mother of two beautiful, confident, Spanish speaking children. She looks for any opportunity to escape into nature and very much enjoys walking and hiking and doing her best to live in the present moment. As a Colombian of course she misses the culture, music and fresh fruit, but she is happy and proud to be living in Prague, having a family and raising her children here.

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David Brookes

Deputy Head Pastoral & Upper School, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Teacher of Geography & Environmental Systems & Societies

David was born and raised in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and brings a wealth of international experience to his role as Deputy Head (Pastoral and Upper School) at The English College in Prague. He earned a BSc in Geography from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, followed by a PGCE from the University of Gloucestershire. David later completed his NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership) at Edge Hill University.

Before joining ECP, David spent time living in Rome, Italy, Whistler, Canada, and the UK, where he held various teaching and leadership roles. Most recently, he was Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for the Lower School at St George’s British International School in Rome. He also taught in schools across the UK, taking on diverse roles such as Head of Faculty, Head of Geography, and Gifted and Talented Coordinator, all while fostering a deep love for education and student development. 

David is deeply committed to developing strong school communities, empowering student voices, and promoting learning beyond the classroom. He believes in a proactive approach to pastoral care, ensuring that every student feels supported both academically and personally.

In his free time, David enjoys traveling and is looking forward to exploring the Czech Republic. An avid adventurer, he is a keen scuba diver and certified Divemaster, as well as a passionate skier, having spent a ski season in Whistler, Canada. He also enjoys hiking and the opportunity to engage with nature, bringing his adventurous spirit into his leadership at ECP.

David’s diverse background and personal interests enrich his approach to education, helping students and staff alike thrive in a supportive and dynamic school environment.

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Natálie Skácelová LLM

ECP Governor

Natálie originally comes from Moravia. Supported by a scholarship from the Open Society Fund, she completed her A-Levels at Felsted School in Essex in the UK and went on to study Law at the London School of Economics. Having qualified as a solicitor, Natálie practised corporate and finance law in London, Frankfurt and Hong Kong at top global law firms. She then turned her focus back to Central and Eastern Europe in her role as legal counsel at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development where she worked on projects in its countries of operation including Estonia, Ukraine and Croatia. Since her return to the Czech Republic Natálie, as Legal Manager at a commodities trading company with a global presence, is responsible for its legal function and her team.

She is passionate about education and its power to change people’s lives – which she experienced first-hand. She served a four-year term as a Governor at the Mulberry Stepney Green Maths, Computing & Science College in London where she learned to understand both day-to-day and long term strategic challenges for a school. During the pandemic, Natálie became an amateur teacher to her nieces and nephew and enjoyed exploring how to make learning engaging, efficient and entertaining. She loves bringing people together through networking and charity events. 

Natálie would like everyone to have a fair chance at maximising their potential, to that end she participates in various mentoring programmes and has started workplace initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality.

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James Kazi

ECP Governor

James Kazi has joined the Board of Governors following the retirement, after 15 years, of Margaret Rudland. We are delighted to welcome him to the ECP governance team and we are sure that his knowledge and experience, particularly of the IB, will be invaluable to the College. All our Governors are volunteers who are not paid for their service to the school.

Since 2018, James has been the Under Master (Deputy Headmaster), Designated Safeguarding Lead, and a teacher of English at Westminster School in central London. Previously, he was Acting Second Master, Deputy Headmaster (Academic) and the founder IB Diploma Programme Coordinator at Charterhouse in Surrey.

Having straddled both the academic and pastoral sides of the schools in which he has worked, James is passionate about the intellectual communities in which pupils live and does all that he can to promote strongly positive and reflective relationships in that context.

For a number of years he was an examiner for IB English A (Literature), sat on the IB Schools and Colleges Association steering committee and he still acts as an IB site visitor. Whilst having an eye for compliance matters and regulation, he appreciates seeing how culture and policy dovetail.

He has a Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) commission, holding the rank of Squadron Leader in his capacity as Course Commander for the national RAF Air Cadet Leadership Course and is currently contributing to the national review of cadet leadership across the RAFAC.

James is half Pakistani – half British and a proud Lancastrian, having been born and bred in Blackpool in the north west of England. He has an MA from Cambridge, in Oriental Studies (Chinese) and English, having been a choral scholar at Gonville and Caius College and he continues to sing in various choirs in London. After university, he went to work in the wine trade before returning to Cambridge to complete his PGCE (English and Drama). He takes full advantage of living and working in central London to follow his passion for the theatre.

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Ivana Chvátalová

Parent

The reason we chose The English College in Prague for our daughters was not only the academic results of the students and graduates of the school, but above all the individual approach, which, in my opinion, and my previous experience with other similar institutions, is really special and exceptional at this school.

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Christopher Ott

English and Psychology

Christopher is from Canada and grew up in both Peterborough, Ontario and Invermere, British Columbia. He graduated from the University of Victoria with a double BSc in Psychology and English. He then did a 2-year BEd at the University of Alberta specializing in teaching English literature and Science.

Upon graduating from the University of Alberta, he moved  back to Peterborough and taught for the Kawartha Pine Ridge district school board for 10 years.  He moved to Shenzhen, China to teach English and Chemistry at a Canadian International school for 5 years. It is here where he met his wife, Beth, also a teacher at the same school. Christopher most recently taught for 3 years in Izmir, Turkey alongside his brother where he gained experience teaching IB Psychology, English and Chemistry before being hired as an English and Psychology teacher at the English College in Prague.

In his spare time, Christopher enjoys running, cycling, triathlon and camping.

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Jacob Loof

Head of Music

Jacob found his passion for teaching guitar while a guitar student at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. This was followed by a Master’s in Education in his native Sweden, which included a royal scholarship to study Brazilian music in Rio de Janeiro. An avid traveler, Jacob spent five years teaching both instrumental and classroom music in China, including the IBDP. The English College in Prague is a new and exciting chapter for Jacob to grow music within the school and head a department. 

While not teaching he regularly works on his skills on the guitar, the piano and the drums. With a Bachelor in Literature Jacob also enjoys reading and language learning in his spare time, if not indulging his passion for hockey.

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Gemma Morrison

Biology teacher

Gemma is from the North East coast of England. She graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc (Hons) in Genetics and an MRes in Medical Genetics. After an impactful experience teaching at a university in Vietnam, she was inspired to pursue teaching and completed a PGCE at the University of Manchester. She then taught Science at a school in York, England, before moving to ECP in 2023.

Outside of teaching, Gemma enjoys cooking, traveling, spending time outdoors, and generally keeping active. She likes to swim, run, CrossFit, roller skate, and has taken up bouldering since moving to the Czech Republic. She is looking forward to exploring more of the Czech Republic, both as part of the more: programme, and during her free time!