Laure Abihssira

Middle School French Teacher

Laure Abihssira

Middle School French Teacher

Laure started teaching at The École in August 2023. She is originally from Paris, where she studied French Literature at the Sorbonne. She began teaching in French Public Schools and then at the Lycée Francais de New York from 2010 until 2023. She is delighted to join The École , where she is looking forward to continuing to share her passion for French literature with her students. Above all, she enjoys providing a respectful and trusting relationship with her students with patience and kindness.

Stéphanie Antoine

Psychologist
Head of the Counseling Department

Stéphanie Antoine

Psychologist
Head of the Counseling Department

Born and raised in the suburbs of Paris, towards the end of high school Stéphanie developed an interest in humanities and social sciences. After studying psychology and sociology, she obtained a master’s in philosophy. Her taste for writing took her to a school of journalism where she got a degree in journalism and a post-graduate degree in multimedia research. But she never lost her interest in Psychology. She entered a three-year training program in art therapy and started working in mental health institutions, schools, and associations. She realized that listening and helping people was really what she wanted to do. So she went back to school and obtained a professional master’s from University Paris X Nanterre – La Défense to become a clinical psychologist. She worked in Paris with children, teenagers, and adults.

She has been living in New York since 2009, working essentially with children in the French community. She completed the parent-infant psychotherapy post-graduate program at Columbia University. She considers herself a true lover of New York: she can walk for hours around the city, taking pictures and be as amazed as she was the first day. She strongly believes that dreams can come true as long as you are pursuing them.

Lucie Assogba

School Life Assistant

Lucie Assogba

School Life Assistant

Lucie was born in Argentreuil, France, and raised in Africa. She received a bachelor’s degree in law before she moved to New York in 2005. She worked with children from Nursery to 3rd Grade as an assistant in a bilingual international school in New York for 13 years before joining The École in September 2018 as a school life assistant. Lucie is very passionate about kids, and she loves to travel and discover other cultures. She likes listening to classical and gospel music, and she also enjoys quiet time.

Christophe Attard

Business Development

Christophe Attard

Business Development

Nicolas Beau

2nd Grade Teacher, French

Nicolas Beau

2nd Grade Teacher, French

Nicolas holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in education. He is certified by the French Ministry of Education.

Before joining The École in September 2018, Nicolas taught for five years in Paris, France from Nursery up to 5th Grade, and then for two years here in the United States in Rhode Island and New York. His passions include traveling and discovering new cultures through music, dance, and food. He is very pleased to share his experience and love of French culture with the community.

Sara Beebe

Nursery Teacher, English

Sara Beebe

Nursery Teacher, English

Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Sara received her education in North Carolina and New York, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in child development and a master’s in early childhood education policy. She has blended her expertise in educating young children with her knowledge of the larger systems affecting institutional responses to education, resulting in a responsive teaching style rooted in evidence-based practice. Sara has been teaching since 2017 and has vast experience teaching infants and toddlers in various settings, including Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and Waldorf environments. She uses elements from these and other pedagogical styles to inform her teaching practice. An artist herself, what Sara loves most about teaching young children is the open-ended way they explore and respond to the world around them, whether through art, nature,  or movement. Sara loves to paint, read, and practice yoga in her spare time!

Raul Bello Perez

Building Maintenance Specialist

Raul Bello Perez

Building Maintenance Specialist

Laurence Bendinelli

Middle School History-Geography Teacher, French

Laurence Bendinelli

Middle School History-Geography Teacher, French

Laurence was born in Antibes in the southeast of France to an Italian father and a French mother. She studied at the University of Nice where she obtained her master’s in history and the middle ages. She has been a history and geography teacher since 2005, working in different countries such as Italy, Switzerland, China, and Egypt, and a year in a charter school in Kansas City, Missouri. When she is not teaching, Laurence likes practicing yoga, walking, studying astrology, and visiting new places, and she also makes time for exhibitions, movies, and books.

Adeline Berlioz

4th Grade Teacher, French

Adeline Berlioz

4th Grade Teacher, French

Adeline was born and raised in France. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education. After teaching history and geography in middle school for two years, she became certified by the French Ministry of Education for primary education. She taught in London in a bilingual school before moving to New York in 2016.

Since then, her pedagogy has focused on personalized tools intended for each student to understand and make progress, taking the best of every education system she has been in contact with.

When she is not teaching, she loves cooking, baking, doing art, and spending time with her family.

Julien Budrino

Kindergarten Teacher, French

Julien Budrino

Kindergarten Teacher, French

Julien holds a bachelor’s degree in modern French literature and is a graduate of the Dante Agostini Drum School in Toulouse, France. He began his teaching career as a French Ministry of Education-certified teacher in 2008, teaching for six years in a disadvantaged priority education zone (ZEP) in France. Julien has conducted professional development workshops on music education for French teachers affiliated with the AEFE network during his position as a Music Director at The École. Currently, Julien is driving the Maternelle Curriculum, ensuring its effective implementation. In addition to his teaching role, he offers private drum lessons. As a multi-instrumentalist, he emphasizes the use of music in his teaching and shares the view of Belgian writer Paul Carvel that “music deserves to be the mandatory second language of all schools in the world.” Julien is the drummer of the New York-based band The Midnight Callers.

Erika Cavallo

STRIVE Department, English

Erika Cavallo

STRIVE Department, English

Erika has worked in various educational settings since 2015, including both private and public schools. Originally from Bergen County, New Jersey, Erika attended Rutgers University where she majored in social work. After landing her first job as a youth mentor for a child whose first language was not English, she realized she had a passion for teaching English to non-native speakers and decided to pursue a career in ESL. Erika currently holds an ESL teaching certificate and is working towards her master’s in education. Erika loves to learn about new cultures and travel. She has visited France several times and believes traveling is the key to expanding one’s perspective on the world. She has a knack for learning languages and is a strong believer in the importance of bilingual education.

Olivia Cazals

Nursery Teacher, French

Olivia Cazals

Nursery Teacher, French
Olivia is a binational (France and Northern Ireland) teacher. She was brought up in the South of France (Aix en Provence), where she spent the majority of her childhood in bilingual schools. Olivia studied music, majoring in a certificate of higher education in music performance in Glasgow (2013) and a bachelor’s degree in musicology in Lyon (2015).  In 2017 she completed a master’s degree in teaching (MEEF) and began her teaching career in State Schools in Avignon. She taught abroad as soon as permitted by the French Government and flew to London in 2019 to teach at The École Internationale Franco-Anglaise in Marylebone.
In this pursuit of bicultural approaches to teaching, Olivia was thrilled to come to The École in New York, to work hand in hand with American teachers and share this passion for education and cultural exchange.  On a lighter note, Olivia definitely likes a tiramisu, a classic pair of AirMax 90s, and a good old Rom-Com on a Sunday night!

Carl Ciaramitaro

5th Grade Teacher, English

Carl Ciaramitaro

5th Grade Teacher, English

Carl’s professional drive is to understand education in context: how does each school and each child’s surroundings influence their success in school, and what can schools do to drive that success to greater heights? To investigate that, Carl has taken many roles across his 13 years in the profession. Carl graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Education from the University of Michigan, specializing in secondary English and Mathematics. He taught in Detroit and its suburbs for two years before moving to rural Arkansas to teach middle and elementary schools in the Delta, where he learned the value community plays in a student’s life at school.  After five years, Carl left the Delta to get his master’s as a literacy specialist from Columbia. He began his role as an education consultant through Columbia, working with schools and teachers around the world to support their literacy practices. After six years teaching teachers, Carl made the leap back into the classroom to apply what he had learned from the amazing educators he had coached and observed and was lucky enough to land at The École. He believes strongly in individualized experiences for students, meeting students where they are to maximize growth, and developing a love of learning.

Marie-Jo Cima

School Life Assistant

Marie-Jo Cima

School Life Assistant

Sarah Corsin

1st Grade Teacher, French

Sarah Corsin

1st Grade Teacher, French

Originally from Paris, Sarah has a master’s degree in science from l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie. In 2010 she received her teaching certification from the French state and began teaching in the suburb of Gennevilliers. After 4 years of teaching in France, she moved to Madrid, Spain where she had her first experience of teaching in a bilingual setting. After Madrid, she moved to Asia, where she taught in French schools in Cambodia and Taiwan, where she was lucky enough to work with Jean-YVes and Andria, and built on her experience of teaching in multilingual contexts. After 6 years at the Lycée Français de Taipei (Taipei European School), she joined The École in September 2022 for a new bilingual teaching adventure on a new continent (with some familiar faces!)

Sarah loves teaching and works to make sure each child in her care feels confident to grow and learn at their own rhythm. She prefers teaching at the primary level because of the magical connection between each child and their teacher. She feels like a member of each child’s family!

Molly Davis

1st Grade Teacher, English

Molly Davis

1st Grade Teacher, English

Molly joined The École in 2022, her 8th year of teaching at elementary level. She grew up with her parents and brother just south of Boston, Massachusetts. Molly holds a master of science in education (MEd) in childhood education from the Johns Hopkins School of Education, a professional teaching license with an endorsement in French language education from The College of William and Mary, and a bachelor of arts (BA) degree from The College of William and Mary. Before working at The École, Molly taught at a public charter school in Brooklyn and at a public school in Oklahoma City. Teaching brings Molly joy because she learns as much from her students as they do from her! Having attended a French Immersion elementary school as a child, Molly enjoys speaking French with her students and colleagues.

Manuel De Abreu

Webmaster

Manuel De Abreu

Webmaster

Mireille Desalm

Director of Admissions

Mireille Desalm

Director of Admissions

Originally from Brussels, Belgium, Mireille holds an associate degree in language. Raised Flemish and French, she spent seven years at UPNS (NYU Preschool) as both administrative and admissions assistant. She joined the administrative team at The École in August 2012. There are many things she enjoys about being a director of admissions. Meeting students and their families who are eager to learn more about the school she represents, she feels honored to be part of their journey, and looks forward, year after year, to recruiting new students for The École. When she isn’t working, you’ll find Mireille going on hikes, learning Norwegian (Bokmål) and planning for the next adventure with family and friends.

Ferebory Dore

Extra-Curricular Program Manager

Ferebory Dore

Extra-Curricular Program Manager

Guillaume Duchier

Middle School Math Teacher, French

Guillaume Duchier

Middle School Math Teacher, French

Guillaume joined The École en 2022. He teaches French math in Middle School. He is originally from Auvergne. He attended  aClasse Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles, and got a degree in math from Blaise Pascal University in Clermont-Ferrand. He became a certified teacher in 2009, and taught for one year in a middle school before joining the lycée Édouard Branly de Dreux where he was the math coordinator, leading a team of 14 math teachers. Guillaume loves to travel and has led many school exchange trips between France, Sweden, and Denmark. He hopes to share that passion with his students at  The École!

Judy Dumas de Rauly

Pre-Nursery Teacher, French

Judy Dumas de Rauly

Pre-Nursery Teacher, French

Judy first started working at The École in 2018, leading French playgroups for children ages 0-4 years old. In 2023, she joined the Pre-Nursery class as the French teacher.

Before moving to New York City in 2015, Judy lived in France, where she earned both her master’s Degree in French literature and a master’s in editorial engineering and communication. Judy spent four years teaching at maternelle, elementary, and middle school levels and then worked in the field of communications for ten years at various large companies (Unibail Rodamco, Lagardere
Publicite, Lunii…). Becoming a mom was part of what led Judy back to the field of education.

Judy is delighted to share this new school year with our École community. Her greatest wish is to pass on to the children the desire to learn and to have confidence in themselves.

Celine Fischer

Administration Specialist

Celine Fischer

Administration Specialist

Originally from France, where she obtained a Master’s in finance, Celine worked for more than 20 years in banks in Luxembourg.

However, after her relocation to New Jersey in 2017, she decided to make a career change and started to work in education. As a shadow teacher at The Ecole first. Then as an administrative assistant at La Petite Ecole and, more recently, as an office manager at the French American Academy. She finally joined the team HR & Accounting at The École in August 2024.

When she is not working, you will find Celine walking her dog, reading, cooking, or planning for the next adventure with her worldwide family.

Ciara Forde

4th Grade Teacher, English

Ciara Forde

4th Grade Teacher, English

Ciara is originally from Pearl River, NY, and has worked at The École since 2022. Previously, Ciara has worked at Achievement First and Public Prep schools. Ciara also spent time in Australia from 2019 to 2021 and worked at an independent school just outside the city of Melbourne. Ciara received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, epecial education, and psychology at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She received her master’s degree in literacy at Hunter College here in NYC. Ciara loves teaching math and instilling a love for reading in her students. When she is not teaching, Ciara loves to sing and play her guitar.

Manu Garcia-Guillén

Kindergarten Teacher, French

Manu Garcia-Guillén

Kindergarten Teacher, French
A French-Spanish citizen from Toulouse, Manu, holds a master’s in psychoanalysis and several bachelor’s degrees, including a background in psychology. Certified as a teacher by the French Ministry of Education since 2001, she has taught all grades from Nursery to 5th grade and spent many years in a mixed-grade classroom in a rural French commune. Manu joined The École in 2015. Her teaching style draws on an alternative pedagogical approach called “pédagogie institutionnelle” that places great importance on social learning theory. Manu is also a Bodhisattva nun and certified meditation instructor in the Kwan Um School of Zen. As such, she’s one of the guiding teachers at the Columbia University Buddhist Association. She’s the author of “Do Nothing”, a meditation book for children.

Sage Gassa

3d Grade Teacher, English

Sage Gassa

3d Grade Teacher, English
Sage was born and raised in New York and went on to attend New York State universities for her undergraduate and graduate studies. She has a BA in Communication from SUNY Geneseo and a MAT in Childhood Education/Special Education from Relay GSE. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree, Sage spent a semester studying in Aix-en-Provence at IAU College. Prior to teaching at The École, Sage worked in both public and charter school settings in Brooklyn. She also received her TEFL/TESOL Certification in Costa Rica, where she spent time teaching English at an independent school. Sage’s favorite part about teaching is watching her students grow throughout the year, both academically and socially.

Bridget Germain

STEAM Teacher, English

Bridget Germain

STEAM Teacher, English

Bridget joined The École in 2022 as the Elementary and Middle School STEAM teacher.  Previously, she taught at an American school in Kuwait where she started her love for teaching in an international environment. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with an AAS in Illustration, BFA in Textile Design, and a minor in Art History. After graduating, she decided to further her education to receive her teaching certification to inspire young learners and help expand their creativity. Bridget loves seeing the new ideas and perspectives the students at the École bring to her class! Bridget enjoys visiting new places, going to museums, and painting!

Francisca Gonzalez

Daytime Porter

Francisca Gonzalez

Daytime Porter

Javier González

School Life Assistant

Javier González

School Life Assistant

Javier was born and raised in Madrid, a city that remains close to his heart. He first discovered the world of education when he decided to move abroad. In 2015, he started teaching Spanish to 4th Grade at the Lycée Français René Descartes in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. He continued his international experience in Taiwan, where he worked with the school life team in the middle and high school of the Lycée Français de Taipei within Taipei European School, where he also worked as a 4th Grade Spanish teacher. He arrived at The École in 2022 and took up residence on the 4th floor as our School Life Assistant, supporting our middle schoolers on a daily basis.

Javier is very open-minded and believes a bond of friendship and understanding is important in the educational and emotional development of our students.

Kate Grossman

Kindergarten Teacher, English

Kate Grossman

Kindergarten Teacher, English

Kate joined The École in 2024 as the Kindergarten English teacher in K-East. She grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attended the Lawrenceville School for high school before returning to her hometown to attend her alma mater, the University of Virginia. She graduated from UVA in 2019 with a B.A. in Early Learning, a minor in Spanish, and a Master’s in Elementary Education through their five-year BA/MT program.

Before joining The École, Kate gained extensive experience in various educational settings across Virginia and New York, where she excelled in multiple roles, including Mentor Teacher and Grade Team Leader. She also participated for two years in a School Leadership Training program. Her passion for teaching is profound, particularly in the areas of early literacy and phonics instruction.

Outside of her professional commitments, Kate enjoys traveling and has explored over 25 countries. She loves being in nature and participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and snowboarding. Kate is thrilled to be a part of The École and is eager to learn French with the help of her students!

Gayle Hampton

Middle School Math Teacher, English

Gayle Hampton

Middle School Math Teacher, English

Gayle joined The École in 2012, initially as an advisor on the US curriculum. She holds teacher certification in NYS and the UK. Gayle received an MS in education from Fordham University, an MBA from Columbia University, and CELTA/ CLIL certification in English as a second language. She has held various academic positions in the NYC Department of Education, including curriculum development, and is experienced in elementary and middle school instruction. Prior to a career in education, she held positions in corporate investments and risk management at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and American Express.

Gayle’s aspiration is to develop students’ analytical competencies through mathematics and philosophy. Gayle’s core philosophy is that all students possess the potential to excel in mathematics and develop a deeper appreciation of the discipline.

Ben Hayes

Maternelle Director

Ben Hayes

Maternelle Director
Ben was born and raised in France, moving to New York when he was eight years old. He joined The École in 2009, drawn by the challenge of shaping young minds in a multicultural and linguistically diverse environment. After earning a master’s degree in childhood education at Hunter College, Ben found his calling as a Kindergarten teacher, where he spent many happy years. Now, as Maternelle Director, Ben’s mission is simple: nurture, inspire, and occasionally remind his young charges that the world is wide, wild, and wonderful—much like the ocean he loves.

Dara Herschenfeld

Department of Education Case Manager

Dara Herschenfeld

Department of Education Case Manager

Dara has been a teacher in various educational settings for the past 11 years. These settings include public, private and special education schools. She received her master’s in early childhood education in 2010 from Hunter College and has an extension in special education. Dara joined The École in September 2018, and has enjoyed being a part of the warm, welcoming environment the school offers. She looks forward to another successful school year. In her spare time, Dara enjoys exploring New York City, especially going to Broadway shows. Dara is also an avid reader who enjoys suspense novels.

Annie Huang

Elementary & Middle School Mandarin Teacher

Annie Huang

Elementary & Middle School Mandarin Teacher

Annie is originally from Shanghai, China. She graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University with a master of arts in applied linguistics and has a dual master’s degree from Hunter College in K-12 Chinese education. Annie has been teaching Mandarin in 3rd through 8th Grade at the École since 2013, and she loves the caring and loving learning environment at the school. Before joining The École, she taught Mandarin in both public and private schools in New York City, as well as ESL in China. Annie enjoys working with students from different age groups. She also likes applying technologies, different teaching methods and art projects in the classroom. In her leisure time, she loves to travel, cook and play the piano.

Joanna Jean-Delétoille

Nursery Teacher, French

Joanna Jean-Delétoille

Nursery Teacher, French

Joanna was born and raised in Paris. She holds a bachelor’s degree in applied science and a master’s degree in education sciences. Certified by the French Ministry of Education in 2011, she taught petite section (nursery) for 8 years in Paris (14e). Passionate about her work, in 2015 she became a teacher trainer, helping the next generation of maternelle teachers. Her teaching focuses on personalized work intended for each student to grow at their own rhythm. She was delighted to join The École as a French Nursery teacher in 2019 and is looking forward to applying her experience in a bilingual environment. Joanna loves dancing and traveling to discover new cultures.

Pushpinder Kaur

4th & 5th Grade Teaching Assistant, English

Pushpinder Kaur

4th & 5th Grade Teaching Assistant, English

Pushpinder has a bachelor’s in humanities and education and a post graduate degree in history. She had six years of experience in education as a teacher in India before her family relocated to the US. Before joining The École, she was a substitute teacher for different private schools in Manhattan.

Dan King

School Life Assistant

Dan King

School Life Assistant

Dan joined The École staff in May of 2024. Dan was raised in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and studied education and literature at Vanderbilt University. Dan started his career as a personal tutor and writing coach, and he has worked with students from Pre-K all the way to PhD candidates. When he’s not working, Dan loves spending time with his dog, Zelda.

Jen King

Pre-Nursery Teacher, English
Educational Director

Jen King

Pre-Nursery Teacher, English
Educational Director

Waylissa Knight

Elementary Sport Teacher, English

Waylissa Knight

Elementary Sport Teacher, English

Maya Korenbeusser

Librarian

Maya Korenbeusser

Librarian

Maya joined The École in 2022 as the Elementary and Middle School librarian. Maya has taught in classroom settings since 2014. Before joining The École she worked as 3rd grade teacher in a bilingual school in Brooklyn. She manages her career around the two pillars she loves: art and bilingual education. She began her career as a professional graphic designer in Paris, where she worked with a variety of French and international brands. In parallel, she continued her passion for art and was honored to be exposed in Parisian galleries. After relocating to New York with her young family, Maya added the education pillar promoting dual language education. It gave her the opportunity to work with children and cross paths with the amazing community at The École. In her spare time, Maya enjoys making cold-process soap with her kids and is an avid reader.

Yuna Kwon

Pre-K Teacher, English
Educational Director

Yuna Kwon

Pre-K Teacher, English
Educational Director

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education from New York University and then a master’s degree in early childhood education from Hunter College, Yuna has dedicated her career to teaching all age groups in early childhood, more in-depth. After her last year at The Dalton School, she has decided to explore a bilingual institution where she can take the initiative of DEI (diversity, equity, and Iinclusion), using her background as a bilingual. She strives to strengthen each child’s academic, social, and emotional needs effectively, collaborating with English language learners (ELLs) among diverse learners. She is committed to ensuring her students develop a strong self-identity and acquire the ability to be flexible thinkers and resilient community members. She very much looks forward to her journey at The École and to sharing her love and experience as an opera singer with the children.

Ryan Langlois

Music Teacher in Maternelle, Elementary, and Middle School, English

Ryan Langlois

Music Teacher in Maternelle, Elementary, and Middle School, English

Originally from Maine, Ryan has been teaching and sharing his love of music at The École since 2013. He holds a master’s in music from Brooklyn College and a bachelor’s in English writing and rhetoric from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas with time studying abroad at the National University of Ireland in Galway. Since moving to New York in 2008, he has collaborated with many artists to record several albums of original music and followed his passion for teaching working as a private music instructor and an early education music specialist with the NYC universal pre-k program. He cherishes the opportunity to create music with his students at The École and loves introducing them to a wide range of musical genres. Ryan lives in Brooklyn with his family and enjoys spending time (and playing music!) with his two kids, Elliott and Lucy.

Franck Le Martelot

Middle School French Teacher

Franck Le Martelot

Middle School French Teacher
Franck is originally from Brittany, France. He holds a Master in Modern Literature from Paris-Sorbonne and a CAPES. After six years teaching in Reunion Island, where he specialized in school/college liaison and trainee teacher training, he joined the Middle School at The École at its creation in 2013 as the French language and literature teacher. Since the start of the 2022 school year, he has been involved in The École with Léman partnership by teaching French language and literature at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School in 9th and 10th grade. In his free time, Franck restores old paintings in his workshop and can never resist a game of pétanques.

Maya LePique

1st Grade Teaching Assistant

Maya LePique

1st Grade Teaching Assistant

Pierre Le Royer

Pre-K Teacher, French

Pierre Le Royer

Pre-K Teacher, French

Pierre holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and a first-degree teaching diploma. He started his career working in Events for the Tour de France. His early years of teaching were spent in a disadvantaged priority education zone (ZEP) in the Melun school district in France. After that, Pierre taught in Paris (16e) for five years as a master teacher, collaborating with a research lecturer from the Paris school district, to teach trainees who wanted to teach English and French in their Maternelle or Elementary classes. He joined The École in 2019 and is excited about teaching French and helping his students grow in a bilingual and multicultural environment. His passion for singing has led him to conduct school choirs, which he will also be doing for Pre-K classes at The École.

Chaineze Lysik

3rd Grade Teaching Assistant

Chaineze Lysik

3rd Grade Teaching Assistant

Chaineze joined The École in 2024, bringing a diverse range of experiences from
her previous roles. Prior to moving to New York from France, she was a French teacher for
adults in Paris, where she helped facilitate the social and professional integration of immigrants
into French society through French language instruction. Her career also includes teaching
teenagers at a language immersion organization and tutoring.

Chaineze holds a French teaching certification and is currently pursuing advanced studies in
anthropology-ethnology, and history, with the goal of becoming a university professor.

What Chaineze finds most fulfilling is the chance to continually learn from and engage with
students while making a lasting impact on their language skills and worldview. Her passion for
teaching is matched only by her enthusiasm for scuba diving.

Camille Martin

5th Grade Teacher, French

Camille Martin

5th Grade Teacher, French

Born and raised in Brittany, Camille has been a teacher in various educational settings and environments for the past 10 years including public, private, and special education schools in Canada, France, the USA, and Lebanon. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in modern history and ethnobotany in Canada, she obtained a master’s degree in education from University de Lorraine in 2013 and was certified by the French Ministry of Education the same year.
She tries to put at the heart of her teaching the richness of the cultural and linguistic diversity of her students so that they can better build bridges between languages and understand the multicultural and interconnected world that surrounds them.
In her spare time, Camille enjoys learning new languages, coding, listening to jazz, traveling, and discovering new cultures which include culinary ones.

Adriana Martinez

2nd Grade Teaching Assistant

Adriana Martinez

2nd Grade Teaching Assistant

Virginie Martin-Muggeo

Pre-K Teacher, French

Virginie Martin-Muggeo

Pre-K Teacher, French

Originally from the south of France and passionate about English from a young age, Virginie holds a teaching certificate of Professeur des Écoles from the French Ministry of Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College. Virginie has been teaching in New York in the French-American system since 2002 and she has been at The École since its opening in 2009.

Passionate about bilingualism, Virginie loves teaching in a classroom where the teachers speak different languages but work in close collaboration. Her studies in France and the US and her professional experience with American colleagues have enabled her to greatly diversify her teaching methods throughout the years. Although she speaks only in French in the classroom, she uses strategies borrowed from both systems and specifically tailored to The École’s bilingual structure. Outside of school, Virginie loves spending time in nature, with a soft spot for uncrowded beaches, and can often be found taking (too many) nature photos.

Melissa Millan

Middle School Humanities Teacher, English
High School Placement Coordinator

Melissa Millan

Middle School Humanities Teacher, English
High School Placement Coordinator

Melissa is from Long Island, New York. She is a New York State-certified teacher and school-building leader. She holds a Master’s Degree in British and American Literature from CUNY Hunter. Before joining The École in 2015, Melissa taught at a Charter High School in Brooklyn. Melissa discovered her love for international education when she worked as an English Language and Culture Assistant at a secondary school in Madrid, Spain. In addition to teaching, Melissa has worked in high school placement for nearly a decade.

Fawzia Mohamed

School Life Assistant

Fawzia Mohamed

School Life Assistant

Fawzia grew up on the North African Coast of Algeria, in the second largest city, Oran. She speaks, Arabic, French, English and self-taught Spanish. She obtained a Middle School English Teaching Diploma from the Ministry of Education and taught English as a third language. She moved to New York in the late 80’s and worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Mission of Algeria to the United Nations. In 2000, Fawzia joined the United Nations International School (UNIS) in Queens, where she worked for 15 years as a Teaching Assistant and a Teacher of Beginner French in Middle School and of Francophone classes in Elementary School. She was part of the Modern Language Teaching Team where she helped to establish a quality French and Foreign Language program for the students. She enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, travelling and cooking. Fawzia has been working at The École since September 2019, and she is very excited to be part of an international school community. She is eager to adapt, and embrace new circumstances and unexpected challenges.

Aileen Montes

School Life Assistant

Aileen Montes

School Life Assistant

Aileen is originally from Dallas, Texas. In 2012, she graduated from the University of North Texas with a BA in mass communications. Since 2014, she worked for the Dallas Independent School District, with students ranging from nursery to 5th grade. Aileen moved to New York City in 2022 and in September, joined The École as a School Life Assistant. She is very passionate about working with children and looks forward to creating a strong bond with the children of the Maternelle.

Celine Mollica

Accounting & Payroll Manager

Celine Mollica

Accounting & Payroll Manager

Dawn Nguyen

Nursery Teacher, English

Dawn Nguyen

Nursery Teacher, English

Dawn brings over 14 years of experience in public, charter, and independent schools in California, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York City, most recently at Park Children’s Day School. She holds a Master’s of Arts in Education with an emphasis in curriculum and instruction from San Diego State University. Prior to joining The École in 2021, Dawn taught in various grade levels from Pre-Nursery to 4th Grade. She is passionate about creating a virtuous community of lifelong learners who think independently and who are prepared for a demographically diverse society. Born and raised in California, Dawn is a world traveler and an accomplished athlete who recently ran a 100-mile ultramarathon and has trekked to Everest Base Camp.

Rebecca Pierre

School Life Assistant

Rebecca Pierre

School Life Assistant

Rebecca has worked at The École since 2022. She is from Eastern Long Island where she completed her studies in business administration. Rebecca has worked in several daycares, schools, and after-school programs. Through her various opportunities, she gained both knowledge and experience in her childcare career. The most exciting part Rebecca enjoys about her job is seeing the students grow and develop into their unique and individual personalities.

Enid Ramirez-Galvis

Pre-K Teacher, English

Enid Ramirez-Galvis

Pre-K Teacher, English

Enid was born and raised in New York City. She holds a BA in Sociology/Early Childhood Education from Lehman College and a Master of Science in Literacy from City College. She holds a New York State Professional Certificate in Early Childhood Education B-2. In 2010, Enid worked as a Universal Pre-K teacher in a preschool in Flushing, New York where the majority of the students only spoke Mandarin. In 2011, Enid worked with two, three and four years old at a bilingual French Montessori and Bank Street preschool on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Enid has been working at The École since 2018, and she enjoys being a part of another bilingual school environment. Enid’s teaching experiences have helped her grow as an educator as she understands the importance of quality bilingual education in the early years of a child. Enid has a dog named Willie Wonka.

Camille Riche

STRIVE Department, French

Camille Riche

STRIVE Department, French

Katie Repman

School Counselor

Katie Repman

School Counselor

Katie Repman is originally from Canada. However, she has lived in Manhattan for over 15 years and now calls it home. She holds a Master’s in School Counseling, a Bachelor’s of Education, and a Master’s of Fine Arts. She has been working as an educator since 2010 and has worked in early childhood all the way up to high school. She most recently worked at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and Patrick Henry Middle School. She speaks French and English. The aspect of school counseling that resonates most with her is her unique connections with the students. She looks forward to a joyful and productive school year.

Christelle Rochdi

3rd Grade Teacher, French

Christelle Rochdi

3rd Grade Teacher, French

Originally from the South of France, Christelle holds a master’s degree in international business. After having worked for a corporate training firm in France and living in Dubai, she decided in 2015  to make a career change and become a teacher.

Passionate about Montessori and Reggio approaches, Christelle fosters hands-on activities, autonomy, and respect for each child’s pace.

A Great traveler and art lover (Christelle took some classes at the école du Louvres) she finds inspiration from traveling, cultural differences, and art to enhance her curriculum.

Before joining the  École in 2022, Christelle taught for 4 years as a nursery teacher at a French school  FFLO in Brooklyn. She is thrilled to join The École’s bilingual community and help her students reveal their talents.

Nathalie Robbins

Art Teacher, English & French

Nathalie Robbins

Art Teacher, English & French

Nathalie joined The École as our Fine Arts teacher in September 2022. She began her career as a professional surface pattern designer and has sold and licensed hundreds of her patterns to many leading brands like Pottery Barn, Target, Garnett Hill, Old Navy, and American Greetings. Her patterns have been used on products such as apparel, wallpaper, gift wrap, and more.  With a passion to teach others, she has always dedicated time to leading creative art workshops and classes. Nathalie has mainly taught children from Pre-K to Middle school. Most recently she taught Elementary Art enrichment classes at Avenues, Speyer School, PS 11, and PS 87. She finds joy in inspiring children to find their creative voice.

Alice Rotival

Substitute Teacher

Alice Rotival

Substitute Teacher

Alice was born and raised in Belgium. With four younger siblings and a grandmother who was an early childhood teacher, she quickly developed teaching and caring skills. She has worked in different pedagogical structures developing open-mindedness, curiosity, science, and a love of nature in children. She studied physics in the Université de Liège and has a Ph.D. in particle physics that involved collaborating with CERN and tutoring physics to future scientists and doctors at the Université de Liège. She moved to New York in 2016 and started to work at The École in 2019 where she helps teachers and staff whenever they need. She loves switching from teaching Nursery to any subject in 8th Grade in both French and English. She knows almost every student and teacher and the inner workings of the school, making it easy for her to adjust quickly to any situation. She is always happy to learn more and likes to read, travel, share, teach, and listen.

Francis Rodriguez

Security Guard

Francis Rodriguez

Security Guard

Danielly Rosado

Little Green Gourmets Lunch Liaison

Danielly Rosado

Little Green Gourmets Lunch Liaison

Philippe Roux

CEO
Benefactor

Philippe Roux

CEO
Benefactor

Jan Salamon

Director of Facilities

Jan Salamon

Director of Facilities

Born in Slovakia, Jan moved to New York and finished his education, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems. Prior to joining The École in May 2019, he worked as a Project Manager/IT Specialist with a record of success overseeing all phases of high-end contracting projects for commercial and residential clients.  He prides himself in his supervisory and customer service skills and his ability to maintain high standards and achieve set goals.  In addition to his B.S. degree, Jan holds various management and FDNY certificates.

Catherine Shaw

2nd Grade Teacher, English

Catherine Shaw

2nd Grade Teacher, English

Born and raised in North Carolina, Catherine has worked at The École since 2023. She earned her BA in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina and her MA in Teaching Elementary Education while living and working in NYC. She has been an educator since 2018, teaching throughout Manhattan and Vancouver, CA. Her favorite part of being a teacher is making learning fun and engaging for her students; she wants them to love school just as much as she does!

Adam Blake Soden

Elementary & Middle School Sport Teacher, English

Adam Blake Soden

Elementary & Middle School Sport Teacher, English

Adam Blake Soden is from Los Angeles, California. After moving to New York in 2010, he began his career in education working as an athletic director at a Harlem Children’s Zone charter school. He taught sports and after-school fitness classes at The Dalton School for two years before coming to The École in February 2022. One thing Adam loves about The École is that his students genuinely take pride in demonstrating excellent character during Sport. In his downtime, Adam watches movies with his daughters and plays chess.

Alisha Soto

Kindergarten Teacher, English

Alisha Soto

Kindergarten Teacher, English

Born in New York City, Alisha holds a BA in Psychology and Childhood Education. Currently, she is working toward her Dual MS in Early Childhood and Special Education at Hunter College. Prior to joining the École in September 2018, Alisha excelled in multiple teaching environments earning recognition from the Principal Leadership Facilitator in her former district. Her experience includes a gifted and talented public school, private Reggio and Montessori schools, as well as an at-risk public school, all of which has helped her become a seasoned educator. Over the 9 years of her career, Alisha has never felt more aligned with a school’s philosophy like that of The École’s, which is providing learning opportunities that engage, challenge, inspire and illuminate. The warm, nurturing, and rigorous learning environment she is able to provide her students brings her the most pride. Second to her career is her love of fiber art; during her free time, Alisha enjoys creating inventory for her small online shop of hand-made items for children.

Rémy Souchon

Elementary & Middle School Theater & Oral Expression Teacher, French

Rémy Souchon

Elementary & Middle School Theater & Oral Expression Teacher, French
Rémy is a playwright, actor, and director from Saint-Etienne (France). He has worked at The École since 2017. After his bachelor’s degree in the art of entertainment ( major in cinema /photography and theater/dance) he studied drama at the Acting Studio with Alexandre Astier ( Kaamelott). He created his own company and drama school, and he wrote, directed, and played in TV shows, plays, stand-up shows, and video games. In New York, he’s an actor at The Drilling Company ( Shakespeare in Bryant Park) he teaches Improv’ for adults at L’Atelier Théâtre and still writes plays for French drama companies.
What he likes about the most about his job is communicating his passion, helping kids to develop their creativity and be more confident, and creating unique shows every year with amazing kids who always surprise everybody.
One last thing: Never call him “Mister”.  Everybody (students included)  just call him Rémy.

Andria Spring

Director of Community Engagement

Andria Spring

Director of Community Engagement

Andria Spring is from Dublin, Ireland. She joined The École’s Communication Team in January 2022. She has more than 20 years of experience working in international schools as a teacher, translator, and administrator. Before joining The École, she worked in the Lycée français de Taipei for seven years and the Lycée français de Shanghai for two years as assistant head and coordinator, respectively. Prior to living in Asia, she worked in schools in Warsaw, Los Angeles, Rome, Seville, and Paris. Communication has always been a key part of her work, and she loves taking photos of kids thriving at school and sharing the exciting projects her teaching colleagues are leading with their students in the classrooms. 

Ynes Touati

After-School Assistant

Ynes Touati

After-School Assistant

Charlotte Vallée-Kimm

4th & 5th Grade Teaching Assistant, French

Charlotte Vallée-Kimm

4th & 5th Grade Teaching Assistant, French

Laurence Van Koninckxloo

Middle School Science Teacher, French

Laurence Van Koninckxloo

Middle School Science Teacher, French

Originally from Belgium, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and her Master of Science in Science Education at the University of Louvain. Laurence has turned teaching abroad into a lifelong career. For the past 15 years, she has taught Middle and High School Science in both English and French overseas in Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York. Laurence worked for The École from 2014 to 2016 and returned to the staff again as a Middle School Science teacher in 2018 after a 3-year break in Paris. She is passionate about life sciences, ecology and sustainable development… but also arts & crafts, fashion and yoga! Laurence lives in Jersey City with her husband Philippe and her two children, Jack and Louise.

Arantxa Vega Llorente

Elementary & Middle School Spanish Teacher

Arantxa Vega Llorente

Elementary & Middle School Spanish Teacher

Anthony Velasquez

Security Guard

Anthony Velasquez

Security Guard

Elisa Velez-Thobois

Middle School Science Teacher, English

Elisa Velez-Thobois

Middle School Science Teacher, English

Elisa hails from Brooklyn, NY, but has spent the past eighteen years living in Paris, France. She holds a BS in Biology from SUNY Geneseo and an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University, and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Science Education at the same institution. With 24 years of teaching experience across Slovakia through the US Peace Corps, New York, and France, Elisa confidently navigates international educational settings, bringing the history and nature of science to life for her students. For the past 18 years, she has dedicated herself to teaching middle school science and overseeing the science program in the primary school at EJM in Paris. Trained in George Charpak’s “La main à la pâte” pedagogy, she employs a hands-on, constructivist approach to inspire and engage her students. Elisa is delighted to be a part of The Ècole community.

Jean-Yves Vesseau

Head of School

Jean-Yves Vesseau

Head of School

Jean-Yves grew up in the Ardèche region of France and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montpellier. He started his career in education as a school life assistant while taking graduate classes and training to become a certified teacher. He then taught English at various schools across the world, from Rome to Los Angeles, before becoming an administrator at the Lycée français de Shanghai where he served as deputy head. He later took over as the head of Lycee français de Taipei, where he stayed for seven years before being appointed as head of school at The École in the summer of 2020.

For his contribution to the field of education, Jean-Yves was awarded the Palmes académiques by French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in 2017.

Lauren Vogel

STRIVE Department, English

Lauren Vogel

STRIVE Department, English

Lauren was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and graduated in 2015 with degrees in psychology and Spanish from the College of Charleston. After graduation, she traveled throughout Europe and Asia for one year, volunteering along the way as an ESL instructor. She then spent three consecutive years in Spain as an ESL instructor and private tutor. Lauren has a passion for immersing herself in diverse and unfamiliar cultures. Her appreciation for travel, languages, art, music, and most of all educating children has influenced her decisions since high school. She got her start working with children as an intern with the Traumatic Brain Injury team at the Children’s Healthcare Center of Atlanta. Lauren speaks Spanish and is working hard to improve her French. Lauren’s hobbies include hiking, skiing, reading, and challenging herself with the NY Times crossword puzzles.

Sara Weintraub

US Curriculum Coordinator for Elementary

Sara Weintraub

US Curriculum Coordinator for Elementary

In August of 2021, Sara Weintraub joined The École as the US curriculum coordinator for  Elementary and the Grade 2/CE 1 English teacher. Sara holds a BA in education policy from Duke University, an M.Ed in early childhood education from Lesley University, and an MA literacy specialist degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. Before coming to The École, Sara was a staff developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, she taught second grade at The Pingry School, and she worked in both public and charter school settings. Sara is passionate about curriculum development and implementation. When she’s not teaching, Sara can be found cheering on her favorite sports teams: Duke basketball and the Boston Red Sox.

Jean-Marc Yven

STRIVE Department, French

Jean-Marc Yven

STRIVE Department, French

Jean-Marc began his career in secondary education as a mathematics and physics teacher. Certified by the French Ministry of Education for primary education, his career path led him to teach at all primary school levels, first in France and then abroad (UAE, Madagascar, South Africa, and Morocco). Through these experiences, he developed methods to adapt to both French-speaking and non-French-speaking students and took an active role in coordinating numerous projects. Committed to training and supporting his colleagues, Jean-Marc played a key role in mentoring and guiding teachers by leading training modules and supervising interns in French schools in Morocco. Versatile and adaptable, Jean-Marc values qualities such as kindness, attentiveness, and a willingness to reflect on teaching practices. Today, he is eager to continue both teaching and learning as part of the team at The Ecole.

In his free time, Jean-Marc enjoys traveling and immersing himself in new cultures. He is particularly attracted to urban cultures and water activities.

Elvedina Zekić-Kukaj

Pre-Nursery School Life Assistant

Elvedina Zekić-Kukaj

Pre-Nursery School Life Assistant

Cassandre Zenon

Receptionist & Admin Assistant

Cassandre Zenon

Receptionist & Admin Assistant