Enseignants et Administration

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.

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!

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.

A New York depuis 2015, Judy a commencé à travailler à The École en 2018 en animant les playgroups en français pour les 0/4 ans. En 2023, elle rejoint la classe de Toute Petite Section

Titulaire d’un master de littérature francophone et un master en ingénierie éditoriale et communication obtenus en France, Judy se destinait au départ à l’enseignement après 4 ans à travailler en maternelle, primaire et collège. Elle a ensuite fait carrière dans la communication et la publicité pendant une dizaine d’années dans différentes grandes entreprises (Unibail Rodamco, Lagardere Publicite, Lunii…). C’est la maternité et son contact naturel avec les enfants qui l’ont remise doucement dans le domaine de l’éducation.

Judy est ravie de partager cette nouvelle année scolaire avec toute l’équipe et son plus grand souhait est de transmettre aux enfants l’envie d’apprendre et a avoir confiance en eux.

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.

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!

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.

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 inclusion), 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.

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.

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.

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. In her spare time, Aileen loves to explore the city with her husband and their beloved dog, Buki.

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 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 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.

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.