Q: What inspired you to become a teacher, and what do you love most about teaching?

During my master’s degree, I was selected for a PhD program and had the opportunity to teach an art class to freshmen at Bordeaux Montaigne University. I vividly remember my first day, when I walked into the classroom, everyone assumed I was a student. I wasn’t much older than them, so the confusion was understandable. That day, we had a lively and thought-provoking discussion about the meaning of art. When I left the classroom, I felt a profound sense of purpose. It was then that I realized I wanted to become a full-time teacher.

Q: What’s your favorite project or activity you’ve done with students?

One of my favorite projects was working with the assistant of French street artist JR, and participating in his global Inside Out photography project. Being part of this experience was truly inspiring, as it combined artistic expression with a powerful humanist message, promoting diversity and human rights. I will always remember the look in the students’ eyes when they first saw their own portraits displayed on the school’s façade.

Q: What’s one lesson you hope every student walks away with after taking your class or remembers most about your class?

In a society overwhelmed by information and images, where the humanities are often pushed aside in favor of science and technology, I hope my students come to understand that art is what connects us to our humanity. Taking the time to contemplate, to truly observe a work of art, and to create something ourselves is, in many ways, an act of resistance in an age of constant distraction and rapid consumption.

Q: What excites you most about teaching at our new high school?

What fascinates me most about teaching within the International Baccalaureate program is designing interdisciplinary projects and placing the learner at the center of the learning process. It’s incredibly rewarding to stay within the same school while continually taking on new challenges.

Q: How do you plan to approach your teaching differently now that you’ll be working with high school students in an IB environment?

 I plan to explore the various subjects and techniques in greater depth. The IB will allow me to combine three complementary approaches: research, creation, and art history.

Q: What do you enjoy about working with our community?

I love teaching at the FAA because our school combines the best aspects of both the French and American education systems. It feels like a little piece of France in America, which helped me overcome homesickness. I came to New York to teach and pursue research in visual art, drawn by the city’s cultural diversity and the inspiring belief that anything is possible – something that had always fascinated me from afar. My experience has exceeded all expectations. I have found that same spirit throughout our student body,  the parents and my colleagues.

Q: If you weren’t a teacher, what do you think you’d be doing?

During my studies, I did an internship at the Centre Pompidou, where I assisted a curator in organizing an exhibition on Surrealism. It was a magical experience, meeting gallery owners and artists, working on the exhibition catalogue texts… But despite how inspiring it was, the teaching experience I had a few months later convinced me to pursue a career in education. I can’t see myself doing anything else; teaching is a unique experience that constantly offers opportunities for renewal and growth.

Q: What’s a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?

I came to New York 10 years ago and was supposed to stay for 4 months. 10 years later, I am still here. That’s the beauty of New York.

I used to play the flute and the saxophone in a band when I was a child, and I would like to play again, but my neighbors might not like it.

Q: What advice would you give to your students?

As a piece of advice, I’d like to share the words of Philippe Labro, a renowned French journalist specializing in the U.S., as well as a writer, filmmaker, and lyricist : “Be curious about everything, nurture your thirst for learning, embrace the unknown with enthusiasm, and live a thousand and one lives!”