Q: What inspired you to become a teacher?
I wanted to make an impact on children’s lives.

Q: How does being part of a bilingual and international community shape your teaching?
Professional development is highly valued here, and the pool of colleagues is open-minded, skilled, and motivated. Sharing the classroom with an American teacher, exchanging points of view, and building projects together is extremely enriching.

Q: What do you love most about teaching in French at the elementary level?
The freedom to choose how I teach within a framework. Embarking on a 10-month adventure with the students in September and seeing how much they’ve transformed by June.

Q: How do your students inspire or surprise you in the classroom?
They are always eager to discover new things and willing to try all sorts of crazy ideas, like wagering push-ups or singing opera. Well, at least trying to!

Q: What inspired you to take on the role of Sustainable Development Coordinator?
If our generation couldn’t build a sustainable world, then all hope lies with our children. Taking on this role at school was a big step, but I knew I would have support. The two former coordinators raised awareness and built a strong culture around sustainability, so I didn’t start from scratch.

Q: Can you tell us about a recent eco-project or initiative you led at the school?
The project I’m most proud of was organizing a day for all the eco-delegates from French-American schools in the New York area to meet, share their projects, and do a beach clean-up together. Creating a network of eco-delegates is an important goal.

Q: What’s one small action everyone at the FAA can take to help the environment?
Consume less.

Q: What do you hope your students remember most from your class or sustainable development initiatives?
That they are the change.

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of school that helps you recharge or inspires your teaching?
Nothing very original, hiking, traveling, debating politics, and going to the movies.