Séverine Gilbert is the new pedagogical coordinator for the preschool and kindergarten at the Englewood campus. Originally from the south of France, she moved to the United States with her husband to pursue their shared passion for teaching. She joined the French American Academy in 2022 as a PK2/3 teacher and, in 2024, took on the additional role of pedagogical coordinator.

Entering the Teaching Profession:

Séverine’s first glimpse into education came through her grandfather, whose dedication to sharing knowledge with his students deeply inspired her. This early example played a significant role in shaping her decision to pursue a career in teaching. Married to a fellow educator, she also draws motivation from her husband’s passion and commitment to his students, further fueling her drive to excel in the classroom.

In 2021, Séverine and her husband decided to leave Martinique, where they had both been teaching, to start a new chapter in the United States. While searching for schools aligned with their goals, they came across the FAA website and felt an immediate connection to its values and mission. After meeting Anne-Sophie Gueguen, the Founder and the Head of School of FAA, they discovered a strong alignment in their shared values. A visit with the FAA team in Englewood solidified their decision, and they eagerly embraced this exciting new journey.

When asked about her favorite part of teaching, Séverine shared that she finds immense joy in watching her students develop their French skills, especially those from non-French-speaking families. She loves witnessing their progress, knowing that a child struggling with the language today might speak it fluently tomorrow. Seeing her students overcome challenges and achieve success is what truly drives her passion for teaching.

Her New Role at the FAA:

As the new pedagogical coordinator for preschool and kindergarten at FAA, one of Séverine’s primary goals is to foster strong relationships with her colleagues and build a cohesive team that can collaborate effectively on various projects. She had the privilege of working with the former coordinator, Alexandra Yacoub, whose leadership and support left a lasting impression and greatly inspired her approach to leadership and supporting the team.  

She also wants to emphasize the importance of working hand in hand to link the French and American curricula, fostering close collaboration between the French and English teachers. She aims to set clear expectations and find effective ways to integrate both curriculums into all preschool and kindergarten projects, ensuring an enriching learning experience for the students. For her, this teamwork is essential to guarantee consistent progress, better prepare students, and fully leverage the strengths of both educational systems.

Séverine sees her organizational skills as a key strength in her new role. She enjoys planning and anticipating events in advance, which allows her to manage her responsibilities as both a classroom teacher and pedagogical coordinator effectively. Despite the different demands of these roles, she strives to give each one the attention it deserves. To her, successful collaboration depends on open and consistent communication, whether with colleagues or parents.

The school is busy preparing for its winter show, a cheerful event that students and their families look forward to every year. Séverine is putting extra care into planning, knowing this show offers a special opportunity for parents to actively participate.

Inspired by her time in Martinique and its famous carnival, she’s excited to create a “Carnival Around the World” show in March. Her goal is to fully involve families in both the preparation and celebration, making it a meaningful and enriching experience for everyone involved.

Outside of the Classroom:

Outside of school, Séverine loves spending time with her family and friends. While in Martinique, she coached artistic swimming, combining her passion for the sport with teaching. A fun fact about her is that she can’t imagine life without music, which she describes as “a part of her life.” If she had to pick a motto to live by, it would be: “Never give up!“