Faculty & Staff

Charlotte Bidard / Director

I am a French native who settled in Houston several years ago. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and I am certified in both early childhood and special education. I am also a licensed Child-Care Director.

Before joining La Maternelle French Academy, I had the pleasure of teaching children in Pre-K and with disabilities for H.I.S.D. Working with mentally and physically disabled children has been one of the most amazing and rewarding experience of my career. In return, I gained the love and friendship of children with disabilities and learned that these children have needs that are unlike my own.

Being around young children is a gift and I feel blessed to be in the unique position of seeing them grow and learn about themselves and the French culture. We take pride in knowing that La Maternelle children leave our school and care with skills and a solid foundation for future learning.

Amel Hafsaou / Teacher

Class: Moyenne Section

Age Group: 4 years to 5 years old

Hello Parents,

My name is Amel Hafsaoui, mother of two, a 13 year old daughter and a a 9 year old son.

I taught French Literature and French as a second Language right after I got my Bachelors Degree from University of Tlemcen. Algeria.

I enjoyed teaching different grades at the Fairfax and Loudoun County Public Schools up in Northern Virginia where I recently moved from.

I feel very fortunate to be a team member of La Maternelle where I feel that such environment has a great impact on your kids and helps them feel like they are in Petit Paris.

Teaching has been my passion since I was in my teens and I am committed to pass along my knowledge, love and care to your kids.

Raouida Bereksi / Teacher

Class: Petite Section

Age Group: 3 years to 4 years old

 Hello!

My name is Raouida Bereksi. I have a bachelor’s degree in British language and British littérature from University of Tlemcen-Algeria. In 2003 I graduated from Bowling-Green State University – Ohio ; with a master’s degree of Arts in French.

In 2009 I started working at La Maternelle French Academy as the English teacher of the MS class–preK 4, and as an after care teacher too.

Since November 2010 I am the teacher of the Petite Section-PreK3, and I am proud of it. I truly love my job. Spending time with children, helping them grow, discover, understand and learn is so exciting !

So come and learn French with me !

Nulan Phan / Teacher

Class: La Tres Petite Section

Age Group: 2- 3 years old

 My name is Nulan Phan. I’m from Vietnam. I taught French in the Vietnamese Universities for 20 years before relocating to the United States 6 years ago. I then worked with small Children at the International School of Dallas. I have been an assistant for two years at La Maternelle and I now teach La Tres Petite Section. I love France and the wonderful culture of that country (and of course the pretty landscapes and tourist sites: The Louvre, the castle of Versailles…) I love children that’s why I wish to be with our adorable angels…

French is a beautiful language.
Come on with us to study and discover La France with all its treasures!

WELCOME TO OUR CLASS, DEAREST CHILDREN!

Helene Ribelayga / Teacher

Class: Grande Section

Age Group: 5 -6 years old

 I am a French native born in Verdun (famous for the 1916 battle!) in a family of four siblings. I studied Arts at the University of Strasbourgto become an art teacher in France. However, I changed my plans and followed my husband who is also French and is a biomedical researcher, to the United-States some 12 years ago… We have two daughters: Lilly-Rose (7) and Zoe (2).

We first lived in Birmingham, Alabama for 6 years. During that time, I had the opportunity to teach French at several local schools. The different programs reached from young children to adults. These were wonderful times greatly satisfying. We left Birmingham in 2005 for Columbus, Ohio where I spent my time mostly taking care of my two young daughters.

We moved to Houston, Texas in 2009. My daughters have grown-up and I now feel free to teach again. I am thankful to “La Maternelle French Academy” to be given the opportunity to continue fulfilling my passion for teaching.

Mayumi Grigsby / Teacher

Class: La Creche

Age Group: 18- 30 months old

Mayumi Grigsby is a Liberian native who studied in France and has travel and work experience in Western Europe, Senegal, Ivory Coast and North Africa. She is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, DC and is happy to be back in her adopted home of Houston, Texas and, excited to work at la Maternelle French Academy.

Naima Kassouri / Teacher

Class: La creche

Age Group: 18- 30 months old

 My name is Naima Kassouri, I was born on July 1st, 1975 in Algeria. I have a Bachelor degree in French language and literature obtained in 1998 from the University of Tizi Ouzou (Algeria).

In 2010, I obtained a Master degree in French literature at Franco-Algerian Graduate School, option: Comparative Literature.

I worked as a French teacher from 1999 until April 2008 date of my departure to USA.

Since January 2011, I had the opportunity and pleasure to work at “la Maternelle French Academy” as an assistant teacher in the nursery –crèche- and TPS, in one of the nicest and more cheerful atmospheres.

Being a mother of three children, and working at “la Maternelle French Academy”, I feel truly blessed!

Mary Sheffler / Assistant Teacher

Class: LA TRES PETITE SECTION

Age Group: 2- 3 YEARS old

 My name is Mary Sheffler, and I’m the after-school teacher and an assistant teacher at La Maternelle. I am enjoying getting to know all the children and parents here.

I graduated with a degree in Foreign Language from Eastern Illinois University in 2010. French was my main focus, but I also studied Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

After graduation, I moved to France where I worked as an Au Pair. Since returning to the United States I have been improving my French by traveling and have been to the French west Indies and through South America.

I enjoy the opportunity to hang out with your kids and speak French every day!

Natasha Sebeyran / Reception​ist

I was born to French parents in Houston, Texas where I was raised with my younger sister, Cloe. I attended Awty International School from the ages of 5 to 19, where I received my high school diploma as well as the French Baccalaureate in Literature. I am bilingual and almost trilingual with Spanish.

After high school, I continued my studies at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana where I doubled majored in Theater and French and minored in Spanish. In May 2011, I finished my studies and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts.

During my four years in college, I was in numerous plays, including one that was nominated for the American College Theater Festival in 2009. I also directed a French Creole play, which can be found on Youtube titled: Le Paletot Brun. I also had the great honor and privilege of interviewing the French Ambassador to the Unites States, M.Pierre Vimont.

Elfie Majoie / Reception​ist

 My name is Elfie Majoie. I am a native from Toulouse, France, where I used to live for 27 years. My previous primary career was in the tourism field: I was in charge of promotion and public relation on various foreign markets for the Midi- Pyrénées Region. In 1997, I was transferred for 5 years to the New York office of the French Government Tourist Office. In 2002, I moved to Houston, as I got married.

I have had the pleasure to be working at la Maternelle since 2010 at the reception desk in the afternoon and I am also taking care of the school marketing. I love the world of children as it is very enriching, while fully appreciating to be promoting the French language. I find it deeply motivating to work within this global intercultural environment where all children are bilingual, some of them being even trilingual!

I also love to work at la Maternelle as all educators here form a friendly open minded multi-cultural standing together team. I am therefore glad to be able to share my professional skills while working in the friendly environment of la Maternelle.