Our Team

We are proud of the team here at Le Petit Jardin. Their wide range of skills, backgrounds and interests are the backbone of all our stellar programs. The majority of them are native French speakers, and all of them love educating children.

Founder/Directrice/Maîtresse Amber (AKA “Ambi”)

Amber is founder, director, and lead teacher at Le Petit Jardin. Outside of being a mother of three young boys, her experiences include many years as an au-pair, chaperone and board member of F.A.C.E. (French American Cultural Exchange program), and primary grades teacher’s assistant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French and Francophone Studies from San Diego State University and Early Childhood Education Administrative Certificate from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Vallley, CA. She is credentialed by The State of California in Early Childhood Ed. She spends time each year in France with her native French husband and three sons.

To hear more from Ambi, follow her BLOG and Instagram Page!

Amber is CPR and First Aid Certified by the American Red Cross

Mme. Chantal -Curriculum Coordinator, Marin & Sonoma Campuses

My name is Chantal , I was born and raised in Nancy ( Lorraine, France ) in a bilingual family . I always liked to travel from an early age. After completing an engineering degree in chemistry and a gap year in London , I spent a year as an exchange student in Montreal , Canada . My job in a pharmaceutical laboratory was very fulfilling and triggered my passion for sharing knowledge with new students . Therefore , I completed a master’s degree in education after welcoming my first two boys . I became a primary school teacher in 2013 and relocated to the Bay Area soon after . I started working at Le Petit Jardin as a cooking teacher and joined the team as lead teacher in 2016. In 2023 I moved into the curriculum coordinator position creating age-appropriate pedagogy and activities for all age groups at both LPJ sites. I formerly worked at the Lycée Français with the 3/4 y age group . In 2019, my husband and I welcomed our third boy , so we have a very busy family life !

I am fascinated with young students and strongly believe that these early years of education are crucial for their later achievements. I prepare the classroom thoroughly and try to introduce the key concepts of the month in many different ways ( singing , drawing , cooking …) . We introduce academic parts of the French curriculum in a fun Californian preschool way. Emotions and respecting our environment also have a strong influence in the curriculum. Lastly , I use Seesaw to share with families the pictures of the day and track the student progress .

Outside of school , I enjoy reformer Pilates , yoga , walks , cooking , cinema … Looking forward meeting you in person , Chantal

Mme. Sarah - 3.5-5 Year-Olds, Marin Campus

A native of the Loire Valley region of France and educated at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, with a Bachelor in Social Studies, I moved to Paris to work in marketing for the prestigious YSL maison. After living 7 years in Paris, my US husband and I decided it was time for a new adventure and new beginning, and we headed in 1991 for San Francisco with our first born son. Then, I was totally dedicated to my family of 5, being busy with my 3 kids and their after-school activities: krav maga, soccer, climbing, music lessons, volunteer work, occupational therapist, learning specialist. Then, 15 years ago, I went back to school to study early childhood education. I started working several years at FAIS in SF and 7 years for the Lycée Français of San Francisco before joining LPJ in 2021. When I am not around children, you will find me gardening and enjoying mother nature. Most of my weekends are dedicated to clay and sculpting. Playing and exploring with clay gives me a sense of unpredictability and excitement in this creative process. My ceramics are sold at Karl the Store in Sausalito.

Maîtresse Elaine - Ballet and Classroom Assistant, Marin Campus

Bonjour, I am Elaine! My first love was dance. I have performed with professional ballet companies all over the globe. While performing with the Dutch National Ballet and living in Europe, I met my French husband! I also went on to get a fashion design degree in Paris and now I live in San Anselmo, CA with my husband and two young sons. When I'm not teaching LPJ students and other youngsters to dance, I am thrilled to occasionally design clothing for both local and global brands, to perform with local dance and theatre companies, and to travel with my family. As ballet is rooted and traditionally instructed in French, I love to see young dancers delight in music and movement while becoming familiar with the corresponding French vocabulary that comes with this classical art form. Students also learn nursery rhymes and traditional French children's songs along with their dance steps!

Maîtresse Ivatchka - Hiboux/Colombes, Marin Campus

Bonjour! I am a native French speaker who comes from a multicultural family. My father is from Burkina Faso (West Africa), and my mother was from the south of France. In 2001 after finishing my undergraduate studies, I moved from the South of France to New York City to study at the New School University. There, I obtained a Master in Political Sciences and also met my now husband. I later also obtained a J.D. and for years I worked as a family law attorney in New York City. In 2014, we moved to the Bay Area with our newborn son. After spending the first few years being home with him, I decided to join the team of dedicated teachers at LPJ. I obtained my Early Childhood Ed credits from the College of Marin and have worked at LPJ since. When I'm not working at LPJ I like to spend time outdoors biking, hiking or going to the beach and generally spending time with my family. Most of my family lives in Paris and Nice, and my husband's lives in the midwestern United States, so we try to meet every other year for family reunions on one continent or the other.

CPR and First Aid certified.

Maîtresse Sarah - Piafs /2’s Teacher, Marin Campus

Bonjour! I am Sarah P. Originally from France and now American by marriage, I am excited to be working at Le Petit Jardin in our Piafs class with our youngest language-learning students! Before joining LPJ, I worked as a French teacher at Hillwood School in San Francisco and as a private French tutor for multiple companies. I am currently pursuing an administrative credential in Early Childhood Education.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, hiking and swimming. I would love horseback riding as a new hobby to try, I've always loved horses!

CPR First - Aid Certified

Maîtresse Morgan - Sonoma Campus

Morgan is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she has studied French since the sixth grade. After falling in love with the language, she then went on to study French at Sonoma State University where she received her double Bachelors degree with honors in both French and Psychology. Morgan is currently pursuing her ECE administrative credential and is an integral part of the Sonoma teaching team, including weekly music classes with her guitar in hand. Learning about languages and different cultures has always been a huge part of her life and she is so excited to share her joy for French with the students at LPJ and help teach the next generation of Francophones! When she is not teaching, she enjoys playing music with her husband, drawing, and exploring the natural beauty of her new home in California!

*CPR and First Aid Certified

Maîtresse Allison - Sonoma Campus

Allison is a Bay Area transplant from sunny San Diego! She is a proud mama of two sons and a daughter, a music lover and talented artist creating acrylic paintings in her free time. She has been assisting in preschool classrooms for many years and has been a lead teacher since obtaining her Early Childhood Administrative Certification from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014! Working with our youngest class of 2 year olds is her favorite place to be as she is passionate about bringing tactile and sensory experiences to our earliest learners.

Administrative Directrice Christi

“I was born in Memphis, TN and raised in Arlington, TX so am a Southern girl at heart!”, would be a direct quote from our administrative extraordinaire . Christi received a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and Family Studies from the University of North Texas. She went on to become the Assistant Director at the Golden Gate Academy in Mill Valley. Through her time there she was able to pursue a Masters degree in Education Leadership with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and in 2006 was promoted to Director of the school until 2014. Christi was also an Adjunct Professor at GGBTS and taught many of the Early Childhood Education graduate-level courses for the ECE program there while simultaneously running the lab-preschool. Her expertise, calm and sweet demeanor make her an excellent point of contact for parents and teachers alike!

Mme Cécile - Piafs Classe Marin Campus

Bonjour, I am Cecile Picard, a native of Beaune in Burgundy. My journey through art and design began at the Beaux Art School of Dijon in France and later took me to the Otis Parsons Art Institute in Los Angeles. Following my studies, I had the opportunity to work as an elementary Art teacher at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, LA.
In 1994, my family and I made the transition from France to California, where we contributed to the animation of beloved films such as Antz, Madagascar, and Shrek as part of the PDI/DreamWorks team. Raising my three children mainly in the Bay Area, I continued to foster our connection to my homeland by spending summers in Burgundy and Vendée with my six siblings.
Furthering my artistic pursuits, I delved into theater and set design at Foothill College and collaborated with several French theater companies in the San Francisco area. Following a transformative two-year period in India, which involved immersing myself in yoga and spirituality, I commenced my involvement with the French American International School and presently engage in tutoring French at Alliance Française, extending my love for art and French culture to both children and adults in San Francisco.
Fueled by a passion for travel, learning, sculpting, and painting, I am dedicated to sharing the beauty of art and French culture with others. You can find more about my work at www.cecilepicard.com.

CPR First Aid Certified

Mme Anne-Laure - Marin Campus

A little about me. I am a native francophone originally from Martinique. Although I don’t yet have my degree in education (my formal training is in cellular/molecular biology) I recently worked at a cooperative preschool for 3 years and learned that I enjoy this stage of learning and development very much. I'm also volunteering at the elementary school my children are attending. In June 2023, I started an early childhood education training about child development that I appreciate very much and will complete in early 2024.

I was introduced to Le Petit Jardin when my youngest child attended LPJ for his last preschool year. It was such a haven for both of us that when I learned that LPJ had open positions, I had to apply. I started at Le Petit Jardin in spring 2023. I am so happy to be now part of its wonderful team.

CPR First Aid Certified

Mme Camille - Marin Campus, Piafs Assistant and Cooking Teacher

Hello, I’m Camille. I am French, and have been living in Mill Valley since 2021.
Before, I lived with my husband and my 2 young children in Shanghai for 4 years.
We love traveling and discovering different cultures, foods, and people. And it has been amazing to see how easy it is for our own kids to learn a new language! This is part of my inspiration for joining the team at Le Petit Jardin French Immersion Preschool!
I have been a professional Pastry Chef since 2017, but cooking of ALL kinds has always been a passion for me. Since Shanghai, I have also become a published children's author. At the beginning, my stories were for my own children, and now they are for all the little readers of the world.
For the last decade I have been teaching pastry and cooking to children and aspiring chefs of all ages. And I am so happy to share my passion for food and imaginative tales with your little ones!
A bientôt,

Camille

*Stéphanie FAYETTE - Sonoma Campus, Classroom Assistant*

My name is Stephanie, I'm from vibrant Haiti! I moved here in 2015. French is one of the official languages of Haiti and I learned it early in school and consider it one of my native tongues. I am currently pursuing my associates degree with plans to transfer in the fall to continue with a bachelor's degree in sociology. The prospect of combining my passion for sociology with the joy of working with children is both exciting and fulfilling. I'm genuinely enthusiastic about joining the LPJ team and engaging with the kids. The opportunity to practice my French further adds an extra layer of excitement. I look forward to contributing positively to our shared educational environment and creating memorable experiences with the kids.

Mme. Karima - 3.5-5 Year-Olds, Sonoma Plaza Campus

Bonjour, I am Karima!

I was born in Algeria and raised in Spain, so I speak many languages. Before moving to the US and earning my teaching credential in Early Childhood Development and Education, I started my career as a journalist and daily correspondent for the Algerian - Francophone journal, "LIBERTE".