3rd Grade Teacher

Angele Abanda

Angele Abanda was born and raised in Cameroon. After her bachelors degree, she studied the Art and Teaching method at “High School Teacher Training College” of the University of Yaounde 1 Cameroon. She taught in Cameroon for 15 years, from middle school to college. This year is her second year at Francophone where she teaches 3rd grade. She is happy to be able to discover elementary classes, learn other teaching methods, and share her knowledge. Her goal has always been to share with students values like respect, responsibility, and the desire to progress and improve.

Kindergarten (KB) Teacher

Suzanne Bana

Suzanne Bana is a dedicated teacher from Cameroon with over 10 years of experience teaching kindergarten through 5th grade. She holds an Associate degree in Biochemistry and a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Yaoundé I. Her passion for education led her to complete a diploma in elementary teaching, which marked the start of a meaningful career in the classroom. Her background reflects a strong commitment to student growth, especially in supporting second language learners through engaging, student-centered methods. Suzanne strives to create a safe and inclusive classroom where all students feel confident to learn. Outside of teaching, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

4/5th Grade Combo Teacher

Nadia Benachour

Nadia Benachour is a French educator and researcher with a Ph.D. in French and Francophone Studies. She has taught in Algeria, France, and the United States, and she is passionate about bilingual education, cultural exchange, and innovative approaches to language learning.

Kindergarten (KC) Teacher

Victorine Berbonde

My name is Victorine. I’m from South of France (Lozère). My dream since I was little has always been to become a teacher (maîtresse). I recently completed my studies in the field of education in France. After earning a multidisciplinary bachelor’s degree to become a primary school teacher, I went on to complete a master’s degree in Education and Training Sciences. Since the age of sixteen, I have completed numerous internships in the educational field. For the past ten years, I have been learning and growing in this profession that I am truly passionate about, always eager to discover new teaching approaches. Over the past four years, I have also worked every summer as an educator with kindergarten children, an experience that has helped me develop my skills in pedagogy, listening and creativity. I had the opportunity to teach a fifth-grade class during my second year in master degree in half time. Then I chose to come to the United States because I would love to teach abroad. Multiculturalism truly fascinates me, and it was the topic of my final academic presentation. Last year, I have the chance to take part in a cultural exchange program as a language assistant with France Éducation International in this amazing school. My goal is to foster the development of every child in a positive and trusting environment. I am proud and happy to be part of this wonderful school.

1st Grade Aide

Sylvère Boitel

Sylvere Boitel was born in the south west of France, near a town called Toulouse. He spent most of his adult life in Paris where he worked as a theater technician. He began his journey at Francophone two years ago. He lovse spending time in nature, reading, gardening, and wood working.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK C) Aide

Rosia Butler

Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Mrs Butler brings heart, patience, and a deep love for early childhood education to the TK aide role. She brings with her 25 years of creative experience and support. With a natural ability to connect with young children, Mrs. Butler is passionate about supporting students during these important early learning years. Whether it’s helping with classroom activities, offering a kind word, or simply being a dependable presence, Mrs. Butler is committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and fun environment where every child can grow and thrive. In her free time, she loves to go fishing and she is passionate about holistic healing and creating with her oils.

Transitional Kindergarten (TKA) Aide

Catherine Casallas

"After getting a BA in History in France, I studied Education strategies. My experience teaching my own children has build up my knowledge of what and how to teach French. For 15 years, I have been tutoring students and adults, including Francophone's parents. I taught practical French, useful for basic conversation and travelling. I also worked at Petits Francophones, Oakland and Blue Moon, Alameda as a French assistant where I worked with very young children. Singing, reading and cooking are my way to spend some free time. This year, I will be teaching at a bigger group at Francophone. And I am so glad to assist the TK students for their transition to school. "

Kindergarten (KB) Aide

Florian Combe

Florian is French, 34 years old, and grew up in central France near Lyon. He graduated in physiotherapy in 2015 and practiced the profession for 9 years in France. He arrived in the United States in 2024 with his wife Mélanie Combe, a TK teacher at Francophone. For the second year in a row, he is serving as a kindergarten classroom assistant. He enjoys working with children to help them develop and advance in their learning with kindness and empathy. Personally, he finds his experience to be the perfect opportunity to practice his English while sharing his native language with the students. He is passionate about sports (soccer, running, cycling) and traveling.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK B) Teacher

Mélanie Combe

Melanie is from France and has been a teacher for more than 10 years. She studied Spanish and Educational Sciences at university and has a French Teaching Master’s Degree. She taught all levels of education from TK to 5th grade as well as a year with students with disabilities. During Melanie’s first year at Francophone, she taught 3rd grade and she is excited to teach TK this year. She loves transitional kindergarten and can’t wait to get back to this level because she taught Kinder and TK students in France for 5 years. Melanie wants every child to feel good and be happy to come to school to learn new things every day. She loves traveling, hiking, and discovering new places. Melanie is so happy to be here and to discover the Bay area every weekend!

6-8th English, Social Studies & Advisory

Hannah Creasman

Hannah grew up in San Francisco and earned her bachelors degree in Education and English from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She has loved getting to teach at Francophone the last few years, as the students continue to grow as critical scholars and empathetic readers. They are most certainly the reason I am excited to come to work every day!

3-5 English Teacher

Kate Dwelley

Kate Dwelley is a Bay Area Native with 15 years of teaching experience preschool to fifth grade. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a masters in elementary education from Stanford University. Kate is new to Francophone this year both as a teacher, and as a parent of Hugo who is in TK. In her spare time, she enjoys swimming and spending time with family. She looks forward to joining the community at francophone with he Franco-American family.

4th Grade Teacher

Agnès Farin

My name is Agnes. I'm 50 years old. I've been a teacher for many years, and I also work as a special education teacher. I've lived in several places, including Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean. I also lived for 15 years near the French-Spanish border. It was a beautiful place, with both the beach and the mountains. One of the reasons I'm so excited to be here is that the Bay Area reminds me of all the places I've lived before. I can find the ocean, the mountains, and a multicultural environment, which really feels like home to me. I'm also very excited to be part of a French immersion school.

6-8 French & Science

Claire Hamard

Claire joined the Francophone middle school team in 2024. She was born and raised in Rouen, Normandie. She studied in Paris and worked for a few years in cultural mediation, journalism and publishing. She started teaching in 2015 and fell in love with the profession. Claire taught four years in Normandie as a middle and high school French teacher, then she had the chance to work at the Lycee Francais of San Francisco where she worked for five years. Outside of school, Claire plays music in a band and goes to a lot of concerts. She also love animals, cycling, writing, and going on road trips. I’m very excited about this new school year!

Recess & P.E. Teacher

Andre Johnson

Bio coming soon!

1st Grade Teacher

Eric Kezoh

Hello ! I am Eric Kezoh. I am from Cameroon. I obtained a Bachelor of Education degree in Curriculum Studies and Teaching from the University of Buea, Cameroon, in 2009. I started teaching in Les Champions Bilingual Institue in Yaounde Cameroon. In 2012 I move to South East Asia where I taught Kindergarten, elementary and College students in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. After five years I moved back to Cameroon where i continued teaching at Rousseau International Bilingual School. This is my second year teaching in FCSO. Last Year I was a long term substitute teacher of the second grade and assistant teacher in Kindergarten. Teaching is my passion and I also like spending my free time playing soccer, swimming, dancing, cooking and meditating.

PE TK; 3-8

Jessica LaFave

Jessica Lafave was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is in her fourth year of teaching at French Immersion schools, with experience in both French and English at the elementary and high school levels. Jessica studied History and Elementary Education at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, while playing Lacrosse at the collegiate level. Outside of school, she has a passion for healthy and active living and coaching youth sports. She is honored to have the opportunity to teach, learn and grow alongside the FCSO students and community. She looks forward to building lifelong and resilient bilingual learners.

6th-8th Grade Math & 6th Grade Science

Silaty Mané

Silaty Mané is from Senegal. He studied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis (UGB), then Mathematical Sciences at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS-SENEGAL). Silaty specialized in the field of Education by obtaining the Certificate of Aptitude for Secondary Education (CAES) in Mathematics at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar. He is a middle and high school Mathematics teacher and taught for six years at the Sadel High School (Matam). Since he was very young, he joined the PEPINIERE SUD soccer school in Kolda (Senegal) and climbed the ranks, playing at all levels up to university. Silaty plays several sports but loves soccer the most. It is a pleasure for him to be a part of the French-speaking team and to know this diverse, warm, and very kind community.

LC English, PE & ELD Teacher

Johnny Missoup

Johnny is the proud father of Evelyn and James Missoup, students in grades 3 and 5. He recently made the career pivot back to teaching after an almost 2o year pause and looks forward to enriching himself and the students with a fun, immersive, and creative curriculum.

Kindergarten (KA) Aide

Anne Morga

Anne is an assistant for Charlotte in KA. She really enjoys working with this age group although it is a recent discovery for her, after years of teaching middle and high school students both in schools and privately. Anne enjoys spending time with her four adult sons and their children, hiking and traveling .

TKB Aide & Before Care

Carmène Sandra Ngadjeu

M’y name is Carmene, with more than a master degree in biology, I am teaching for 10 years now to college student, now I am learning how to teach the more younger students by being a teacher assistant in TK for 02 years now. My happiness is to see my little girl grow safely and the other kids learn something new everyday.

TK-1 English Teacher

Eleanor Pahutski

A transplant from central Ohio, Eleanor is thrilled to be joining the Francophone family! Eleanor received a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in French from Capital University in 2017, going on to recieve a Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Ohio Dominican University in 2022. She has since gone on to spend the last four years teaching English Language Development in Columbus, OH before moving to the Bay Area. She is beyond excited to be a part of the Francophone community!

Transitional Kindergarten (TK A) Teacher

Danielle Payopay

Danielle is a proud Filipino and Bay Area Native, excited to start her first year teaching. Danielle graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and French. Currently, she is getting her Master of Arts in Teaching. Last year, Danielle was a Kindergarten Assistant helping students work on their French skills. Danielle’s goal is to help students feel welcome at school and foster an environment where students feel safe to learn. Outside of school, Danielle likes to spend time with friends and family, play ukulele, and read.

Kindergarten (KA) Teacher

Charlotte Potie

Charlotte is from Belgium and grew up in Binche, a city that is known for its Carnival. She received her teaching degree in Belgium in 2008 and worked 2 years in Brussels teaching elementary. After that, Charlotte moved to Beijing, China for seven years. She taught at the French International School of Beijing, in the three grades of Kindergarten. China was a great experience for her professional and personal development. She learned Chinese language and culture. Charlotte is excited to begin her seventh year living in Oakland and working at Francophone as a Kindergarten teacher. She spends her free time doing outdoor activities: hiking, kayaking and yoga. She also takes time to meet friends and discover new places and new restaurants. She loves reading books!

K-8 ELD Teacher

Patricia Presse

Bonjour, Hola, Nǐ hǎo, Hi! I’m Patricia. I consider myself a citizen of the world and a lifelong traveler. If I were an animal, I would be a bird, free to travel across the world without boundaries. I have had the privilege of living and working in Hong Kong, Qatar, French Guiana, France, and the United States, and I am passionate about sailing, backpacking, discovering new cultures, and meeting people from all walks of life. Born and raised in Paris to a mother from French Guiana, I grew up with an appreciation for the rich cultural diversity of the Amazon region, including its Indigenous and Maroon communities and their ancestral traditions. I strongly believe in public education and am proud to teach in Oakland, a city with a remarkable history of community activism and social engagement. As a certified French primary school teacher, I have taught in public, charter, and French international schools in the United States and abroad. This year, I am delighted to join the FCSO community and look forward to supporting our multilingual and ELD students while sharing my love of languages, cultures, and learning.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK C) Teacher

Kira Rassifi

Kira is from France, where she taught for seven years in preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary. She has a French Master’s degree in Teaching (MEEF). Kira recently joined Francophone and is delighted to be teaching a TK class this year. She is excited to be part of the team and to support her students in their discoveries and learning within a caring and dynamic environment. Her goal is for every child to feel happy to come to school and proud of their progress. Outside of school, Kira enjoys spending time with her family. This is her first year at Francophone, just like it is for her TK students. She says, “It will be a wonderful adventure that we will experience and build together.”

2nd Grade Teacher

Sarah Reberac

Sarah is from Saint Malo (Brittany), on the Northwest coast of France. She began her academic journey in South Carolina where she successfully balanced her studies with a career as a tennis student-athlete. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology before returning to France to continue her education. Back in France, she obtained a Master’s degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language (FLE), which enabled her to teach for four years in middle school, working primarily with non-native speakers. She helped these students adapt to their new linguistic and cultural environment, an experience she found incredibly rewarding. Three years ago, Sarah decided to move back to the United States. Since then, she has taught 1st grade. This year marks her second year teaching 2nd grade. Outside of school, Sarah spends time with her family and new daughter, whom she welcomed in October 2023. Sarah loves visiting amusement parks and enjoying thrilling rides, as well as attending sporting events. She’s already looking forward to the LA 2028 Olympics!

Kindergarten (KC) Aide

Anna Skrzypczynska

Bio coming soon!

5th Grade Teacher and Social Studies

Rémi Tabanji

Bonjour! My name is Rémi Tabanji , I was born and raised in Lebanon. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Pure Mathematics, a master’s degree in Education and California teaching credential. With 16 years of experience in teaching and coordinating mathematics at the high school level, I am deeply committed to supporting students in reaching their full potential. I believe that learning should be engaging and enjoyable, and I strive to create a positive, encouraging classroom environment where every student feels confident,valued and inspired to succeed. Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, exploring nature, and traveling to experience new cultures.

French Teaching Intern

Logan Thébaud

Bonjour! My name is Logan, and I am from Saint-Nazaire, in western France. I recently moved to the United States to join the Francophone Charter School of Oakland as a French Teaching Intern. I completed my studies in History and Geography at Nantes Université, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s degree in Teaching, Education and Training (MEEF), specializing in History and Geography for secondary education. Alongside my studies, I obtained my BAFA, a French certification for working with children and young people, and gained experience working in recreation centers and summer camps, as well as teaching in middle schools. I am very excited to work with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th–5th grade students this year. I aim to create a positive and supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and develop their confidence. I may also have the opportunity to lead a BASC club focused on French History. I am looking forward to sharing my language and culture with students while learning from them and from the Francophone community here in Oakland. For me, this experience is a great opportunity for cultural exchange and to discover American education and everyday life. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, discovering new places and landscapes, running, and hiking. I am very happy to be part of the Francophone community and excited to begin this new adventure in California!

1st Grade Teacher

Daouda Tine

From the bustling streets of Dakar to the vibrant classrooms of Oakland, Daouda’s journey has been woven in two languages and shaped by many worlds. He holds a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education & American and Caribbean Studies from Cheikh Anta Diop University, with advanced online certifications from the University of Pennsylvania and the British Council. For over eight years, he has taught, led, and inspired learners across continents—designing bilingual curricula, leading FLE and ESL programs, translation work between cultures, and coaching both soccer and martial arts. Whether guiding a kindergartener’s first steps in literacy or crafting data-driven strategies for first graders and teaching adults, his goal is constant: to create spaces where curiosity thrives, languages become bridges, and every student feels seen and empowered. Education for M. Tine is more than a profession—it’s a craft, a dialogue, and a celebration of identity. He stands at the intersection of cultures, blending academic rigor, creativity, and empathy to nurture confident, resilient, and culturally aware learners. He has dedicated his past four years in the Francophone community to equipping future heroes and change-makers with the tools and knowledge they need.

Floating Substitute Teacher and Aide

Kelsey Westphal

Kelsey Westphal is excited to be joining FCSO for her first year as in-house substitute and teacher’s aide. She grew up in a small town in Southern California and first encountered the French language at 11 years old when she did a year-long linguistic exchange program with a French family. She holds a double B.A. in English Literature and Honors French from UC Berkeley, and a Masters degree in Text/Image Relations (Comics Specialty) from the École Européenne Superieure de l’Image (ÉESI) in Angoulême. She has worked as a curator at an Oakland art gallery, an arts instructor at the International School of San Francisco, and an art preparator at the Berkeley Art Museum. Learning another language changed her life in beautiful and surprising ways, and she hopes to instill this same sense of adventure and possibility in the students she meets. In her free time she likes to ride her bike, correspond with her cartoonist penpals, and read books by Lake Merritt.

2nd Grade Teacher

Jana Willcock

Jana is originally from Santa Rosa, CA and began learning French in high school. She enjoyed the experience so much that she earned a B.A. and an M.A. in French. Jana also taught English in France after her studies. She has been a part of the Francophone family since the second year it opened, and two of her children are Francophone graduates! This will be her 6th year teaching 2nd grade. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outside with my family.

3rd Grade Teacher

Nadyne Ndjoke Yetna

Nadyne is excited to be back at Francophone Charter School after serving for three years. Since 2008, she has had the opportunity to teach in diverse educational settings across Ivry-sur-Seine in France, Douala in Cameroon, and in the U.S, including Minnesota, San Francisco, and Hayward. Her experience spans working with students from elementary through college to adult learners, in roles such as teacher, curriculum facilitator, and extracurricular programs, with a strong focus on bilingual instruction. Nadyne holds a Master degree in Education and a Bachelor Degree in History. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, as well as singing and cooking. She is looking forward to a fun-filled and productive year with 3rd grade!

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Custodian

Lorena Flores

Bio coming soon!

School Crossing and Security Guard

Sabrina Lovato

I was born in San Jose and raised in Oakland. I started out as a volunteered Crossing Guard for a couple years, helping the kids and families across the busy street. I am bubbly by nature, so when i was crossing the families in the morning I tried to bring that attitude with me. I have a son who needs some cheering up in the morning. I tried to brighten his morning so he would be ready for the day. When i volunteered I wasn't able to donate money but I was able to donate my time instead. I really enjoyed the kids smiles and laughs in the morning and to see them walking into school with that attitude really makes me happy. I am very happy that I have the opportunity to work for Francophone this year. Outside of work I really enjoy Camping, hiking, and watching movies

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Custodian and Security

Alvaro Ortiz

Bio coming soon!