Six dedicated volunteer leaders providing the governance and strategic direction that keeps Francophone excellent, accountable, and mission-driven.
The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing broad policies and overseeing high-level decisions. The Board has ultimate responsibility to oversee the program and ensure the school's success.
Annette Dennett is the daughter of an educator father from Ivory Coast and a business graduate mother from France. Since graduating with her Masters in Developmental Psychology, with a focus in at-risk education, she has worked advocating for equal opportunity to solid education. A director for PACT, Inc. — an educational community-based non-profit that has placed nearly 65,000 students in college since 1963, the majority from under-served, low-income families. Her 5 children, along with nieces and nephews, have either graduated or are currently enrolled at Francophone.
annette@francophoneschool.orgFinancial management professional with 25 years of experience in healthcare, biotech/pharma, and higher education. Former Divisional Finance Lead and Associate Director at UC Berkeley. Holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from ENSAIS in France and an EMBA from USF. Has served on the Francophone board for over 5 years.
herve@francophoneschool.orgTax and business advisor and investor with a background spanning insurance, mortgages, accounting, and business valuations. Holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance, with doctoral coursework on four continents. Has taught undergraduate and graduate finance for nine years. Active Francophone volunteer since 2022.
bigal@francophoneschool.org15 years at the crossroads of business, policy, and innovation — from the OECD in Paris to running an accelerator in the Nordics to Silicon Valley. Now at Innovation Norway, helping global tech companies tap into Norwegian ecosystems. Executive MBA and MA in International Politics. Mom to a 3rd grader in her 2nd year on the board.
rscheel@francophoneschool.orgProfessional path from statistics across European countries to SaaS technology in the Bay Area. Now focused on Data and AI. Carries Armenian, Italian, Turkish, and Arabic linguistic roots. Has two daughters at Francophone — one in 2nd grade, another joining soon. The multilingual, multicultural mission resonates deeply.
nnajjarian@francophoneschool.orgBegan her career as an after-school instructor, then spent six years teaching elementary and middle school. Holds an M.Ed focused on language acquisition and multilingual learner instruction. Since 2018, has worked at the district level leading financial planning and support for a large Bay Area charter network, with a focus on equitable resource allocation. Earned a Master's of Management Studies through the Broad Program in 2023. Raised in a bilingual French-English household herself.
slowenthal-savy@francophoneschool.orgThe Board’s responsibilities include — but are not limited to — the following key duties that ensure Francophone operates effectively, legally, and with integrity.
The Board welcomes community members who want to contribute to the Francophone mission.