Our Staff
MEET THE BOARD
Co-Directors:
Jacques Whettnall - Operations/Publicity
Denise Ciobanu - Operations/Treasurer
Volunteer Parent Board:
- Marketing, Social Chairmen, and IT/Tech Support
Sonia Salas
Judith Perez
Our faculty includes seasoned teachers educated in France, the U.S. and Francophone countries.
MEET L' ÉCOLE DU SAMEDI'S TEACHERS
- Denise Steluta Ciobanu (EDS Director)
- Jacques M. Whettnall (EDS director)
Born and Raised in Paris, Mr. Jacques Whettnall has been educated at Hattemer Academy, Lycée Janson de Sailly, University of Paris (Licence de Philo), and Recherche et Application Pedagogic School.He has been a teacher for L’Alliance Française in the US for 16 years.
In this class level cycle 3, CM2, He proposes a consolidation of the grammar and most used verbs with prepared dictations.
Role playing and theater sketches, kinesthetic activities and songs to practice fluidity in the speech, reading and writing in that order. Study of some of the classics as Molière, Lafontaine , G.Sand etc...and will revisit the syllabic method and the “ analyse logique “ of the sentences....
- Pamela Shembo
Madame Shembo teaches fifth grade French Immersion at Waddell Academy of International Languages and has been teaching in CMS for 20 years.
She has a Bachelor of Philology from the University of Louvain.
Mrs. Shembo believes strongly in communication in learning a language and encourage the children to feel free to discuss, ask questions, make mistakes, respect each other and have fun, Grammar should be learned at a later Stage. Her students learn songs and she creates a very strong group dynamic.
- Radwa Ahmed
Born and Raised in Cairo, Egypt. Mrs Ahmed studied French at “Sacré-Coeur du Caire” a full immersion model school, studied medicine at Cairo University and practiced laboratory medicine for 15 years. Choosing a different career path, following her passion for the language, became a French immersion teacher at Waddell.
This class propose reading and comprehension: L’île aux mots (text and vocabulary), basic grammar for a good communication, poetry and songs, as well as children’s theater.
- Alphonsine (Alpha) Musoki
Madame Alpha works with the “bout’chous”, our youngest group. Alpha was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She brings to our school her love of teaching the little ones, passion that she started cultivating since her high school years, her experience and her beautiful culture.
- Lea Nzieffe
Madame Nzieffe works at Waddell Language Academy, in Charlotte since 2016. She enjoys working with the little ones, and she brings to the class her love of teaching French , her nurturing skills and lots of good humor.
- Emmanuel (Manu) Barbe
Monsieur Barbe was born in Epinal, France. He came to the USA in 1995.
He is familiar with teaching French to all age groups.
He worked at Berlitz as an instructor, as well as Language Center Director.
He worked for “Hands and Minds” an after school program with CMS.
He is a private tutor and a coordinator of the French conversation Hour at the International House since 1998.
He enjoys acting in theater with Shakespeare Carolina, Free Reign Theater Co. Main Street theater. Etc…
He likes to emphasize conversation as a pedagogical tool. He believes student participation should be at least 40% of the class time.
His super power, beside being a great teacher, is his good humor, which, attention, is contagious!
Our substitute teachers :
- Mrs. Anne-Karine Melius
- Mrs. Nse Eyo (Former teacher of the school)
- Mrs. Sophie David ( French IB teacher with CMS)
- Marie Muller (Former teacher of the school)
- Marie Martin Laguna-Hesbert (Former teacher of the school)