A person's time at ASP is a cherished chapter in their lives.
From students discovering their passions, to the international faculty and staff who support them, life at ASP is filled with incredible stories. Beyond our campus, our alumni form a rich and intensely creative community, whose stories of success begin at ASP. Hear from some of the many students, parents, faculty, alumni, and donors, whose lives have been forever changed by ASP.
Tina Bui is a Grade 7 Advisor and Social Studies teacher. She started her teaching career in Queens, New York City, where she taught kindergarten before moving up to Grade 5. A summer fellowship in Germany with the National Endowment for the Humanities in 2009, studying the 20-year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall led Tina to meet a group of teachers who had taught all over the world.
This experience inspired her to start her own international teaching career, and she soon after joined the faculty at Shanghai American School in China, where she taught Grade 5, before taking a leap to Middle School, teaching Grade 7 Humanities. Next, Tina moved to Istanbul, Turkey, where she first taught Grades 7 and 8 Humanities, followed by a year at the Anglo American School in Sofia, Bulgaria, teaching Middle School Social Studies. She joined ASP in 2018 as a Grade 7 Advisor and Social Studies teacher, where she can be currently found in the Middle School encouraging students to find joy in their studies and the development of their critical thinking skills.
Sotherd Calloc’h is a Learning Support Teacher in the Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics from the American University of Paris, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors in Psychology. She also holds a Master of Education from the University of Maine in Special Education with a concentration in High Incidence Disabilities. Originally from Castine, Maine, she moved to France in 2014 and speaks French. She has previously worked as an educational assistant, helping children with a variety of mild to intensive special educational needs navigate and thrive in an international school environment in the Paris area.
Sotherd has completed the Associate Level in Orton-Gillingham training, a multi-sensory, systematic approach for individualized reading and literacy instruction, particularly for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences. She is working to complete her practicum and become a recognized Orton-Gillingham practitioner in the coming months. A deeply caring educator, Sotherd’s favorite aspect of her job is bonding with her students and empowering them with strategies they need to meet their goals.
Outside the classroom, Sotherd coaches tennis and has taken our student-athletes on an International Schools Sports Tournament (ISST) trip to Athens, Greece, where she coached as the students played their hardest at the Varsity level, challenging themselves in a competitive environment while simultaneously having a wonderful cultural experience. While not at ASP, Sotherd enjoys playing tennis and setting fitness goals; she has already completed three full marathons (including Marathon de Paris, twice!)
Mario Chioini is the Upper School Librarian. He holds a Bachelor’s in Translation and a Certificate in Teaching a Second Language from the Université Laval, and a Bachelors of Education and Master of Library and Information Science from Western University. Originally from Montréal, Canada, Mario is at home all over the world, and previously served as an Elementary School Librarian at the American School Foundation of Monterrey in Mexico, a Middle and High School Librarian and classroom teacher at the École Gabriel-Dumont in Ontario, Canada and as an Elementary classroom teacher at the École du Sacré-Coeur in Manitoba, Canada. Mario speaks French, English, and Spanish, and moved to France to join ASP in 2008.
While at ASP, Mario has directed two Upper School musicals (The Baker’s Wife and Fiddler on the Roof), and acted in and directed an all-teachers cast of Picnic on the Battlefield. He also initiated the first ASPecial Mix, an all-student electronic and live music experience. One of his professional highlights was designing the new Upper School Library. One of Mario’s favorite things about ASP is that the school is both small enough to know everyone, and large enough to offer students all necessary courses, clubs, and experiences. The school's location allows us to have a large and wonderful campus to house our international community, and to, of course, offer beautiful library spaces for the students. While not at ASP, Mario is passionate about the arts, and once co-hosted a TV show about the arts, worked on radio, acted in a semi-professional theatre troupe, and directed a community theatre group.
Lisa Chui is a Visual Arts and Global Issues Network teacher in the Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art with a specialization in Art Education with distinction from Concordia University, Montreal, a Master of Arts in Art Education from Concordia, and a Graduate Certificate in TESL from McGill University, Montreal. She is IB trained with experience in the Middle Years and Diploma Programs. Before moving abroad, Lisa was a secondary school teacher at Lester B Pearson High School in Montreal, where she taught Visual Arts, Drama, and Ethics & Religious Culture and coordinate the Arts Department. She taught at McGill University as a Sessional Professor for Basic Art and Media within the Bachelor of Arts in Education program. From there, Lisa moved to the Shanghai Community International School where she was an Upper School Visual Arts teacher, Global Issues Network teacher, and Arts Department Coordinator. It was here where one of her favorite professional hallmarks took place: when she organized and hosted the EARCOS Middle School Global Issues Network Conference in Shanghai, bringing together over 25 international schools and 200 students.
Her career then took her to the Chinese International School in Hong Kong where she was the Primary Art Facilitator for Grades K4–6, and then on to the American International School of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City where she served as the MYP and DP Visual Arts Teacher, the Global Issues Network Supervisor, and the International Cooking Class teacher before her move to ASP.
Lisa speaks Chinese (Cantonese, Hakka, basic Mandarin), English, and French. She joined ASP in August of 2020, and one of her favorite things about our community is that you’ll never know who you’ll meet on campus! In her free time, Lisa can be found hula hooping, cooking without a recipe as a gifted natural cook, or traveling; so far, she’s been to 67 countries, with the goal of visiting 100!
James Dempsey is the Digital Music Teacher at ASP. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Music, and is originally from London, England. Since arriving in France in 2009, James has been a professional musician and played all over the world. A teaching artist, James has taught at the École Koenig, a music school in Paris, and the International School of Paris for over 10 years, and joined ASP as a guitar teacher in 2012. The 2021–22 school year is his first year full-time with ASP, and we are lucky to have him!
James has recorded many projects over the years, both alone and with other artists, and he is especially proud of his album "The Quest of Captain Nemo" - Jimy Rev (available on Spotify/Apple Music etc.)
His favorite part about ASP is that everyone is friendly and open, and it seems as though everyone has time to stop and help you feel at home in the community.
Lindsey Dunn began her teaching career in Houston, Texas as a kindergarten teacher. She quickly made her way to the northeast to earn a Masters in Technology, Innovation, and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. After some time working for various publishing companies developing both STEM and special education curricula, she returned to the classroom as an Instructional Technology Specialist and Makerspace teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Greenwich, Connecticut. Most recently, Lindsey made the move across the Atlantic to Paris to begin her role as the Instructional Technology Coach for grades 3-7 at the American School of Paris as well as building the school’s brand new Lower School Makerspace, the Possibility Lab. When not in the classroom or toying with the latest gadgets, Lindsey enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband Christopher and young daughter Jillian.
Rani Ferraiolo is the Lower School Visual Arts Teacher. She holds a Bachelors and Licensure in Visual Art from Bennet University in Rio de Janeiro, and a Post Graduate degree in History of Art and Design from Veiga de Almeida University. Originally from Rio, Rani taught Visual Arts at the American School of Rio de Janeiro for 10 years, where she taught Lower and Upper School. She has also taught at CCAA language schools as an English as an Additional Language teacher. Rani herself speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian, and she is learning French.
As a practicing artist, Rani has worked with ceramics, photography, and acrylic painting, and exhibited her work in Rio de Janeiro and Miami, where she lived for 8 years and considers a second home. She enjoys each day with the amazing, happy students of our Lower School, and greatly enjoyed taking our Grade 4 students to Monet's Garden in Giverny. While not at school, Rani loves going to art exhibitions, to the park, beach, sailing, and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Daria Filip is a Middle and Upper School Math Teacher and has previously taught Science in the Upper School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario with Intermediate/Senior Math and Physics. Born in Toronto, Canada, Daria is most at home in Łódź, Poland, Lviv, Ukraine, and of course, Paris, France. Daria began her career as a Commodities Engineer in Canada, before working for the York Region District School Board as an Upper School Science teacher. After moving to France, she taught IB and MYP Math and IB Physics at the International School of Paris, before joining ASP in 2014.
Daria speaks English, French, Polish, and Ukrainian, and can be found outside the classroom pursuing her passion for photography and writing about the connections between Art and Science and Mathematics. Her photography has been exhibited in Łódź, Poland, Paris and Barbizon. At ASP, she loves connecting with kids each day, and witnessing their lightbulb moments in class! When not teaching or taking photos, Daria loves to dance, read, and spend time around water.
Amy Girardi is a K5 teacher and the Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Coordinator in the Lower School. She holds a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Masters of Education from Marymount University, and a TEFL certification.
Originally from Virginia, Amy began teaching in Fairfax County Public Schools before moving to France in 2017 where she taught at the École Privée Internationale de Marseille and at Open Sky International before joining ASP in 2020. She loves the ASP community, and shares that this is the school where she has felt most valued as a faculty member and colleague. In addition to her many talents in the classroom, Amy is a classically trained singer. On the weekend, she spends time with her two cats, and her two kids!
Andrea Johnston is a Social Studies teacher in the Middle School. Originally from Colorado, USA, she began her career in Colorado Public Schools teaching Grades 4–7 (7 years), before teaching Grade 5 at the American School of Bombay (3 years) and Grade 7 at the American School in Japan (4 years).
She holds a Bachelor's in Photojournalism and a Bachelor's in Visual Art and Art History, as well as a Master's in Education. She joined ASP in 2018 and is learning French while keeping up on her Japanese. In between her years in the classroom, Andrea worked as a professional photojournalist and gave a TED Talk at a TED-X Event in India on photography.
While not teaching ASP students, she is a writer and member of Jay McTighe & Kevin Bartlett's Common Ground Collaborative curriculum committee, and a general enthusiast for understanding how children learn. At ASP, she enjoys the unlimited support from her colleagues; on the weekends, she can be found hunting for Mexican food in Paris, and searching for the best onigiri the city has to offer.
Karen Luce is our outgoing Extension Program Secretary and the incoming Athletics and Activities Assistant. She came to ASP as part of her studies in 2015, when she sought an internship at the end of her advanced vocational diploma in Managerial Assistance and Business Administration. Karen also holds a Baccalauréat (Science) in Management Technology, focusing on Communications and Human Resources and professional certifications in English. Karen speaks French, English, and Creole. When she joined ASP as an intern, she enjoyed the experience so much that she returned for a second internship, before officially joining the team in 2018. For Karen, the sense of belonging at ASP is key! She loves listening to music, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family in her spare time.
Lauren Mace is an Early Childhood Teaching Assistant, Choreographer and Dance Instructor. Born in Paris, Lauren was raised between the US and France. She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Keele University, a Masters of Fine Arts from Brooklyn College, and is currently completing a course on Creative Movement in Early Childhood. She has performed in a variety of productions, including Alvin Ailey’s production of “Moses” in New York City, VH1 promotional videos, and centerstage at the 2014 New York City Dance Parade. Lauren moved to France in 2015, and has worked at ASP since 2016. Each year, Lauren choreographs our Middle and Upper School musical theater productions. While not at ASP, she can be found choreographing, teaching, and performing in large (20+ people!) flash mobs here in Paris. She loves being a part of the ASP family, and especially cherishes all of the creative community events that bring people together at school.
A fixture on campus for generations of ASP students, Duncan McEachern is an Upper School English Teacher and Instructional Coach who first came to ASP in 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He is originally from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and still finds himself at home there whenever he can.
Duncan began his teaching career in Colorado as an EAL and Geography teacher. Before his move abroad, he served as a Dean of Students in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, before moving to France to join the Lycée International as a began his career in France at the Lycée International as an EAL, History, and Geography teacher. Having lived in France for 22 years, Duncan speaks both French and English. His favorite part of working at ASP is collaborating with “wonderful human beings” each and every day!
Originally from Washington State, Lucas studied at Northwestern University, including a year abroad at the Università di Bologna. After finishing, he moved to Paris, working in French collèges and universities before joining the American Section of the Lycée International to teach History and Geography. During his first stint in Paris, he trained as a college counselor and took a year off to do a Masters in Intercultural Education at the Freie Universität Berlin. His next stops took him to IB schools in Fukuoka, Japan, and Rome, Italy at St. Stephen's. He happily returned to Paris this autumn, joining ASP as a college counselor and teaching Theory of Knowledge as well as leading Model United Nations.
Joumana Ordelheide is a College Counselor and CAS Coordinator in our Upper School. Born in Muscat, Oman, Joumana has lived in France for decades, and is an alumna of ASP! She speaks French, English, Arabic, and has basic knowledge of Italian, Spanish, and German. She holds a Bachelor of International Communications from the American University of Paris, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education. Joumana first discovered educational advising during her university studies and fell in love with the idea of helping people find their passion and explore career paths. She began her career at the American University of Paris as a Senior Admissions Counselor, before starting her own company, Global Education Experience, where she was the CEO and International Educational Counselor. She then served as the Manager of International Counseling for the École Internationale Bilingue before joining ASP in 2020.
She played a key role in the transition from paper applications to online platforms in her admissions office, and deeply enjoyed sharing her love of technology in a way that helped students achieve their goals. While running her own company, she further discovered that she is most inspired by the relationships that are formed between colleagues, parents, and students during the college counseling process.
Having rejoined the ASP family, she has a deep love for the school. She deeply values the fact that ASPeople are celebrated for their strengths, and that she has the daily opportunity to expand her knowledge and work with colleagues with a diverse set of interests. Not only is ASP a wonderful place to do college counseling, but Joumana has also taken the opportunity this year to participate in the more recent theatre play, which was both a joy and a callback to the four musicals and a play that she directed during her years at AUP.
Meet Erick Pessoa, our beloved film teacher. He works with students in Middle and Upper School, teaching everything from the basics of film to the pre-college IB film course. Mr. Pessoa founded our very own annual international film competition, Clash of the Titans, where schools and students join us from across the world to compete in a three day film competition. He has written and produced his own film and has been a part of the ASP family for many years, and joined us from Shanghai, China. As a tried and true film teacher, Erick's favorite spot he has travelled to is New Zealand, where Lord of the Rings was filmed.
Linda Quoeurnat is the Extension Program Administrative Assistant. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and an Associate's Degree in English. She joined ASP in 2004 after working in childcare and reception. Born in Ivry-Sur-Seine, Linda speaks French, English, and a bit of Spanish!
She most cherishes the sense of community at ASP, whether this comes in the form of chatting with colleagues, meeting ASP families, or the end-of-year celebrations in June. In her free time, Linda loves exploring different aspects of Latin culture and hopes to one day speak fluent Spanish and travel to Cuba. She can be found dancing salsa, or leading a cabaret troupe with some of her friends!
Originally from the UK, Deborah taught in Sierra Leone, Zambia, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland, before joining ASP in 2014. While teaching in Pujehun, Sierra Leone, she was forced to move to Freetown when the civil war broke out. She ended up putting her math skills to good use in the 'real world' as an assistant account for the British High Commission in Freetown, before leaving the country and returning to the classroom.
In her role as a Grade 6 Advisor at ASP, Deborah helps her students transition from life in the Lower School to the more independent, autonomous experience of a Middle School student. In math class, Deborah enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for the subject with her students. Even if students do not initially have a positive view of math, the moments when her students connect with the material and things finally, 'click,' for them is "particularly rewarding" for Deborah.
One of Deborah's most memorable experiences with ASP was the trip she took with the Kalahari Educational Experience as a supervisor and chaperone for our Upper School students. Deborah said that the highlight of that trip was "working together as equals with the Upper School students. To team teach with such motivated student-teachers, who complimented my teaching experience with their own talents and skills, was a real privilege."
When she's not on campus or at the pool coaching our ASP swim team, you can find Deborah biking to and from school, enjoying the beauty of the la région parisienne. Over the winter vacations, you might see Deborah with her family on the slopes of Grindelwald, Switzerland, enjoying the black-level ski runs and the dramatic rock formations. Most recently, she's been using her considerable math skills to make scale size drawings of the rooms and furnishing of the new home that she and her family are moving to in the coming year.
Eléna Rich is a French teacher in our Upper School. Originally from Trappes, France, Eléna received a Bachelors from the Université Michel de Montaigne in Bordeaux, France, a Masters from the Université François Rabelais in Tours, and a Masters in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She began her career at Harvard as a French Teaching Assistant and Fellow, before moving to the Rocky Hill Country Day School in Rhode Island where she served as an Upper School French teacher and the Dean of Student Life; she is especially proud of having started and run a successful restorative justice program at Rocky Hill.
After spending 11 years in the United States, Eléna and her family returned to France, where she joined ASP in 2021. While in Paris, she has had the opportunity to reconnect with many of her former students from the US, who went on to study in France, and she has greatly enjoyed catching up with them and hearing them speak French fluently! One of her favorite parts of working at ASP is getting to know all of the different cultures and countries represented by our students!
Sherri Rouiller is a Grade 4 teacher in the Lower School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a Minor in Special Education from Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, and a Master of Elementary Education with a specialization in Children's Literature from Indiana University. Originally from Beech Grove, Indiana, USA, when not at ASP, she finds herself at home in Chateaufort, France, and in Greenfield, Indiana.
In the US, Sherri worked as an elementary school teacher and gymnastic teacher. Once in France, she worked at the Marymount School before joining ASP in 2008 as a teacher-librarian and Lower School teacher. Having lived in France for 28 years, Sherri speaks fluent French.
One of her favorite experiences at ASP came from her five years as a teacher-librarian in La Bibliothèque, the Lower School Library, where she was able to work with all grades across the Lower School and support teachers as they planned their lessons, using the library as an essential resource. In her free time, Sherri enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, reading, riding her bike, and walking in the woods with her husband.
Jon Santiago has over ten years of experience working with schools, cultural institutions, libraries and community groups to create classes and experiences that are hands-on, engaging, and promote knowledge in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
As a co-founder of the NYC Makery and the HTINK Cooperative, Jon helped start Young Maker programs and Makerspaces throughout the New York tri-state area to get K-12 students interested in electronics, computer programming, design, and the use of traditional hand tools.
He also worked with MakerBot Industries to bring the first low-cost 3-D printers into schools while developing curriculum and professional development workshops for teachers. Jon was an adjunct faculty member at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU (now called NYU Tandon School of Engineering) and Parsons, The New School for Design where he taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in introductory computer programming, computational art and physical computing.
He is an original member of the NYC Resistor hackerspace, a collective workspace in Brooklyn that brings together creative technologists. Jon graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) where he worked with the FabLab program, a global initiative to bring digital fabrication laboratories to communities around the world. He teaches Design and serves as STEAM Integrationist at the American School of Paris after spending three years on the faculty at Marymount International School London.
Julien Schiatti is a Lower School PE Teacher. Julien is originally from Boulogne-Billancourt, France, but is most at home in Corsica. He holds a Master's degree in Physical Education with a specialization in 'education and motricity' from the Université de Paris. He previously worked at numerous summer camps on Morocco, Miami, the Bahamas, China, and Spain, and as a Middle and Upper School PE teacher in nearby schools. Julien speaks French, English, and a little bit of German!
After joining the ASP community in 2016, Julien made his favorite ASP memory in 2019 when he coached our soccer team to a win at the ISSTs in London. They arrived to the tournament as underdogs, but the team had an incredible bond that helped them fight their way to the semi-finals and finals, winning both matches to take home the championship in the final seconds of each game!
When not at ASP, Julien runs marathons, and enjoys hiking; he has hiked the GR20 in Corsica, one of the hardest hiking trails in France, and knows everyone one of its challenging turns!
Anthony Suzzi-Valli is a Counselor in the Middle School. Originally from New York (but a citizen of San Marino, the oldest republic in the world!), Anthony holds a Bachelor's in Education and Psychology and a Master's in Counselor Education; he is permanently certified by New York State. Prior to moving to France, Anthony was a Counselor for Herricks School District.
Once in France, he served as a Counselor and EAL teacher at Institut de la Tour in Paris before joining ASP in 2015. Anthony has played a key role in the ASP and larger English-speaking school community; he served as the interim Middle School Assistant Director from 2019–20, presents at the English Language School Association on counseling techniques, and holds similar workshops at other international schools. While not working with teachers, parents, and students, Anthony is a champion of our Restos du Coeur canned food drive each year, which raises thousands of cans for local food banks.
Some of his other favorite ASP experiences include the annual Walk-a-thons at the Parc de Saint-Cloud to support the Jyoti School (and a trip to the Jyoti School with the India Club back in 2019) and organize activities such as concerts and design-projects with the residents at the local elderly home. Anthony loves ASP’s terrific community members: our pleasant, warm, open-minded faculty, staff, parents, and students.
Bryan Waters is a Science teacher in our Middle School. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, Bryan calls the Pacific Northwest of the USA his home (when not in Paris, of course!) He holds a Bachelor of Science from Appalachian State University, North Carolina, and a Masters in Education from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. He began his career as an Army Ranger and Paratrooper in the United States Army, before becoming a Science teacher at Stanwood-Camano Middle School. He speaks English, French, and German, and is the proud father of two adult children.
Having moved to France to join ASP in 2016 with his wife, Bryan still remembers the very warm welcome they when they arrived and is happy to have made some lifelong friends during their time in Paris. He is an expert grill master and a former university badminton champion. These days, Bryan can be found fly-fishing, hiking, traveling with his wife, writing short stories, exploring the wilderness, and hunting down the perfect cup of coffee and the ever-elusive jar of chunky peanut butter in Parisian epiceries.
Amy Zwikel is a Visual Arts Teacher in the Middle and Upper School. Originally from Chicago and the daughter of an art teacher, Amy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Arts in Teaching Art Education from Columbia College Chicago. Amy is an avid learner and has gone on to earn an additional 60+ post-graduate credits through experiences including AP workshops, equity trainings, pedagogical courses, and content classes in France, Boston, Michigan, and Illinois.
Amy began her teaching career in District 219 in the suburbs of Chicago, the first general education public high school district ever to be recognized as the #1 Fine and Performing Arts Education Program in the Nation by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. While teaching at Niles North, Amy ran the ceramics program, taught all levels of Drawing, Painting, Photography, and Graphic Design, including AP Art and sponsored our National Art Honor Society student chapter.
Prior to teaching, Amy was an Art Director and Graphic Designer at Launch Creative Marketing in Chicago and is a professional artist in addition to her teaching. She creates large-scale fiber art commissions for worldwide brands and private clients alike and has a robust painting practice. Still in her first year at ASP, Amy is learning French and working on a collection that reflects her personal transformation in Paris.
A firm believer in the transformational powers of art, Amy led our ASP students through their contribution to the Memory Project, a global organization that invites young artists to create meaningful portraits for children around the world facing extreme difficulties. ASP’s student artists created portraits topped with symbolic crowns meant to empower and support children in Cameroon. While not in the classroom or at work on her art, Amy can be found practicing yoga, cycling, hiking, surfing, swimming, and, of course, traveling.
Justine du Plessis Nelson is our Lower School Counselor. She holds a Ph.D. and a Masters Degree in Psychology from the Derner Institute in New York. Originally from New York, Justine began her career as a psychologist at the South Beach Psychiatric Center, before moving to France in 2007 where she worked in private practice before joining ASP in 2017.
Justine is currently pursuing a year-long distance learning program with the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and she is replicating the Harvard-researched social-emotional support library for Early Childhood students at ASP. When not at school, Justine enjoys traveling (and has once walked a puma on a beach in Peru!) and spending time with her two children, who especially enjoy dressing up their very patient rabbit in doll clothes!