ABS WEST CAMPUS TEAM

ABS ADMINISTRATION

I am the proud founder of Au Beau Séjour Preschool. Born and raised in France, I am fluent in French, Spanish, and English. I earned my DEUG Sciences Humaines et Sociales and Licence Sciences de l’Éducation (BA in Education) from the Université de Lille, where I also gained hands-on experience working with preschool and school-age children as a teaching assistant (éducatrice).

After moving to Southern California, I taught at La Petite École, a French immersion preschool, as well as at Anneliese’s School, where I taught French language and culture through California’s curriculum, integrating Social Emotional Learning, Positive Discipline, and creative arts. During this time, I continued my studies at Grossmont College (San Diego) and Saddleback College (Orange County), earning my Supervision and Administration degree to qualify as a preschool director.

My journey then took me to the Bay Area, where I co-created Au P’tit Monde in East Palo Alto. For four years, I worked closely with teachers to build a safe, nurturing, and joyful learning environment for children.

In 2018, I found the perfect preschool building in Oakland and, on October 23rd, Au Beau Séjour French Preschool officially opened its doors! Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I remained committed to expanding our community. In July 2021, we proudly opened ABS Mountain Campus to welcome even more students and families.

In January 2022, I welcomed my own beautiful baby boy, who now attends ABS himself! It fills me with joy to know that I built this program to give every child the keys to success… and now, one of those children is my son.

Looking ahead, I am excited to be preparing the opening of our third ABS campus in Oakland, which will welcome children as young as 3 months old into our ABS French Infant & Toddler Program. Our goal is to open ABS Grand Campus by early 2026, and we can’t wait to share this new chapter with our community.

I am deeply passionate about education and about creating a nurturing, joyful, and inspiring place for children to learn and grow. That’s why our school is named Au Beau Séjour, which means “A Beautiful Stay.” Those words capture exactly what I want every child and family to experience at ABS.

Originally from Algeria, Wahiba grew up in a large family where caring for her younger siblings sparked a lifelong passion for education. From a very young age, she dreamed of becoming a teacher—and she has truly made that dream a reality.

She first earned her diploma in Interpretation and Translation from the University of Algiers in 2006, then went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching. Soon after, she began her career as a French Lead Teacher in elementary schools, working primarily with children ages 8 to 12. By 2016, she was also training and mentoring new teachers.

In 2019, Wahiba and her family moved to California, where she continued to pursue her love for teaching. She joined the Au Beau Séjour team in 2020 as a fully qualified teacher and, thanks to her dedication and leadership, became Head Teacher at ABS West Campus in 2023.

With over 12 years of experience in the classroom, Wahiba brings a wealth of knowledge and skills, including:

• Strong communication and motivation strategies

• Creative, student-centered lesson planning

• Positive and age-appropriate classroom management techniques

• Effective procedures to optimize learning experiences

Wahiba is passionate about creating a nurturing environment where children feel motivated, supported, and excited to learn. She is also a trusted leader who uplifts the ABS team with her commitment and her attentive, collaborative approach.

We are delighted to have Wahiba as part of our ABS West Campus community!

Maha was born in Algeria, where she spent part of her childhood, and is now happily married with an 8-year-old daughter.

Throughout her youth, Maha lived in several European countries due to her father’s career. These experiences allowed her to learn multiple languages, adapt easily to new environments, and develop a deep appreciation for different cultures and traditions.

After completing high school, she returned to Algeria and pursued studies in communication and human relations, which inspired her to open her own school in Algiers. Working with children brought her immense joy and valuable experience, strengthening her passion for early childhood education.

In 2021, Maha moved to California, where she began working in an infant and toddler program as an assistant teacher, a role she held until March 2024.

Now part of the ABS team, Maha sees her work as an exciting new chapter. She is dedicated to giving her very best every day to support families’ expectations and, most importantly, to ensure the well-being, happiness, and growth of her students. She is thrilled to welcome her new class and to help each child thrive in a nurturing, joyful environment.

Gitanjali, also called Guitou, grew up in Pondicherry, a French-colonized beach town in India, and was introduced to French at the age of three through the Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education. This school follows an integral system of education with French as the medium of instruction, and she then graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in French and English.

After college, Guitou worked as a French and German language specialist in various companies, including Oracle and IRI, where her language skills supported roles in market research and project accounting for European clients.

After taking a career break to focus on her children, Guitou has spent the past few years tutoring French to students throughout the Bay Area. She also earned a Certificate with Honors in Instructional Design and Delivery from UCSC, which enables me to design effective learning objectives tailored to each student’s needs.

Teaching brings her immense joy and fulfillment, and she am delighted to be part of the ABS Teacher ABS, where she creates a happy, meaningful learning experiences for our students. Guitou is committed to make a positive impact on her students’ lives!

Fedwa is a patient, gentle, and cheerful teacher who finds true joy in working with children. She loves watching them grow, learn, and flourish, something that inspires her every single day.

Her journey with childcare began at a young age, caring for her cousins, nieces, and nephews, and has since expanded into professional teaching experiences over the past five years in Turkey, Algeria, and now the United States. Teaching is her passion, and she is dedicated to creating a positive and nurturing environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged.

Fedwa is trilingual in French, English, and Arabic, which allows her to connect with children and families from diverse backgrounds.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures, hiking, camping, and spending time in nature.

Fedwa joined the ABS Teacher Team in the 2024/2025 academic year, beginning as a Teacher Assistant in our Coccinelles class. She is currently pursuing her Early Childhood Education certificate to further advance her career and strengthen her expertise in working with young children.

Julie was born in Lyon, France, the capital of gastronomy, where she grew up speaking French and Tamil, and later learned English during her studies. Her passion for teaching began in Karikal, India, where she worked as a French teacher for 3rd grade (CE2) and tutored students from Pre-K through 5th grade.

Since then, Julie has gained valuable teaching experience in the Bay Area. She has worked as a French assistant teacher at The Renaissance International School in Oakland, as a substitute French teacher and assistant at Blue Moon Learning Center in Alameda, and as a French teacher for both children and adults at the Alliance Française of San Francisco.

In addition to her teaching career, Julie holds a diploma in Management, Administration, and Hospitality, and spent five years working in Paris before moving to the United States.

Now living in Alameda with her husband and two children, Julie enjoys traveling, reading, baking French pastries, and listening to music. She is excited to share her love of language and culture with her students and to nurture their growth in a supportive and joyful learning environment.

Originally from Algeria, Dania holds a degree in Psychology from the University of M’MTO. Over the years, she has gained diverse professional experience in healthcare, education, and management, both in Algeria and the United States. Having lived in Berkeley for a few years, she is now a permanent U.S. resident and is fluent in French, Arabic, and Berber, with strong proficiency in English and German.

Dania began her career as a nurse at Algiers Hospital, where she spent over two years developing a deep sense of responsibility, strong listening skills, and a compassionate approach to care. Passionate about child development and human relationships, she later taught French and worked as a nanny in a private school in Tizi Ouzou, experiences that inspired her path into early childhood education.

In addition, Dania has held leadership roles in the food service industry in Berkeley, including as a shift manager, where she further strengthened her skills in leadership, organization, and teamwork.

Today, Dania is excited to bring her rich background and enthusiasm to ABS. She is currently pursuing her Early Childhood Education certificate to further advance her teaching career and strengthen her expertise in working with young children.

Dania is delighted to have recently join our ABS Teacher Team to contribute to a nurturing and stimulating learning environment, where she can share her culture, language skills, and passion for education while supporting each child’s growth and development.

Pauline was born and raised near Paris, France, and has been living in Lafayette, in the East Bay, for the past eight years with her family. She is the proud mother of two teenage boys, Nael and Théo.

She holds a degree in finance, economics, and politics from a French university and spent 20 years working as a financial analyst in Paris, helping entrepreneurs find the resources they needed to grow their businesses. While she was passionate about supporting entrepreneurs, Pauline also discovered that she had the same enthusiasm for helping children learn, grow, and thrive.

After moving to the U.S., she quickly embraced the American school system and enjoyed volunteering in classrooms, where she supported math and arts workshops. She also combined her love of cooking with teaching by leading children’s cooking classes for homeschoolers in Berkeley before the pandemic. In her free time, Pauline enjoys gardening and growing a wide variety of plants.

Pauline earned her Early Childhood Education certificate, and she is continuing her studies to become an ABS Master Teacher and to further advance her career. She is dilighted to bring her dedication, creativity, and passion to the ABS team. Pauline looks forward to supporting each child’s growth and to building meaningful connections with students and their families.

Virginie was born in Reims, France, in the Champagne region, and is the proud mother of four children. After studying business, she worked alongside her parents before spending the past 20 years building a career with her husband in the ice cream industry.

Seven years ago, Virginie and her family settled in the Bay Area, where she decided to return to her studies and pursue her passion for working with children. She completed her Early Childhood Education certificate (12 ECE) in December and finalized her program by completing volunteer hours at ABS West Campus during the 2024/25 academic year.

Since the start of the 2025/26 academic year, Virginie has joined ABS as a qualified Teacher. Her goal is to share her native language and culture with her students, creating opportunities for them to discover and grow in a French immersion environment. She is continuing her studies to become an ABS Master Teacher and looks forward to inspiring a love of French language and culture in young children.

Najlae was born and raised in Morocco. As the youngest in her family, she grew up surrounded by love and care, which shaped her ability to share positivity and warmth with both children and adults. From an early age, she noticed how naturally children were drawn to her, reflecting back the affection and attention she gave them.

In 2021, Najlae earned her Master’s degree in Nutrition and became a Food Safety and Security Specialist from Hassan II University in Morocco. Just a few months later, she moved to the United States to further develop her skills and explore new opportunities. While working at a COVID-19 site, she rediscovered how easily children connected with her, which inspired her to pursue a career working with them.

Always passionate about the French language, Najlae was thrilled to find the perfect opportunity to combine her love for French with her joy of teaching, joining ABS as a French Preschool Teacher. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge, creating engaging activities, and supporting each child’s growth and well-being in a nurturing, immersive environment.

Najlae is delighted to be part of the ABS team and to guide children as they thrive in their French Immersion Preschool experience.

Nassima was born and raised in Algeria and is fluent in French, English, Arabic, and Berber.

She earned a Master’s degree in Finance and Banking after attending a banking school in Algeria, where she also had the unique experience of working alongside her father in the police department.

In 2016, Nassima moved to California and began working as a babysitter, where she quickly discovered her love for being surrounded by children. The strong bonds she built with them inspired her to pursue a career in early childhood education. She has already completed her ECE courses and is continuing her studies to obtain her Teacher Certificate.

Nassima first joined ABS in 2022, and after taking time off to care for her newborn in 2023, she rejoined the team in February 2024. She is thrilled to continue her journey with ABS and is committed to giving her very best to each child she teaches.

Iman graduated in Psychomotor Therapy from the University of Bordeaux, a field dedicated to supporting the overall development of children in their psychological, motor, and emotional growth. Her work has focused on screening, prevention, and guidance, always in close collaboration with families and educational teams.

Passionate about early childhood, Iman believes the first years of life are a crucial foundation for cognitive, emotional, and social development. For more than three years, she has worked with children in diverse settings (including schools, medical-social services, and child psychiatry), developing expertise in supporting both neurotypical children, and those with ASD, ADHD, learning differences, or high potential. She is committed to inclusive practices that honor the unique needs of every child.

Her transition to teaching preschool came naturally, as it allows her to combine her professional knowledge of child development with her love for creating engaging, active learning experiences.

Iman believes in an education rooted in joy, compassion, and respect for each child’s rhythm. She sees preschool as a key stage for nurturing confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.

As the Professional Development & Training Coordinator at ABS, Iman is responsible for designing and leading staff training initiatives that enhance the quality of our educational programs. She will develop engaging presentations, training sessions, and workshop materials tailored to support our teachers in advancing children’s psychological, motor, and emotional development. Through sharing evidence-based tools, resources, and strategies, she empowers educators to deepen their expertise, foster inclusive classroom practices, and create an environment where every child can thrive. Her work plays a key role in maintaining ABS’s commitment to excellence in early childhood education.

She is delighted to be part of the Au Beau Séjour team, where she contributes daily to a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment for children and families.

Without Mark and Arturo, our preschool wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful! They are truly talented creators who have built so many of the spaces and tools our children use every day, from picnic tables, cubbies, and shelves to our chicken coop, planters, and storage.

In addition to their craftsmanship, Mark and Arturo also share their love of nature as our Garden Teachers, guiding children in discovering the joys of gardening and caring for the environment.

Tania and Dina are our wonderful chefs, bringing fresh and delicious meals to our students and staff every weekday! They love incorporating herbs from our garden and vegetables grown and harvested by our students, turning them into healthy, tasty lunches.

After preparing breakfast and lunch each morning, Tania and Dina also take great care in cleaning and disinfecting our preschool every afternoon. Thanks to their dedication, our school stays fresh, welcoming, and spotless every day.

A big merci to Tania & Dina for nourishing both our bodies and our environment with so much care!