Staff / Personnel
The staff at LFS is one of our most important assets. Our Lead Teachers have degrees and experience in early childhood education, and many of our staff stay with us in the long-term. Lead teachers develop and implement daily lesson plans to engage and support the children, and often work collaboratively with an assistant teacher. Assistant Teachers have ongoing education in early child development and work closely with lead teachers to maintain a positive classroom environment.
The school is administered by a Director, with oversight from the Board of Directors, the governing body of the school. Parents are encouraged to become involved by joining the board or attending the monthly meetings.
Direction (Office Staff)
Assitan Sylla Traore
Director
LFS is pleased to welcome a new Director as of April 2016! Assa is a native French speaker and brings experience in nonprofit management as well as a love of children and early childhood education to our school. Bienvenue Assa!
I was born and raised in Mali in an extended family. I have always loved children. Growing up my favorite thing to do was to role play teacher/students interaction in the classroom.
I have a Masters degree in Linguistics / language teaching from Moscow Linguistic University, a Masters in International Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Oregon.
Before joining LFS, I worked for 17 years in Mali in diplomacy and government, first, as the Special Assistant to 8 Ambassadors of Nigeria to Mali and as a Special Assistant in Mali Prime Minister office.
I also worked as the Africa Program Director at Instove, a nonprofit located in Cottage Grove manufacturing big cooking stoves for school feeding programs and hospitals in countries where people still rely on wood for cooking and heating.
I have 4 children all raised bilingual. I also have a grand daughter. I love cooking and watching movies in my free time. I am honored to be part of the Little French School community.
Valerie Cunningham (Val)
Senior Administrative Assistant / Substitute Teacher
Hello! My name is Valerie (Val) Cunningham. I am the Senior Administrative Assistant/Substitute teacher. I have lived in Eugene, Oregon my whole life and was adopted when I was four. I was born sixteen weeks early and weighed one pound and nine ounces. The doctors did not expect me to make it through the night. Fortunately, here I am! They called me the miracle baby.
As a result, I have mild Cerebral Palsy and a weak left side which do not affect my daily routine.
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Education and Family Human Services from the University of Oregon in 2023. In addition to my major, I had two minors in Music and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I achieved a 4.13 GPA during my college career, making Dean’s List three times.
I started my journey in Education while I was in college. I started at Creswell Clubhouse, an afterschool program in Creswell for school-aged children. I taught a variety of clubs including Choir, Creative Writing, Comic Books, LEGOs, Friendship Club (a self-esteem building/group therapy), general academic tutoring, and even a fun Harry Potter club at the request of the students! Currently, I serve as secretary for the Board of Directors at Creswell Clubhouse.
I continued working in early childhood education as an Educational Assistant for Bethel School District’s Family Resource Center, an assistant toddler teacher at Eugene Creative Care, an educational assistant for Kids in Transition to School (KITS), and toddler support teacher at Parkside Community Preschool. Furthermore, I volunteered at Planned Parenthood as a youth health care advocate and a crisis line worker at Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS).
In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with my fiancé and our pets (three dogs and two cats), painting, collecting vinyl records, reading, and playing instruments (guitar, bass, ukulele, some piano, vocal).
I am so excited to be here! I can’t wait to get to know all of you!
La Moyenne Section ( Pre-K)
Barbara Walraet
Lead Teacher, La Moyenne Section, Pre-K
I am a Native French Speaker, raised in a bilingual home speaking French and Dutch. My upbringing gave me a strong interest in foreign languages. In High School, I chose to apply myself to a literature and language degree, studying German, English, and Russian. I married a German citizen and I now have two wonderful children who attended the French immersion program at South Eugene High School. They are both trilingual. They speak German with their father, English to their friends and pets, and French with me! It is such a wonderful experience to see how much my children did benefit from the exposure of different languages and cultures. The learning of a foreign language is a life-long skill that leads to a better understanding and acceptance of the diversity in our world. I am very excited to teach my students a little bit of that magic and to take them on a wonderful journey…
I have a Master’s degree in Foreign Affairs and Languages and the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Education. I taught French at Lane Community College in Eugene for 2 years, while working as an Assistant in the Preschool at The Little French School. I then taught 2 years in a French-German Immersion school in Germany. After our stay in Germany, we returned to Eugene and I spent five amazing years at The Little French School as a Preschool Teacher. I later returned to teach the Pre-K, where I have been since 2011. I enjoy every minute I spend with the children in the classroom. Their smiles are priceless, their curiosity and imagination are inspiring, and their love is unconditional.
I am an avid patissière. I have learned that teaching is like a good dessert. First, you learn the basic techniques. The more often you make it, the more fun you have, and the more proficient you get. You start to be creative and you try many new things out until it becomes a daily craving and you realize that you cannot go too long without it. I found the perfect dessert: Teaching! It boosts my energy and elevates my spirit. I can have it every day and it helps me stay happy, healthy, and fulfilled.
Ariel Kiyabu
Assistant Teacher, La Moyenne Section, Pre-K
Bonjour!
My name is Ariel, I am the assistant teacher in Pre-K. I have had the pleasure of assisting Barbara since 2016.
I am a fluent French speaker. I began learning French when I was 5 years old at the Ecole Française de Nairobi and continued at the Lycée Français de Vienne and the Vienna International School. Growing up in Austria, I learned German as well. I have studied Spanish, and did an intensive scholarship semester learning Mandarin followed by a semester abroad in Beijing at BFSU. I have experienced first hand how language enables a deeper understanding of people and cultures, and the interconnectedness of the world we live in.
I met my husband while living in Hawai'i and we moved to Oregon in 2009. Both of our children attended the Little French School and are now continuing in the French immersion program in Eugene.
I am currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at LCC. Early childhood language immersion is fascinating to me. Children are such little sponges. It is gratifying to watch them learning French along with the other skills they need to successfully navigate the world around them.
It is a joy and a privilege to teach children. I am grateful to be a part of the Little French School community.
La Petite Section ( Preschool)
Christiane Hougardy
Lead Teacher, La Petite Section, Preschool
I am a native of Austria (fluent in German) and studied French in middle school, high school and college. During my last summer in high school, I spent three months in France as a nanny caring for four children between the ages of one and eight.
In 1992, I came to the US to follow my sense of adventure. Since then, I have worked as an au-pair, a program manager in the tech industry, and as a classroom assistant in various preschools and elementary schools. While working full-time I also earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies. I have been working as an Assistant Teacher at The Little French School since 2014 and love to see the kids thrive and grow.
When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, our dog, two cats, and four chickens, as well as hiking, camping, backpacking, traveling, and reading.
Sophia Whitacre
Assistant Teacher, Petite Section , Preschool, Extended Care
I am from the midwest of America, but my family moved to the Oregon coast for more than five years. I have made my way over to Eugene to continue my education at Lane Community College in hopes of eventually having my associate's degree in early childhood education.
I have a deep passion for helping children grow. My love started when I was younger, helping my mom in her classroom and volunteering yearly at our local kids' Special Olympics. I am happily now a part of the little French school's family. I have had the opportunity to work at one other center before and believe the way they do things here at the little French school gives the children open-ended space to grow and flourish.
When I am not working or studying for classes, some of my hobbies include gardening and reading, and I LOVE creation from art or music. I also enjoy exploring nature; I love learning more and diving into quantum botanicals (the science behind plant life).
Thank you, parents, for this possibility to help your little one grow!
La Toute Petite Section ( Toddler)
Elisia Rose
Lead Teacher, Toute Petite Section / Toddler-1
Bonjour!
My name is Elisia and I am the lead teacher in the "Les abeilles" toddler classroom. I have an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working in the field for the past 8 years. Pre covid, I was living in Ireland where I was an au pair for a French speaking family. When I came back to the United States I found myself interested in becoming more fluent in my French but wanted to continue teaching in early childhood education. The Little French School checked both of these boxes, and so here I am today!
This will be my third year with the Little French school and I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing team of teachers!
Outside of school I enjoy camping with my dog, supporting families as a birth doula, sewing and traveling the world as much as I can.
Cecile Fleming
Assistant Teacher, Toute Petite Section / Toddler #1
Hello!
I was born and raised in Florence Oregon. I am the youngest of three brothers.
I grew up doing musical theater and started when I was six years old. Music and art have always been a passion of mine. As I grew older I helped babysit the younger children of families I was friends with through the theater program. That’s when I developed a love for childcare and found it was something I was good at.
When I turned fifteen a family friend was opening a preschool and offered to get me certified as a teachers aid so I could work at the facility. She knew I loved childcare and thought I would be a good fit. I worked at Little sprouts for two years until the facility closed in 2020 due to COVID-19.
A few months later a new preschool opened up in the same building and I applied to work there. It was called The Cottage and I worked there for almost a year until I had to leave due to me moving away.
My love for childcare never went away and this year when I moved to eugene I took it as an opportunity to get re-certified and start working with kids again. I am so excited to have this opportunity to work at the Little French School. I cant wait to get to know all of the children, their families, and the staff at LFS.
Thank you!
Madison Hoover
Teacher, Toute Petite Section, Toddler #2
My name is Miss Madison, and I am the teacher in the second toddler classroom. I am so excited to be leading a classroom this year and look forward to getting to know each of your children. Our classroom is called "Les chatons" meaning kittens.
A little about me:
I have been teaching for three years and this will be my fourth! I graduated from LCC with honors and completed my Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. I know the basics in French and will introduce small basic words that will be taught everyday (greetings, colors, numbers). As the children get more confident we will progress with more French language.
I have worked at the ILP foster care youth center before I began teaching. I have a deep passion for helping children and am grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of your children's lives. I am here to guide, nurture and help your child to grow in a safe and fun environment. The schedule, and curriculum will be the same in both of the toddler classrooms. As well as having a combined recess and nap as needed.
Some of my favorite things include my two cats who are both seven years old. I love anything outdoors: hiking, snowboarding, boating, etc.
L'après-midi (Extended Care)
Ryan Wozniak
Teacher, After School Care/Float / Substitute Director
Hello everyone! My name is Ryan Wozniak. I am the new float teacher and the new after-school care teacher at the Little French School. Being a part of this staff and the community is a pleasure.
I have been living in Eugene for two years. I grew up in Missoula, Montana, and went to school there having earned my bachelor's in Japanese. I taught English in Japan for over three years, before returning to the States and completing my master's in Language Teaching Studies at the University of Oregon.
I have taught English at different elementary and junior high schools for most of my stay in Japan, having also worked at preschool/pre-k schools and daycares there and in Oregon with Eugene Creative Care and Unity School.
When I am not working, I like to enjoy my time cooking and meal-prepping with my partner, binge-watching series, dramas, and anime, staying active by going on walks and working out at home, and reading extensive amounts of fiction and fantasy novels, Japanese culture and history books, and manga. I plan to visit Japan soon and embrace some of my favorite moments with my partner.
I look forward to teaching and helping your children as we grow and learn together.
Arielle Jane Amansec
Assistant Teacher, After School Care/Float
Bonjour! Je m'appelle arielle but our students call me teacher elly! My pronouns are they [EN] / iel [FR] / elle [ES]. I am excited to be a part of The Little French School family as a float and aftercare teacher. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Linguistics and Music, having earned a place on the Dean's Honor List multiple times as well as being a recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship for my studies abroad.
Growing up as a first-generation Filipino-American in San Diego, I learned Tagalog at home and attended a K-8 year-round magnet school called The Language Academy in which I learned French through full immersion. The school also offered Spanish classes and helped us grow to be open to different cultures, having a multicultural fair every year as well as an incredibly diverse student body and staff. I continued my French education throughout high school and university, even when I moved to Japan for high school. I know personally how fulfilling learning another language can be.
After living in Japan for about six years, I moved to the Philippines, being exposed to different dialects of these archipelagos along the way. I have also studied abroad in London and traveled all over Europe (Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Scotland, and Germany so far). During my stay in Japan, I taught English to grade schoolers and whilst living in the Philippines, I attended the University of Santo Tomas as a Music major where I tutored music and English. Living in San Diego, I also taught myself Spanish and ESL to adults. I want to help children celebrate differences and diversity and find the beauty in each and every person.
I have been living in Eugene with my partner and two black cats since 2017. I enjoy languages, reading and writing, nature, yoga and meditation, flow arts, eating and cooking, making music and concert-going, watching movies, and playing video games. I am also a content creator, applying language learning and music often. Allons-y!
Don Nuam
Toddler 2 Teacher /Aftercare
Bio coming soon....
Savannah Slayden
On-Call Substitute Teacher
Coming soon.....
Tory, Heldt
On-Call Substitute Teacher
Coming soon.....
Larissa (Lacey), Taylor
Development Intern
Hello! My name is Lacey Taylor, and I am currently working as a Development Intern for the Little French School. I’m a senior at the University of Oregon and will be graduating with a degree in Planning, Public Policy, and Management and a minor in Nonprofit Administration. I have always had a passion for helping others and plan to pursue this post-college working at a nonprofit and providing aid to those who need it most. I admire the French culture and language and took four years of French in high school. Through this, I had the privilege of participating in a student exchange program where I stayed with and learned from a French family. This, combined with my love of working with children, pushed me to be involved in the Little French School when I got the chance!
A little more about me! I was born and raised in a suburb about 30 minutes north of Philadelphia. I have an older sister and a younger brother who joined me here at the U of O. I have always had a love for the West Coast, mainly Oregon, as my parents went to grad school here and raised us all as Ducks! I work as a manager at the Student Recreation Center on campus and enjoy working out. I love to read, spend time outside in whatever ways I can, and hang out with my friends!
Maria Del Socorro, Betancourt
Janitorial Staff - School Cleaning
Coming soon.....
Maria Del Carmen Solano Lujan
Janitorial Staff
Coming soon.....