Meet the Team
Dedicated & Certified
Anne-Laure Petit
Head of School / Finance
Originally from a small town in France, Anne-Laure moved to San Diego at age 13. She graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's in Media Studies, later becoming a teacher's assistant. Anne-Laure went on to teach ESL at an alternative high school in France, an experience that propelled her to earn a Master's in Education and a California Teaching Credential. Observing the foundational impact of early education on academic success, she co-founded Au Clair de Lune, a preschool aimed at fostering a positive early educational experience.
Administration Team
Claire Hémery
Compliance and Admissions Director
Claire, born and raised in Angers, France, inherited a passion for teaching from her parents, both professors. With a Bachelor's in Psychology, she began her career as a special education teacher, crafting tailored methods for students with diverse needs. Pursuing her dedication, she earned a Master's in Education, enhancing her skills and commitment to educational excellence.
Jessica Bedin
Academic Director
Jessica, from Vierzon, began with a Nurse Assistant diploma, then earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology . Transitioning to education, she obtained a Teacher's credential, teaching various ages. She developed a personalized pedagogy emphasizing autonomy, perseverance, and emotional management. With a passion for multilingualism ingrained by her upbringing, she constantly seeks diverse pedagogical approaches to encourage children to surpass their limits.
Assia Mesbah
Lead Teacher
Assia, born in Algeria, is a dedicated teacher with 12 years of experience in early childhood education. She earned her state diploma in 2007 in Algiers and in 2008 in Montrouge. From 2009 to 2015, she taught children aged 3 to 5 in a French school in Algiers. In 2019, she moved to the U.S. and worked at another French school before joining Au Clair de Lune in 2021. Assia excels in classroom management and is passionate about promoting student autonomy, teaching subjects like reading, nature, art, music, literature, and personal hygiene.
Preschool Team
Laure Migard
Lead Teacher
Laure, born and raised near Paris, France, developed a passion for English in middle school. She majored in Anglophone studies and spent a semester at Auburn University in Alabama in 2018. Returning to France, she earned a Master’s degree in Translation. In 2021, she joined an exchange program and taught French at the University of Missouri, where she also earned a Master’s in Language Teaching. In 2023, she moved to San Diego to join Au Clair de Lune and discovered a love for working with young children. Laure is currently pursuing a PhD in Education. She enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her French cat. Since moving to the US, she has visited over forty states.
Floriane Nicol
Lead Teacher
Floriane, from Brest, Brittany, earned her French diploma in Business Management before working as an Au Pair in the US. She discovered her passion for teaching French to young children and transitioned to become a Lead Teacher. Alongside her teaching career, she obtained her Certified Nurse Assistant license and an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. She's currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in the same field. Floriane believes in play-based learning and multilingual exposure for children's development.
Céline Hapiot
Assistant Teacher
Céline was born in eastern France and began her career in optometry, specializing in ocular prosthetics. Her work gave her the opportunity to support many children and families, experiences that nurtured her patience, empathy, and commitment to care. These qualities naturally led her toward early childhood education, where she now brings her dedication and warmth to the classroom. At Au Clair de Lune, Céline is pursuing her Early Childhood Education credentials while continuing to grow as an educator.
Abir Elbanan
Assistant Teacher
Abir began her career in 2002 as a French language teacher in Cairo, after earning her Bachelor of Education in French Language and Literature from Ain Shams University. Over the next 20 years, she taught French at International Schools, working with students of different ages and levels. She especially enjoyed adapting her lessons to meet diverse learning needs and creating a classroom environment that blended language, culture, and creativity. Since moving to the United States, Abir has continued her work in education and brings her long experience, warmth, and dedication to her role with our youngest learners.
Audrey Rivière
Assistant Teacher
Audrey grew up in California but learned French from her mother, who was born and raised in Nantes, France. She visits France every year and feels deeply connected to the language, country, and culture. She is currently pursuing a BA in psychology at CSU San Marcos with the goal of earning a master’s degree in psychology in the future. Audrey has always loved working with children, spending seven years as a babysitter before joining Au Clair de Lune. Her passions include traveling, running, rock climbing, and caring for her cats.
Music Teacher
Anaëlle Ferreira
Anaëlle was born and raised in northern France, near Lille, and began playing piano at the age of six. Her passion for music led her to earn a degree in Musicology from the University of Lille III and begin teaching piano at just seventeen.
With over 15 years of experience teaching music and working with children, Anaëlle brings both her musical expertise and love of teaching to Au Clair de Lune.
As our Transitional Kindergarten Music Teacher, she introduces students to piano and solfège (music theory), taught entirely in French, using songs, games, and hands-on activities to build musical foundations while nurturing a genuine love for music.
Emmanuelle Happy-Siwe
Infant Teacher
Emmanuelle Happy-Siwe was born to a French mother and a Cameroonian father, making French her first language from an early age. Raised between Maryland and Las Vegas, she developed a deep appreciation for different cultures, languages, and perspectives.
Emmanuelle is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with experience caring for children, including those with special needs. Her background has strengthened her patience, compassion, and ability to create a safe, nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported. She believes that helping children grow in confidence while discovering the world around them is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
At Au Clair de Lune, Emmanuelle is excited to combine her love of the French language with her passion for working with young children.
Ihsane Filali
Infant Teacher
Originally from Morocco, Ihsane completed her education in the French language and is fully fluent in French. She is currently pursuing professional training in Early Childhood Education and brings a rich professional background in management and communication, where she developed strong organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills.
As a mother of three boys, Ihsane has always been passionate about children’s development and education. Her personal and professional experiences inspired her to transition into early childhood education, where she enjoys guiding young children through their first discoveries and helping them build confidence, curiosity, and independence.
Ihsane is dedicated to creating a warm, nurturing, and structured classroom environment where each child feels supported, valued, and encouraged to learn and grow.
Martha Moreno
Infant Teacher
Martha is Mexican-American and has more than 25 years of experience working with young children, both as a preschool teacher and a mother of four. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she deeply understands how young children naturally acquire language through daily interaction and routine. While she does not speak French, her presence supports the classroom environment so our French-speaking teachers can remain in full immersion.
Martha is currently pursuing additional Early Childhood Education credentials and loves incorporating art into everyday moments with our infants and toddlers.
TBH
Infant Teacher
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INFANTS Team
PRE-TODDLERS Team
Neda Rahimi
Pre-Toddler Teacher
Neda was born and raised in Iran, where she began her career as a teacher. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Literature and has more than 15 years of experience working with children of different ages.
After moving abroad, Neda lived in Ecuador, where she continued working with children while learning Spanish. Her journey eventually brought her to the United States, where she continues to pursue her passion for early childhood education.
Neda is currently continuing her educational journey by pursuing college-level coursework in Early Childhood Education, further expanding her knowledge and skills to support young learners.
She speaks Farsi, English, and Spanish, and is currently learning French.
Melika Aghdaei
Pre-Toddler Teacher
Melika was born in Iran. In 2010, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Management and then began her professional career in early childhood education, working in preschools in Iran for five years. Her deep passion for children inspired her, and after immigrating to the United States in 2023, she decided to obtain the necessary certifications to continue her career in early childhood education. Soon after, she joined Au Clair de Lune.
Erika Orozco
Pre-Toddler Teacher
Erika is passionate about early childhood education and finds joy in guiding young children through their first stages of learning and discovery. She holds a degree in Child Psychology and a Master’s in Neuropsychology, which give her a deep understanding of how children grow, learn, and develop emotionally and cognitively.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Erika brings valuable insight into language learning and communication. Even though she does not speak French, her experience with bilingualism helps her understand what children need to feel confident and supported when immersed in a new language.
Céline Du Brucq
Toddler Teacher
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Marie-Magdeleine Petion (Maddie)
Toddler Teacher
Born and raised in France, Marie-Magdeleine, known as Maddie, first studied Geography before moving to the United States to pursue her passion for the arts. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts while also teaching French to university students.
After spending several years raising her four boys, Maddie returned to the classroom, where she finds great meaning and joy in working with children. She loves creating an environment where they can explore, discover, and learn through their natural curiosity.
A lifelong lover of nature, plants, art, and simplicity, Maddie believes that curiosity and a sense of adventure are essential parts of life. She is delighted to bring her creativity, warmth, and French culture to the children at Au Clair de Lune.
Toddlers Team
KITCHEN
Isairis Higuera
Chef
With three years of training at a culinary art school, Isairis prepares delicious and nutritious meals every day. Her commitment to providing diverse and wholesome food introduces the children to a variety of tastes and textures, crucial for their development. By exposing them to a wide range of culinary experiences, she helps form lifelong healthy eating habits and cultural appreciation. Isairis’s dedication extends beyond nutrition, as she ensures the food is visually appealing and appetizing, enhancing the children's mealtime experiences.