Newsletter 2/8/19

Roger Goudiaby is the Director of Information Technology at AcadémieLafayette. He manages the computer networks, telephone systems, and information technology at both campuses. Besides being a certified computer technician, he has a Masters degree in Music Education from Ecole Nationale des Arts in Senegal and a Masters degree in School Administration from the University of Central Missouri. He holds Education Certificates from Senegal, Missouri, and Ontario, Canada. Mr. Goudiaby joined the Académie Lafayette team in 2000 as a kindergarten teacher.  He also taught French phonemic awareness.

Chris Neher has been working in the nonprofit industry for nearly 20 years. After a short-lived music career, his calling lead him to begin his fundraising career at the MIT Sloan School of Management. In 2005, Chris co-founded the world’s first and only international nonprofit toy company which focused on psychosocial programming for the world’s most marginalized populations. An avid traveler, Chris has broken bread in 45 states and 25 countries. In his free time, he spends his time being taken for a drag by his Mastiff, playing golf, tennis and finding new places to eat with his wife. Chris is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in diplomacy from the University of London.

I am from China (PRC), and a native Chinese speaker. I got my Bachelor’s degree in Science in China and a Master’s degree in Education in South Korea. I attended a Korean-Chinese immersion school for 12 years (P, M, H) in China so I am fluent in both Korean and Chinese. During that time, I studied a 3rd language (English) in middle school and high school. Before I came to the US, I taught Chinese in South Korea for many years (in a private school and college). I also worked for many years in the admissions department of a university in both China and South Korea. My last year of working in South Korea, I taught Korean in a University Language Institute. I taught for a year and then moved to the United States with my husband. The same year, Académie Lafayette hired me as the first Mandarin teacher in 2014.

My entire education background is very similar to Académie Lafayette students’. I learned Korean like AL students learn French (language immersion). I learned English like AL students learn a 3rd language (language acquisition). I experienced the two main approaches to learning languages. These language learning experiences help me understand my students who are facing exactly the same situation as I faced when I was young. Working at AL has helped me understand the American education system and American students.

Hello, my name is Randi McCreary, and I am the sixth grade English teacher at Académie Lafayette. I have been teaching for 18 years with a bachelor’s in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri and a master’s in education from Avila University. I truly enjoy teaching students how to become the best writers, readers, speakers, and listeners that they can. Académie Lafayette is a wonderful place to incorporate my love of creativity.

When I am not teaching, writing is a big part of my life. I am a published writer that has had work featured in Essence Magazine and O Magazine, and I am the author of two poetry chapter books found at Barnes & Noble. I am the mother of two beautiful daughters and love spending time with my family. A fun fact about me is that I am a Funds for Teachers Fellow and spent a summer in Harlem, New York, researching the life and times of Langston Hughes.

I am more than happy to be part of the wonderful Académie Lafayette community. I graduated from the school of education in Dakar, Senegal, known as École Normale Supérieure (ENS). I hold a master’s and a DEA (advanced study degree) in history from Cheikh Anta Diop University, as well as a master’s in international relations from City University of New York. I started a Ph.D. and then left to fill in as a substitute teacher for six months. With that experience, I learned I loved to teach and decided to become a certified teacher. After I taught few years, I left the country. I taught in New York as a GED teacher and served as an enrollment and family advocate.

Liz O’Flaherty grew up in Kansas City, MO right in the heart of Brookside. She attended Visitation Grade School and St. Teresa’s Academy. It was when she was in Rachel Pasano’s First Grade classroom where she “caught” the teaching bug. Her love of Colorado sent her to Denver, Colorado where she attended college at Regis University. There, she taught in the Denver Public Schools, skied her favorite places like Winter Park and Vail, and developed life long friends.Liz returned to KC in 1990 where she has taught for over 25 years. She received her Masters in Literacy from Rockhurst University in 2005 and has been honored to be a part of this wonderful Académie Lafayette community since 2010.When not in the classroom, you might find Liz spending time with her family and friends, walking at her favorite parks, working out at Crossfit, volunteering at St. James Food Pantry and the KC Irish Fest, and writing/reading at her favorite coffee spots. There are so many!

“Be Silly, Be Honest, Be Kind.”                                                               
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I live in Blue Springs, Missouri, but was born in Cameroon, West Africa. I moved to the United States in 1999 to join my mother and my stepfather, who have both been educators in Kansas City public schools since 1991.

After receiving a bachelor’s in finance and marketing from the University of Yaoundé II, I worked at the Census Bureau for 2 years with American health experts who were collecting data on health issues regarding infants and new moms. Then, I went back to school to become an elementary teacher. After my student teaching, I was hired to come and teach at Longan French Magnet School in Kansas City.

After a year of teaching kindergarten, I realized that I needed to learn more about American kids and their culture. I decided to go back to school at UMKC where I obtained a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2004.

With 15 years in the Kansas City Public School District, I’ve taught kindergarten (5 years), first grade (1 year), second grade (2 years), third (3 years), and fourth and fifth grades (4 years). I joined Académie Lafayette in 2014 to teach science and math to fifth grade, which I still enjoy very much.I am a mother of a beautiful and intelligent young woman named Manuella. She is 20 and going to college but still lives at home with me.

My name is Sheila Rowan, and I am honored to be a part of the Académie Lafayette community. This year is my 20th year of teaching and my 5th year here at AL. I love teaching 4th grade English and Communication Arts. I graduated from Rockhurst University with a BA and a Master’s in Education.

I have two beautiful daughters, Siobhan (18) and Alana (16). I lived in Ireland for almost two years, and my girls and I travel as much as we can. I love movies, reading, games (especially Scrabble!), music, and going to see the Royals play. My philosophy of teaching revolves around an eloquent quote that I just stumbled across after teaching a nonfiction unit on inventors. Ben Franklin once said… “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

A father of three, I have two girls and a boy. I got my teaching degree in Senegal where I taught for 6 years. I earned a master’s in education at the University of Central Missouri. I also coach the first AL Students Spaceflight Exploration Program (SSEP) and went to a NASA trip for the 10 winners awards in 2014. I am very passionate about soccer, and I co-coach the AL middle school soccer team.

I am a native of N’kongsamba, Cameroon. I attended the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, for a year, moved to England the following year, then to Paris where I graduated from the University of Sorbonne, Paris, with a double major in foreign languages and international law. I have a combined teaching experience of 31 years, 6 of which were at AL. I was attracted to AL because of its excellent team of teachers, great students, and supportive parents.

I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren. I enjoy entertaining, dancing, cooking, reading, watching political news, and watching movies. I’m a “hidden” event coordinator: I have coordinated all the weddings that happened in my family.

I come from the south of France, close to Marseille, but I have also lived in South Africa, Congo and Guinea. I have been teaching since 2005 and joined Académie Lafayette in 2013. I studied physical education to become a PE teacher but when I got to the elementary school training, I knew that it was the age group I wanted to work with.
My pedagogical approach is based on my students’ learning styles. I like to organize workshops where the students can use their auditive, visual and kinesthetic skills. Students work at their own pace (well not too slow, though….) I also love teaching science because we have so much fun with all the experiments (yes, I am a kinesthetic learner!)

Bonjour from the library! My name is Judy Clause, and I do the technical work in the library one day a week. This is mostly cataloging of new books and helping to make sure books make it back to the library from homes. I am a retired teacher and certified library media specialist. I taught in the primary grades, mostly 3rd grade for more years that I will admit! Then, I became a librarian.

Working at AL is like working in a small global community with teachers from many different places. I have even learned a few words and phrases in French! The staff here has been very kind and patient with this non-French speaking librarian. I love my time at AL and am so impressed with the way the staff works so hard for their students’ success. The children never cease to amaze me at how quickly they transition to French. I feel lucky to be here with this staff and these students. It has truly been a learning experience for me!

I am a Kansas City girl, born and raised, and attended UMKC graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. I have been fortunate enough to have travelled to many other countries around the world and have gotten to use my French while on vacation. 2017 marked my fourth year on staff at Académie Lafayette. I am also a former student of the school, and my daughter is a current student. When I am not at school, I enjoy traveling, shopping, and doing things around KC with my daughter.

I was born in Nantes in the west part of France among the vineyard where I used to play when I was young. I have been teaching for 10 years now and for one year in AL. I have studied at the University of Nantes. I have a degree in French as a foreign language, in foreign languages and in education.

I am married with two kids. I love traveling and teaching abroad. I was an Au Pair in Spain, an assistant in Gibraltar and a volunteer teacher at The University in Ho Chi Minh Ville. Then I taught French as a foreign language in Cambodia at the university, at the French Cultural Center, and in a military school. When I came back from Cambodia, I went back to the university to become a primary school teacher. I taught in preschool, elementary, and special education in Vendée, France. In 2013, I moved to the island of Saint Martin for three years. When I was there, in 2016, I decided to answer an ad. That’s what led me to teach at AL. I really enjoy reading, movies, and traveling around new places.

Hello! My name is Amanda Lyons, and I teach third grade at the Cherry campus. I have been teaching for over 10 years, more than 3 of which have been at Académie Lafayette. I hold degrees in French and romance languages from UMKC. I have also attended classes at the Université Lumiere II in Lyon, France. I am originally from Michigan and also lived in Kansas before my husband and I settled in Kansas City, Missouri, almost 16 years ago. I have 2 beautiful daughters, one in high school and one in elementary school. I love music and dance. I am an avid DIYer and the handyman around our house. I also love to read and learn and am a big time TED Radio Hour fan. Thanks for stopping by to read a little about me. See you at school!

I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After graduating from high school, I lived, studied, and worked first in Belgium, then in Mexico. I obtained my undergraduate at Saint Xavier University in Chicago and my master’s at UMKC. I am currently finishing my doctoral degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia. I am certified in Missouri in both French and Spanish. As of 2017, I have buckled 21 years of teaching, 18 of which spanned from kindergarten to university, right here in the United States.