Rebecca Courty

Site Director & Afterschool Enrichment Coordinator

Rebecca grew up in a small village in Auvergne, France with fewer than 200 inhabitants. She moved to Toulouse to study law, initially aspiring to become a criminal lawyer. However, after completing her bachelor’s degree, she chose to pursue a master in Education. Rebecca spent three years working for the French Department of Education in Paris before relocating to New Orleans, Louisiana. There, she discovered her passion for bilingual education while enjoying the vibrant culture, music, and cuisine of the Big Easy.

After her time in New Orleans, Rebecca moved to Mexico City and took a year-long break to explore the world. She later returned to Paris to work at a bilingual school. Since moving back to the US in 2022, Rebecca has been studying to become a seamstress and was subsequently offered a teaching position at Smith Street. This year, she has taken on new responsibilities as the Carroll Gardens Site Director and After-School Enrichment Coordinator along with for her new role as a mother.

Cynthia Fauvette

Associate Teacher

Raphaele de Boisblanc

Associate Teacher

Originally from Paris, Raphaele studied music, dance, and philosophy before moving to New York twenty five years ago to become a producer, focusing on family programming.

She developed a passion for bilingual education while raising her two children, using music and movement to support language acquisition. She continues her training in education at the University of Pennsylvania and Hunter College.

Raphaele loves to read and attend family performances throughout the city.

Sondes Turki

Lead Teacher

Sondes is a passionate educator with over two decades of international teaching experience. Born and raised in Tunisia, she discovered her love for teaching at an early age. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature in 2001 and spent the next 15 years teaching English in Tunisian schools. During that time, she also spent 8 years teaching French at a private primary school, mastering the art of bilingual education.

In 2016, Sondes moved to New York with her husband and brought her talents to Brooklyn's French immersion community. She served as a Lead Teacher at Science, Language, & Arts before spending 6 years at Explorer Studio, where she lovingly guided the youngest learners in the petite and toute petite sections.

Outside the classroom, Sondes is an avid traveler who has explored more than 13 countries to learn about new cultures. She also loves photography and going for long walks. 

Blossom Bettles

Associate Teacher

Blossom was born in London and moved to Brooklyn at a young age. She attended the French program at PS58 and later the International School of Brooklyn (ISB). Her upbringing was filled with travel, especially to New Zealand and the UK to visit family, as well as time spent at her parents’ off-the-grid cabin in the woods. Throughout high school, Blossom taught art classes and worked as a babysitter, nurturing her love for working with children.

After graduating, she took a gap year, deferring her art school placement, and began working at Smith Street Maternelle, where she discovered her passion for teaching French and working with young children. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in education. Blossom is currently attending BMCC, studying Early Childhood Education.

Blossom has a deep passion for art of all kinds, fashion (both finding and creating clothes), cooking, and reading.

Ysabella Genato

Associate Teacher

Ysabella was born and raised in Los Angeles. From a young age all she could think about was the world beyond her hometown and has spent the better part of her life fulfilling that curiosity—from connecting to her roots in the Philippines to studying Italian in Florence, Italy. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and International Development at UCLA and subsequently moved to Paris where she discovered a passion for inspiring young people in language learning. Ysabella earned her Master’s degree in Anglophone studies at the University of Paris-Nanterre while working as an English teacher. In 2026 she moved back to the U.S. with her partner to give New York City a try. 

Beyond life in the classroom, Ysabella enjoys being pleasantly surprised by life through books, art, film, music, fashion and last minute adventures. 

Julian Heller

Associate Teacher

A native New Yorker, Julian first started learning French in fifth grade. He quickly developed a passion for the language and culture. During high school, he lived with a French host family in Alsace. Julian went on to pursue a double major at Wesleyan University in French and Francophone Studies, and Environmental Science. During his junior year in college Julian lived with a host family in Paris and studied at the Université Paris-Est Créteil through the Vassar-Wesleyan Paris program. Julian joined the Smith Street team last school year and he is so excited to be back. Outside of the classroom Julian enjoys hand tool woodworking and gardening.