Eli Kuner

Site Director Supervisor,
Head of DOHMH Compliance

Eli has been working in schools as a teacher and administrator for 17 years. Starting as a public preschool teacher in New York, he has gone on to work in a variety of schools in New York, California, Texas, and Moscow, Russia. He holds Master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Policy as well as Curriculum and Instruction, and Bachelor’s degrees in History and Art History. After living in Moscow for nearly a decade, he returned to the US in 2022. This is his second year with Smith Street Maternelle as Site Director at the Gowanus location.

Eliane Zerbo

Lead Teacher

Salimata Parré

Associate Teacher

Born and raised in Côte d’Ivoire, Salimata is a passionate advocate for education and social justice. With a Master’s degree in law and an advanced degree in business and tax law, she has spent the last two decades empowering children to reach their full potential.

Salimata’s journey has taken her from her homeland to China, Kenya, India, Senegal, and the United States. Throughout her global travels, she has remained unwavering in her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. Her dedication as an educator and mentor has profoundly impacted the communities she has served, as well as her own children.

In her personal time, Salimata enjoys reading and expressing her creativity through cooking. She loves experimenting with flavors and sharing her culinary creations with loved ones, bringing people together through her love of food.

Cécile Briançon

Associate Teacher

Originally from Paris, France, Cécile holds a Bachelor’s degree in International and European Law from Aix-Marseille III University and a Master’s in International Humanitarian Action from UCLouvain in Belgium.

After beginning her career in social services in a disadvantaged suburb of Paris, she relocated to Chicago with her husband, where she discovered her enthusiasm for early childhood education as an assistant teacher at the French American School of Chicago.

Following a move to New York and raising three children, she has returned to her calling as an educator. Before working with Smith Street Maternelle, she was a substitute teacher in the preschool center K280 School of Journeys.

In her spare time, she loves hiking, traveling, and working with her hands. A dedicated ceramic artist, she finds joy in creating beautiful pieces from clay.

Johanne Beaudoin

Lead Teacher

Johanne grew up in Québec, Canada, where she discovered her passion for teaching from an early age. After obtaining a degree in Early Childhood Education, she ventured to the United States to improve her English, only to find herself deeply rooted in her new home. She furthered her education by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in French Literature from Mary Baldwin College.

Currently, Johanne is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Early Childhood Education at Hunter College. With over 15 years of experience teaching in French immersion preschools, she is dedicated to nurturing young minds by emphasizing foundational life skills alongside academic learning. Johanne believes that instilling these essential skills is crucial for children’s overall development.

Outside the classroom, Johanne indulges her love for cooking and exploring new cuisines. She incorporates this passion into her teaching, guiding children in developing healthy eating habits and understanding the preparation of their favorite foods.

Lauren Fenton

Associate Teacher

Lauren grew up in a French and American family in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. After obtaining her French Baccalauréat, she studied Philosophy and Russian at Swarthmore College in the United States. She then set off on further adventures, spending a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Siberia, shooting a documentary on the revival of shamanism in the Altai region. This experience inspired her passion for visual storytelling, leading her to pursue a Ph.D. in Media Arts and Practice at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. She has exhibited numerous works in galleries, from video art to animated sculptures, and published on the history of media technologies. She has co-taught undergraduate classes on world-building and visual design, using project-based teaching to encourage students to think creatively. 

After staying at home to raise her two young children, Lauren pivoted to a career in early childhood education, bringing her love of artistic experimentation to the classroom. She delights in accompanying her students through their imaginative journeys and helping them explore how things work through play. Outside of school, Lauren enjoys writing and reading her favorite childhood novels to her kids.

Magali Pillionnel

Associate Teacher

Born and raised in Switzerland, Magali is a native French speaker. She graduated from the University of Lausanne with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Slavic studies. Growing up in a multilingual country, she developed an appreciation for cultural nuances and a lifelong interest in languages and literature. She understands the value of progressive education and has worked in nature-based preschool programs as well as elementary after-school arts programs. 

Antoine Cabanes

Lead Teacher

Antoine was born and raised in France. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Education. Antoine gained a wealth of knowledge and experience during his student-teaching experiences in France, Finland, and Hungary

Since graduating, Antoine has taught in France, Egypt and in New York City. This is his second year teaching Moyenne Section at Smith Street Maternelle. 

Just as his destinations have been, his experience is varied and complementary. Through these experiences, he has had the chance to familiarize himself with different pedagogies and  promotes tolerance and open-mindedness by including a little of each of his trips in the life of the class. 

When Antoine isn’t at school, he enjoys thrifting and discovering the city’s hidden gems. 

Sophie Jajanashvili

Associate Teacher

Sophie is a seasoned Communication Manager with over a decade of experience, holding a degree in Information and Communication from Sorbonne University. Originally from Georgia and raised in Paris, she now resides in New York, where she thrives on the city’s dynamic energy and cultural diversity.

With a passion for teaching, Sophie has spent five years working with children of all ages, fostering creativity and learning in various settings. As a proud mother to her two-year-old daughter, Cecily, Sophie enjoys exploring the world through family travels, having visited over 25 countries.

Whether through her professional work or her adventures as a mother, Sophie is dedicated to inspiring others and embracing the beauty of diverse cultures.