Faculty

  • Kamel Fekiri
    Director of Curriculum & Classroom Teacher

    Kamel Fekiri comes to FASTB with eight years of French education experience, most recently at a suburban Paris primary school, where he served as both Principal and K-5 Certified Classroom Teacher.  At FASTB, he assumes another dual role: Curriculum Coordinator and Elementary Classroom Teacher, and he will also be the school’s primary point of contact with the French Ministry of Education and Mission Laïque Française.

    “The role of Curriculum Coordinator is an wonderful opportunity to foster a great learning environment in all of our classes, while also helping to give FASTB a voice in the network of French Schools throughout the world – I am very excited to be part of the FASTB team.”

    Kamel studied in Paris, where he earned his Master’s Degree in French Education and his Teaching Certification from the French Ministry of Education.  Additionally, he is certified by the French Ministry of Education to teach French as a second language and holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and civilization, which has afforded him opportunities to serve as an English teacher in vocational high schools and teach summer French and English courses at Le Rosey School near Geneva, Switzerland.

    Outside of school, Kamel has traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, likes soccer and volleyball, and loves spending time and having fun with his five children.  He is completely bilingual in French and Arabic and speaks comfortably in both German and English.

  • Chérifa Fekiri
    Classroom Teacher

    Chérifa arrives at FASTB with five years of experience in Paris as a Maternelle teacher, certified by the French Ministry of Education.  For the last two years she has also served as a host teacher to student teachers who observe her practices in class.  Chérifa will serve as our Pre-K classroom teacher beginning in 2019-20.

    Born in the Paris region, Chérifa studied physics and chemistry for two years at Université Paris 13, eventually focusing on a communication and human resources and graduating with a business and administration management degree. She worked for 7 years in human resources and at the same time volunteered extensively for organizations aimed at preventing students from dropping out.  It was this volunteer work that sparked her interest in education and changed the course of her career.

    Chérifa went on to earn her teaching certification through the École Supérieure du Professorat et de l’Éducation program at Université Paris-est Créteil in 2014 and is also certified to teach French as a Second Language to non-native speakers.  She is completely bilingual in French and Arabic and speaks comfortably in English and Spanish.

    “I am excited to join FASTB – what an opportunity to discover a new way of life while teaching abroad and sharing my knowledge of the French language and culture!”

    Chérifa has five children, enjoys volleyball, dancing, reading and cooking and has also travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

  • Claire Bergera
    Classroom Teacher

    Claire Bergera brings a variety of teaching experiences to FASTB, including a year at an immersion school in the United States, plus an excellent educational record that includes two Master’s Degrees.

    Born in a small town in the Loire Department of France to a family of educators, Claire initially pursued a career in communication and human resources, but decided to expand her studies and attained a degree in economic and social administration. This led to an opportunity to work in schools at the nursery and primary level, an experience that changed the course of her career.

    Inspired to teach, Claire pursued her Master’s Degree in Teaching, Education and Training from the Teacher Training Program of University of Lyon 1 and added a second Master’s in Public Health for children and adolescents as the first step in obtaining a PhD in Education.

    After teaching two years at Lycée Ampère de Lyon, Claire decided to combine teaching with a passion for travel and language learning and landed in Edina, Minnesota, where she taught at the Normandale Elementary French Immersion School for one year. The following year, she taught French at a Waldorf school in Costa Rica. These international experiences exposed her to Montessori, Steiner/Waldorf and Responsible Classroom pedagogies, which fit her teaching approach of positive education for the whole child:

    “I am very interested in continuing my immersion education in Florida,” said Claire, “because this opportunity represents the ideal work environment for my vision of teaching.”