Eli Kuner

Site Director

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 & Garderie 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.

Sarah Houphouet-Boigny

Associate Teacher & Garderie Lead Teacher

Sarah is from Côte d’Ivoire, where she spent her childhood. As a teenager, she relocated to Switzerland and later France, where she pursued a degree in communication design. Following her certification, she moved to New York to complete her Bachelor's degree at Parsons school of Design. 

After graduating, Sarah worked in advertising for several years before deciding to pursue her true passion: teaching children. She began by leading art classes and eventually joined Smith Street Maternelle in 2020 as an assistant teacher at the Carroll Gardens location. She later led the Toute Petite Section and then the Petite Section. Currently, Sarah is completing a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Early Childhood Education at Hunter College and will be doing her student teaching at the Gowanus location.

Outside of the classroom, Sarah enjoys painting, photography, traveling and sharing her passion for art with children. She also loves spending time with her 7-year-old daughter, who has developed a fondness for museums and art, and exploring new ones together in New York City.

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. 

Najwa Diouri

Associate Teacher 

Although Najwa was born in New York her father decided that it was best for her family to start their education in Morocco. She has been blessed to live in a supporting and encouraging family, where her mother took the responsibility of easing the transition into the new residence and provided the necessary blueprint to succeed in education. 

Najwa’s passion for the French language started when she was nine years old. She enjoyed reading French novels because they sparked her creativity, enriched her vocabulary, and educated her on the French people and culture. Najwa completed her Bachelor’s degree in French and is currently in graduate school. Outside of the classroom, Najwa loves photography whether it’s being in front of or behind the camera. She’s a big foodie and enjoys trying out new food spots.