Janet

Italian Teacher

Italian is only one of the many languages in which Janet is fluent – she also speaks Arabic, French, and Spanish. Janet has been a resident of Cheshire for 30 years, and her three children all passed through the Cheshire school system. An active community member, she has spent numerous years in the teaching field. She currently is a faculty member at both Quinnipiac University and Naugatuck Valley Community College. She has taught languages on four continents, and continues to accompany groups abroad. Janet was instrumental as a teacher in the town-wide Pupil Enrichment Language Program over the years. She is happy to support early childhood language-learning!

Sabine

French Teacher

Bonjour,

Mon nom est Sabine Rézette Lederer. My husband, my three children, and I have been Cheshire residents since 2014. Before that we lived in California.

I am a native French speaker. I come from Belgium, a French, Dutch and German-speaking country. Since I grew up in a multilingual country – more specifically in Brussels, capital of Europe – I am particularly sensitive to the opportunity and the need to be multilingual : what a wonderful opening to others and their cultures!
We speak French at home, so my children, between 5.5 and 9 years old, speak French and English. They play together in both languages, without any preference. Exposing your young children to other languages, giving them the opportunity to enlarge their world is a great gift!

I studied law in French and Dutch and worked as a lawyer in both languages during almost 15 years before we moved to US 8 years ago.

I tutor both children and adults. I have been teaching French at the Cheshire Adult Education since 2016. I work at Darcey School and volunteer at Highland Elementary School. After school hours, I am … “taximom”.
I am grateful to be able to share my language and culture with our community and love working with all good will of all ages.

C’est un plaisir de vous rencontrer!

Mollie

Spanish Teacher

Mollie has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from The University Of Maine. She has experience working with children with a wide range of racial, socioeconomic, and ethnic cultures. After graduating college, she taught children ages 2-6 years at an international private school in Boston, MA. Currently, Mollie teaches preschool in Hamden, creating project-based curriculum centered around the young children, adding in Spanish wherever she can! Mollie is a highly motivated teacher with a passion for enriching the lives of young children.

Claudio

Spanish Teacher

Claudio is a Cheshire resident and is a native Spanish speaker. He was born and raised in Chile. He has been teaching and tutoring Spanish for almost 10 years and has experience with children of all ages and adults. He loves to see how his students improve and learn a second language. He thinks that learning a new language in early years of life is crucial in a globalized world and opens new doors to different cultures. Claudio holds a Business Administration degree and is currently studying Economics – he never stops learning! When he is not teaching his students or studying, he is frequently training for marathons with the Achilles International team. Claudio recently completed the Hartford marathon and he is training for the Cheshire Half marathon in April. Claudio is very passionate about sports and active life.

“…to have another language is to possess a second soul.” -Charlemagne

Jacky

Parent/Toddler Spanish Teacher

Jacky has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Eastern Connecticut State University and has spent extensive time living in Spain. She also has over 15 years of experience working with children, including tutoring math, science, and reading to special needs children, nannying, and coaching multiple sports for children in grades K-3. Jacky has an energetic, creative, and bubbly personality that your child will love! When she graduated from ECSU, her dream job was to teach Spanish to young children. Life got in the way of that dream for almost a decade, but she is excited to finally realize that dream and share the Spanish language with young and developing minds!

Cristina

Spanish Teacher

Cristina is a Cheshire resident with over 25 years of experience teaching children in a variety of settings. She has taught Spanish in many children’s programs and as a private tutor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. For the last 27 years, Cristina has been running her own educational program designed for preschool-aged children in Greenwich, where she integrates Spanish words into her curriculum for 18 month – 3 1/2 year olds. She is also a certified Spanish Community/Medical Interpreter.

Cristina is originally from Colombia and is the mother of an American-born high school student who speaks Spanish fluently. Cristina believes it is important to speak more than one language since it helps people break barriers and serves as a bridge to connect with other cultures. Her dedication, commitment, passion and warmth will help your child shine as a learner and make it an unparalleled educational experience!

Justine

French Teacher

Bonjour!

My name is Justine Plourde, and I am currently a 7th grade French teacher at Vernon Center Middle School! Coming from a French Canadian family, I began my French studies at a young age. I attended the University of Connecticut, where I received two Bachelors in French Language & Literature and Secondary World Language Education. I also completed a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. While in college, I had the opportunity to study abroad and live in Paris, France for 6 months. I was able to immerse myself in the culture, take grammar courses, and work as an English Conversationalist at a local college. I am a firm believer in learning a second language at a young age to prepare children to become thoughtful global citizens.

❝One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.❞ ‒Frank Smith

Maria

German Teacher

Maria was born and raised in Germany just outside of Berlin. Aside from being the mother of a 4-year old little girl, she has years of childcare experience including 20 years as a nanny.  Maria is enthusiastic and creative, and is excited to share her language and culture with our youngest citizens.  Her students have been know to fortify themselves in her classroom asking to learn more German rather than go home!

Sarah

Italian & Spanish Teacher

Hola! Ciao! My name is Sarah. I am a senior at Central Connecticut State University studying secondary education with a focus in Spanish and Italian. I hope to be a high school Spanish and Italian teacher when I graduate! I have studied Spanish for 10 years and Italian for 4 years. Throughout my undergrad, I have studied abroad 3 times. The first time was in Barcelona & Valencia (Spain). The second time was in Lima & Cusco (Peru). I just returned from my most recent trip to Salamanca (Spain) where I studied at the University of Salamanca and lived with a host family for two weeks! These have all been great experiences for me to be engulfed in the Spanish language and culture. Finally, next summer I will be traveling to northern Italy for two weeks with another intriguing program offered by CCSU!

By being a teacher, I can share my passion for foreign languages and provide others with the treasure of learning another language.