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Teaching and Administrative Staff - Biographies

Teachers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Alice Beauvallet is originally from Paris where she earned a teaching degree from the French Ministry of Education. She taught in French elementary schools for six years before coming to Portland in 2005 to teach at Portland French School; Alice starts teaching in the fall 2010 term at the Alliance.

Lucie Bonvalet has two Master's degrees (English and FLE - teaching French as a Second Language) as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Originally from Dordogne, Lucie has taught French to adults and teenagers in high schools, conversation centers and cultural centers in Japan (both Kyoto and Tokyo) and in England. She has also taught French at Portland Community College.

Francine Martinie Chough is a native of Autun, near the Burgundy region. After a career in teaching in Autun at the Lycée Bonaparte, and in the hotel business in Paris at the Paris Sheraton Hotel, she received a Bachelor degree in English and French from Lewis and Clark College. She taught French in a Montessori school in Vancouver, WA then got a Masters degree in Education from Loyola College of Maryland with an emphasis on Montessori Education. She has taught 3 years as a Montessori Elementary teacher, and has taught 1st through 5th grade at the Catlin Gabel School in the Lower School where she developed the French curriculum. She has taught all levels of students from preschool to adults.

Cathy Coltrin studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and earned her BA in French from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught French for many years at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego and now specializes in teaching in-depth Beginning French to daytime classes. Cathy likes to include lots of activities and music in her classes.

Jane Fabulet-Roberts Jane is originally from Rouen and attended l'Ecole internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She melds a passion for theater with her love of teaching, and has been working with children of all ages for more than a decade. She taught for three years at the Portland French School and coordinated that school's after-school program. She taught at the Skinner Montessori School and has taught both adults and children at the Alliance, for several years. Jane also manages the Alliance's children's program, Smart Steps to French.

Nathalie Gerts has a BA in Philosophy and completed studies of French Literature at the Sorbonne (University of Paris). She earned an FLE (Français Langue Etrangère) Teaching Degree from the worldwide headquarters of the Alliance Française in Paris and is also certified by the French National Ministry of Education. Initially a teacher in French elementary schools, she has also enjoyed a career in the tourism industry in Paris and the U.S., and has taught French in the public school system in Oregon as well as Linn-Benton Community College. In the spring of 2006 Nathalie completed training by the French Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques as a certified examiner for DELF/DALF. Nathalie is also a teacher at FAIS/Gilkey International Middle School.

Murielle Helgeson grew up in Normandy and studied in Paris, where she completed her PhD in Comparative Constitutional Law. She has taught French Constitutional Law and Comparative Politics at the University Paris X-Nanterre, and European Politics at PSU. Since 2009, she is also the librarian at the Portland French School.

Kathryn Mascorella has a Masters in French from Middlebury College in Paris/La Sorbonne and a BA in Pedagogy from Colorado State University. In addition to French, she enjoys Italian, German and Spanish. Kathryn tutors and manages the make-up class program in addition to her work as Development Office and Office Administrator.

Pierre Metens is originally from Belgium where he studied pedagogy and sociology at the Université de Liège. In addition to teaching at the Alliance, Pierre is also a voice talent for recordings of commercials and guided tours in French for Bruce International.

Oana Talpalaru studied at the University in Montpellier, France for several years, and has a diploma in Modern Languages (English and French). She is presently completing her Masters at Portland State and in the spring of 2006 completed training by the French Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques as a certified examiner for DELF/DALF.

Marie-Pierre Wolfe, originally from Lyon, has also lived in Japan, Paris and New York. Marie-Pierre was one of the founders of the French Elementary School program of the Eugene 4-j public school district and more recently served as a school principal in France before returning to the US where she enjoys teaching at the Alliance as well as serving on its board.

Lauren Yamasaki - After getting her Bachelor's degree, Lauren studied at the Université de Paris IV (La Sorbonne) and worked at two high schools in Paris for a year before moving to Portland to work at the French American International School. Lauren starts teaching in the fall 2010 term at the Alliance.

Carine Zimber, originally from Montpellier, France, has taught beginning and intermediate French at Portland Community College. She also taught at the Portland French School and for Montessori programs in Vancouver, Washington.

Operations / Management

Linda Witt, Executive Director, has a Bachelor's degree in French and International Economics, K-12 teacher's certification, and was certified by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris and the French National Ministry of Education as Business Translator. She has 10 years of experience teaching adults (software and professional skills training) and three years' experience teaching French and German in Montessori environments; Linda managed language schools in Bellevue, Washington, and worked for 5 years in development for a French-American immersion school. Since 2009 she has served as the Vice-President/Portland on the Board of Directors of the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest.

Kathryn Mascorella, Programs Administrator, Development Officer and part-time Tutor, has a Masters in French from Middlebury College in Paris/La Sorbonne and a BA in Pedagogy from Colorado State University. In addition to French, she enjoys Italian, German and Spanish.

Jane Fabulet-Roberts, Manager of the Children's Programs - Jane is originally from Rouen and attended l'Ecole internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She taught for three years at the Portland French School and coordinated that school's after-school program. She taught at the Skinner Montessori School and has taught both adults and children at the Alliance, for several years.

Sherri Roberts, Events and Resources Coordinator, has an MA in Literature. She taught literature and English at Notre Dame de Namur in California and worked as a technical writer in high tech in Palo Alto. Five years ago she moved to Portland where she has been working as an independent contractor for several non-profit organizations.