Administration

Emily joined L’Ecole Française du Maine in 2018 and became its Director in 2020. In January 2024, she earned her Director’s Credential from the Maine Roads to Quality Network, highlighting her leadership skills and commitment to providing quality education for Maine’s children. As the Director, Emily oversees day-to-day operations, communications, protocols, school records, and licensing compliance. She also handles scheduling, organizing special events, and admission inquiries, and is always ready to offer a band-aid and a smile to any child in need.

Emily graduated from New York University with an individualized degree in wellness and also studied French. Her internships in office management at various healthcare and childcare facilities in NYC honed her communication and business management skills. Outside of school, Emily enjoys raising chickens with her husband and son on their 10-acre woodland property. Her hobbies include hiking, baking, yoga, and dance. Emily looks forward to continuing her journey with L’Ecole Française du Maine and serving its community for years to come.

Jennifer Lemaire is an accomplished and dedicated educator with a passion for teaching and curriculum coordination. As a certified teacher from the French Ministry of Education MENJS-AEFE-MLF Professeur des écoles, she is committed to continually improving her teaching skills and professional development. Jennifer holds a master’s degree in education and is certified in sign language instruction, bringing her a wealth of knowledge and expertise.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, Jennifer taught at the AEFE French American School of Tampa Bay, where she gained experience with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). Jennifer, who loves nature, hiking, and exploring deep woods, moved to Maine in the summer of 2024 to discover the Northeast of the United States. She is known for her positive demeanor, dynamic approach, and innovative teaching methods, fostering a collaborative spirit while maintaining a harmonious balance of rigor, ambition, and humor.

During her time in Angers, France, Jennifer served as the Curriculum Coordinator for Cycle 3 (grades 4-5-6). She played a pivotal role in leading the teaching team, creating cooperative environments, and building positive relationships with families. Jennifer’s versatility as an educator is evident through her extensive experience as a replacement teacher, demonstrating adaptability and effectiveness in various learning environments and levels.

Theater holds a special place in Jennifer’s heart, and she has pursued acting for many years. She has successfully directed several student performances, drawing from her wealth of experience. Jennifer is excited to share her love for the dramatic arts with her students, contributing significantly to the school’s plan to put together a play in 2025—a long-awaited event since COVID. Her dedication to education and theater allows her to create engaging and transformative experiences for her students, fostering creativity, self-expression, and personal growth.

Elizabeth grew up in Maine and earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Maine at Farmington, with a concentration in Visual and Performing Arts. In college, Beth studied modern dance and choreography and was a member of the modern dance company, The UMF Dancers, for four years. She also attended University College Galway, Ireland as an exchange student, where she reconnected with her family there and met her husband, Willy, a graduate student at the time. She began her career teaching grades 5,6, and 7 in Maine public schools, where she volunteered to teach French after school, as there was no foreign language opportunity offered for the students. After five years, Beth and her husband, Willy, decided to start a family of their own. She left the self-contained classroom to teach privately in order to meet both her professional goals and childcare needs. In their bilingual household, the ability for their own children to speak both French and English came naturally, and this sparked the beginning of a French-immersion program for Maine children. Inspired by the world-renowned Early Childhood program of Les ecoles maternelles in France, the wheels were set in motion for an adventure that would go on to become L’Ecole Française du Maine. With two small children and one on the way, Beth taught by day and studied evenings and weekends to earn her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education/Child Development through the University of Phoenix. This experience increased her love of early education and fueled her desire to offer Maine children a valuable foundation for learning, beginning at an early age. She has worked in education for 25 years filling many different positions. During her first year as a classroom teacher, Elizabeth received a national teaching award, being named as “One of the Nation’s 100 Best First-Year Teachers.” She was Maine’s only recipient. In 2009, she was awarded the prestigious Chevalier des Palmes Académiques, a Knighthood Order of Chivalry of France presented to academics and educators. The order was originally created by Napoleon. Beth is fluent in French and has raised her children to be bilingual. When not at school, she enjoys reading (with a cat on her lap and dog at her feet), gardening, knitting, boating, taking walks in the woods and on the beach and spending time with her family.