NOTRE-DAME INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Notre-Dame International High School is currently accepting applications for teachers of Social Studies, English, Science and Math. Applicants must be certified by an American state education department, have experience teaching in an American high school and hold EU working papers.

Notre-Dame International High School also welcomes Gap Year Assistants and Language Teacher Assistants for the school year 2012/2013. Please inquiry through the contact form.

Daniel Zicari
Headmaster, Math Teacher

B.S., Fordham University, 1991, Mathematics
Teaching Certification, State University of New York at Buffalo, 2009, Mathematics

Mr. Zicari spent 18 years in business management and training.  He transitioned to teaching and received his NYS teaching certification in Mathematics (grades 7-12).  He has experience teaching middle and high school students in the areas of Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Statistics.  Daniel has taught at-risk math students in both urban and suburban schools and provided academic intervention support for all levels of secondary math.  Mr. Zicari worked as a local representative for Nacel’s Private School Program placing international students in schools and host families in the US and providing academic and family counseling.  Mr. Zicari currently serves as Headmaster and teaches Math coursework.  He works alongside his wife Marcy who is also a teacher at Notre Dame.  Mr. Zicari enjoys singing, reading, playing games, and attending the theater and concerts.  He is also enjoying exploring France with his family.  The Zicaris have five children, three attending Notre-Dame and two in college in the states. 

Brigitte Aldanese
Art History and Studio Art Teacher

B.A., College of Arts, University of Aix-en-Provence, 1980, Art with Teaching Certification

As an artist, Ms. Aldanese’s area of speciality is in painting. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she advises and trains new Notre-Dame. Brigitte is a member of the board of examiners for the International Baccalaureate but also coordinates education programming for junior students with learning hardships. Students will find two of her frescoes hanging in the school (one in the entrance hall and the other in the secondary school’s gymnasium).

Kimberly Becker
Physics and Mathematics Teacher

B.A. Boston University, 2005, Physics, French Language and Literature
M.A. Loyola Marymount University, 2007, Secondary Science Education (Physics) with Teaching Certification

Mrs. Becker studied both physics and French at Boston University, where she gained experience in a molecular biophysics research group.  She began teaching mathematics, general science and physics in Los Angeles in 2005.  She was a member of Teach For America, an organization that aims to provide all students the opportunity for excellent education, regardless of socioeconomic background.  Mrs. Becker taught in culturally diverse Hollywood, CA, where she met students from all over the world who were coming to the United States for the first time.  Since 2008, she has taught Physics and AP Physics at an all girls high school in Pasadena, CA and has organized invention competitions, a physics festival, field trips to observatories and laboratories, guest speakers, and more.  Her favorite part of class is demonstrations, but she enjoys the moment when her students figure out how to solve a tricky problem as well.  She likes theatre and has performed in plays regularly for the past several years.  Mrs. Becker also loves exploring mountains, so she looks forward to being near the Alps.  Mrs. Becker lived in Paris for the summer of 2003 while studying French literature, and she speaks French fluently.  She is excited to live in Paris again. 

Emilie Champeix
FLE (French as a Foreign Language) Teacher

M.A., University of Montpellier, 2008, E-Learning & Learning Management Techniques
M.A., University of Montpellier, 2006, Science of Languages
B.A., University of Paris V, 2005, Science of Education

At the beginning of her career, Ms. Champeix was charged with managing the French Department at the Mahatma Gandhi International School in India. In 2009 she moved to Paris where she worked as an FLE teacher for Alliance Française up until her employment with Notre-Dame. She recently established her own FLE company, “LILI” (Learning Interaction Language Innovation). Emilie heads the FLE program at Notre-Dame.

Maura Covaci
History Teacher

TESOL Diploma –Teaching English as a Second Language, 2011, TESOL Training International
Teaching Credential, History/Social Studies, 2010, California State University, Northridge
M.A. Contemporary Art with merit, 2008, Sotheby’s Institute of Art. London
Museum Education Grant Study, 2005, Lorenzo de‘Medici. Florence, Italy
B.A. Art History and Criticism, cum laude, 2007, University of California San Diego

Ms. Covaci holds a Bachelors Degree in Art History from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters Degree in Contemporary Art from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London. During her studies she spent a year abroad in Florence, Italy studying museum education at the Palazzo Vecchio. Upon completion of her Master’s Degree she worked as an art dealer and gallerist in London and Los Angeles.  After spending several years working in the art world she decided to pursue a teaching credential in social studies from the California State University, Northridge. Following graduation in 2010, Ms. Covaci worked as a high school history teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Her interests include contemporary art, reading, traveling and yoga.

Laetitia Gramond
Studio Art Teaching Assistant

B.A., College of Arts, University of Paris VIII, 2004

Gatien Parat
Physical Education Teacher

B.S., University of Orléans, 2005, Physical Education with Teaching Certification

Mr. Parat joined the Notre-Dame teaching staff in 2009 and has his certification in sports training.  He previously worked as a regional athletic trainer.  He competes in mid-distance running, triathlons, and also participates in basketball, tennis, handball, and badminton. 

François Riotte
Music Teacher

B.A., University of Strasbourg, College of Arts, 1982, Music
Teaching Certification for Music, Harmony, Music Analysis and Counterpoint, 1983
Teaching Certificate for Teaching Music in College, 1990

In addition to Mr. Riotte’s teacher responsibilities, he is also a member of the board of examiners for the International Baccalaureate.

Elizabeth Soubelet
English Teacher

BS, Applied Learning and Education (Sp.Ed), University of Texas at Austin, 1997
BA, History (spec. Architecture), University of Texas at Austin, 1998
CPM, Certified Professional Midwife, North American Registry of Midwives, 1998

Elizabeth Soubelet is a native of Austin, Texas. She met her French husband at UT where she doubled-majored in Special Education and Architectural History. During her studies, she participated in reciprocal exchange programs in Australia, Finland, and Russia, as well as completing a course of language study in Italy. After college she also completed a diploma to become a Certified Professional Midwife. She and her husband moved to France soon after graduating from college in 1998 and then to Turkey in 2007, where they lived until 2011. For eight years in Paris she taught ESL to both business executives and young students. While in Turkey she worked as the head of the kindergarten English department at TED Bursa Koleji and also founded the first international women’s club in Bursa, the Bursa Int’l Women’s Association (BIWA). She has remained active in the childbirth community wherever she has lived and is the mother of four children, one of which attends Notre Dame. Mrs. Soubelet is a dual citizen, French/American, and is fluent in both languages. She received the English award in her high school graduating class (#1 out of over 500 students) and has been an active writer her whole life.

Mary-Alice Zicari
Science and Social Studies Teacher

B.S., State University of New York at Buffalo, 2009, Biology Education
B.A., Fordham University, 1989, Philosophy

Mrs. Zicari has experience teaching primary, middle and high school students. She has certifications in Biology (grades 7-12), General Science (grades 7-12) and French (grades 7-12). With her General Science certification, she is able to teach such classes as Ecology, Anatomy, Physiology, Oceanography, and Astronomy. She has spent time co-teaching Earth Science and has helped struggling students in academic intervention services. She has worked extensively with international high school students as a local representative for Nacel Open Door. Mary-Alice enjoys singing, reading, knitting, traveling and attending cultural events. She has lived in France before and speaks French fluently. Mrs. Zicari teaches at NDIHS with her husband, Daniel Zicari. They have five children, four of which attend Notre-Dame. She is currently teaching Biology, Health, Environmental Science, Geography, and US Government.