Building Leadership

Our three-campus system allows for dedicated administrative staff for different grade levels and needs.

Dr. Maritza Paul

Armour Principal

Dr. Paul was born in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and grew up on the island of St. Kitts & Nevis, the birthplace of her mother. She earned a PhD in French Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder and has a master’s degree in both French and Education. She has been a French teacher in St. Kitts, New York and Kansas City, Kansas at levels ranging from middle school to university. She spent one year as an English Lecturer at l’Université de Bordeaux in France. Prior to joining Académie Lafayette in 2019, Dr. Paul served as principal in the Kansas City, Kansas School district. She is the mother of one son and she passionately enjoys gardening and reading. She is proud and honored to be a member of the Académie Lafayette family and looks forward to fulfill our mission for students “to become globally minded, locally active, critical thinkers.”

Contact Dr. Maritza Paul

    Heather Royce

    Cherry Principal

    Prior to joining Académie Lafayette as the Cherry campus principal in 2011, Heather Royce earned a bachelor’s degree in French education, a master’s degree in school counseling, and did her doctoral coursework in education administration at The University of Kansas. She has prior experience as a French teacher, a special education teacher, an elementary and high school counselor, as well as an administrator. Heather jokes that she’s done every job possible in a school, except drive a bus! Heather is married with a son, as well as a large dog and a small cat. She enjoys running, doing yoga, reading, cooking, and traveling.

    Contact Heather Royce

      Jean-Claude Diatta

      Oak Principal

      Born, raised, and educated in Senegal, Jean-Claude Diatta earned a bachelor’s degree in English education and African literature, as well as a master’s in education at Cheikh Anta University. He worked as an administrative assistant and educator on human rights for Amnesty International in his native country, and he taught English (ESL) in middle school and high school. Upon joining Académie Lafayette in 2000, Jean-Claude taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade before becoming vice principal at the Cherry campus. While teaching at AL, Jean-Claude also earned his master’s in school leadership from the University of Central Missouri (2012). He was a dedicated Boy Scout leader for 22 years, and he enjoys nature, traveling, and photography.

      Contact Jean-Claude Diatta

        Marie Beach

        Armour Vice Principal

        Marie Beach is glad to call Kansas City and Académie Lafayette her new home after being an IB Educator in Florida, Georgia, and Colorado and most recently at Lincoln Preparatory College Academy in KC. Mrs. Beach brings to us a wealth of experience ranging from the classroom to school leadership and working with international communities. She started her career as a Behavior Therapist with a BSW from UGA (gooooo Dawgs!) and went to work in Melbourne, Florida. Along the way, she acquired her first rescue beagle, Milo. However, the lure of cicadas and Spanish moss in the low country drew her up the coast to Savannah, Georgia. For ten years she served the students at Sol C. Johnson High School, a historically Black high school teaching a variety of IB courses, college prep, served as the Induction Coordinator. Mrs. Beach obtained a Masters in Education with a focus on Reading from Georgia Southern University until the mountains came calling. She then packed up her rescue beagles and Shakespeare, the class bunny and headed to the front range to be the IB Coordinator for the DP and MYP programs at Greeley West High School. While organizing matriculation and pinning ceremonies, hosting the German American Partnership Program and Exchange, and planning the IB Continuum Showcase, she felt that it was time to go back to school at UNC in order to become a school leader. Then covid happened. But all was meant to be! On a weekend trip to Kansas City, Marie fell in love with the beautiful gardens, historic homes, and welcoming locals. And the rest brings us to the present.

        Contact Marie Beach

          Moulaye Seydi

          Cherry Vice Principal

          A father of three, I have two girls and a boy. I got my teaching degree in Senegal where I taught for 6 years. I earned a master’s in education at the University of Central Missouri. I also coached the first AL Students Spaceflight Exploration Program (SSEP) and went to a NASA trip for the 10 winners awards in 2014. I am very passionate about soccer, and I co-coach the AL middle school soccer team.

          Contact Moulaye Seydi

            Dorothée Werner

            Oak Vice Principal

            Dorothée Werner is a native of Paris, France, where she grew up and received a Bachelor’s degree from the Sorbonne University in English and International Business and a Master’s in International Studies. She earned a Master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University in May 2020 and is a certified K-12 building administrator.

            Dorothée moved to Kansas City and taught French at Notre Dame de Sion for six years. She spent 15 years in the corporate sector in marketing, public relations and advertising, becoming vice-president and working with Fortune 500 companies. She worked from home when her children were in elementary school and opened The French School, teaching French to preschoolers and adults. She became involved in volunteer work both as PTA president in her children’s public schools, and as a refugee coordinator for local resettlement agencies. She joined Academie Lafayette in 2011 and taught 3rd, and then 5th grade for 10 years. She became an American citizen in July 2018. She is an active volunteer in Kansas City, serving as president of the Alliance Francaise de Kansas City, board member of KC MOlière: 400 in 2022, and involved in local efforts to support criminal justice reform.

            Contact Dorothée Werner