Oak Staff Directory
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Bonjour! I was born and raised in Independence, Missouri. I have been teaching here at AL ever since 2010 when I was placed to do my student teaching and observations. I fell in love immediately with the school and the culture and decided that I would do anything to work here. I graduated high school from Fort Osage where I was inspired by my French teacher that I really had a knack for the French language. I decided to go to the University of Missouri-Kansas City where I majored in K-12 French Education and certification also in elementary education. I love to travel, play volleyball, cook, and get together with my fellow amazing colleagues. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been at AL for almost 10 years now and I wouldn’t change it one bit. I love getting to introduce these little kindergarteners to the French language and shaping their minds to be globally active.
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I am the English K–1 teacher. I have been with Académie Lafayette since August of 2018. This is my 21st year teaching in early childhood. I have been fortunate enough to teach here in the United States, Russia, Croatia and in the Marshall Islands.
1ère Année (1st Grade)
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Hello! My name is Amanda Lyons, and I teach third grade at the Cherry campus. I have been teaching for over 10 years, more than 3 of which have been at Académie Lafayette. I hold degrees in French and romance languages from UMKC. I have also attended classes at the Université Lumiere II in Lyon, France. I am originally from Michigan and also lived in Kansas before I settled in Kansas City, Missouri, almost 16 years ago. I have 2 beautiful daughters, one in high school and one in elementary school. I love music and dance. I am an avid DIYer and the handyman around our house. I also love to read and learn and am a big time TED Radio Hour fan. Thanks for stopping by to read a little about me. See you at school!
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Joanna Shum recently taught French at Notre Dame de Sion from 2003–2018. She holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Education from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and Bachelor’s Degree in French with Minor in Education, K–12 and FLES Certifications from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota.
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I am the English K–1 teacher. I have been with Académie Lafayette since August of 2018. This is my 21st year teaching in early childhood. I have been fortunate enough to teach here in the United States, Russia, Croatia and in the Marshall Islands.
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2ième Année (2nd Grade)
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I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After graduating from high school, I lived, studied, and worked first in Belgium, then in Mexico. I obtained my undergraduate at Saint Xavier University in Chicago and my master’s at UMKC. I am currently finishing my doctoral degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia. I am certified in Missouri in both French and Spanish. As of 2017, I have buckled 21 years of teaching, 18 of which spanned from kindergarten to university, right here in the United States.
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3ème Année (3rd Grade)
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My name is André Sockmack, a native from Cameroon, a French speaking country in Central Africa. I have been teaching children, as well as adults, for more than 25 years. I have been teaching in the U.S. for 18 years and at Académie Lafayette for 11 years. I got my bachelor’s degree from the University of Yaoundé and a master’s degree in the art of teaching from Webster University.
I am a teacher, an author, and a writer of the series called La Pratique de l’Immersion en Français “Practical French Immersion.” I have a great family with three children. I love reading, listening to classical music, and being around happy people.
“I believe that Teaching is a Call from the above. I have been inspired to become an inspiring person.”
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4ième Année (4th Grade)
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My dad told me I needed to graduate before going to America…just in case I would ever come back to France. So, I got my degree, left my small hometown of Chateau Thierry (one hour east of Paris) the week after… and never came back (except for vacation). Kansas City is home now…it’s been 23 years. Since then, I have graduated from UMKC with a bachelor and Master’s in education, I became an American citizen, and most importantly, my husband are proud parents of Ella (14) and Alex (10).
I have been teaching at Académie Lafayette for 17 years and have taught 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. I now teach 4th grade.
A few fun facts about me are that I love roller coasters, science-fiction movies and chai tea latte (hint hint). I run and swim (on and off), I also do hand lettering and calligraphy during my spare time.
I am delighted to be part of this special community and to share my culture and native language with my students.
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I was born and raised in Tournon, South East France. I have been teaching for 8 years, 7 of which have been at Académie Lafayette. I have a master’s in teaching French as a second language from Stendhal University (Grenoble, France) and an educational specialist degree from the University of Central Missouri. I am also certified in elementary education in Missouri.
I love music and I have played the drums for 20+ years. I enjoy playing soccer, cooking, traveling, and reading.
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My name is Sheila Rowan, and I am honored to be a part of the Académie Lafayette community. This year is my 20th year of teaching and my 5th year here at AL. I love teaching 4th grade English and Communication Arts. I graduated from Rockhurst University with a BA and a Master’s in Education.
I have two beautiful daughters, Siobhan (18) and Alana (16). I lived in Ireland for almost two years, and my girls and I travel as much as we can. I love movies, reading, games (especially Scrabble!), music, and going to see the Royals play. My philosophy of teaching revolves around an eloquent quote that I just stumbled across after teaching a nonfiction unit on inventors. Ben Franklin once said… “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
Click here to access my website.
5ième Année (5th Grade)
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I am a native of N’kongsamba, Cameroon. I attended the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, for a year, moved to England the following year, then to Paris where I graduated from the University of Sorbonne, Paris, with a double major in foreign languages (English and Spanish) and international law. I started my teaching career as a French and English teacher in Cameroon in 1986. I worked for the KCPS from 1993 to 2011. I finally joined the Académie Lafayette Great Team in 2011. I was attracted to AL by its excellent team of teachers, great students, and supportive parents.
I have 2 sons and 2 grandchildren (both boys as well!). I enjoy entertaining, dancing, cooking, reading, watching political news, and watching movies. I like traveling to other countries and I have visited several in Europe and in Africa. I’m a “hidden” event coordinator: I have coordinated all the weddings or any other event in my family, and also helped friends free of charge.
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Liz O’Flaherty grew up in Kansas City, MO right in the heart of Brookside. She attended Visitation Grade School and St. Teresa’s Academy. It was when she was in Rachel Pasano’s First Grade classroom where she “caught” the teaching bug. Her love of Colorado sent her to Denver, Colorado where she attended college at Regis University. There, she taught in the Denver Public Schools, skied her favorite places like Winter Park and Vail, and developed life long friends.Liz returned to KC in 1990 where she has taught for over 25 years. She received her Masters in Literacy from Rockhurst University in 2005 and has been honored to be a part of this wonderful Académie Lafayette community since 2010.When not in the classroom, you might find Liz spending time with her family and friends, walking at her favorite parks, working out at Crossfit, volunteering at St. James Food Pantry and the KC Irish Fest, and writing/reading at her favorite coffee spots. There are so many!
“Be Silly, Be Honest, Be Kind.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
Les Classes de Support (Support Classes & Team)
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I was raised in Overland Park, Kansas, and played competitive soccer for 18 years. I had the opportunity to play on the Olympic Development Team for Kansas for 3 years. After multiple ligament tears, I was no longer able to play competitively. After graduating high school, I attended the University of Kansas and Columbia College. During my last year of college, I studied abroad in Paris, France, and Florence, Italy, where I completed my bachelors’ degrees in art history and in computer design. For 3 years after college, I was a freelance graphic designer, photographer, photo assistant, and stylist assistant. I had the pleasure of working with many local businesses and artists during this time.
I continue to express myself creatively through drawing, photography, and painting. I am an adventurous traveler and enjoy getting outside of my comfort zone in new situations. In 2011, I received my master’s in primary and secondary art education. I have had the pleasure of working at Académie Lafayette since 2008 as an art, computer, and PE teacher.
I believe that the support classes are crucial for teaching problem solving skills, creativity, math, science, history, and higher order critical thinking. I assess students based on point systems listed in Powerschool. I look forward to helping your student push himself or herself to be the best he or she can be, while supporting individual and creative learning styles.
If you ever have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to email me, leave a voicemail at the school for Art, or come by room 103 on the bottom level of the Cherry campus.
Best wishes and inspiration!
Robin Vaughn
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Les Services Sociaux et L’Infirmerie
(Health & Social Services)
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I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and Special Educator working at our Oak campus. I grew up in central Missouri and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. I received my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Kansas where my research emphasis was in reading disorders. I’ve spent my career working with children with speech, language, feeding, and learning challenges in home, clinic, school, and hospital settings. I’ve worked at AL since 2017. I live in Waldo with my husband, two French-speaking kids, dog, and two cats.
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I have been in the education field for over 30 years. My experience includes teaching in a general and special education setting as well as holding the positions of building principal, associate superintendent and director of special services. I have been an instructor at the university level and served as a trained hearing officer for Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. I love to travel internationally and enjoy spending time with family and friends in Colorado. Due to the efforts of my daughter, my family supports an elementary school in Cape Town, South Africa.
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L’Administration
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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.
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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.
Dorothée moved to Kansas City to teach French at Notre Dame de Sion, and spent 15 years in the corporate sector in marketing, public relations and advertising, becoming vice-president and working with Fortune 500 companies. She stayed home when her children were in elementary school and opened The French School, teaching French to pre-schoolers and adults. She also became involved in volunteer work both as PTA president in her kids’ public schools, and as a refugee coordinator teaching the Welcome to America class. She will tell you she is married to a wonderful American and has three stimulating bicultural children.
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