Election 2015/16
Bio of Candidates to be elected
Co-Presidents of FASNYPTA
My name is Chantal Bourges. I arrived in Westchester in 2004 and spent 4 years here with
my family. Four of my children attended FASNY from kinder garden to 10 th grade during
which time I became an active PTA member as class delegate, then Upper-School campus
rep and Co-chair of the Gala. My family and I returned to France in 2008, with children
enrolled at Institut Notre Dame de Saint Germain en Laye and in the Lycée International de
Saint Germain en Laye. I was involved in those schools as parent rep and at the same time
committed myself in spreading a parental approach known as Positive Discipline and
participated in the creation of the French Positive Discipline Association and was its
Treasurer for 3 years.
We have now returned to Westchester with one child in Middle School and one in High
school. I would be happy to serve FASNY’s parents, teachers, and administration again by
bringing my many years of experience in PTA and my open-mindedness acquired both
through my many stays in foreign countries and my professional life. I wish to volunteer for
the position of Co-President for FASNY-PTA.
My name is Deborah E. Bradley Galliot. I have 1 son who is currently in the 3rd grade.
I was born in Kansas, the heartland of America. I took my first French class in the 9th
grade and fell in love with the language and the culture. I studied French and economics in
university and then worked for French banks throughout my career. I was a banker involved
in International finance and worked with American multinational corporations in Europe. I
lived and worked in Paris for 9 years. I married a Frenchman whose family is from the
heartland of France, Burgundy!
Within FASNY, I have volunteered as a class delegate, worked with the Annual Fund,
Kermesse and as a Campus Representative for Larchmont. I hope to have the opportunity
to broaden my volunteering by serving as a Co-President for FASNY-PTA.
Secretary
Katie Weisman Desvallées is the mother of William (12th grade) and Lucie (10th grade)
who have attended FASNY since 2008. Katie has worked and lived in a French-American
environment for over 20 years. A native New Yorker, Katie is a writer, editor, and bi-lingual
translator/copywriter specialized in fashion and luxury goods. She’s married to a French
man, Christian, who politely tolerates her brash New York attitude. Katie has worked on
both sides of the Atlantic, as an American reporter covering Paris for non-French
publications and as an executive at a Parisian couture house. She believes that her bicultural experiences along with her American perspective helps her in her role as FASNY-PTA
secretary and member of the PTA board. She enjoyed the position so much she is
volunteering again for next year!
Webmaster
My name is Nathalie Toulemonde and I have been in the US and at FASNY since
September 2010. I have 3 children: Grégoire in 3rd grade, Matthieu in 6th grade, Léa in 8th
grade, all at FASNY. Since I arrived, I have volunteered for FASNY as a class delegate, as
part of the Famous Artist program, and as a member of the Gala team over the past 3
years, including this year as Co-Chair. Before arriving in NY, I worked in Marketing. I am
co-founder of the French website www.petitestetes.com
Treasurer
My name is Christèle Fleury. I have 3 children: Maxime (Graduated in 2011 - McGill
University), Sixtine 11th grade and Constantin 7th grade.
In the US (and at FASNY) since January 2008
Previously volunteered for FASNY-PTA: Book Fair since 2008, in charge of the BF 2010-2012
Parent Delegate in Middle and High School several times.
I have worked in audit and financial analysis for 10 years. I am running again for Treasurer
for next year.
Parent Representatives for:
Scarsdale Pre-school
My name is Jennifer Stevens and I’m finishing my second year as a FASNY parent. Our
daughter Sophie is a member of the PreK-B class. She loves her class and her teachers and
is very excited to start Kindergarten next year. I am a native of Connecticut and, although I
love to travel, I have lived most of my in the New York metropolitan area. We moved from
Brooklyn to Westchester County in 2012 so that Sophie could attend FASNY. We are
extremely satisfied with the education she has received and have marvelled as we’ve
watched her become truly bilingual.
My background is in economics and public policy research. I’ve worked in these fields and
also as a technical writer and trainer. Currently, I am self-employed as an online retailer and
small business consultant.
I have volunteered for two years at the FASNY-PTA book sale and have been a field trip
chaperone for my daughter’s class. I now look forward to increasing my involvement by not
only helping facilitate events within the school but also by representing the concerns of all
preschool parents to the administration and to the FASNY-PTA board.
Larchmont Lower School
My name is Hannah Saujet. I am mother to three boys, all of whom attend FASNY:
Theodore (10 years old, 5th grade), Felix (8 years old, 3rd grade), and Raphael (5 years old,
Kindergarten). Until last May I served as the Director of Operations for International
Cosmetics and Perfumes, Inc, where I worked for 11 years. For the academic 2013-2014
year, when I was still working, I became involved in the FASNY PTA, serving as a class
representative for my son Raphael’s Pre-Kindergarten, and this current academic year I am
serving as a class representative for my son Theo’s 5th grade. I have the time and am
inspired to take on an even more active role for the coming year, and that is why I am
running for and hope to be able to serve as the campus rep for Larchmont.
My name is Alexandra Baxter. I am a mum of 2 boys, age 6 and 8. This will be my 3rd
year here in Westchester. Both of my boys go to FASNY. We are a Franco-British family. I
am keen on helping FASNY and our community. Getting involved in our school means a lot
to me.
I have worked as a consultant for over 15 years while in France and I am currently studying
career coaching at NYU. I hope that with Hannah we can help parents, children and FASNY.
Mamaroneck - Middle School
My name is Kristen Simko. I am an American, originally from the Midwest, who moved
back to the US from Switzerland in 2010. My husband and I spent 9 years in Lausanne
where our 3 daughters were born and began school in the Swiss system. I have enjoyed
getting to know teachers, administrators and other parents at FASNY working on the
Kermesse and Gala committees and as a class delegate (a few times!). I have an MBA in
marketing, and in the past I have worked in banking and product marketing. In my free
time I enjoy reading, family bike rides and exploring NYC. I am running again for Middle
School rep for next year.
My name is Claire Bijon. Both of my children, Baptiste (7th Grade) and Louise (10th
Grade), are at FASNY and my son went to 4th Grade in the Mamaroneck public school
system. I was Class Rep for several years in public school in France and twice at FASNY,
where I also co-chaired the BookFair and Boutique Team before taking on the role of Middle
School Campus Rep with Kris last year. Volunteering for FASNY PTA events helped me get
to know the school and its community better. I enjoy working with our wonderful Class Reps
and all the other dedicated PTA volunteers and liaising with school faculty and
administration. I was a corporate and finance lawyer in London and Paris until we settled in
New York in 2011 and recently started professional training in New York. I am running
again for Middle School Campus Rep next year.
Mamaroneck - High School
My name is Christine Louvet, my 2 children are now both High schoolers: Thomas, raising
12th grade and Clara, raising 10th grade. All the members of our family are dual US-French
citizens. I, myself, have received the same education as your children, raised on both sides
of the Atlantic Ocean from
Kindergarten through high school. I earned an undergraduate degree in France and then
pursued a Master’s degree in the USA. I am passionate about bilingual education and the
exceptionally enriching environment our school represents. I have been class rep many
years and would be honoured to take part in further strengthening our High School
community, by running for a second year as your High School Rep for 2015/16.
My name is Caroline Heimo Massart. I grew up in Switzerland in a bilingual French and
German family but I have been living in the USA since 1995.
I studied hotel management and business administration in Lausanne, Switzerland and a few
years later, obtained a Master’s degree in Communications from Temple University in
Philadelphia. I have worked, mainly in communications, at the International Committee of
the Red Cross, Swiss Television and the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington D.C.
I have been a full time mom since 1999 and my children David (‘17) and Isabel (’20) both
attend the Mamaroneck campus. Over the years, I have volunteered for FASNY PTA as class
delegate, organized the pizza service in Larchmont and helped out for events such as the
Gala, Thanksgiving, the Book Fair and the Kermesse. I am running again for High School
rep for next year.