Meet Our Staff

Passionate Educators

Founder/Director/3-6,6-12 Montessori teacher/Coach

The school is founded and managed by Chantal Detournay. She has a 3-6 diploma from IFMM, 6-12 diploma from the Center for Guided Montessori Studies, a Master in Education from Duquesne University in the United States.
She has 15 years of experience in international sales and marketing, and non-profit development. Passionate about yoga, she completes a 200 HTT ShivaShakti yoga in June 2019 with Charlotte Saint Jean and continues another 200 HTT with Julien Levy, is convinced by its well being impact on the children through movement, meditation, breathing techniques and connection to the self.  She is also a professional coach and NLP technician to better support the children, the staff and parents.
Chantal is married and mother of two. She has lived in Belgium, France, and the United States.

Réjane Morier-Genoud

Supporting Director, 3-6 educator

Rejane Morier-Genoud, at Mésanges since 2014, has the AMI 3-6 diploma and is the French educator in the classroom. She received her university diploma in International business. She studied in France, Spain and Germany.  She worked in human resources for several years, until the birth of her daughter in 2009, which transformed her view on life and the world we live in.  She has animated workshops of Faber and Mazlish at Mésanges.  She is trained in NVC and NLP.

Responsible 6-12 pedagogy, 6-12 educator

Nashwa Mostaguir is the French Montessori educator for the 6-12 years. She completed her AMI training in 2015. After completing a Masters in Art from University of Geneva, she has practiced several professions such as teaching adults, humanitarian work with the CICR and career coaching. Egyptian and Swiss, she has lived in France, Spain, Germany, Jordania and Liberia.  Mother of 2 adolescent girls, she is engaged in positive parenting and non violent education. Nashwa completed a training at the Fondation SEVE in June 2019 to lead philosophy workshops for 6-12 year olds and makes the link with the Montessori philosophy of "help me think on my own."  

6-12 educator

Christine is an AMI trained Elementary Assistant and a 6-12 Guide in training.  An American who grew up on the beaches of Florida, she has worked in France for over 15 years as an English teacher.  After having her two children she became interested in Montessori education and the philosophy of following the rhythm of the child.  She decided to explore a whole new direction in teaching and fell in love with the pedagogy of Maria Montessori.   Her passion for learning and observing the children’s development is combined with a love for creativity in the classroom.  The peaceful philosophy of Montessori education brings great joy and pleasure to her daily life and she enjoys transferring this joy to the children through the work and play of the classroom.

3-6 francophone educator

Isabelle Mocquot joined us in 2018 and is our francophone 3-6 teacher, she has the AMI 3-6 diploma. . Initially trained as a computer scientist, she quickly oriented herself towards adult education during many years. She answers a calling to orient herself to be part of forming the world of tomorrow and to respond to a professional desire to work with small children by enrolling in the AMI 3-6 training program.  She enjoys working with the children in a well meaning environment, respecting their rhythm so they can grow with joy

3-6 anglophone educator

Fiona is the 3-6 English teacher.  A native English speaker, she obtains Bachelors and Masters degrees in contemporary dance and a CELTA certificate for English teaching to adults.  Since moving to France in 2011, Fiona has taught English both inside and outside of a Montessori environment. She is currently completing the AMI 3-6 Diploma at the IFMM in Geneva.  Fiona is the happy mother of two young children with whom she practices positive parenting.

Samira Chelli

3-6 anglophone educator

Samira is a 3-6 AMI Guide. She graduated from the "Institut de Formation Maria Montessori" in Geneva.

She also has a Trilingual Assistant diploma and has worked as a Restaurant Manager all over the world.

She loves discovering new languages and cultures and has lived in a number of countries including the UK, Argentina, Australia and Uruguay.

Today she has decided to help build a better world and believes the Montessori Pedagogy is an ideal tool for this endeavour. As a guide she believes the key to education is to help guide and support each child in his/her natural development.

Valentina Perri

Valentina discovers her passion for children while taking care of her little sister and playing with her mother's collegues' children. 

In 2012, She obtains her high school diploma at the Small Children's Institute (Sociopsychopedagogical high school) . She pursues her bachelor's in communication, then completes with a master's in marketing. Valentina's passion and love for the children brings her closer to the Montessori Method as she completes the AMI Montessori assistant diploma. She continues to read and explore children's development. Valentina is full of joy, energy and patience that she puts at the service of Mésanges. 

Verònica Alba-Vazquez

3-6 assistant

Veronica is AMI trained Montessori assistant for the 0-3 and 3-6 age group since 2018. Her initial career was in translation in Switzerland, France and Spain, which took a turn after the birth of her son where she realizes she knows very little regarding childhood development. She discovers the rich world of alternative pedagogy and positive education, for which she becomes passionate and continues to be trained in order to be the best version of herself with the children.