Raised on the East coast in a family of doctors, Mark’s early love of French in middle school later developed into an ardent commitment to master the language. His first immersion adventure began at age 19 in the South of France. While studying there, he fell in love with the Provençal way of life.
After college, Mark explored a career in international law before embracing teaching. To formalize his pedagogical skill and solidify his French language expertise, Mark took on a Master’s Degree program in Paris and then stayed to teach middle and high school History-Geography and English in the American Section of the Lycée International de St. Germain-en-Laye.
Upon returning to the United States, Mark settled in New York City where he taught French at a well known independent school in Brooklyn Heights. At the age of 30, Mark embarked on a journey to learn Spanish through immersive travel-study in language schools with host family stays all around Spain, Mexico, Central and South America. Mark also served for years as a Master Teacher leading month-long immersion homestay summer trips for teens with Rassias Programs Abroad headquartered on the Dartmouth College campus.
After completing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at Columbia University Teachers College, Mark moved to San Diego with his family to take on the position of World Language Department Chair JK-12 at La Jolla Country Day School. During his time there, Mark also helped found and direct Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy‘s first summer language immersion program in immersion in French for Middle and High School students within a “language pledge” environment. These varied roles prepared Mark, before coming to San Diego French-American School, to successfully lead the High School division at the French-American School of New York. In that role, Mark gained valuable leadership experience and expertise with both the French system curriculum and the International Baccalaureate program.
Mark was recruited as the third San Diego French-American School Head of School in August 2017. His younger son Julian is an alumnus of our 8th grade and now attends Mission Bay High School in the IB program. Mark’s older son David lives in Brooklyn, New York and works for Condé Naste in the Freedom Tower. Mark is passionate about our mission and the value of an exceptional bilingual education. Indeed, open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity, an abiding appreciation of people from around the global, adaptability and resilience are in his mind essential in preparing children to lead enriched lives of meaning and impact.
