About Us
Founded in 2000, Petite École Internationale is the only French immersion Montessori pre-school in Austin. Serving children ages 2-5, our graduates continue on to other language immersion schools in the community, as well as public and private elementary programs, always carrying with them a love of the French language.
PEI is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors largely made up of parents. The Board of Directors is responsible for policy making and conducting the routine business of the school. The structure of the school allows parents to be very involved by volunteering as a Board Member, Committee Chair, or in a wide variety of other capacities.
Our non-profit status allows us to keep our fees as low as possible and ensures that 100% of our earnings and donations are funneled back into the school. We also offer a scholarship program for families in need of financial assistance.
Our Staff
Carrie Schonaerts
Director/Lead Teacher
Carrie has been with PEI since its creation in 2000, first as an Assistant Teacher, then Lead Teacher, and now as both our Lead Teacher and Director. Her long tenure with the school has enabled us to ensure a remarkable continuity in our methods and in the school experience for our students. Carrie has lived in France and holds a Bachelors in French from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. She travels back to France as often as possible!
Sabrina Meddassi
Assistant Director, Pre-Primary Lead Teacher and Extended Day Staff
Sabrina joined the Petite École team in the fall of 2022. She was born and raised in Normandy, France. She graduated school as a HR major and worked for 10 years as an account executive and project manager for multiple national staffing companies.
Sabrina took time from the corporate world to volunteer in a non-profit primary Moroccan school where she helped implement the French language program. She enjoyed it so much so that when she moved to Austin, she decided to continue pursuing education—more specifically the French language and culture education. Sabrina enjoys tennis, paddling on Lady Bird Lake, and very good cheese!
Amina Khiati
Assistant Teacher and Extended Day Staff
Amina Khiati joined the PEI community in the beginning of 2024 . She was born and raised in Algeria where she graduated school as an Architect and worked in the field for several years. Having moved to Austin in 2017, she found a new career path and embraced teaching and working with kids. She loves sharing one of her native languages with the children at Petite École and can’t see herself doing anything else.
Leila Sebbar
Classroom Assistant and Extended Day Staff
Leila Sebbar joined Petite École in 2024. Leila was raised in Texas to a French mother. She graduated from Texas State University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Child and Family development. She worked as an RBT providing therapy to children with autism for a few years and later working at a bilingual Montessori school where she found her passion. She is glad to be a part of this school and community.
Outside of school she enjoys taking hikes and scenic drives.