Marie-Hélène Samson
French and Yearbook Instructor
Tel: (805) 646-4343 Ext 137

Foreign Languages Department
French 1, French 2, French 3, Yearbook

Year Appointed: 2008




B.S. Laval University, Canada - Physical Engineering

Marie is originally from Québec, Canada. She graduated from Laval University with a B.S. degree in Physical Engineering. She worked for different research centers in oceanography and medical physics. Feeling unfulfilled with these occupations, she decided to follow her passion for languages, other cultures and photography, and left for an adventure to Australia, South-East Asia and Indonesia. This is where she met her husband, who grew up in Ojai. After a visit to this beautiful valley, she decided to establish and keep following her passions on this amazing land. Looking for a job, she visited BHS four years ago, and offered to establish a French program at Besant Hill School. Since then, she has been teaching French and Yearbook, which fulfill her passions. This is what makes this school so special. Teachers teach what they love and share this vibrant energy with the students, inspiring them to follow their heart.

Marie enjoys knitting, hiking and doing yoga during her free time. During longer vacations, she travels, experiences new cultures and captures this beautiful world with photography. She lives with her four-year old son, Pako, in a community of people living together in a sustainable way.