Transatlantic Scholars, Virginia-France 2024-2025

Naomi Ramos-Acosta, Virginia

My name is Naomi Ramos-Acosta and I am in my 12th year of education. I have taught in both middle and high school. I speak both Spanish and English and I have been at Grassfield HS since the Fall of 2020. As a former Army kid living in multiple countries, and visiting many more, my love for history grew until it became what I wanted to do with my life. I have a Bachelor’s of Arts in History and in May of 2024, I graduated with my Master’s of Science in Educational Leadership so that I can move into an administrative role.

Stephanie Clements, Virginia

Stephanie Clements is an educator in Chesapeake, Virginia, with over twenty years of teaching experience in social studies instruction. She has taught a broad spectrum of subjects, including Anthropology, World Geography, World History I and II, and United States History. For the last fourteen years, she has specialized in teaching AP United States History at Grassfield High School. Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in history, with a concentration in United States history, from St. Bonaventure University, as well as a master’s degree in secondary education from the University of New Mexico. She serves as the sponsor for Rho Kappa The National Social Studies Honor Society and is a member of the scholarship committee at Grassfield High School.

Guillaume Barral, France

Guillaume Barral is a geography and history teacher in France (near Lyon). He's currently working in an international section in La Côtière High School. As a teacher, specialized in gamification process and geography, he's also involved in continuing training, and he wrote some articles on video games or music.

Jillian Doerr, Virginia

Jillian Doerr is a social studies educator and a proud alumna of Grassfield High School in Chesapeake, Virginia.  She has taught World History II and is currently teaching World History I and AP United States History. Jillian pursued her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech, earning a degree in History with a minor in Literature, followed by a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Secondary Social Studies Education from the same institution. While acquiring her graduate degree, Jillian presented at the NCSS (National Council for the Social Studies) Convention in 2022; partnering with the Library of Congress to demonstrate the Question Formulation Technique in secondary social studies classrooms (QFT). Jillian is the Grassfield High School Dance Team Coach and the Sponsor for the Sophomore Class Office.

Theo Cohen, France

Theo Cohen is an agrégé History-Geography teacher at the Lycée Faÿs de Villeurbanne in the Lyon metropolitan area, where he teaches the HGGSP speciality and History-Geography in English to students enrolled in the European Section or preparing for the American Baccalauréat Français International (BFI). A CAFFA holder, he is an academic trainer at the EAFC in Lyon and a member of the Collectif de Ressources Disciplinaire en Histoire-Géographie. For the past 3 years, he has been involved in the MEEF courses at Lyon II and III Universities, leading the “Doing History-Geography in English” tutorials.  He is also embarking on a doctoral course in Geography under the direction of Dominique Chevalier at the Environnement, Ville et Société research unit of the Université Lyon II, and more specifically within the Faire Territoire, Faire Société workshop. His thesis focuses on the teaching of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in French secondary schools.

Pierre-Marie Garnaud, France

Pierre-Marie Garnaud is an experienced educator with over 30 years of teaching history, geography, and political science. He holds a Master’s in History from the University of Pau, a Master’s in Political Science from the Uniniversity of Nice Sophia Antipolis, and a Bachelor’s in English Literature. Garnaud taught at the Lycée Français de New York and later at the Lycée Français de Barcelone, where he worked for 14 years. In 2022, he helped launch the American section at Lycée Saint Cricq in Pau, France, focusing on transatlantic historical connections. His work emphasizes international education and cultural exchange between France and the United States.