ben decormeille

A native of Normandy, I hold master degrees in education from universities in Germany (Freie Universitat Berlin) and France (Universite Picardie Jules Verne Amiens). When not teaching, he spends time gardening, reading, writing and doing Aikido (martial art).

Lower Elementary Guide, Saint Monica’s Montessori School, Fargo, North Dakota

• Single-handedly started the Elementary School Program August 2022-present
• Developed all the materials
• Started and supervised a basketball program for Elementary children
• Developed and organized monthly potlucks to educate parents in the Montessori method
• Expanded the existing biology curriculum to include gardening and greenhouse management
• Organized daily breakfast preparation
• Established a student-led book club 

Intern for Foundation of Agricultural and Rural Resources Management and Sustainability (FAARMS), Doubting Thomas Farm, Moorhead, Minnesota 

• Greenhouse management Summer 2020
• Starting plants from seeds
• Managing one acre sized organic garden
• Learned to manage companion plants (such as “three-sisters”)
• Mastered the process of managing organic soils and soil health

Adjunct Professor of French, North Dakota State University Spring 2017

• Taught French 101 to college students
• Prepared my own curriculum
• Supervised active learning

Business Owner: Deja vu Catering July 2017- September 2020

• Started a successful business in order to make a side income
• Prepared French sandwiches and crepes, both sweet and savory

Stay-at-home Dad, Fargo, North Dakota August 2016- August 2021

• Taught Montessori curriculum to my son in both French and German languages

Giesche Schule, Berlin, Germany           Feb - April 2015

History Teacher

• Taught history to motivated high-school age students at a college preparatory school
• Designed new, interactive curriculum 
• Assisted students with class work and adhered to scheduled daily lesson plans
• Supervised student behavior and intervened as necessary
• Tracked students’ progress and provided individual feedback
• Met with parents and established productive dialogues with them

Beethoven-Schule Berlin, Germany                  Dec 2014 - March 2015

French Teacher

• Taught French, both introductory and advanced level 
• Developed assignments and prepared tests designed to gauge proficiency
• Ensured that curriculum was centered around the abilities of each class.
• Provided assistance to students before during and after class as needed
• Prepared monthly progress reports and quarterly grades

Märkische Grundschule, Berlin, Germany                            August 2012- May 2013

French Teacher

• Taught French, both introductory and advanced level, to elementary-age students
• Developed lesson plans and daily classroom activities
• Created games and other interactive learning modules

Sophie-Scholl-Schule (Staatliche Europa-Schule), Berlin, Germany         Sept. 2010

French Teacher

• Taught French, both introductory and advanced level
• Planned individualized study programs for advanced students as requested

French Tutor for Tutoria.de                        September 2010- August 2014

French Teacher

• Taught students of all ages and levels
• Designed his own curriculum
• Tracked students’ progress and provided individual feedback
• Led students to being admitted to top university language programs

EXPERIENCE AS AN ARCHIVIST: 

Archivist, Museum Centre Pompidou in Paris, France                                  2007-2008

• Managed the development of the Electronic Records Archives of papers of Renzo Piano, the architect
• Made decisions about what materials should be preserved because of their long-term research value

Archivist, Archives Départementales de l'Oise, France 2007

• Was responsible for archiving materials pertaining to competition horses
• Followed established protocols for maintaining control of records of enduring value 

Assistant Archivist, Archives Départementales de Belfort, France                       2006

• Provided research services
• Assisted in identifying and cataloguing vauable manuscripts

Certification for an E1 Guide, American Montessori Society, Denver Colorado 

• Montessori Education Center of the Rockies (MECR) June 2024
• Field Supervisor: Cate Zweber

Master of Education in French and History            August 2016

• The Free University, Berlin, Germany
• Thesis Title: Solitude dans l’oeuvre de Michel Houellebecq
• Thesis Director: Prof. Ulrike Schneider

Master of Arts in History August 2008

• Université Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
• Master Project: La transformation de l’information archivée en information dynamique au service d’archives de Centre Pompidou
• Thesis Supervisor: Prof. Jean-Philippe Bonilli

B.A. in French and History         August 2014

• The Free University, Berlin, Germany

B.A. in History August 2006