About Isabelle Bonneau, Founder of Tessa International School
Isabelle has extensive experience both in multilingual education and international business.
She started Be Lingual, a premier language program for schools and language immersion summer camp, in 2007 and has acquired broad expertise in the education industry thanks to this eight year venture.
Before turning her attention to education, Isabelle worked internationally for 8 years for a leading hospitality group and for an international finance consulting firm. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Booth School of Business (University of Chicago). For her undergraduate degrees, she studied at ESCP Europe in France, the UK, and Germany, and holds business degrees from the three countries.
Born and raised in France, Isabelle settled in the Tri-State area in 2001. In her daily life, she is immersed in an international environment as her husband is Greek Cypriot. Her son speaks five different languages, went to a top bilingual school in New York City before joining a prestigious university, and is fully comfortable with different cultures.
History
Inspired by her experiences raising her son in a multicultural household and witnessing the transformative power of education, Isabelle Bonneau dreamed of establishing a school that would nurture both academic excellence and a global perspective. She envisioned bringing the high educational standards she’d experienced in NYC schools to New Jersey. In 2017, Tessa International School opened its doors, initially occupying just a few rooms on the first floor of the Monroe Center.
With determination and dedication, Isabelle collaborated with education professionals to meticulously craft a program celebrating linguistic diversity, social development, and educational excellence. This initial spark quickly ignited growth. Tessa International School expanded its footprint, spreading across three floors of the Monroe Center to accommodate its flourishing student body.
Today, our school stands as a symbol of excellence, embodying Isabelle’s belief in the power of education to shape the future. Her dream lives on in every student who passes through our halls, equipped with the skills and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world.