For as long as we can remember, one question has guided our vision:
What if school could be a place where children truly love to go?
Martinat French-American School is a French–American bilingual school project (French / English) that will open in Orlando as soon as suitable facilities are secured.
This school is the natural extension of Martinat French-American Learning Hub and the result of a deeply personal, professional, and passionate commitment to education — a project that has been growing and evolving since Summer 2024.
A school born from a personal journey
My name is Marie Martinat. I am an educator, educational content creator @maitresse_mariemartinat, podcaster, and the founder of Martinat French-American Learning Hub. Not because I lacked curiosity, but because school did not feel like it was made for me. Too top-down. Not alive enough. Not human enough.
Our school will be a place:
- Where mistakes are part of the process
- Where emotions matter
- Where curiosity is encouraged
And above all, I was a child who did not enjoy school. Not because I couldn’t learn. As I grew up, I realized that many children feel the same way. That realization became my mission: To create learning environments where children enjoy learning.
Martinat French-American School is the school I wish I had attended as a child.
A bilingual and bicultural school
Our school will offer a 50% French / 50% English model within a truly bilingual daily environment.
Children will naturally use both languages through:
- Academic learning
- Projects
- Play
- Workshops
- Daily classroom life
Bilingualism is not an “extra class". It is a way of functioning.
Our goal is to raise confident, open-minded children who feel comfortable navigating between two languages and two cultures.
A modern, brain-based pedagogy
Martinat French-American School will be grounded in:
- Affective and cognitive neuroscience
- Learning through play
- Active pedagogy
- Alternative educational approaches (Montessori, active learning, Céline Alvarez-inspired practices, and more).
In practice:
- Children manipulate
- Experiment
- Move
- Create
- Observe
- Discuss
Children understand before memorizing.
They learn because they want to learn.
They learn because they want to learn.
A deeply inclusive school
Every child is unique.
Our school will welcome:
- Neurotypical children
- Neurodivergent children (ADHD, ASD, gifted, dyslexia and other learning differences, etc.)
- Children with specific learning needs
With:
- Small class sizes (maximum 15 students per class)
- Pedagogical adaptations
- Attention to sensory needs
- A caring, individualized approach with trained teachers
We strongly believe that a child is never “the problem”. The environment must adapt to the child — not the other way around.
A living, creative school
Beyond core academics (reading, writing, math, science), children will explore:
- Arts & creativity
- Music
- Theater
- Cooking
- Interdisciplinary projects
- French and international culture
- Practical life skills
Because intelligence is multiple.
Because every child has talents.
Because every child has talents.
A human-sized school
Our vision:
- Small classes
- Family-like atmosphere
- Close-knit team
- Strong partnership with families
A school where everyone knows each other.
Where respect is central.
Where we grow together.
Where respect is central.
Where we grow together.
A natural continuation of the Learning Hub
Currently in development, represents the first stage of the project.
It allows us to:
- Test and refine programs
- Build a community
- Martinat French-American Learning Hub,
- Adjust our approaches
- Gradually grow the team
A family and entrepreneurial journey
The project is led by:
Marie Martinat
Academic Director – educational vision, program design, pedagogy
Academic Director – educational vision, program design, pedagogy
Educator, educational content creator, and influencer with nearly 600,000 followers across all platforms, actively advocating for a more joyful, inclusive, and child-centered education.
François Martinat
Financial & Administrative Director – management, structuring, investments
We are building this project for the long term, with seriousness, commitment, and passion.
Our promise
At Martinat French-American School:
- Children will love learning
- Children will develop confidence
- Children will feel safe
- Children will feel respected
- Children will grow into curious, open-minded, fulfilled individuals
This will not be a “typical” school.
This will be a reimagined school.
This will be a reimagined school.
