Blossom Staff - 2024-2025
Marie Nicoletti — Director and Lead Teacher
Madame Marie grew up in the French alps and moved to Paris after college to attend fashion school. She worked for fashion designers Yohji Yamamoto, Martin Sitbon, Plein Sud, and Nina Ricci before moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1990.
Marie has been providing French programs for children in Colorado since 2000, starting with the Language of Food to teach traditional and regional French cooking. The French Immersion Summer Camp followed in 2008, and a French after-school program launched in 2010, as a way to provide Boulder families with an environment in which hearing and learning French would develop a curiosity for languages and an attraction to other cultures.
25 years of working with children in language acquisition, arts & crafts, cooking, music and singing, storytelling, sewing, gardening, and more culminated in the launch of Blossom International Preschool in 2015. It stemmed from Marie’s desire to give new generations the wealth of everything she’s learned since she was little, and bring back an educational philosophy where a more practical, play-based, hands-on approach was the main focus. To learn more about Blossom’s curriculum and philosophy, please visit the Curriculum page.
Marie holds a BA in Applied Foreign Languages for International Business (with a focus on English and Italian) and a BA in Italian Languages and Civilization from the University of Savoie, France. She also earned a Diploma in Pattern Making and Garment Construction from CFM (Centre de formation de modélistes) in Paris, France, and is a member of the American Association of Teachers of French.
Perrine Olié — Assistant Director and Lead Teacher
Teacher Perrine grew up in the south of France, and came to the U.S. in 2018 as an Au Pair after graduating with a degree in tourism management. During her volunteer time at Blossom International Preschool, Perrine discovered a passion for early childhood education and was inspired by the school's international and cultural exchange approach. This experience motivated her to transition into the field of education, and in December 2024, she earned an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education and she received a Director qualification.
“I am committed to creating a warm, loving, and nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and at home. I believe that emotional and social development is fundamental to a young child's growth, and I strive to ensure each child feels seen, heard, and supported. Through Blossom's Waldorf-inspired curriculum, my goal is to help children build confidence, empathy, and strong relationships”.
Angie Gandara — Lead Teacher
Angie is a bilingual educator, fluent in both Spanish and English. Born in Mexico, she brings a wealth of cultural experience to her work with children. Angie has dedicated her career to working in various educational settings and is currently pursuing further qualifications to become Director Qualified. Her passion for early childhood education shines through in her commitment to her students.
When she is not teaching, Angie enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle through working out and playing tennis, as well as reading.
Barbara ‘Bobi’ O’Loughlin — Lead Teacher
Teacher Bobi grew up as an Air Force dependent, living in and experiencing many different countries and cultures.
As a young child, she lived in France and attended a French school where she was the only American student, quickly becoming fluent in the language. She also lived in Greece, where she continued her French education while also learning Greek. As a teenager, she lived in Japan and attended an American military school, where she picked up some Japanese.
Teacher Bobi's passion for language and culture led her to major in French and education in college, and she later received a Montessori certification. She has enjoyed a fulfilling career teaching students from preschool through college levels. In addition, she is a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor and loves spending time with her horses.
Larissa Nibeney Some — Teacher’s Assistant
Teacher Larissa is a multilingual teacher's assistant, fluent in French, English, and several languages from her native Burkina Faso, including Dagara, Dioula, Mooré, Gun, and Bobo.
Originally from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, Larissa holds a BA in Human Resources from the Institute of Computer Science and Management. She moved to America with her young daughter and began volunteering at Blossom in early 2020. Larissa quickly developed a passion for Waldorf early childhood education and joined our team as soon as she completed her early childhood teacher qualifications.
Larissa's interests include semiology, photography, filming, music, movies, cooking, traveling, reading, dancing, and enjoying life in Colorado.