Meet our new principal, M. Laurent Fouillard, who has just arrived at the Shanghai French School. In this interview, he shares his first impressions of the city, his aspirations for the school, and a few personal anecdotes that reveal his rich and inspiring journey.
Hello Laurent, and thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions!
How has your transition to Shanghai been so far? What has surprised or delighted you the most about the city?
My transition has been going well, thanks in large part to the invaluable support from the school staff. Things can be both simple and challenging because of the language barrier, but we’re managing! What surprised me most initially was not understanding why people, especially children, were taking my picture (laughs). What I particularly appreciate about Shanghai is its combination of big-city energy with numerous parks and green spaces where you can catch your breath.
What were you doing before joining our school? Can you tell us a bit about your background?
Before joining the LFS, I was a school principal for 17 years in four different high schools in the Île-de-France region, mostly within the Versailles academy. For the past two years, I served as a technical advisor to the rectors of Paris and Versailles on digital education issues. My role was to collaborate with local authorities to determine how to invest in schools for the 3.5 million students in Île-de-France. I also led teams developing hybrid training programs that allowed people to learn both remotely and in person. Additionally, I worked with French and European EdTech companies to provide teachers with cutting-edge digital solutions. Before that, I was a teacher of economics and management.
What inspired you to work at a French school abroad?
This has been a project my wife, who is also a school principal, and I have had for six years. Back then, we couldn’t make it happen due to family reasons. We put the plan on hold, and my wife was eventually appointed to the Lycée Français in Beijing. Then, an opportunity came up last April, and I was thrilled to receive an offer from the wonderful Lycée Français de Shanghai, which I’m now discovering.
What are your priorities for this school year?
First and foremost, I want to integrate into the school’s dynamic, understand how it operates, get to know the people who make up the community, and connect with our partners. After that, I aim to propose a complementary plan to build on and continue the school’s development. This work plan will be shared with the school community because projects are not built in isolation; they are built together.
What was your favorite subject when you were a student?
I believe we love a subject not just for its content, but often because of the people we meet along the way. For me, two encounters were particularly impactful: the first was with a math teacher in sixth grade who made me love math all the way through to my final year. The second was with a history-geography teacher who didn’t just teach us history but narrated the history of world geography. Each class felt like a theatrical performance, bringing his boundless passion to life.
Outside of your professional career, what are your passions or hobbies?
I have a great love for theater, both contemporary and classical, as well as painting, particularly Impressionism. I’m also passionate about sports. Although I’m not as fast as I used to be (laughs), I still enjoy running. I took up golf about ten years ago and play as a ranked player. I really enjoy the discipline, though I also play other team sports with equal enthusiasm!
What’s something surprising that people might not know about you?
Throughout my career, I’ve had the chance to meet some extraordinary people. I’ve spent time with Inuit communities, discussing life in Greenland while working as an educator for young people. I’ve also had the chance to meet many accomplished French athletes, including Olympic and Paralympic medalists, as I helped set up specialized sports programs in 14 different disciplines. I even met the astronaut who holds the record for the most time spent in space and was the first to take a selfie during a spacewalk with Earth in the background. I’ve shared all these incredible experiences with my students. My goal is to create unforgettable moments for our students.
What do you wish for our students and families as the new school year begins?
I wish them all success, of course, but also hope they experience their schooling with passion and enthusiasm. It’s essential to be ambitious, to believe that anything is possible, to find balance—whether in sports or culture—and to put in the effort to achieve their goals. You don’t need to be the top student in the class to succeed brilliantly and thrive professionally. What matters is seeing your projects through and fully committing to everything you do.
