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Admissions Welcome

La Scuola Admissions Team

Buongiorno! On behalf of our vibrant and joyful community, we welcome you to La Scuola International School. The Bay Area’s best and only Reggio Emilia Inspired school offering International Baccalaureate programs and Italian language immersion.

We believe that the world has changed and it’s time for education to catch up. That’s why, every day, it’s the students at La Scuola International School who ask challenging questions. They lead—and embrace—their own ability to learn across the lines of subject, culture, and language.

As the only Reggio Emilia-Inspired, International Baccalaureate and Italian language immersion school in the world, our mission is to "inspire brave learners to shape the future." We educate the whole child - intellectually, physically, and emotionally - in a joyful and aesthetically beautiful environment.

Our inquiry-based immersive Italian language curriculum for Preschool - Grade 8 students allows them to foster critical and creative thinking skills, confidence, collaboration, and empathy.

Meet our Admissions Team

Nichole Leon, M.S.
Director of Admissions, Recruitment, & SST / DEIB

Nichole Leon, Director of Admissions

Ciao and welcome! My name is Nichole Leon and I am a San Francisco native, born and raised in the Bayview District. I have worked in Early Childhood Education for 20 years. I joined the La Scuola community in May 2021 and I considered this to be my "north star".

I am passionate about high-quality learning environments where children are given the opportunity to explore, investigate, and ask questions. My deep love for the Reggio Emilia pedagogy has driven me to spend much of my career coaching and training teachers on this framework. In my spare time, I enjoy movie nights with my teen daughter, spontaneous road trips, browsing thrift stores, and listening to a variety of music!

Joy is at the center of who we are at La Scuola, I am looking forward to meeting your family and can't wait to share the La Scuola Joy with you!

Paola Barberi
Director of Enrollment and Retention

Paola Barberi, Associate Director of Admissions

Benvenuti! My name is Paola Barberi and I am the Director of Enrollment and Retention, welcoming families interested in joining our La Scuola community.

I am here to help you understand all the school has to offer. I am a native of Piemonte, Italy, and I have had a diverse international experience, living in Italy, the UK, and the US. Much of my career experience is in admissions, administration, HR, and artist promotion in the music industry.

I am the proud mother of a La Scuola alum from the first graduating class of 2020, who joined La Piccola Scuola in preschool. When I am not helping families discover La Scuola, I can be found enjoying music, passionately supporting the Azzurri (Italian national soccer team) and Juventus, or enjoying long walks, ideally involving beaches and crashing waves.

Please feel free to connect with us directly at admissions@lascuolasf.org. We look forward to getting to know you!

At La Scuola, we believe there is Nothing Without Joy. Please click the links below to learn more about our admissions process and how you can find joy here at La Scuola.