Cyril Michel
Maternelle Principal & Teacher
Cyril Michel brings more than 30 years of experience in education, including more than two decades working internationally. Originally from Lyon, France, his career has taken him across several continents, with teaching and leadership positions in France, the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He currently serves the Maternelle campus as principal and teacher at Austin International School, where he is delighted to contribute to a community that reflects the same multicultural and international spirit that has shaped his own life and career.
Cyril's professional journey has been particularly international. He has held six school leadership positions abroad, including two in Chile, one in Bolivia, one in Equatorial Guinea, and one in Vietnam. His international teaching experience includes two positions in Lafayette, Louisiana, through the CODOFIL program, as well as a teaching position in Seattle. In France, he began his career working with students in SEGPA, later becoming a SEGPA Director in REP+ schools, including in Lyon's La Duchère neighborhood. Across these very different educational settings, Cyril has developed a strong belief in the importance of creating inclusive schools where every student can find their place and thrive.
His connection to international education is not only professional but deeply personal. Cyril's own family has lived and grown across several countries and cultures, and even the family dog, Cindy, is part of that story: born in Vietnam, she now happily explores Austin by his side. Cyril describes himself as a multicultural mix — French by origin, international by experience, and shaped by the many cultures and communities that have been part of his life. In that sense, he feels particularly at home at AIS, where more than 60 nationalities come together every day.
After more than 30 years in education, Cyril remains passionate about the human side of schools: building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues; supporting teachers; and creating environments where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to become curious citizens of the world. He particularly enjoys working in early childhood education, where he believes that the foundations of openness, respect, curiosity, and empathy are built from the very beginning. And after all these years, teaching itself still holds a special place in his heart: three evenings a week, he trades his principal's hat for that of a French teacher — two evenings at school, teaching French to adults in the AIS community, and one evening sharing his native language with Spanish-speaking adults from Austin and the surrounding area.
Outside of school, Cyril enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures and languages, staying close to his family across the miles, and exploring Austin with Cindy. His personal and professional journey continues to be guided by the same idea that brought him to international education in the first place: we learn more, and become better versions of ourselves, when we are surrounded by people whose experiences and perspectives are different from our own.
Email: cyril.michel@austininternationalschool.org