Jill Dresser
Owner / Operator
I started French Quartour Kids in 2012. I absolutely love what I do and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to combine all of my great loves: New Orleans, teaching, kids, and history!
Though I’m originally from Massachusetts, I came to New Orleans in 1994 to attend Tulane University. Part of my undergraduate work required me to volunteer in the local public schools. This experience changed me. I spent the next ten years teaching in inner city schools, in New Orleans and the Bronx. I have a Masters Degree in Elementary Education with experience teaching kids from Kindergarten through 8th grade.
However, with the recent changes in schools, I decided to leave the classroom in 2013. I spent 2 years working at the Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses in New Orleans, designing and coordinating education programs and getting lost in this city’s mysterious past. I am indebted to the guidance of Confederacy of Cruisers and my experience at the Hermann-Grima House.
Richard Schmitt
Tween / Teen Tour Guide, Middle School & High School Field Trip Leader
Richard joined French Quartour Kids in November 2015. He is a New Orleans native and a natural tour guide. Richard can share with you the gems of the city from a local’s perspective- where to eat, places to visit, stories to hear. His passion for New Orleans is contagious. He also has over 25 years experience teaching history: Louisiana history, American history, World History, Civics, and Geography. He has taught both middle school and high school in New Orleans.
He is a licensed tour guide and certified teacher.
Richard leads our Tween/Teen Tours, tailoring them to the interests of attending families. In addition, he leads middle and high school students on an unforgettable, educational tour of the French Quarter.
Candice Powell
Pirate Treasure Hunt, Ghost Hunts, & Elementary School Field Trip Leader
Candice is absolutely thrilled to be a part of French Quartour Kids. She is passionate about New Orleans’ colorful history and eager to share its stories.
Upon obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English from Monmouth University, NJ and an elementary teaching license from UNCA in Asheville, NC, Candice taught preschool and kindergarten for the past eleven years. She aims to instill in students a sense of wonder and an appreciation for the natural world around us. Candice is excited to take her teaching outside to one of the most magical classrooms she could dream of- the French Quarter!
Mary Carol Chenet
Spooky Tour, Twilight Tour, & Elementary School Field Trip Leader
Mary Carol comes to us via Lake Charles, LA with Cajun and French ancestry. Her first passion was ballet, where she experienced another world, that would take her to many places as a performance artist. She has been performing in New Orleans since 1995 and always feels at home in a theatre. Through her passion for dance, she began to teach and has taught at many locally owned dance studios, arts enrichment programs in a schools, and as a classroom teacher. MC feels as if all her talents for performing, teaching, and creating have perfectly prepared her for her newest venture as a tour guide. “I feel so fortunate that I found a job that includes so many of my passions. I love that I am able to share the history of this enchanting city and the opportunity of connecting with travelers nationally and internationally.”