Cecilia Yun Wang (“Cecilia Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Cecilia earned her Master of Science degree at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and her B.A. in English at Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology in Nanjing, China. Cecilia has a gentle and sweet approach to her students, which makes them connect with her with ease.

 

Christie Shew (“Christie Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Christie Lao Shi is currently pursuing her degree in early childcare education at San Francisco City College, with additional coursework focused on Reggio Emilia. Christie has a gentle and patient way of interacting with the children, who feel they can count on her and trust her. She is a joyful and calming presence in the classroom.

 

Cui Juan Zhen (“Cui Juan Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Cui Juan has shown tremendous dedication to supporting our teachers and children. Having kids of her own motivated her to enter the field of education, and she is currently pursuing her degree in early childhood education at San Francisco City College, with additional coursework focused on Reggio Emilia. She has already obtained a certified teaching permit.

Elaine Tseng (“Elaine Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Elaine is a dedicated, thoughtful, true gem of a teacher. Elaine has a caring, nurturing presence in the classroom, and the children are naturally drawn to her. Before Elaine joined our team of teachers, she spent her graduate summer internship at Presidio Knolls School, and both our children and teachers truly enjoyed working with her. Elaine earned her Masters of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelors of Science from Hsuan Chuang University in Taiwan. She was also a kindergarten teacher in Taipei, Taiwan prior to her graduate studies.

Hsiu-Ching Lin (“Hsiu-Ching Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Hsiu Ching has a true talent working with children in the classroom. Prior to joining Presidio Knolls School, she spent five years as a teacher at the Mandarin Play and Learn in Miraloma Community Church. She is a passionate student of the Reggio Emilia approach and she is always looking for new ways of inspiring children to learn. For the last 5 years, she has devoted her time to early childhood development, and her ability to support children in their development shines through. She earned her B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University.

Jamie Chiahui Gao (“Jamie Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Jamie has a BFA in Chinese classical paintings and an MFA in video and film from Tufts University/School of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. She has over 10 years of experience teaching Mandarin Chinese in many cities including Taiwan, New York and Los Angeles. Most recently she has conducted summer Mandarin classes for children and parents at Urban Recess Recreation Center in San Francisco. Jamie has also worked as a columnist for a Chinese e-magazine in New York City and has had articles published in Chinese magazines and newspapers. In addition to her passion for teaching young children, Jamie Lao Shi is also an award-winning artist with paintings and films exhibited in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Canada and the U.S.

Juan Fu (“Juan Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

She received her BA in accounting from the Zhong Yang Dian Shi University in Hai Nan. Having kids of her own was her impetus to enter the field of education and she has over 5 years of experience working with young children. Juan Lao Shi is currently pursuing her credentials at San Francisco City College, with additional coursework focused on Reggio Emilia.

Mei-Ying Zeng (“Mei-Ying Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Mei Ying is an accomplished artist/illustrator and is enthusiastic about incorporating arts in early childcare education. She has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and Chinese Theater from Chinese Culture University (Taiwan). Before coming to PKS, Mei Ying taught at an English immersion kindergarten in Taiwan for six years. Her artwork has been shown in the Juming Museum in Taiwan, as well as in the Main Library of the Taipei Public Library and in the Mandarin Daily News. Mei-Ying has an engaging and upbeat personality that brings joy to those around her.

Menglan Li (“Menglan Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Menglan has been a stable and reliable part of our faculty and has brought with her a deep sense of empathy and understanding of children. You will find her in the classroom with a swarm of children admiring her origami pieces or telling her about their day. Her warmth, her gentle and thoughtful interactions endear her to children, families and colleagues alike.

Ming Ying Kan (“Jessie Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Ming Ying graduated from Chinese Culture University with a Bachelor of the Arts in Early Childhood Education. She has four years of experience and is also a certified Kindergarten teacher, specializing in ages 0-3. Jessie’s energy and sense of humor are a significant component in the children’s daily dosage of fun.

Pei Yen Tseng (“Kevin Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Kevin left his native Taiwan for the first time when he flew across the Pacific to join our school in his pursuit of work in the Reggio Emilia educational approach. He previously taught preschool and elementary children for three years. Kevin earned his BA in Early Childhood Education from the National University of Tainan in Taiwan and obtained his teacher’s certificate from Zhi Guang School.

Ruth Chou (“Ruth Lao Shi”), Teacher Mentor

As our Teacher Mentor, Ruth spends time in the classroom supporting and coaching teachers to consistently analyze their performance and improve the quality of our program. Herself a certified teacher, Ruth finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Adolescent Development at San Francisco State University. Previous to joining PKS, she has served as a lead Mandarin teacher at a Mandarin after school program and as a lead English teacher at Marin Day School and Dean of Administration at a Mandarin weekend program.

Shelly (“Shelly Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Shelly is an enthusiastic and dedicated educator. In May 2010, she received her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University after 10 years of teaching experience. She taught at Xue Ersi International School and Beijing Holiday School in China for eight years prior to coming to PKS. She is eager to incorporate Reggio Emilia in her classroom and offer her children the best education possible.

Shih-Pei Chen (“Pei Pei” Lao Shi), Mandarin Teacher

Pei Pei brings a wealth of experience and expertise. She has a Bachelor of the Arts in Early Childhood Education from National Taitung University (Taiwan) and holds a Master’s Degree in Science in Education in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania. Together with her excellent Mandarin, she brings her lessons learned and skills developed from five years of experience as a preschool teacher in Taiwan. She knows how to tread that careful balance between order and creativity, exploration and structure. Pei Pei enjoys learning and growing with the children as she expertly weaves her knowledge and previous experiences with continued research and practice.

Wen Jian Gai (“Wen Jian Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Wen Jian’s background allows students to truly delve into Mandarin integration and immersion. She is fluent in both Mandarin and English but she speaks the language of music as well. She earned a B.A. in Music Education at the Shandong Normal University and an M.A. in Musicology at Capital Normal University (Beijing). She has been a lecturer at Lu Dong University (Shandong, China) for Vocal Performance and Italian phonetics for Opera. She has been recognized for her talent in Beijing’s first international singing competition and the Shandong Province University faculty vocal competition. Whether singing a lesson or teaching vocabulary, Wen Jian makes it easy to join in as she conducts the voices of the class.

Winnie Lee (“Winnie Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Winnie brings her background as a preschool teacher and Mandarin art and home economics teacher for K-8th grade students in Palo Alto, CA. She earned her BA in Visual Art from the University of California, San Diego.

 

Xi Wang (“Xi Lao Shi”), Mandarin Teacher

Xi spent time at a Mandarin immersion preschool in San Mateo and an afterschool program in San Francisco. She has an MA in Special Education from San Francisco State University and a BA in Radio, Television and Journalism from Fujian Normal University, China.