Early Childhood Education

Ms Katelyn Wu became involved in early childhood education after graduating from East China Normal University, where she holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Educational Administration. She gathered a wealth of bilingual teaching experience through her teaching practice in Shanghai. She particularly gained unique insights into the Montessori's education method, IB Primary Years Programme and Emergent Curriculum.

As the Head of ECE, what Ms Wu devotes to create here at YWIES Yantai is a learning environment that works on children’s dispositions for learning, a place that just doesn’t tell children the answer, but equips them with the tools needed for problem-solving. Working with teams of like-minded practitioners together to provide excellence in early childhood education in inspirational settings is her career goal.

Ms Tina Li graduated from Shandong Institute of Talent in 2011. In August 2012 she worked in an Early Years Centre in Singapore. She understood more about bilingual teaching and different teaching methods. She also worked with children from 18 months to 6 years old and obtained a Singaporean teacher qualification. In 2015 she returned to China, and she is very honoured to have the opportunity to work in YWIES Yantai. She is constantly improving herself and looks forward to greater progress in the future.

Ms Karen Christensen is from New Zealand and has worked in early childhood education for about 14 years. Her education passion grew from her own experience of raising her children. She owns a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Teaching from the University of Canterbury. She joined YWIES Yantai in 2017 after leading a team of teachers for 4-year-olds in New Zealand.

YWIES has given Ms Christensen an understanding of EAL (English as an Additional Language) learners and also confirmed her belief that all children require the same input to grow them into confident and competent learners. She is enthusiastic about helping young children develop social skills, which is one of the most important aspects in school life. She believes that young children learn best while playing as this gives them time to develop their own ideas, experiment and overcome challenges.

Ms Alice Li graduated from Beihua University, with a major in Pre-school Education. She is now working in YWIES Yantai as a Chinese teacher in ECE section. She is good at decorating, painting, playing piano and Hulusi. She holds a great sense of responsibility towards her job, and makes sure every lesson is planned carefully. She is also able to adjust her teaching methods for different students. She is patient and caring, and enjoys great popularity amongst the children. She aims at developing students’ interests and cooperation awareness and abilities and ensures that every child has the opportunity to fully show and present themselves.

Jeremy Heil was raied in Nekoosa, Wisconsin, the United States. He studied Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education at Carroll University. He has taught in a pre-kindergarten for 8 years and served as the director. His first overseas post took him to Seoul, South Korea where he taught in a kindergarten for 6 years and served as the lead teacher. He is currently in his 4th year of teaching K5 at YWIES Yantai and is also serving as one of the secondary basketball coaches. He is passionate about exploring new topics and uncovering students’ interests, while developing their vocabulary and social skills. He has really enjoyed living in Yantai and loves to travel, participate in marathons and a variety of sports.

Ms Fanny Sun is a K2 Chinese teacher in ECE, and she is happy to join YWIES Yantai. She graduated from Beihua University and majored in pre-school education. She has worked in YWIEK Beijing for three years and has expenience in teaching K2 to K4 kids. She not only teaches children knowledge, but also focuses on developing their learning interest and ability. In 2019, she became an Outstanding New Teacher. She was an intern back in 2016, and she is so excited to be back as an official member. She likes Yantai and she is looking forward to work with other staff and constantly improve herself.

Ms Rhoda Cabrera-Ussery graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Philippine Christian University in 2000. She has also earned an International Diploma from Montessori Teachers Training Course.

Ms Cabrera-Ussery has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for almost 20 years and has consistenly performed proficiently and efficiently. Her goals are to provide a wide range of hands-on activities, direct instruction and collaborative learning for children to promote a love for learning, encourage skills development and provide a range of ways for each child to grow. Furthermore, she is highly motivated, creative, a team player, and most of all, she puts her her heart into everything she does.

Ms Jenny Anne Yanga-Ofalsa has a Bachelor Degree in Preschool Education and an International Diploma in Montessori Training.

Ms Yanga-Ofalsa has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for 14 years, including 4 years in bilingual cooperative early childhood education here. She loves teaching and believes that every child is unqiue. She teaches children from 2-5 years old with different social and cultual backgrounds. Her objective is to create a child-centred stimulating environment to help children grow into independent learners and grasp better learning opportunities by using appropriate teaching methods and positive strategies.