BEGAN AT CAIS 2011

A certified Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) assessor, Wang Laoshi graduated from Taiyuan Normal University with a BA in Education and began her career in a Montessori preschool before joining CAIS in 2011. Wang Laoshi is passionate about her career in education and finds her work incredibly meaningful. She believes in creating a welcoming environment, continually focusing on meeting the varied needs of the children in her care, and on finding exciting ways to integrate technology.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2009

Having taught at CAIS since 2009, Wang Laoshi brings experience and institutional knowledge to her role this year. In addition to her teaching associate roles, she has taken on long-term lead teaching substitute roles at CAIS several times. She has taught CAIS summer camp as a lead teacher and is a certified Oral Proficiency Interview assessor. Wang Laoshi brings a deep knowledge of the needs of our older Lower School students, and she delights in helping them advance their Chinese.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2011

With son Luca in the Class of 2031 and daughter Evelyn joining the Class of 2034 this year, Ms. Willa is a CAIS parent as well as our Director of Educational Technology. Her knowledge and passion for EdTech are as broad and infectious as her smile. Ms. Willa stays on top of the tools and skills that students will need to thrive in our tech- driven world. Her coding class helps students explore their creativity while understanding the logic of coding. Ms. Willa holds a B.S. in Biology from Duke University.

Began at CAIS in 2014

After working for several years in management in the telecommunications industry, Mr. Williamson realized his lifelong dream of becoming an educator in 1989 when he was hired at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton in the position of Part Time Primary Grades (1-3) P.E. Teacher. The following year, Mr. Williamson found his true calling when he was offered a full-time position in the middle school where, in his sixteen-year tenure at SHS, he taught every course in the middle school catalogue except science and the arts. In addition, he coached both boys’ and girls’ basketball, coached the Sacred Heart Preparatory men’s rowing team, and served for nine years as the lower school/middle school yearbook moderator. Most importantly, Mr. Williamson was a sixth grade homeroom teacher for each of those sixteen years – the genesis of his belief that sixth grade is the finest year of human existence. He moved to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School in San Mateo in 2005, and after two years as a sixth grade lead teacher, was promoted to his first Middle School Director position in 2007. In 2011, Mr. Williamson moved to Orange County to become the Middle School Director at The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach for three years. A fifth generation northern California native, Mr. Williamson was delighted when Head of School Jeff Bissell invited him to return to the Bay Area in 2014 to become the Director of the Middle School at CAIS.

Mr. Williamson holds a B.S. from the University of Santa Clara, a B.S. from the University of San Francisco, and an M.Ed. from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Began at CAIS: 2017

An educator and dance artist, Ms. Womack-Freeman has experience teaching in a variety of settings locally and at international schools in Malaysia and Shanghai. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, Social Justice and Leadership from Antioch University, a B.A. in Dance and Ethnic Studies from Mills College, and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Dance Authorization from California State University. Her classes are an energizing experience in creativity, and she is an integral part of our Arts integration learning community.

Began at CAIS in 2022

BEGAN AT CAIS: 2014

Ms. Woodman-Russell brings a passion for cultivating “an unflappable love of learning” in students. She has a proven track record of making students feel known and valued, which is especially key for connecting with and motivating middle schoolers. In addition to holding bachelor’s degree in French and psychology from Wesleyan University, Ms. Woodman-Russell has deepened her tools and frameworks with training in Developmental Designs, mindfulness, project-based learning, iPad integration, differentiation and leadership. Ms. Woodman-Russell came to CAIS from San Francisco Day School, where she taught differentiated lessons in reading, writing, social studies, and math. In addition, she designed and taught test preparation courses for eighth grade students.

BEGAN AT CAIS 1992

Mr. Wright started working at CAIS in 1992. He has been the library media specialist for most of that time. He helps Preschool-5th grade teachers get teaching materials, and meets with K and 1st grade students for classes. He studied Chinese at UC Santa Barbara, Hong Kong Chinese University, and the Normal University language center in Taiwan. He has a BA in Religious Studies from UCSB, and an AA in library science from SF City College. He took all the classes for a BCLAD from SF State. He received an MLIS from San Jose State. He loves to hike in the woods and drink tea at home.

Began at CAIS 2022

While Ms. Reid is on maternity leave through late October, we are so pleased to have Ms. Hu step into the lead teacher role. Following Ms. Reid’s return, Ms. Hu will continue with second grade as English Teaching Associate. A San Francisco native, she graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A. in Business Economics and a minor in Digital Arts. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching Reading with Credential at USF and will be graduating in May 2023. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, biking, and hula hooping.

Began at CAIS 2022

Mingjiao Xu is from Shenzhen but originally was born in one of the biggest panda reserve areas in China and home of the hotpot–Sichuan province. She enjoys working at CAIS with her wonderful colleagues, students, and parents. In her free time, water sports and hiking are her biggest passions.