BEGAN AT CAIS 1999

We are celebrating Yang Laoshi’s 22nd year educating and supporting students at CAIS. Prior to joining CAIS, Yang Laoshi served as editor for the Taiwanese National Math Curriculum and as math master teacher and consultant for the Taiwan Province. She continues to bring her expertise not only to her classroom, but to her peers as well.

Began at CAIS 2014

See School Spotlight—Annie Yu

Began at CAIS 2019

Preschool Teaching Associate Daisy Yu speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. She grew up in China, and immigrated to the United States more than a decade ago. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA degree and a major in Early Childhood and Adolescent Development. She joined CAIS in 2019 and worked as an after-school advisor for three years. She then started to work at the lower school front desk in the third year she joined CAIS. After spending much time with children at CAIS, she decided to gain experience and focus on her interest in younger children this year. She loves to see smiles and how children learn while spending time with them. In free time, she loves to make homemade Chinese desserts and Gelato at home.

Began at CAIS 2024

Originally from Guangzhou, China, Bonic Zhang taught in Hong Kong before moving to the Bay Area, where he spent five years teaching at SFUSD. He is also a skilled badminton player, achieving success in tournaments worldwide. Beyond teaching and badminton, he enjoys snowboarding, motorcycling, and car meeting.

Began at CAIS 2024

Preschool Teaching Associate Suki Zhang graduated from San Francisco University with a major in Early Childhood Education, where she learned a wealth of educational theories. Afterward, she gained two years of practical experience at PKS, where she learned how to apply these theories in real teaching scenarios. She discovered how to inspire children’s learning interests through games and activities, nurturing their creativity and social skills. She believes that every child is unique, and my teaching approach is tailored to meet each child’s individual needs and development.

When not teaching, she enjoys cooking and sometimes incorporates it into fun classroom activities. She also loves sports, which keeps her energetic and active with the kids. Additionally, she has a passion for music and often uses it as a tool to enhance learning and development. 

Began at CAIS 2024

Preschool Teaching Associate Xiaowen Zhang was born and raised in China and is a dedicated preschool assistant teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s in Visual Communication Design from San Francisco State University and later obtained a Site Supervisor Permit in Early Childhood Education from City College of San Francisco. 

Xiaowen’s passion lies in creatively integrating art into her teaching style through painting, storytelling, and daily activities. With over two years of experience working in preschool, she believes every child is unique and customizes learning methods based on individual needs. Xiaowen strives to create an inclusive and nurturing classroom environment where children can thrive emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2020

Zhang Laoshi joined CAIS in 2020 having taught Mandarin and coordinating the Mandarin immersion program for the previous five years at Pacific Beach Middle School. Prior to that she held teaching positions at Harvard University, Columbia University, and Mesa College. Zhang Laoshi holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University, an MA from Peking University, and a BA from Beijing Language and Culture University. In addition, she has presented at numerous conferences and received a number of awards for outstanding teaching.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2018

Zheng Laoshi began at CAIS as a long-term substitute and quickly impressed the community. She deftly managed the pivot to Distance Learning and is now an integral part of the Middle School Chinese language faculty! She came to us as a recent graduate of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in Chinese teaching, and had most recently taught at the Santa Catalina School in Monterey; she also has much expertise in curriculum development.