Faculty & Staff Directory

BEGAN AT CAIS: 2020

Ms. Taylor is a San Francisco based artist and experienced elementary school teacher. Her two greatest passions are education and art. She gets to fuse them together to teach art to young students here at CAIS. Ms. Taylor’s main goal is to create a safe space for each and every student to grow as an artistic life-long learner. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys water coloring, collaging and making mixed media sculptures. She also loves spending time with her son Forrest and her dog Claude.

BEGAN AT CAIS 1998

Teng Laoshi is our most veteran teacher, having taught at CAIS for decades! Her classroom experiences span from preschool through fifth grade, including a decade with the second grade curriculum. Most recently, Teng Laoshi has worked with Wang Laoshi as teaching associate for the fourth grade, incorporating tech tools such as the learning game Kahoot! in Chinese class. A graduate of Taiwan Provincial Taipei Junior College, Teng Laoshi earned the Freeman Foundation Teaching Scholar Award and holds certification as an ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview Tester.

Began at CAIS 2024

Maison Thompson has served as a substitute teacher and member of the Auxiliary Program team at CAIS. He has developed strong communication and adaptability skills in a diverse educational environment. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and an Associate’s degree in Education from San Francisco State University and Diablo Valley College, respectively. His goal is to become a full-time teacher and contribute to the education of students from diverse backgrounds.

Christine is the proud mom of two CAIS kids (Caroline and Woods). After spending nearly two decades in tech, she decided that she needed a career change. Since she loves mentoring, learning, and helping others, teaching seemed like a natural fit—she cannot wait to support kids on their educational journey! In her free time, she works on one of her numerous hobbies, including knitting, sewing, cross-stitching, ceramics, and beekeeping (feel free to ask her about any of these!).

BEGAN AT CAIS 2016

Agnes Tong has been working in Early Childhood Development for the last 20 years as a teacher and an assistant director. She is fluent in Chinese and English. She shares, “It is my pleasure to work at CAIS. I heard a lot of great things about CAIS. I am very excited to join the Auxiliary team and to be a part of this community!” Please feel to contact her if you have questions regarding Auxiliary Programs in Preschool.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2022

Tsai Laoshi came to CAIS from Avenues: The World School, where she was a head teacher in Kindergarten for the past 8 years. Prior to that, she also worked at the Global Montessori International School (Berkeley, CA) as a head teacher in Chinese sections of the kindergarten through grade five. She has taught Mandarin and English as a Second Language (ESL) at many other educational institutions, including Germantown Friends School (Philadelphia, PA), Lutheran Children and Family Service (Philadelphia, PA) and Russell Byers Charter School (Philadelphia, PA). She also taught English for three years at various schools in Taiwan.

Began at CAIS 2026

Born and raised in Seattle, Lily Ugelstad earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Washington State University and her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. She has been a first-grade teacher for the past two years. She loves sports, being outdoors, and animals. Her goal is to create a kind and curious classroom community where students feel safe, supported, and excited to learn.

Began at CAIS 2026

Peter Vang has four years of experience in education and currently serves as a Substitute Physical Education Teacher for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. He is passionate about creating a positive, supportive environment where students build confidence, teamwork, and healthy habits through physical activity.

Outside the classroom, Peter stays active through volleyball, badminton, bowling, and the gym, and enjoys singing and exploring nature on walks. His energy and enthusiasm for an active lifestyle carry directly into his teaching.

BEGAN AT CAIS 2020

Ms. Wallace studied Applied Psychology and Human Development within the Lynch School of Education at Boston College before teaching at a charter school in New York City. A mentor teacher and team lead specializing in differentiation and data-driven curriculum design, she also holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Hunter College. Ms. Wallace is particularly enjoys deepening her knowledge of Chinese culture and language, and the connections she’s formed with CAIS students and faculty!

BEGAN AT CAIS 2021

Jindan Laoshi is originally from ZheJiang, China. She has been in the US for almost five years and is passionate about education and teaching Chinese language and culture to young learners. Besides teaching, she enjoys hiking, fitness, and playing with her two cats: Teddy and Caroline.