Faculty & Staff Directory

Began at CAIS 2024

Olivia shares, “I relocated to the US and started my family four years ago. I now live with my husband and two little ones in SF. Prior to that, I studied public health at school and have worked in government settings for several years in Taiwan, gaining expertise in administration, management, and data analysis. After spending lots of time with my little ones, I developed an interest in child development and multilingual education. I am excited to bring my professional skills to CAIS and be part of contributing to the program.

During my leisure time, I like to learn about healthy eating and food nutrition. I am currently researching how to quickly prepare healthy and nutritious meals. I welcome everyone to exchange ideas with me!”

Began at CAIS 2026

Xinyi Xu is a native of Shanghai and a graduate of East China Normal University 华东师范大学. Following her undergraduate education, Xinyi came to the United States where she completed an MA in curriculum and instruction at Michigan State University. Xinyi taught in a public Mandarin immersion school in Michigan for several years before moving to Oakland where she was a founding faculty member at the K-8 Yu Ming Charter School, a Mandarin immersion school with which CAIS has interacted regularly over the years. Xinyi held several roles at Yu Ming during her decade-long tenure there including classroom teacher, Chinese program coordinator, division director, and K-8 director of curriculum and instruction. In the latter role she oversaw the implementation of schoolwide Competency Based Learning (CBL) and project based language learning at the Middle School. Under her leadership, Yu Ming Charter was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2019 and a California Distinguished School in 2020. Since 2021, Xiny has served as Chief Schools Officer for Level Learning where she led national strategy and implementation of a data-driven, skill-based, objective mastery-based language and literacy platform for Spanish, Mandarin, and English language learners, including support for nearly two-thirds of all K-8 Mandarin immersion programs in the US.

In a message to the CAIS community, she shared, “I am incredibly excited and honored to be the next CAIS Middle School Director. I’ve long admired CAIS’s pioneering dual language immersion work and innovative learning. I am eager to leverage my experience to support faculty, students, and families, ensuring CAIS middle schoolers are deeply connected and prepared to make a positive impact.”

Bilingual in Cantonese and English, Ms. Yan was born in China but raised in New York City from the age of three. Over the course of ten years, she has taught children of various ages, from preschool to fifth grade in New York City and San Francisco. She earned her master’s degree in education from Bank Street College of Education. Ms. Yan believes that every child has the potential to learn beyond expectations when they feel safe, loved, and excited to learn. In her free time, she loves to hike, camp, practice yoga, and complete 1000 piece puzzles. Ms. Yan joined the Advancement Team in 2022.

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 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 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.