Faculty & Leadership

Teacher Olivia, who grew up in Taiwan, is a kind, caring, and dedicated educator who loves art and reading. Her friendly, positive personality shines through her use of music and encouragement in the classroom. Olivia's talent for public speaking and storytelling brings lessons to life, making learning fun and exciting. Currently working in the Douglas County School District, she is passionate about learning, cares deeply about child development, and is dedicated to inspiring the next generation through creativity.

Ms. Fang Yuan was born in Nanjing and completed her Early Childhood Teacher Certification Program at Nanjing Higher Normal College, later completed her Advanced Early Childhood Teacher Certification Program at Guangzhou University.

She possesses eighteen years of teaching experience in China; she began her career as a teacher at Nanjing No. 1 Early Childhood Education School—affiliated  with the Nanjing Municipal Education Bureau before relocating to Shenzhen. There, she taught at the Early Childhood Division of Shenzhen Experimental School and at Shenzhen Huafu Early Childhood Education School—both affiliated with the Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau. She was a key figure in education research for the Bureau, participating in numerous curriculum studies and publishing multiple articles in provincial educational journals; a paper she authored won the First Prize in Early Childhood Education in Guangdong Province. She arrived in the United States in 2006, working as a Chinese teacher in the immersion programs at the Colorado International School and Denver Language School, and later teaching at Fitzmorris Elementary. Concurrently, she has taught for many years at Bohua Chinese School and Great Wall Chinese School, where she instructs not only Chinese language but also dance and art. Now she is living in Arvada and is a volunteer at Buddhism Temple.

Teacher Mary has been working in Colorado Chinese Language School since 2013. It has been almost 10 years with CCLS, and we truly appreciated Mary's dedication to the CCLS. Mary has two daughters who both joined CCLS when they were young. Looks like we will be celebrating teacher Mary's 10th anniversary with CCLS very soon!   

• Mrs. Yang is a Mandarin educator from Taiwan who is passionate about helping students build confidence in learning Chinese while fostering an appreciation for the Chinese language and culture.

• She holds a bachelor’s degree from Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, has completed professional training in Mandarin Chinese teaching, and has experience teaching Chinese learners in Taiwan. Nina believes that language learning is most effective in a supportive, engaging, and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable exploring, communicating, and developing their own learning journey.

• Living in the United States has deepened her understanding of bilingual and heritage-language learners, as well as the importance of maintaining cultural connections through language. She is committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that help students strengthen their Mandarin skills, expand cultural understanding, and develop a lifelong appreciation for learning.

Teacher Violet graduated from Western Michigan University with her Master degree of Teaching Chinese as Second Language. She has many years of teaching experience including:

• Meadowbrook Elementary School - Grand Rapids, MI - Chinese Teacher

• Kalamazoo Chinese Academy - Kalamazoo, MI - Chinese Teacher 

• Forest Hill Middle and Northern High School - Grand Rapids, MI - Student Teacher

Certification:

• IATSCOL - Teaching Chinese to Speaker of Other Language 

• Standard Teaching Certificate - State of Michigan

Education:

• Master of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language  - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Teacher Donna brings 17 years of experience in art and education to her teaching. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Education and Creation from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and has completed a Mandarin Language Teacher Training Program. Her teaching approach integrates language, art, and culture through hands-on activities, creating an engaging and immersive Mandarin learning experience.

Students develop practical Mandarin communication skills while exploring culture through Chinese calligraphy, ink painting, Taiwanese tea, traditional festivals, arts and crafts, and food. Teacher Donna creates a welcoming and interactive learning environment where students feel comfortable speaking Mandarin, expressing their creativity, and discovering the richness of Taiwanese culture and the broader Mandarin-speaking world.