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Ms. Kathryn Richardson, Master of Wellington College Hangzhou, has been in Education for 21 years. She taught in London schools where she quickly progressed into leadership positions. In September 2014, Kathryn moved to Dubai as a Deputy Headteacher in a British curriculum international school, and in 2016, she was promoted to the Head of Primary at their newly opened sister school. Kathryn has a bachelor’s degree in Education, specialising in maths and science. In addition to this, she has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Management and is a qualified facilitator for the National Qualifications of Middle and Senior Leadership. Kathryn has a passion for school improvement and strongly believes in making sure every child reaches their true potential. Kathryn has redesigned school curriculums so that they are creative, personalised to each individual pupil, and provide challenge for all. In her spare time, Kathryn enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with her family.
Chang started as Finance & HR Manager at Wellington College International Tianjin after she returned to her home city Tianjin in early 2011. She was transferred to Wellington College International Shanghai at the founding stage, in charge of Finance and Services since 2014. From 2017, Chang focused mainly on finance for all Wellington College International Shanghai, Huili School Shanghai and Huili Nursery Shanghai at a capacity of Senior Finance Manager. She now starts her new role as the Bursar for Wellington College Hangzhou, which has been her third school within Wellington China Group. Before her joining in Wellington, Chang started her career at a Fortune 500 company, grown from a staff member to the leader of the accounting department over five years after she graduated from Tianjin Normal University. In 2003, she decided to go to the UK for her pursuits in both academic and practice and subsequently completed her BSc in Applied Accounting, ACCA qualification and MSc in Accounting with Finance. Chang worked as an auditor in a firm located in Mayfair London for three years and a half and gained valuable oversea working experiences. After years of practice, Chang is qualified as a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and working on her formal membership with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Ms. Ivey Wang graduated from East China Normal University with a bachelor's degree in Chinese International Education and completed a master's degree course in Educational Psychology; She holds a master's degree in Education from Plymouth State University. Ivey is an IB examiner and qualified IB Middle Year Programme(MYP) Principal; She has obtained the certification of Leading School Course from Harvard Graduate School and the teacher training certification of ACTFL and Positive Discipline; She is also the Off Campus Practice Project Advisor of East China Normal University.
Ivey has been engaged in international education for nearly 17 years. She has worked in several top international schools in Shanghai where she developed the skills of multi-cultural understanding and communication, as well as the understanding and practice of internationally recognized pedagogy, and gradually became a leader from a teacher. She worked as K12 Chinese Curriculum Coordinator at Shanghai American School, then served as school Curriculum Director and Primary School Principal at two international bilingual schools in Suzhou and Shanghai. She integrated Chinese and western education concepts and wisdom, built a collaborative and efficient team, led the development of integrated bilingual immersion curriculum, and always committed to creating more opportunities for students’ development.
Ivey adheres to the mission of International Educators, which is to provide future oriented education for students, focus on students’ holistic development, and improve their global competence and well-being. Through leading education innovations, she dedicates to cultivate lifelong learners with deep Chinese cultural roots and international mindedness, who will be able to communicate confidently on the international stage and deal with global issues in the future.
Mr. Conrad Botha is an early years educator from South Africa, holding a Bachelors of Business from the University of South Africa as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Master of Education from the University of Nottingham in the UK. He started his international education journey over 10 years ago, working in various international and bi-lingual early years settings in China. During this time, he has used experiential learning through a relationship-driven environment which provided rich and meaningful bi-lingual experiences to support children in developing their unique approaches to learning. He began as a teacher but soon moved up to take the position of Curriculum Coordinator and Campus Manager for a leading bi-lingual network of schools in Shanghai. He thoroughly enjoyed this role which allowed him to advocate best practice and ensure quality learning within a caring and supportive environment. Conrad continued his studies to enhance his knowledge and skills, completing a Master of Education, whilst being employed at a British International School in Shanghai. Conrad then moved on to support the expansion of an education group, overseeing the successful opening of two new campuses as Academic Director. This involved combining best practice from the UK with that of the Chinese Ministry of Education as well as recruitment, the strategic management of the project and mentoring opportunities with fellow school leaders. The role further allowed him to continue to promote quality learning environments and experiences for families, ensuring that children, parents and educators built a sense of ‘belonging’ and ‘enthusiasm’ for bi-lingual early years education. Under his care, the school grew tremendously with strong enrolment, a quality program and a diverse learning community. Conrad now brings his experience and strong knowledge of bi-lingual education to Huili Nursery Hangzhou. He embraces a collaborative leadership approach and is motivated to work alongside all learning community members at the nursery as it seeks to reaffirm its reputation as a centre of excellence in early years education. He believes in lifelong learning and thrives on ongoing research. Conrad has a personal interest in bi-lingual education and values open communication as a tool to build trusting and respectful relationships with others.
Tracey, originally from Shanghai, graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia, with a Bachelor Degree of Science and a Master Degree of Education. In addition, she has a Bachelor's degree of Teaching in Secondary Mathematics from the University of Technology, Sydney. After teaching at Kuring-gai High School in Sydney, Tracey continued her career in Beijing and Shanghai when she moved back to China. From 2013 to 2016 Tracey developed and implemented the Bilingual Mathematics Curriculum in the International Division of the Beijing Haidian Foreign Languages School (BHFLS). During her career in BHFLS, her teaching was acknowledged with an award for the best demonstration of teaching in the Sixth “China-Sweden International Mathematics Education Forum”. For the past four years, Tracey worked as the Head of Secondary at Vanke School Pudong (VSP), and has played a vital role in the whole start-up of VSP, from preparation to the opening of the school and the continued development of the integrated bilingual curriculum.
Under her leadership, the Secondary Department of VSP has developed with right direction and cautious speed. At the end of the 2019-20 school year, the first graduates of the Lower Secondary School did an excellent job in being accepted to word-class high schools at home and aboard. Tracey loves kids very much. She believe that one of the important roles of an educator is to provide students with the skills to adapt to the demands of their future education; to cultivate in them the initiative to learn in various scenarios; to enhance self-directed learning and teamwork as well as to foster a life-long learning mind-set. Tracey believes that as well as having the power of critical thinking, it is of paramount significance for students to develop benevolence as a way to enrich their inner selves and the worlds of others with whom they interact.
Before joining Huili School Hangzhou, Ms. Perry worked as a Senior Deputy Head for 3 years, having previously held roles of Senior Teacher, Head of department and specialist Science teacher within Hertfordshire, England. After being awarded a distinction in her Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Ms. Perry taught secondary science before taking on the challenge of completing a Graduate Certificate in Chemistry Education, enabling her to teach both Biology and Chemistry to A-Level.
Having had a broad view of the education system from 4 to 18 years, Ms. Perry has gained knowledge and expertise in understanding the progression of a child’s learning journey. She strongly values key characteristics, such as resilience, that can be developed through education and enable children to reach their potential. With a previous career in the Mental Health team, Ms. Perry is acutely aware of the importance of positive mental health and pastoral care within education and strives to ensure that every child under her care is equipped with the necessary skills to ensure a positive and bright future.
Ms. Perry has always enjoyed challenging herself, both physically and academically. She has successfully completed the London Marathon and has recently started learning how to play the saxophone as well as learning how to speak Chinese. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling with her family, experiencing the variety of cultures and environments that the world offers.
Hatty is proud and delighted to be in a profession where she inspires young minds to share her love of learning while facilitating the pursuit of their life interests. She believes that a successful education should feed a student’s innate curiosity to allow them to flourish into well-rounded independent individuals who are fully prepared to thrive in higher education and beyond.
After completing her degree in Mathematics MA (Hons) at the University of Edinburgh, she began her career in education in 2005 through the prestigious graduate programme Teach First. It was here that she knew she had found her calling; inspiring students to enjoy and be curious about the wonders of mathematics. Her talent for classroom practice was formalised with her admission to the Outstanding Teacher Programme in North London. As her career progressed Hatty became School Director of Mathematics, where she led a dynamic team to great success through its first set of public examinations. By creating academic challenge and system of support for her students and staff, she ensured that students not only met but exceeded their targets. Looking for change and adventure, Hatty began working at Kellett School, The British International School in Hong Kong in 2012. As Deputy Head of Sixth Form, she was an integral member of the founding Sixth Form team, where she oversaw the pastoral care and closely monitored the academic progress of students while helping them on their paths to higher education. She has supported applicants to a wide variety of destinations including Oxford and Cambridge and Russell Group universities.
Hatty is thrilled to be building Wellington College Hangzhou’s Sixth Form, where students will receive world class pastoral care, exciting academic challenge and ample opportunity to develop as individuals. She believes that empowering our students with an excellent education will enable them to succeed in their lives.
Mr. Shen Guoqiang is originally from Hangzhou and has been devoted to junior high school education in Hangzhou for 31 years, working as an English teacher, English language teaching researcher, teacher trainer and vice principal. Before joining Wellington College in Hangzhou, he has worked at Hangzhou Jianlan Middle School as Vice Principal. His research interests and expertise involve bilingual education, curriculum design and development, teacher training, TESL teaching, cross-cultural communication, and study abroad planning. Mr. Shen believes that a strong curriculum is like a track leading pupil’s growth and development. In a bilingual environment, with highly qualified and professional local and native English teachers working together in small classes, we can not only successfully transform our pupils’ cross-cultural communication skills and improve their second language acquisition. We can also promote interdisciplinary interaction and knowledge integration, and help our pupils achieve well-rounded development and personal growth.
Ms Joy Qiao is the founder and Chair of Governors of Huili Education and Wellington College China. She has been devoted to international education in China for many years and is committed to fostering exchanges and partnerships with Britain. Having grown up in Shanghai, Ms Joy Qiao attended the University of Oxford from which she holds a BA in Computer Science. She then worked in the IT industry for a decade in a variety of sales and marketing roles in the UK, Germany and China. Becoming a mother motivated her interest in education and inspired her advance into the international education sector. She has extensive experience in multi-lingual communication and cross-cultural co-operation and is a critical bridge for bringing together the multiple partners involved in setting up Wellington College in China. Ms Joy Qiao also holds an EMBA degree from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and is fluent in Mandarin, English and Shanghainese. She is married with two children, both of whom are attending Wellington College International Shanghai.
Over the last eight years, May has led two groundbreaking innovations in higher education: NYU Shanghai and ShanghaiTech. Utilizing her experience in various industries (financial services, education, and marketing), insight into entrepreneurship and deep understanding of the innovation ecosystem in China and the U.S., May offers strategic advice to large organizations on change management and digital transformation. Moreover, her ability to bridge academic research and product development gives her a unique ability to drive innovation within an organization. As a leader, May articulates a clear vision, formulates strategy, and oversees execution with attention to detail. May received a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. from New York University School of Law. She was a Visiting Foreign Student of Peking University. She is a member of the World Economic Forum and the Global Future Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She is also a mentor for Chinaccelerator Shanghai, the Board of Directors of National Partnership for Women and Families, the Lifetime Trustee of NYU School of Law, and the Board of Directors of Chelsea Day School.
Ms. Lydia Cheung is the Financial Controller of Italian luxury fashion brand INNIU. She is a visionary finance professional with extensive technical knowledge in international luxury fashion industry that she previously worked for Burberry, Dolce & Gabanna and Balenciaga. Ms. Cheung has been appointed as the Non-Executive Director of Wellington College International China Management Ltd since 2016. Lydia has more than 20 years of financial management experience in the United Kingdom and Greater China. Her expertise anticipates strategic investment, optimize capital structure, budget control, implement financial recommendations to achieve business objectives and enhance sustainable long-term shareholders value and profitability. Lydia graduated at Queen Mary College (University of London) with a BSc. (Hon) Statistics and also holds a MBA degree from Oklahoma City University, USA. She practiced as an auditor in London after graduation. Lydia is primarily based in Hong Kong. Relocated to Shanghai in 2008 for luxury brands working and living across China, Hong Kong, London and Italy. She is married with one daughter who is a graduate of The Wellington Academy UK and is currently starting her Postgraduate in Luxury Brand Management.
Mr Jean-Paul Churchouse is an Old Wellingtonian, having attended the College from 1989-1994 where he was an enthusiastic member of the Talbot House. He graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London), in 1998 with a BA in Political Science.
Jean-Paul is a Managing Director for Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong. He has been in the finance industry in Asia for 19 years, primarily based in Hong Kong but also spending several years in Tokyo. He began his career at a distressed debt fund before moving to ING Barings in a Convertible Bond sales role. He then worked at Nomura before joining Goldman Sachs in 2005 in Tokyo.
He moved back to Hong Kong to sell Convertible bonds and Equity derivatives in 2007. In 2010 he took over the institutional middle market sales business before moving to Private Wealth Management in 2014 to take over the capital markets businesses in Asia. His role involves advising Ultra-High Net Worth Clients in the region on protecting and investing their wealth.
Jean-Paul is an avid sailor, having represented Hong Kong a number of times over the years and is also an enthusiastic snowboarder and golfer. He is married to Tamsin and has two young children.
Ms Maya Tarabay Schisano is one of the founding members of the Friends of Wellington (FOW), serving as the Events Chair since 2014 and the Chair in the 2018-19 school year. She worked closely with the College to achieve an open, dynamic and inclusive culture.
Maya has a BA in Interior Design, Marketing and Fine Arts from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and is fluent in Arabic, French, Italian and English. Currently living in Shanghai, Maya has lived in the United States, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Australia.
She has extensive experience working in the luxury goods industry, and was at one time a global account manager at Prada. Maya also has experience in public relations and marketing, consulting for various Lebanese businesses as well as MSN Arabia and Sabil Water. In addition, she spent some time working as a presenter for the National Broadcasting Network (NBN) in Lebanon.
Maya first became seriously interested in education when her boys first started school at Wellington College International Shanghai in 2014. Recognising the alignment between the College’s philosophy and ethos and her own, she put her energy and focus as a parent into working towards that common goal: a school in which all children can thrive and that her boys are proud to be Wellingtonians.
Mr Scott Bryan is the International Director for Wellington College. He is responsible for developing Wellington College International’s schools’ business and working with partners to ensure the reputation and quality of those schools.
Scott has a BSc (Hons), PGCE and Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Studies. He has a thorough understanding of the United Kingdom (UK) independent sector and a wide range of international experience from more than 20 years of working in education. His school leadership experience includes three successful Headships; in the UK, United Arab Emirates and more recently as a founding Head in Switzerland.
Scott has previously held the post of Strategic Director at a leading UK Independent School, including responsibility for developing international business. He has also served on school governing bodies and chaired the finance committee. He brings extensive experience in international schools business, strategic planning, regulatory compliance, school improvement and mentoring of senior leaders.
He is office-based at Wellington College in England, with both his daughters currently attending Wellington College in England. In his spare time he likes to visit the Swiss Alps, where he enjoys skiing and a variety of outdoor sports.
Mr. Conrad Botha is an early years educator from South Africa, holding a Bachelors of Business from the University of South Africa as well as a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and a Master of Education from the University of Nottingham in the UK. He started his international education journey over 10 years ago, working in various international and bi-lingual early years settings in China. During this time, he has used experiential learning through a relationship-driven environment which provided rich and meaningful bi-lingual experiences to support children in developing their unique approaches to learning. He began as a teacher but soon moved up to take the position of Curriculum Coordinator and Campus Manager for a leading bi-lingual network of schools in Shanghai. He thoroughly enjoyed this role which allowed him to advocate best practice and ensure quality learning within a caring and supportive environment. Conrad continued his studies to enhance his knowledge and skills, completing a Master of Education, whilst being employed at a British International School in Shanghai. Conrad then moved on to support the expansion of an education group, overseeing the successful opening of two new campuses as Academic Director. This involved combining best practice from the UK with that of the Chinese Ministry of Education as well as recruitment, the strategic management of the project and mentoring opportunities with fellow school leaders. The role further allowed him to continue to promote quality learning environments and experiences for families, ensuring that children, parents and educators built a sense of ‘belonging’ and ‘enthusiasm’ for bi-lingual early years education. Under his care, the school grew tremendously with strong enrolment, a quality program and a diverse learning community. Conrad now brings his experience and strong knowledge of bi-lingual education to Huili Nursery Hangzhou. He embraces a collaborative leadership approach and is motivated to work alongside all learning community members at the nursery as it seeks to reaffirm its reputation as a centre of excellence in early years education. He believes in lifelong learning and thrives on ongoing research. Conrad has a personal interest in bi-lingual education and values open communication as a tool to build trusting and respectful relationships with others.
Erica has completed a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education at the New Zealand Tertiary College and obtained a national-level New Zealand teaching certificate. She has been teaching in New Zealand for five years and has worked in some leading early childhood centres. She supported the leadership team by training new teachers and actively developing and integrating curriculums. Reggio Emilia’s teaching methods influenced her, especially her philosophy and teaching practice. She believes that every child is a capable, unique and resourceful individual. She is committed to creating a respectful, inclusive and inspiring learning environment for children through trustworthy relationships. From her previous roles, she discovered her warm, responsible, and passionate nature and her sincere love for children of all ages. She cherishes the opportunity to learn with her children as she sees herself as a lifelong learner. As a teacher from a Chinese cultural background, she advocates cultural diversity and strives to foster a positive sense of self-identity in every child. Her overseas experience has also provided her with unique cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to understand, support and assist parents through positive relationships. Erica enjoys working in a team and believes effective leadership starts from ‘understanding, empathy, supporting and mentoring.
Julie is an early years educator, holding a Bachelor degree in Early Year Education from Huai Bei Normal University. She started her education journey over 12 years ago, working with children from 18 months to 6 years in a Nursery school in China. Looking for a new challenge, she moved to an international school in Singapore to continue her career in 2012. She used a play-based curriculum and teaching approach to provide rich and meaningful experiences for the children in her care. She continued her studies in Singapore to enhance her knowledge and skills. She began as a teacher but soon moved up to take the Senior position in the leadership team. In July 2015, She moved on to support the new International Pre-School in China as the Vice Principal. Her leadership role in China allowed her to promote quality learning environments and experiences for families under her care. Next, she took her expertise and strong understanding of the culture and curriculum to be a Principal in January 2017, ensuring that children, parents and educators build a sense of ‘belonging’ to the big family. She thoroughly enjoyed this role, allowing her to advocate best practices and ensure quality learning within a caring environment for children. She believes in lifelong learning and thrives on ongoing research.
Kelly is an experienced leader and early years educator, joining Huili Nursery Hangzhou from the UAE, where she has lived for the past nine years. Whilst in the UAE, Kelly has been a Foundation Stage Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator and Year Leader in new and established top-rated schools. In 2009 she graduated from the University of Gloucestershire, UK with a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education (Hons), specialising in Early Years and Key Stage 1. As a reflective life-long learner, she continuously seeks out new challenges and opportunities and upon completing her degree, Kelly continued her passion and obtained Early Years Professional Status (EYPS). She went on to be the Lead Teacher in a large nursery in her hometown of Swindon for three years before expanding her career internationally. Her proudest moment to date, is becoming a founding member of a Primary School in Dubai, where she was key in helping the Foundation Stage on their journey to ‘Outstanding’ status. As a leader of learning, Kelly strives to build on the strengths of others, motivating and encouraging a thriving team environment. Her passion is aimed at developing best practice within early years education and her ethos that play-based, child-led learning is key when nurturing confident and independent learners. Kelly recently got married in Georgia and is moving to Hangzhou with her husband, Davit, and their cat, Neko. They are looking forward to exploring China and becoming part of the Wellington College Hangzhou and Huili Nursery family.
Jenny Guo holds a bachelor’s degree from Sun Yat-Sen University in China, as well as a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Maryland in the United States.
Jenny started her career in education at a well-known bilingual immersion school in San Francisco, the Chinese American International School as a homeroom teacher. Two years later she moved to New York City to join a large K-12 school called Avenues The World school, where she grew from a classroom teacher to a school leader, gaining extended experience in curriculum development across all grades within the primary school.
After living in the US for 8 years, Jenny returned to China in 2019 as a founding leader at Avenues Shenzhen. During her time at Avenues as the Instructional Coach and Associate Division Head in Early Years she led a team of bilingual educators, developed school wide policies and designed a Chinese literacy curriculum map across the early years.
Jenny believes in children’s unlimited potential, advocates for empowering teachers, and is dedicated to bilingual education development in China.
Delphine’s motto is, “I am all about newness. New ways of thinking, feeling, doing and being.” With a curious and open mind, Delphine likes to draw from a bank of rich tools gained from a triad of; teaching, social and therapeutic work. Her vision is to inspire others to imagine, create and express on the leading edge. Born in England, she was known for her love of poetry and sporting accolades - a highlight was scooping a trophy for ‘Sportswoman of the Year’. Pursuing her interests at the Bangor University of Wales, Delphine specialised in English Literature and Physical Education, graduating with a Bachelor of Education Degree in the Primary setting. An eclectic range, Delphine has teaching experiences from early years to adults, SEN, Cover teaching and overseas. For the last three years, her current position has been a joy teaching foundation education in North Devon, England. Early years education is a passion she is eager to grow at Huili Nursery Hangzhou. Time in South Korea, part of the EPIK English program, compounded Delphine’s enthusiasm for embracing other cultures too. A champion of Special Needs, Delphine used a gap year before completing her degree, to work with adults with profound disability. A Special Needs teacher upon graduation, led Delphine to some of her greatest achievements; creating tailor-made behaviour modification programmes, and reintegrating pupils with extreme behavioural issues, back into mainstream education. Vast work undertaken for Children with Disability Team, under the Social Services umbrella, expanded Delphine’s skill base. Here Delphine was engaged as a social worker, and other community roles, to support families with neglect, abuse or special needs. Delphine also attained Duke of Edinburgh experience, involving herself in outdoor pursuit projects with disadvantaged young people. Specialist advisor to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, appealed to Delphine’s natural advocacy attributes. Contributing to her knowledge of children’s educational rights in the UK, she guided parents through addressing special needs for their children in school. Zealous in personality, Delphine has leapt at several voluntary opportunities: Camp America; affiliation with the United Nations, traversing 15 States of USA as the driver of an ‘I.T Pod’ (mobile classroom) and teaching English as a second language to disadvantaged Hispanic children; joined Sense Charity, supporting deaf/blind children on residentials; supported the RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association).These experiences have shown Delphine, for her, the most rewarding aspect of endeavours comes in the opening of a closed world we can help give to others. Avid about mental development, Delphine stomped across fire coals during a motivational course hosted by Antony Robins. This inspired her to train as an NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner – the art of understanding our internal programs, that drive our choices and behaviours. Understanding our unique character, strengths and weaknesses, overcoming challenges motivate her immensely. Later gaining a diploma for complementary therapy, Delphine set up wellbeing classes for adults. Today, emotional literacy is another dedication Delphine promotes in school.Thriving on nurturing nursery children, Delphine often describes them like, “Little plants who need watering.” To be part of developing each child’s unique personality and learning style is right up her street. All Delphine’s experiences, her successes, the challenges along the way, have shown her character to be one of compassion, empathy and fearlessness, overcoming many weaknesses, on an on-going journey, we call life. Finally, to Wellington College, Delphine hopes to co-create with her colleagues and bring a proactive and harmonising style. To Wellington pupils, she desires to support them to acquire wings of independence, security and learning with happiness.
Judy from Beijing is graduated from Beijing Normal University with a degree in Education and a degree in Preschool Art Education. She has worked for 16 years in a number of international schools, including Beanstalk International Bilingual School, Canadian International School, House of Knowledge, and Joy El International Academy. She therefore has rich experience in the industry.Joy is outgoing and has strong passion for education. She loves interacting with children and could communicate well with her students. Her daughter attends senior school at a bilingual school in Beijing; her husband is a project manager at a hotel management company in Beijing. During her spare time, Joy loves reading, listening to music, swimming, making biscuits and traveling with families. She enjoys turning her leisure hours into a social time with community members and people around her.
From a young age Adina became interested in exploring the wide world, which lead her to study International Economic Relations and work for a multinational company. Her desire to travel took her across the world, finally settling in London where she took the time to study and practice being the best early years practitioner she could be. Adina has over 15 years experience in working with children, from nanny, nursery practitioner and deputy manager to taking the role of Practice Manager in a childrens centre set up in Malawi, Africa and currently as EYFS Teacher. Adina believes that childhood is a magical time for children and our role as adults is to provide the appropriate environment, resources and support to allow children to fulfil their full potential. She takes a holistic approach to child development and uses her knowledge and experience in her everyday practice in order to motivate, engage and inspire children through positive learning experiences. Adina is fascinated by all the different cultures around the world, loves travelling and meeting people from all walks of life. Her free time is usually occupied by her other hobbies – photography, sewing and cooking for friends.
Amy got her Bachelor of Early Childhood Education from Bei Hua University. Prior to that she graduated from Liaoning Normal University and majored in Curriculum and Teaching Theory.She worked as an intern in Feng Man Second Kindergarten in Ji Lin. During which she was trained to be mindful of children’s physical, social and, mental developmental characteristics. She was also a part-time teacher at Ge Zhi New School in Da Lian and it was this experience that inspired her to become a full time Teacher. She is passionate about teaching children in early years and tries her best to be a positive role model to children in her class. Amy believes commitment and love are as important as knowledge and experience in teaching.In her spare time, Amy loves making handmade ornaments, drawing, painting and watching films.
Chrystelle Allan is a qualified Early Years teacher from New Zealand with a Bachelor in Education, specializing in Early Years. As an aspect of this degree, she carried out a research project on the importance of literacy in the early years for children under three years old. With this valuable insight, she continues to foster learning environments rich in literacy and numeracy experiences for young children. She is passionate about nurturing a sense of agency within each child, as they gain valuable life skills experimenting and discovering in a safe educational environment. From moving from South Africa to New Zealand in 2001 to beginning her teaching career in New Zealand in 2009 onto managing an Early Years Educational Centre in Australia in 2012; she firmly believes that the diversity of children should be appreciated, respected and acknowledged for the capacity to add value and authentic learning opportunities. She believes in hands-on, active learning embedded throughout all aspects of the educational program. Chrystelle prides herself on developing trusting and reciprocal relationships between children and their families, viewing children as facilitators and co-learners. She believes that care and education are interwoven and founded on relationships, sharing responsibility, and collaborating with the global community. Chrystelle is fortunate to have her daughter attend Wellington College, where she will likewise appreciate and be immersed in the wonderful culture, language, and engaging learning environments.
Ningning Xia completed her master's degree at Hangzhou Normal University, specialising in education. She also completed her Teacher Training Project at Queensland University. Before her postgraduate, she worked in Children's Palace, which provided her with the experience and research of 3-6-year-olds children's learning and development. She is a caring, patient, and enthusiastic teacher who loves listening to children's voices during play. She is always proud to see how children develop their learning with imagination and curiosity. She cherishes the fantastic opportunity to learn and work in Huili Nursery Hangzhou.
Greg is an experienced educator with more than ten years of teaching experience in China and Europe. He comes from England but has been living in Norway for the past five years with his wife and two young daughters, where he has been teaching in a Norwegian ‘barnehage’ (kindergarten). His hobbies include photography, art, music and film, walking in the woods and chatting with his children about anything and everything.
As a teacher, Greg takes pride in an inclusive learning environment ensuring progress and engagement through the delivery of inspiring and stimulating lessons. He is passionate about the benefits of the creative arts and its implementation in a bilingual context. In his last position, he was part of the award-winning choir coaching team and was also responsible for introducing daily ‘mindfulness’ sessions into the classroom.
Helen Li graduated from the Department of Early Childhood Education from Hubei Polytechnic University. During her internship period she was assigned to the municipal kindergarten, she was fortunate to be retained as a full-time kindergarten teacher by the government one year ahead of schedule. Familiar with the developmental guidelines for children aged 3-6 in the early childhood education program, she obtained her kindergarten teacher qualification certificate. In her educational career, she was exposed to the theory of early Sino-US teaching and participated using in-depth practical knowledge. Two years ago, she co-founded a well-known high-end early care institution in Hangzhou with Spanish overseas Chinese and, Irish linguist. Her experience so far had her interacting with international teachers from around the world and gave her a unique opportunity to share course development work, best practises while building on her mangement skills. These diverse experiences have given her valuable insights in the field of early childhood education. At the same time, she is now giving deep thought to the bilingual teaching methodology and is incorporating new ideas into her own teaching practise. She believes that in the process of getting along with the child, one must also develop a rapport that involves understanding and listening to the child. She is looking at building great memories and lasting bonds in the early years .
Rosco has a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. He graduated in 2016, and lived and taught in England for two years. While he was there Rosco taught a range of subjects and age groups including teaching in a Nursery, Primary and High School. In 2019, Rosco returned to New Zealand to teach 11 to 13-year-old students and see family and friends before leaving to live and work in Hangzhou in August 2019.
Rosco believes a quality early childhood education is a pivotal step that helps a young child love learning, something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Outside of school, Rosco considers himself a competitive person and he enjoys sports. He is looking forward to being immersed in the Chinese culture and language hoping to eventually be able to read and write in Mandarin.
Rosco is very grateful to be given the opportunity to be a part the team at Huili Nursery Hangzhou and a part of the Wellington Family.
Grace graduated from Ningbo University in 2012 as an outstanding graduate of Zhejiang province. She was awarded a school scholarship. In addition to her strong academic foundation and practical skills, Grace volunteered to participate in social services as that is something close to her heart. She helped out the aged in nursing home’s and organised a team to teach children English, in the community. She believes in giving back to society and does her best with committing time to it.Grace has been working in Nursery at an international schools for the past five years, where she gained a lot of professional training and experience in teaching. She is responsible, proactive, caring, patient and collaborative with children, parents and colleagues. She believes every child is different and unique.In her spare time, Grace likes to read various books about children, and on psychology. She is also fascinated by musical instruments. Grace has learnt to play the flute, cucurbit flute, ocarina, piano and saxophone by watching others play making her an example of self-directed learning.
Rob has been teaching in Early Years education environments and settings for 6 years. He has worked with children and families from all backgrounds and supported them in order to give the best possible start to their children’s education. Alongside teaching, he taught drama across England since he was 17. He spent 9 years performing, writing and directing performances for children aged 4-18 using drama as a tool to develop social and emotional skills and developing self-confidence.He has a degree in Drama from The University of Huddersfield where he focused on Applied Theatre – using theatre in education and its use to enhance education. He has worked with schools, professional theatre groups, actors, puppeteers and the fire brigade. After his degree he chose to study a postgraduate at Huddersfield to become an Early Years Teacher . Seeing children develop from the very earliest of ages shows how much they learn and the impact a good start to early education can have. Working in Early Years made him want to pursue a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at The University of Leeds. He taught across all key stages from children age 3-11 before specialising in Early Years.Outside of work, he loves being active and socialising. Rob enjoys going to the theatre and listening to music and can often be found singing along to everything - he loves KTV! He plays football, badminton and goes to the gym. His love of being outside is something he wants to champion at Huili Nursery Hangzhou. He has worked hard on developing outdoor areas in different settings to encourage children to explore and experience the outdoors and use it as a fundamental tool in their education.
Ruping Jiang graduated from Nanjing Normal University, majoring in preschool education. She studied pedagogy, educational psychology, history of Chinese and foreign education and other professional courses, and art, piano and dance. She went to many famous kindergartens in Nanjing for practice. During that period, she seriously considered the combination of theory and practice and explored effective intentional strategies. In 2015, she applied for the opportunity of an exchange study with Taiwan Pingtung University. She studied in-depth Reggio program learning and preschool local education. She won many awards, such as "excellent student cadre" and the second prize of "National University preschool education graduation thesis selection". After graduation, Ruping Jiang worked in Suzhou for more than one year as a classroom teacher. She was responsible for all aspects of her class, including teaching, curriculum design, environmental provision, parental communication and many other elements. She worked on the implementation of project-based learning and STEAM courses. She was a member of our project research group and actively participated in the Nursery-based curriculum construction. She was awarded the second prize in the excellent teaching plan selection of "Suzhou Education Institute". Now, She is working as a Chinese Teacher in Huili Nursery Hangzhou. She has been discussing project learning with co-teachers and providing children with effective support based upon observations, recording learning stories, statement assessment and parental communication. In addition, she also learns from excellent teachers how to teach Chinese and Bilingual sessions well and how to provide an enabling environment according to children's interests and needs to promote children's effective learning. She loves enabling children's education and enjoys this job.
Benjamin Clements (Ben) is a New Zealand trained and qualified Early Years teacher with a Bachelor in International Studies and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, specialising in Early Years. He has worked as a teacher in schools in New Zealand, China and Europe, enjoying roles that exposed him to new teaching ideas and styles.
Ben is a strong believer in learning through play and project based learning, ideas that became popular in New Zealand during his time studying. He has since focused on finding ways to implement these ideas more effectively in a diverse teaching environment. His passion is to help children to accomplish their goals and to help them to develop their ideas and skills as far as they are able.
After graduating from Huzhou Normal University, Rachel was lucky enough to take the first step towards her dream of becoming a preschool teacher. Passionate about early childhood education, she worked in bilingual institutions and public kindergartens for seven years. Recently, Rachel has been researching how to use picture books to improve children's dialogue and debate to develop interactive thinking.In her spare time, Rachel is a person who loves to laugh. She likes travel, cooking and yoga. She believes that everyone should have a positive and healthy attitude towards life and face every challenge in life bravely. She is also a person who likes to share things with others. She likes to communicate and make friends with people from different countries and backgrounds.Joining Wellington College is a great gift for Rachel; she hopes to continue learning, strengthen her professional knowledge and understanding, and help more children have a happy and meaningful childhood.
Charlotte Has been teaching for four years after completing her bachelor's degree and Post Graduate in Education at the University of Derby. Charlotte has taught several creative subjects during her teaching career and has taught EAL through these creative pathways. After teaching Drama, English and Media studies in Nottingham Charlotte moved to Hangzhou and has been working with children in a bilingual learning environment for 3 years. Charlotte considers encouraging children's creativity to be a cornerstone of language and emotional-social development and believes that the spontaneity of children led learning furthers this. Charlotte’s enjoyment of art began during secondary school where she chaired the school’s creative writing club, curating and producing anthologies of work from students as well as participating in workshops held by the school’s graphic design club. In Hangzhou, Charlotte attends water painting classes in her spare time and enjoys sewing and making handicrafts. Charlotte believes that employing these skills through learning materials and the environment creates an engaging atmosphere to encourage inquiry and fascination within children. Charlotte has called Hangzhou her home for 3 years and is excited to join the Wellington community. The campus and staff give Charlotte a sense of nostalgia of the joy of her own school days and she hopes that through the amazing opportunity Wellington has granted her she can instil this feeling in others.
Monica Xu completed her Master Degree in Teaching in Early Childhood at University of Melbourne in 2018 and was invited by the university to be the Clinical Teaching Specialist since 2020, providing professional guidance for Master students’ placement. She has also worked in Melbourne as a kindergarten teacher and educational leader at a government-owned centre. She developed a play-based and child-centred curriculum inspired by Reggio Emilia to help each child to achieve their own potential and led a professional teaching team of more than 30 members with diverse cultural backgrounds.
Monica gained her Bachelor Degree of Early Childhood Education in 2016 at East China Normal University with a high academic achievement. During her 4-year study, she was an exchange student in United States and attended ‘Excellent Teacher Training Program’ in Canada. With tertiary education and teaching experience all over the world, she is excited to start her new journey with Huili Nursery Hangzhou which embraces cultural diversity and aims for excellence!
Mia majored in preschool education and went to Singapore in 2013 to teach Chinese at the Singapore People's Action Party Community Fund kindergarten. There she met children and teachers of different nationalities. Her work experience and life experiences in Singapore significantly broadened her horizon. In addition, Singapore's diversified working environment and bilingual education greatly impacted her education philosophy. After returning to China, she worked as a teacher in the International School of Guangzhou and a bilingual school in Shenzhen. She enjoys spending time with children and likes her job as a teacher. While working, she is also actively pursuing a master's degree in preschool education, hoping to go further in her major.
Nicholas has worked as an Early Childhood Educator in China for more than five years. He has an Early Childhood/ Pre K-Grade 3 Teacher's License in the District of Columbia, and a Bachelor of Arts from the Honor's College of Old Dominion University. Nicholas is passionate about 21st Century Skills, student-centred learning, and fostering a growth mindset in the classroom. He has had rich experiences guiding young children on real-world, interdisciplinary projects in ways that are relevant, interesting, and empowering. Nicholas is an enthusiast of futurism and shares this with his students, telling stories of emerging exponential technologies and about what life will be like for children in the year 2040 and beyond. Furthermore, he is an avid lifelong learner, and he enjoys studying developmental neuroscience, STEAM education, and early childhood pedagogies. Having lived in China for many years with a Chinese wife and young daughter, Nicholas has an experienced perspective that provides unique value as an educator at Huili Nursery Hangzhou. Nicholas has an extensive understanding of Chinese culture, speaks proficient Mandarin Chinese, and understands what schooling and caring for children is like from a parent's perspective. Therefore, Nicholas is adept at balancing and creating synergy in a multi-cultural environment and providing a safe and welcoming environment for students of diverse backgrounds, all while personally relating to and effectively communicating with parents. Nicholas is adamant about physical fitness and regularly enjoys exercising and going on hikes in nature. He strives to exemplify a healthy lifestyle for his students, both in physical activity and healthy nutritious eating. In his spare time, Nicholas likes to cook Sichuan food, tinker with Raspberry Pi's and Arduinos, go to Makerspaces, work on DIY projects, skateboard, swim, play guitar and ukulele, volunteer in the community, and spend time with his family. Nicholas is thrilled to come to Hangzhou and join the Huili and Wellington family!
Li Xiaoyan graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. When she was a postgraduate student, her passion for languages led her to teaching Chinese, in Spain. During her time there she joined an Intercultural Communication Course at University of Seville. This certified course enabled her to gain the skills to be an effective communicator while building her understanding on various diverse cultures. After coming back to China, Xiaoyan became a bilingual kindergarten teacher where she had a chance to learn about IB PYP. Xiaoyan believes the process of getting along with children is like a journey which is filled with surprises. She fundamentally believes that every child has the potential to explore new possibilities and take ownership of their learning. She loves listening into children's conversations at play and, takes pride to see them develop their imagination and their curiosity. In addition to teaching, she is also interested in photography, painting and cooking.
Justin has been a teacher for fifteen years after completing a four year BA (hons) degree at Leeds University in England.After teaching for three years in England, Justin decided to enter international education and taught in Malaysia for nine years and Nepal for three years before moving to Hangzhou. Throughout this time he was fortunate enough to teach children all the way from 3 years old to 16 years old, across a range of subjects.Despite teaching this large range, Justin kept coming back to his passion of Early Years teaching. He loves seeing the wonder in children's eyes as they encounter new experiences and explore the world around them. While working with children in the Early Years, Justin has helped introduce woodwork into his classroom settings and has developed language acquisition skills amongst children.Through his interest in woodwork skills and introducing controlled risk into the classroom, Justin discovered Forest School. He spent time in his previous school helping to introduce the key concepts of Forest School and Outdoor Learning into the whole of Early Years and Key Stage 1.Outside of school Justin has a keen interest in a variety of modern board games. He helped found a thriving board game community in Kathmandu and enjoys playing a range of roleplay games as well. Justin loves the social nature of these games and how they give people a common interest to connect in an age where we are too often attached to devices even when with our friends.Justin also enjoys playing the guitar, cycling and SCUBA diving. He pursued SCUBA whilst living next to the beach in Malaysia until he became a BSAC Dive Leader, giving him the opportunity to lead dive groups and dive to depths of 50m.Justin is excited to be joining Huili Nursery. He has already seen the passion the school has for the children in its care and looks forward to both teaching and learning in this new and growing environment.0
Yvonne graduated from Zhejiang University of Science of Technology in 2013. After graduation, she became an Early Years teacher. She loves the job and works hard. She is now an experienced educator. In 2019, she had her own baby, which stimulated her with more passion to pursue childcare and education. She hopes every child can have a happy childhood, and she will devote herself to this objective. Yvonne is a very outgoing person. She likes singing and likes to sing everywhere; she likes watching cartoons, which she feels makes her an innocent person; she likes learning and trying everything that she has never tried before, because she thinks it can make her keep going. She likes children, so she enjoys every day with the children.
Crystal entered the education field in 2009, when she joined an award-winning network of university volunteers who prepare bilingual preschool children in low-income neighborhoods for school and literary success, as part of the AmeriCorps Jumpstart Program. She believes in holistic education and in creating a harmonious environment where children feel safe, successful, and respected. After completing a dual degree from Boston University, Crystal began teaching English as a second language to Chinese students of different age groups. She worked to create an English-language immersion program for young learners that complemented the Montessori curriculum for ages 3-6. She is a licensed Academic Teacher in the State of Massachusetts, and an Internationally Certified Montessori educator. Crystal believes that education is a lifelong journey and is passionate about providing enriching learning experiences that follow the interests of the child. She is both excited and grateful to be joining Huili nursery!
Hazel completed her degree at HuaiNan Normal University, specialising in Early Childhood Education. After four years of targeted study, she mastered the comprehensive professional theory of preschool education.Right after her graduation, Hazel has worked in a Singapore government nursery for four years. She is an adventurous individual and has travelled extensively across Southeast Asia. She loves children and enjoys developing meaningful relationships with her students. Her passion in being a learner herself, has led her to set up classroom with provocations that are research based, encouraging children to question and explore their environment. She enjoys reading books that are related to the early years. Hazel also believes that books are key to developing children's imagination and creativity. She has introduced yoga into children's physical sessions and used it as a tool for relaxation and learning.In her time away from work, Hazel enjoys travel, photography and sporting activities.She is enjoying her work immensely Huili Nursery Hangzhou and looks forward to collaborating with teachers. For Hazel coming back to China and, teaching in Huili Nursery is a fantastic opportunity for her to develop her understanding and knowledge further in early years education.
Rose has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport from Durham University. Following this, she went on to Kingston University where she completed her primary teacher training specialising in PE. Her first role was as a teaching assistant at a Surrey Prep school supporting both the classroom and PE lessons. It was during this year that Rose developed her love for Early Years. She has now been an Early Years teacher for 5 years. She is passionate about embedding a lifelong love of learning from an early age, by developing a curriculum full of creativity and curiosity. She believes that by creating a nurturing environment, children will be happy and engaged in their learning and therefore be able to reach their full potential. Outside of work, Rose will often be found participating in sport. Her biggest passion lies on the hockey pitch, having played to Premier League level in the UK and Australia. Although her love for sport does not stop there, she is also a keen golfer, skier and enjoys exploring on her bike. As well as sport, Rose enjoys travelling. She enjoys immersing herself into new cultures, experiencing local food, meeting people and taking part in adventurous activities. Rose is looking forward to settling into life in Hangzhou and becoming part of the Huili Nursery team and Wellington Family.
Liben has grown up in Shanghai, and coming from a family of teachers she is following her passion of being an educator. Having spent six years in Australia, she is a Victorian registered Early Years teacher who recently graduated from Monash University with a master’s degree in Early Years Education. Her love for learning supports her in, building confidence and independent learners in her classroom.Liben’s teaching philosophy is inspired by Vygotsky, Piaget and Reggio Emilia, and she is committed to put her learning to practise by being inclusive and responsive children in the class.She has had three years of teaching experience in early childhood and organizing extra-curriculum activities in Melbourne. Her strengths lie in building positive teacher-student relationships and engaging students in intentional and authentic learning.Liben enjoys bringing in new learning strategies into her classroom to help children with learning needs. She was selected by her university to undertake an international placement at Victorian International School of Sharjah, UAE. This experience shaped her dream to pursue working in international schools while fostering diversity and new experiences.Apart from teaching, Liben has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Shanghai Normal University.Liben has had professional international experiences in Shanghai, Australia, USA, Fiji and is looking forward to moving to Hangzhou.Being committed to professional development she enjoys reading journal articles and books about education, culture and society. In her spare time, she loves travelling, taking road trips and indulging in retail therapy.She enjoys cooking at home and trying out new cuisines. Liben is excited to join the Huili Nursery Hangzhou team and cannot wait to explore Hangzhou.
Maria Bowering joined the Early Years team as an EY4 classroom teacher. She is originally from Devon, England but has spent the past 20 years living and working internationally. Following her Undergraduate Degree, she began a career as a TEFL teacher and soon after completed a PGCE at the University of Exeter. Maria has since worked at international schools around the world as a teacher and manager, predominantly in S.E. Asia, Russia, Europe and the Middle East. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed taking time to study. In 2011, she achieved a Diploma in Montessori Education founded on a holistic, child-centred approach to learning and development. In addition, Maria’s passion for nature and the outdoors led to her completing Forest School qualifications and certificates in Counselling and Developmental Psychology. In 2018, she received a Master's in Education from the University of Bristol, which focused on Second Language Acquisition, Comparative and International Education. She loves getting out into nature, exploring new places, and eating good food in her free time. In addition, she enjoys yoga, tennis, swimming and boxing and looking forward to doing all of the above, especially after living through lockdown in the UK. Maria has a great interest in languages and speaks French, Russian and Thai, in that order of fluency. This is her first role in China, and she looks forward to meeting you all and becoming a part of the Huili Team.
Kate Chen graduated from Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages as an outstanding graduate of Zhejiang Province, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English. Following this, she completed her Master of Arts Degree in Applied Linguistics at the University of Melbourne. During her time at school, Kate feels fortunate to have worked as an assistant to the school's Foreign Affairs Department for 3 years. Kate has also worked as an early childhood teacher and mentor at Shanghai New Oriental international school, co-teaching with international teachers of diverse backgrounds. These valuable experiences have shown Kate that diversity in the community and workplace can inspire idea creation and increase innovation. Kate's master's degree research focused on bilingual education and family language policy. She is interested in how different language policy choices and patterns realized in the households can promote active bilingualism. Kate is passionate about early childhood education and is deeply influenced by the Reggio Emilia education system that supports children's well-being and fosters their intellectual development. She believes in the rich potential in children and enjoys the co-construction process of knowledge. One's internal image of the child directs them to behave in certain ways and Kate hopes to play a part in helping children challenge thoughts and exceed limits.
Ms Julia joins Huili Nursery Hangzhou as an Early Years Western Teacher. She is a double certified teacher with 10 years classroom experience in early years settings and primary schools. Ms Julia holds two Master’s degrees one from Sherbrooke University (Canada) majoring in Didactics of Plurilingualism (English, French and Spanish) and the second in Management and International trade from the University of Valencia (Spain).
Ms Julia is advocate for language development and believes that children experience a richer world through the discovery of language. She loves exploring the world and is captivated by the beauty and all it has to offer. When she does not teach, Ms. Julia enjoys reading, writing, composing songs, traveling, and trying all kinds of foods and fun activities.
Ms. Julia will be your guide this school year. She will help you be the best you can.
Bella achieved her bachelor's degree at Zhejiang Gongshang University, specialising in French. She realised that Early Years Education is her passion during years of working. She started her career as an Early Years class teacher in 2017, in which she got the chance to work in Canada. The differences between Early Years Education in China and Canada inspired her and motivated her to be a better teacher by persistently learning and exploring. Working in different cultural backgrounds also gave her a broader vision and multi-dimensional thinking ability. She believes that each child is unique and has potential. Working with children is like a journey full of pleasant surprises. Besides teaching, she is very interested in aquatic sports such as swimming, diving and surfing. She thinks a healthy lifestyle is essential. Aquatic sports help her find the balance between confidence in her ability and the thrill of uncertainty.
Kofi is an early years professional with over ten years of experience, teaching across three different continents. He had his initial early years training at the University of the West of England in Bristol, UK. Kofi also has a Master's degree from the London Metropolitan University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of East London.
Kofi's work experience spans across the different levels of early years education and Key Stage 1. He worked for nine years in the UK. From the UK, Kofi took up a role as an Early Years Coordinator at an IB World school in Ghana, and for the last three years, Kofi has been working as a Key Stage 1 teacher and head of phonics at a British Curriculum school in Dubai.
Kofi is married with two young children, and in his spare time, he likes to read comic books and run outdoors. Kofi is delighted to join the team at Hangzhou, and he is looking forward to helping the children achieve their full potential.
Suzy initially studied early education at Zhejiang university, and four years later, went on to complete her degree in psychological at the Hangzhou, teacher university. This Major built a foundation for her to observe and evaluate children in their natural learning environment. Suzy had all the training for an educator however, she went on to pursue a certification in educational leadership, in 2013. After graduation Suzy taught at the Hangzhou public kindergarten, where she continued to work for 15 years and developed various professional abilities. In 2016, she had a life changing moment, when she was given the opportunity to serve as an assistant to the principal in a bilingual school close to Ningbo. During that time she gained experience in various areas of the school, from curriculum management, to activity planning and administrative management. She believes these experiences will help her inspire children at Huili Wellington Nursery. Suzy is looking forward to her role as a Chinese teacher, and, new ideas to encourage learning in her classroom. Suzy’s goal this year is to participate in all the professional development the school has to offer so that she can further build on her strengths. In her spare time, she reads books related to her interests and enjoys travelling to explore ancient Chinese and foreign architecture.
Miss Danielle Cook has over 14 years of experience in Early Years Education and curriculum development. Danielle completed her BA Honours Degree in Childhood Development and a BSc Honours in Early Years Education at Sheffield University and then undertook her PGCE at the University of Wales. During this time, she was fortunate enough to work across many different Early Years settings and schools in England and Wales, developing her knowledge and experience in curriculum development, SEN and working within multidisciplinary teams to support children and families in the early years.
After spending two years teaching in the UK, Danielle spent two years in Italy, developing her love for Reggio Emilia. She then completed a TEFL internship and taught in Thailand and Cambodia before moving to Shanghai in 2015. During this time, Danielle worked in bilingual kindergartens and was the Early Year’s Coordinator of EYFS at Britannica International School, developing and structuring their curriculum and practice. Danielle brings her passion, knowledge and experience in the Early Years education and believes that children are‘born inquirers’who are highly able and capable. ‘As Early Years educators, we can empower children to be independent, creative, lifelong learners by providing experiences enriched with positive relationships and enabling environments.’ Danielle is also a believer in educating parents to support children’s early development and is currently undertaking her Masters in educational leadership.
Rebecca Hatton completed a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Physical Education and graduated with Honours from Liverpool John Moores University in 2009.
She has been teaching Physical Education for 12 years both in the UK and China. Rebecca started her career at a large secondary school in Manchester delivering high quality PE lessons to students and led many school sports teams to achieve success in local and national competitions.
Rebecca has held a number of positions during her teaching career. As Head of Department; Rebecca led a large, busy and highly successful PE department. She was at the forefront in planning and implementing a diverse and challenging curriculum at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 achieving outstanding results at GCSE and A-level. Since leaving the UK Rebecca has worked in Shanghai; initially as Director of sport she was responsible for building a whole school curriculum and assessment process for students aged 2-18. During her time in Shanghai she also took on the role of Head of Secondary; Rebecca was responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and development of the secondary school and played an integral part in the growth and expansion of the school and sixth form.
Rebecca’s vision as a teacher has always been to inspire pupils to become independent and successful lifelong learners who work hard and are proud of their talents, ambitions, and dreams.
She believes in the importance of young people receiving a rounded education and is passionate about the importance of learning experiences outside the classroom. She has planned and organised many school trips to destinations within the UK, Europe, and China.
Rebecca has a passion for travel and exploring new countries and cultures. She is very excited to move to a new city and explore what life in Hangzhou has to offer.
Kelly has been associated with the early childhood education for 8 years. During this period she worked at a bilingual nursery school and other international preschools . All these international professional experiences have equipped her with in-depth understanding of both, the Chinese and the UK curriculum framework. She enjoys being in the classroom and inspiring her students with their learning. In 2010, she successfully completed her training and earned her certification as a teacher from the Orff institute of Music and Drama. Her love for music is visible in her teaching practises too. She enjoys spending time with children and thinks children can build on their language and culture in a bilingual setting. In her spare time Kelly loves the outdoors and enjoys practising music.
Irina Pinelli joins the Huili Nursery with more than seven years’ experience in Art Ateliers, first in Italy and then in Asia. Her journey in the art field began as an artist and performer that led to her graduation with a Bachelor’s of Performing Art Heritage from the University of Parma. Because of her growing interest in the artistic message and the healing power of beauty, she decided to continue her education and complete a Master’s of Visual Art and Art Therapy from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan.
She has worked as an Art Therapist in various organisations in Italy, such as schools, hospitals, and associations that have allowed her to have a full picture of how the experience of art can deeply enrich the life of those who come into contact with it. Thanks to this, she connected with the world of education, the philosophy of Loris Malaguzzi and the Reggio Emilia approach. This experience took her to Hong Kong in 2019 as an Atelierista spending two years in an international and trilingual early years setting.
An enthusiastic traveller and passionate about nature, Irina has a profound love for raw materials and ancient techniques that create a deep connection with those who use them.
Nini Zhu graduated from the Education University of Hong Kong with a master's degree in education. Since her graduation in 2015, she has been working in early childhood education. Before joining Huili Nursery, Nini worked in a well-known bilingual kindergarten in Zhuhai City and took charge of class management. As a result, she is familiar with the high-scope and PBL teaching methods. Nini also has IB-PYP teaching experience in an IB kindergarten in Hangzhou City. Nini believes that every child is unique and that educators should help children discover their potential and move forward in their learning and development.
Jenny graduated from Zhejiang University of Foreign Languages with a major in Korean. From 2009 to 2010 she was transferred to Seoul to study Korean. She was an English teacher working in Little World International Kindergarten for two years. She believes love must be the first and the most important element as a teacher. She hopes she can bring full passion and love to every child within the school. Holding a passion for education, Jenny appreciates the opportunity to join in Huili Nursery Hangzhou. In her spare time, she likes to go traveling and singing, collecting stamps and learning different languages. She has previously won some prizes in public speaking and talent shows.
Jialing Zhang (July) studied for her undergraduate degree at the University of Sheffield and also gained her master's degree at Durham University, specialising in education. Having worked as a teaching assistant at an international kindergarten, July has learnt valuable professional skills such as course design, classroom safety and class management. She also worked as a teaching assistant at a local primary school in Sheffield, UK. She started a literature interest group for older children to promote their love of reading. In addition, she worked as a volunteer in the disaster areas of Nepal by reading English stories to children. July's philosophy is that the value of life lies not in the length of days but in the use we make of them. July plays board games, badminton and enjoys singing and drawing in her spare time. In working with children, she hopes to learn and grow together.
Li Bingying started her bachelor's degree at Shaoxing University, specialising in English. In her sophomore year, she went to Modena University in Italy as an exchange student for exchange study. She studied local history and culture courses during this period, which broadened her horizons and significantly improved her self-learning ability. In this overseas study experience, she not only conveyed Chinese culture but also experienced the teaching models and educational concepts of different universities. In addition, she also actively participates in various activities, among which she participated in the Shaoxing International Marathon as a volunteer and provided short translations for foreign athletes. In life, she is also a humorous girl. She not only loves life but also explores the natural scenery and cultural customs of various places during the holidays, enjoying new scenery and cultures.
Tanya Tang graduated with her honours bachelor's degree in Early Years and Primary Education from Monash University. While pursuing her education, she worked part-time as a teacher's assistant in the toddler room. After that, she registered for an Early Childhood Teacher Licence in Victoria, Australia and taught up to eighteen 3-5-year-olds in a cross-age setting. Throughout her career, she became adept at facilitating play-based learning, child-centred learning, STEAM and interdisciplinary projects in ways that are relevant to children's interests and needs. When interacting with children, Tanya is a passionate teacher who respects each child's background, diversity, and personality and encourages them to express their thoughts and feelings. In addition, she focuses on practising children's varied skills in classroom activities, including critical thinking, logical thinking, collaborative, and social skills. Tanya likes reading traditional Chinese stories, baking cookies and cooking Cantonese soup, yoga, recycling materials, and working on DIY projects in her spare time. She is an animal lover and keeps two ragdoll cats at home.
Shiri Tu graduated from King's College London with a master's degree in Child Studies in 2020. She studied at Zhejiang International Studies University as an undergraduate, majoring in English Teaching. Through her education and various course projects, she has gained solid knowledge of pedagogy, psychology, child protection, children's rights, and other vital issues about education. She also had several exciting internship opportunities, which allowed her to apply the knowledge learned in class in the real world. In 2017, she was an assistant teacher in Académie Francois Labelle (Québec, Canada) for half a year, participating in teaching and research activities. In 2019, she taught English to children aged 3-7 in a training school, became skilled in creating an inviting classroom atmosphere, and mastered effective communication methods with parents. In her spare time, she loves travelling and sports. In addition, she has an adorable dog named Doo-Doo.
Yinuo Wang has been living and studying in New Zealand since 2009. She successfully obtained a graduate diploma degree in Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at New Zealand Tertiary College. She also gained her bachelor's degree at Auckland University of Technology, majoring in Accounting. Before joining Huili Nursery Hangzhou, She had two years of work experience with children aged 3 to 5 years old in New Zealand. With a significant interest in early childhood education, she wants to get close to children and understand their world. She sees all children as competent and confident learners, full of potential and active in constructing their working theories through interactions with people, places, and things. She loves to learn new knowledge and skills. Working with children was and still is a huge learning experience for her. Yinuo is also a creative person who desires a stimulating, bright, and colourful environment to resurrect her creativity and bring out her inner child.
Coco majored in Cartoon Illustration, graduating from Anhui University in 2014, and she also studied the master's program at Belarusian State Technological University of pedagogy. She has a passion for drawing, which she loves to use in the classroom as one of many tools for inspiring children to be creative and represent their ideas. Coco chose to follow her passion for education and became a high school art teacher. It gave her wonderful experiences working with older children before she decided to extend her skills working with younger children. Expanding her educational knowledge as a nursery teacher set her on a path to developing her knowledge of Montessori education systems. This passion for learning set her on a path to discovering the interests and wonders of Huili Nursery Hangzhou, where she now has experiences in several different classes. In her spare time, Coco enjoys spending days with her family, enjoying picnics, spending time in the countryside and enjoying delicious meals with her friends.
Rhoda majored in international tourism management and hotel management. After graduation, she has been working for international hotel groups and the world's top hotel alliance organization. She has been engaged in administrative management, public relations and brand development for nearly 7 years. At the same time, she has two years of experience in bilingual education for young children and adolescents. It was during the two years contact with children aged 2 to 15 that she realized that early education has a profound impact on children's future growth and Rhoda developed a strong interest in early childhood education. Rhoda believes that only by getting along with children with sincerity, equality, empathy and trust can children's growth experience be optimized. Before officially joining HUILI school, she worked as a part-time teaching assistant for Wellington academy and as a support teacher for nursery school.In her spare time, Rhoda enjoys reading books on philosophy and psychology and watching films on criminal investigation and law. She loves hiking, traveling, cooking and art however, she especially enjoys spending time with her family and pets.
Kyra Zhang completed her master's degree at Brock University in Canada, specialising in education. Her bachelor's degree is in music performance, and she graduated from the Communication University of Zhejiang in 2010.
Kyra has almost ten years of experience as a piano teacher working with children between 3-14. Her dream is to be a fully qualified teacher in an international school. Kyra grew up in a happy family of three. Because of the love education from her parents, she became a person who is kind-hearted, patient, optimistic, responsible, honest, outgoing and creative. Because of this, she has been worked as a full-time volunteer to help people in need, especially with children's education and safety issues. Kyra has full of love for education, and she finds work as a teaching assistant can not only work with children but also learn a lot from educational professionals. In addition, she has a wide range of interests, including music, Chinese chess, dance and yoga.
Kiko Tu majored in the department of Preschool Education. She went to Taiwan for an exchange and internship in "early childhood education" during her college years. She obtained a degree certificate from the Department of Early Childhood Education in Taiwan and a Montessori Teaching certificate. Kiko once went to the United States to work and travel. Under the diversified living environment, she strengthened her love for bilingual work. After graduation, she worked as an intern at a nursery in Hangzhou, where she discovered Wellington and grew into an experienced educator. Kiko is good at Dalcroze's experience rhythm teaching method and integrates the music teaching method into daily teaching. She loves photography, dancing, piano, painting, and travelling in everyday life.
Mengqi (Vicky) Zhao has completed her master's degree at CUHK University, majoring in Early Childhood Education. Before that, she earned two bachelor's degrees at CCNU University and RMIT University. The four-year studying experience was an invaluable asset, which helped her acquire theoretical knowledge and enabled her to accumulate practical experiences from internships in Melbourne. After graduation, she has worked as an early childhood teacher at Avenues The World School. She believes that every child is a unique individual and part of their own family and culture. Therefore, as educators, we should value individual differences and encourage them to fulfil their potential inclusively. She enjoys doing aerobic exercise, practising photography, and exploring Hangzhou city in her free time.
At university, Hannah majored in international trade. However, her passion for English and education shone through and have driven her to become an English teacher in private training schools. She has been working in the field of education for more than six years including four years as an English teacher of children aged 3-8, and two years as a study advisor.
Hannah has a experience in co-teaching with foreign teachers from diverse backgrounds. In language teaching, Hannah is able to implement project-based learning to bring out every child’s potential and also establish a joyful and caring learning environment.
Hannah is a lifelong learner; she enjoys studying STEAM education, early childhood pedagogies, drama and child development psychology. In her spare time, she enjoys kayaking, yoga, Tai chi, cooking and photography.
Sarah Zhang has studied abroad for almost eight years. She completed her master's degree in education at Loyola University Maryland, finished her undergraduate degree at Lancaster University and did her high school studies in the UK. Ms Sarah Zhang stumbled on the path of education through her experience working with children and decided to make working with children her career for life. After finishing her master's degree, she worked at a public charter Montessori school called Lee Montessori in Washington DC as a lead teacher. She taught children aged 2.5-6, with mix-race and various needs. After one year, she went back to China and joined a bilingual kindergarten in Hangzhou as one of the founding teachers. She opened the first class in the kindergarten and was fully involved in the early recruitment process. She is very passionate and earnest about working with children. She hopes to grow continuously and to support the growth of each child she encounters! She enjoys hiking, running, reading books, and travelling in her leisure time.
Xu Hongyu graduated in 2021 from the University of York in England with a master's degree in TESOL. Inspired by her professor's statement that, 'Education is a key tool to prevent ignorance', she has had a passion for education.
Before her postgraduate education, Xu Hongyu worked for EF as a TA for six months and won their 'Best TA' award. She found it very satisfying and fulfilling to work with children and adults from different cultural backgrounds. In addition, Xu Hongyu loves to travel and has travelled to several countries in Europe, such as France, Holland and Switzerland. Xu Hongyu specialises in TESOL Methods and Cross-Lingual influences. She looks forward to using her skills to contribute to Wellington College Hangzhou. In her free time, she loves to watch stand-up comedy.
Richard has been an Assistant Vice Principal and Director of Sixth Form with 21 years teaching experience with an exemplary career in Teesside in the North East of England. After completing his Bachelor of Education (Honours) Physical Education in Bedford he moved to teach in the North East of England. Richard has been a well-respected Senior Leader who has held whole school responsibilities for a wide range of different areas within the schools he as worked at. Richard's passion in education started from his love of swimming teaching for which he is now a Fellow of the Institute of Swimming. Prior to moving out to Hangzhou he was managing and leading a personalised learning centre looking after educational needs of vulnerable students in a 11-18 academy setting. Using his vast experience and being instrumental in setting up foundation learning in Macmillan Academy, he was able to provide excellent educational outcomes for these students who had incredibly challenging life experiences. Richard is passionate about Mental and Emotional well-being and has guest spoken at conferences and events on the impact of stress on employees and the damage to business productivity. Richard’s academic teaching experience includes A Level and GCSE Physical Education and has led a consistently positive outcome sports vocational course. Outside of the workplace he loves many sports & outdoor sports although his age is reducing the seriousness of the participation. During his earlier adult life, he was proud to say that he represented his country at Rugby League gain five caps and scored a try against England.
Maggie holds a Master's Degree from the University of Hong Kong specializing in Information Technology in Education. She has more than five years of experience in teaching children from Kindergarten up to Junior High Students. Those experiences of teaching and research have broadened her perspective of the world and enabled her to understand the important points of being an educator.
Loris acquired her bachelor's degree at Zhejiang International Studies University and graduated as one of the most outstanding graduates of Zhejiang Province that year. During university years, she majored in teaching English as the second language and minored in French. She received a Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship and the First Ranking Excellent Students' Scholarship of Zhejiang International Studies University. She has teaching experiences as an intern in Hangzhou Xuejun High School and Hangzhou Jianlan Middle School. She has been an English teaching assistant during the training period for a Cambridge International English Contest. She also volunteered to work for the First China International Tea Expo, the 13th Student Sports Games of China and the 3rd China-CEEC Cultural Cooperation Forum, doing translation for domestic and foreign friends and providing assistance during the whole events. She has a great passion for the education industry and a strong mind-set for continuous improvement to meet or exceed expectation.
