Faculty

Natalie Ye - Director
Ms. Ye received her bachelor’s degree in economics in China and her M.B.A. in the U.S. Ms. Ye offers more than 10 years of experience in marketing management and international business operation in both fortune 500 companies and start-up organizations. In recent years, Ms. Ye has been devoting herself to Chinese education. As the Director, she works with staff and parents to create a great learning experience for every YHIS student.

Joy Zhao – Academic Consultant
Ms. Zhao is passionate about dual language education and has extensive experience in developing inquiry-based curriculum for Chinese immersion programs. Ms. Zhao graduated from Guangzhou Teacher's College with a B.A. in English. She has a master's degree in elementary education from the University of Bridgeport and a master’s degree in community counseling from Fairfield University.

Michelle Tan - Administrative Assistant and Resource Teacher
Mrs. Tan has a B.A. in psychology and B.S. in marketing. She has more than 15 years of experience in the business field, where she co-owned a tutoring service that served students from pre-school to elementary levels. She finds great fulfillment in imparting knowledge and giving guidance to students. 

Yanlin Premo - Head Teacher of Pre-School Class Graduated from Chenzhou Teachers College, China, with a major in art, Mrs. Premo also received a certificate from Beijing Language and Culture University. She had rich experiences with many forms of art before she settled on teaching five years ago, which has proved to be the desire of her heart. She has been teaching at grade levels ranging from pre-school to high school. Mrs. Premo enjoys being around young children and having a positive impact in their young lives.

Fangzhou Zhang – Assistant & Art Teacher of Pre-School Class
Ms. Zhang earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northeast Normal University in China, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Asian studies at Seton Hall University, with a concentration in teaching Chinese language and culture. Ms. Zhang has more than 15 years of experience in learning and performing Chinese folk dances, which has given her a unique approach to communicating her appreciation of Chinese culture. She is passionate about becoming a great teacher and instilling in students a caring heart, a pair of creative hands, and necessary skills to be successful in the future.

Hui Wang - Head Teacher of Pre-K and Kindergarten Class
Ms. Wang has an A.A. in early childhood education from Qingdao Teacher's College, China. During her 17-year tenure at a prestigious pre-school in China, she advanced from head teacher to master teacher to vice principal, well known and loved for her professionalism and creativity. Ms. Wang has been teaching at YHIS since 2008. She is skilled at inquiry-based teaching and educating the whole child.

Jane Juan Du - Assistant Teacher of Pre-K and K Class
Ms. Du has a B.A. in economic satistics from Liaoning University, China, and a M.S. in computer science from Queens College of CUNY. She has a K-8 Teaching Certificate of Eligibility from the New Jersey Department of Education. Having taught in Shenyang College for six years before coming to the U.S., Ms. Du has continued her passion for educating youngsters and been teaching Chinese to students of various ages at Hua Xia Chinese schools since 2004.

Yu Miao - Head Teacher of First Grade Classes
Ms. Miao has a master's degree in special education from Auburn University, Alabama, and is a certified K-12 teacher. Resourceful and energetic, she has extensive teaching experience with students aged 3 through eighth grade. Ms. Miao has been with YHIS since 2009 as the Head Teacher of Pre-K, K and First Grade.

Mike Boehm – First Grade English Teacher & Martial Arts Teacher
Mr. Boehm received a B.A. in cognitive science from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern Queensland. In addition, he received an intermediate Chinese diploma from Hainan University. Mr. Boehm has been teaching English since 2005 in China and the United States. Mr. Boehm is a second degree blackbelt in Soo Bahk Do. He looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm in teaching English and martial arts at YHIS.

Xiangyu Jin - School-wide Art Teacher & ASP Teacher
Ms. Jin graduated from Beijing Information Management School with a major in publishing and layout design. She has worked as a layout designer for a major Chinese newspaper, and is an enthusiastic painter herself. Jin Laoshi was an instrumental and artistic force behind all of the newsletters last year. This year, she is art teacher for grades Pre-K and up.

Xia Li - School-wide Music Teacher & ASP Teacher
Ms. Li has a B.A. in music education from Shandong Teachers’ College, China. She has more than 10 years of teaching experience in giving professional piano and voice lessons. Before coming to the U.S., she taught at a music college for 6 years and received a number of awards for her outstanding teaching. Her expertise and passion have won her high recognition among students and teachers.

Jianhua Kao – ASP Coordinator & Chinese/Math Teacher
Ms. Kao has an M.A.in communication management from Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, and a B.A. in computer science and mathematics from Temple University in Philadelphia. Educating youth being her passion and enjoyment, Ms. Kao has been teaching Chinese and cultural classes in weekend Chinese schools since 1997 while working as an engineer for AT&T and other telecommunication companies. In addition, she has 4 years experience of managing weekend schools as well as a learning center.

Shijun Huang – Chinese Chess and Calligraphy Teacher
Mr. Huang received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Southeast University in China, and his Master of Architecture from University of Kansas. While being a professional architect in the U.S. for many years, he is also actively involved with the community at Huaxia Chinese School in Montgomery as the Academic Dean from 2007 to 2011. Mr. Huang enjoys many hobbies, including ping pong (table tennis), Tai Chi, calligraphy and Chinese chess, which he enthusiastically shares with students in the ASP program.

Dina Boehm – Chinese Board Games Teacher

Mrs. Boehm studied business management at Shenzhen University. She has been tutoring children in Chinese and other subjects for more than three years. She loves teaching children and is excited to teach students at YHIS how to play board games in the after school program.

Jean Yu – Mommy & Me Teacher
Ms. Yu has a master’s degree in early childhood education from the Montessori Program at Xavier University, and another master’s degree in counselor education from Indiana University.  A certified American Montessori Society teacher and experienced with working with children, Ms. Yu has been conducting Chinese story time in public libraries for many years. She is an inspired, loving home-school mom with two boys.