Principal Wong

Founder & Principal

Principal Wong has taught students from preschool through high school in China, Hong Kong, and the U.S. Her background includes roles as the founding principal, head of the Chinese program, and Chinese teacher at Wellspring International School. Previously, she worked for Yew Chung International School at its Hong Kong and Silicon Valley campuses for 13 years, serving as a teacher, head of the Chinese program, and vice principal. Before immigrating to Hong Kong, Ms. Wong taught at Jinguang Elementary School in Fujian, China.

Principal Wong holds a BA in Education from Hong Kong Baptist University and an MA in Chinese from San Francisco State University. She is currently completing her Ed.D. with the University of San Francisco.

Principal Wong

Ms. Ali

Ms. Ali is a passionate educator for children aged four to ten years old for the last eighteen years. During her ongoing journey, she has taught both American and PYP curriculums. Her portfolio of schools includes Challenger School, Raffles World Academy (Dubai) and KinderCare. She has also worked as a Science and Curriculum Coordinator during this time.

Ms. Ali completed her BSc from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan and her Preschool Supervisor’s permit from California. She is also a Positive Discipline Classroom and Parent educator. She believes students learn better when they feel safe, comfortable and connected with their environment.

Ms. Ali

Mr. Chen

Mr. Chen graduated from San Francisco State University with his master’s degree in Education, concentrating in teaching Chinese as a second language. Before coming to the United States, Mr. Chen was a certified Chinese teacher in China. He has over 18 years of experience in teaching students individually and in group classes. Mr. Chen is an experienced, self-motivated, confident, and open-minded teacher.

Mr. Chen

Ms. Chen

Ms. Chen majored in Chinese Linguistics and Literature at Hefei Normal University, and earned her master’s degree in Chinese Philology from Shanghai Normal University. Ms. Chen obtained her Chinese Teaching Certificate in 2011. Before joining Cornerstone, she taught in one of the biggest public elementary schools in Shanghai. Ms. Chen is committed to making every lesson interesting, exciting, and meaningful. In her spare time, she likes to do yoga, jog, and play badminton.

Ms. Chen

Ms. Fan

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Fan

Ms. Fu

Ms. Fu earned her bachelor's degree in Chinese Linguistics and Literature from Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang, China. She earned her master's in Second Language Teaching at California State University, East Bay. Ms. Fu aims not only to improve her students’ reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills, but also strives to motivate them to become lifelong learners.

Ms. Fu

Ms. Gan

Ms. Gan is a native of Chengdu in Sichuan, China. She earned her master's degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University. Ms. Gan is passionate about spreading Chinese language and Chinese culture to the next generation, as well as integrating Chinese traditions with modern educational theories. Her goal is to help children develop physically, socio-emotionally, and cognitively during early childhood.

Ms. Gan

Ms. Gao

Ms. Gao completed her master's degree in Foreign Language Education, specializing in teaching Chinese, at the University of Pittsburgh. Her specialty is preschool- and lower elementary-age students. Ms. Gao is a current member of The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA), University of Pittsburgh Council of Graduate Student of Education (CGSE) and the Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS).

Ms. Gao

Ms. Gong

Ms. Gong is passionate about language education. Like Cornerstone, she believes that “an individual’s happiness comes from the inner satisfaction of self-growth,” so she focuses on encouraging students to cultivate positive attitudes towards learning. She has taught Chinese language and culture in China, Thailand, and the US for all ages and levels since 2008. Most recently, she trained volunteer Chinese teachers at Xiamen University. Ms. Gong holds a Master's degree in Education from Shaanxi Normal University, China.

Ms. Gong

Ms. Han

Ms. Han is from Chongqing, China. She obtained her first master's degree in Applied Psychology from Southwest University in Chongqing, and her second master's degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Ms. Han has taught upper elementary classes since she joined Cornerstone in 2015. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and sightseeing.

Ms. Han

Ms. Lee

Ms. Lee was born in the Bay Area and raised in Malaysia. She speaks Malaysian, English, and Mandarin. She earned her Associate's Degree in Graphic Design in California. She joined Cornerstone in 2018 and finds passion and joy in her work. She has been taking Child Development courses to pursue her role as an educator. She aims to develop creativity in learning because she believes creation can enlighten a childhood. In her spare time, she loves decluttering (less is more!) and hiking.

Ms. Lee

Ms. Li

Ms. Li has two master's degrees—one in Educational Psychology from the University of Iowa, and one in Developmental Psychology from Hunan Normal University. With a strong passion for teaching language to children and six years of teaching experience in China, she is excited to help develop your child's Chinese skills at Cornerstone Learning Foundation.

Ms. Li

Ms. Liu

Ms. Liu holds a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language Education and is certified in teaching Chinese as a second language. She hails from Shandong, China, known as the birthplace of Confucius and of Chinese public education. After graduating college, Ms. Liu traveled across China and abroad to teach Mandarin before settling down in California. Ms. Liu lives in Sunnyvale with her husband and loves swimming, hiking, and reading.

Ms. Liu

Mr. Liu

Mr. Liu holds master's degrees in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL) from Saginaw Valley State Univ. in Michigan and Ming Chuan Univ. in Taiwan. He is also a member of the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA). Mr. Liu previously taught students from the U.S., Korea, Thailand, and Kazakhstan at International HAN Institute in Taipei. He likes to create an engaging environment for students and believes that it is absolutely possible for every student to become successful and confident.

Mr. Liu

Ms. Ma

Ms. Ma

Ms. Ma joined Cornerstone in Fall 2013. She sets high standards for her students, and does her utmost to help them reach such standards through her warm and caring, yet clear and firm support and guidance. Ms. Ma holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Shan Xi, China. She worked as a student affairs consultant in China before immigrating to the United States. Currently, Ms. Ma is taking child development courses in local colleges to continue learning how best to support her students.

Ms. Owyang

Administrative Assistant

Ms. Owyang

Ms. Qian

Director of Admissions

Ms. Qian

Ms. Min

Ms. Min graduated from Texas A&M University with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and joined the Cornerstone family in 2019. She holds a certificate in Chinese Language Teaching. She also has a professional background in performing arts, including dance, vocal music, piano, and music theory. She has more than 15 years of on-stage performance experience and is currently a member of a local performing arts group. She also has experience in teaching beginning piano and dancing lessons.

Ms. Min

Ms. Wang

Ms. Wang

Ms. Wang earned her Ph.D. in Control Systems Engineering at the East China University of Science and Technology. She has taught Chinese in North Carolina and the Bay Area since 2017.

Ms. Wang is passionate about helping her students develop Chinese language skills. She aims to create an engaging and encouraging class environment to foster positive learning outcomes. In her spare time, she likes painting and traveling.

Ms. Wang

Ms. Wang

Ms. Wang is a passionate educator who has been teaching Chinese as a second language since 2015. She has previously taught at the University of Oregon and at Shanghai's Soong Ching Ling School. She also worked as a debate coach.

Ms. Wang completed her master’s degree from East China Normal University. She believes in helping students grow and learn in a loving, encouraging environment. Her role as teacher is to help foster this environment so that students can develop their critical thinking and realize their full potential.

Ms. Wong

Ms. Wong is a native of the Bay Area, born and raised in Palo Alto. She attended San Francisco State Univ., graduating with a BA in Communication Studies, and then continued her studies at the Univ. of Southern California, receiving her MA in Teaching with an emphasis in Multiple Subject Education and her California Teaching Credential.

Prior to joining the community at Cornerstone Learning Foundation, Ms. Wong has had experience teaching both third and first grade in public and charter schools in San Jose, Palo Alto, and East Palo Alto. When Ms. Wong isn’t teaching, she enjoys trying new recipes, spending time with her family and friends, and taking her dog Puca out on new adventures!

Ms. Wong

Mr. Yang

Mr. Yang has been teaching Chinese at all levels in China, the UK, and the US for over twenty years. His student-centered teaching emphasizes engagement by promoting active participation and constant interaction in an encouraging and enjoyable environment.

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Mr. Yang earned his master's in Modern Chinese at Beijing Normal University and bachelor's in Chinese Language and Literature at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He is certified by China’s Department of Education to teach Chinese as a Foreign Language. Besides teaching, Mr. Yang also enjoys spending time with family, reading, listening to music, and sports.

Mr. Yang

Ms. Yang

Ms. Yang

Born and raised in Beijing, Ms. Yang’s passion for teaching Chinese as a second language was brought out early in her career. Prior to Cornerstone, she has more than 10 years of small group Chinese and piano teaching experience, targeting preschoolers and early-elementary age students. Ms. Yang holds a BA in Chinese literature and drama from Beijing Capital Normal University, and a Master's degree in fine arts from the University of Southern California. Ms. Yang believes strong and positive connections between teachers and students set the foundation of cherishing future success. 

Ms. Zhou

Ms. Zhou

Ms. Zhou believes that a loving and positive environment best facilitates learning for students. She aims at creating this environment and using it to encourage innovative thinking and active engagement. Outside of teaching, she enjoys playing the ukulele, singing, and baking.

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Ms. Zhou earned her Master's degree in Foreign and Second Language Teaching from Florida State University.