Educators & Support
Our Instructional Team
At Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy, we're not just building classrooms—we're shaping futures with a team that's as passionate as it is pioneering. Our educators aren't simply teachers; they are mentors, champions of curiosity, and architects of your child's success.
What truly sets our team apart is their relentless dedication to crafting a vibrant and immersive learning experience. Here, education goes beyond textbooks. Our teachers weave language mastery, cultural richness, and holistic growth into every lesson, ensuring that your child doesn’t just learn—they flourish. With innovative teaching strategies and the latest educational tools, we make learning an adventure that’s both engaging and impactful.
When you join us at ICIA, you're choosing a path where our immersion model and extraordinary team create a transformative educational journey. Together, we’ll help your child unlock a world of possibilities, one inspired step at a time.
-
Liz Hsueh
CLA, Kindergarten University of Illinois Chicago -
Tiffany Lien
CLA, Kindergarten CSUF -
Becca Du
CLA, Kindergarten Chapman University -
Ziou Chen
CLA, Kindergarten UCSB -
Stephanie Chou
CLA, Kindergarten UCI -
Kelley Goodale
ELA, Kindergarten CSUF -
Ingrid Yiu
CLA, Kindergarten UCLA -
XiaoXiao Zhang
CLA, Kindergarten CSULB -
Priscilla Chen
ELA, Grades K-1 UCI, CSUF -
Mi Zhou
CLA, Grade 1 NYU -
Yiwei Lian
CLA, Grade 1 UCONN -
Peiyao Wang
CLA, Grade 1 Pepperdine University -
Hathaway Xu
CLA, Grade 1 Boston University -
Olivia Yu
CLA, Grade 1 USC -
Suzanne Suitor
ELA, Grade 1 BYU -
Aliie Chen
CLA, Grade 2 UCSD -
Helen Lai
ELA & CLA, Grade 2 UCD -
Rebecca Bao
CLA & ELA, Grade 2 CSUF -
Gouran Zhang
CLA, Grade 2 UCLA, Pepperdine -
9 Years of Classroom Teaching
Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Psychology, University of California, Irvine
Master of Arts in Teaching, University of California, Irvine
With her background in understanding how students think and learn, Ms. Huynh is dedicated to creating thoughtful, engaging lessons that support academic growth and foster confidence. She strives to build a positive classroom environment where students feel challenged, supported, and motivated to reach their full potential.

-
As a first year teacher, Ms. Hsiao is excited to begin her teaching journey at ICIA.
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, University of California, Santa Barbara
Master of Arts in Teaching, Multiple Subject and Special Education Concentration, University of Southern California
Ms. Hsiao has experience teaching across a wide range of grade levels, from Kindergarten through 7th grade. She has a specialized background in Special Education, having worked in self-contained Special Day Classes (SDC) and delivered targeted interventions aligned with Individual Education Program (IEP) goals. Outside of the classroom, she has also coached for girls basketball team, where she focused on communication and inclusive coaching techniques.
 Hsiao_1773769609.jpg)
-
2 Years of Classroom Teaching
Master of Education in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship, Harvard University
Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education (Educating Multilingual Learners), Arizona State University
Ms. Wang is dedicated to creating an inclusive, student-centered learning environment where every child feels supported, empowered, and inspired to grow academically and personally.
_1772564701.jpeg)
-
16 Years of Classroom Teaching
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), San Francisco State University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Music, Concordia University Irvine
Ms. Ma is a National Board Certified Teacher and has taught students from preschool through fourth grade. She has also served as a summer camp director, further demonstrating her commitment to nurturing and guiding young learners. Ms. Ma loves teaching English, social studies, and music, and she is dedicated to making third grade a joyful, engaging, and truly memorable year for her students.
-
15 Years of Classroom Teaching
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Southern California
Bachelors of Arts in English Language Arts, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
GATE Certificated
Ms. Tan values strong partnerships with families and colleagues and is dedicated to nurturing the whole child. She considers it a privilege to guide students as they grow into thoughtful, capable, and compassionate learners. She designs meaningful interdisciplinary learning experiences that connect language, inquiry, creativity, and real-world application, helping students build strong academic foundations, a lasting love of learning, and the skills to thrive as global citizens.

-
As a first year teacher, Ms. Allan is excited to begin her teaching journey at ICIA.
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, California State University, San Bernardino
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, California State University Fullerton
GATE Certificated
Ms. Allan served as a student teacher and substitute teacher for three years in the Irvine Unified School District, where she developed her skills in supporting diverse learners and creating engaging classroom environments. She looks forward to fostering a welcoming, supportive space where students feel confident, valued, and excited to learn each day. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Allan enjoys ballet, exploring fashion and thrifting, reading science fiction, cats, and playing video games.
-
8 Years of Classroom Teaching
Master of Arts in Educational Technology, California State University, Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, University of California, Los Angeles
GATE Certificated
Ms. Situ creates engaging and meaningful learning experiences that support student growth and curiosity. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling to new places and discovering new matcha spots, bringing her sense of exploration and enthusiasm into her teaching each day.

-
7 Years in Classroom Teaching
Master of Arts in Education, Claremont Graduate University
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Creative Writing, Pitzer College
GATE, ELD, and STEAM certified
In addition to his classroom experience, he has served as a camp counselor, ultimate frisbee coach, and tutor, and he enjoys creating educational, kid-friendly music “Lim Music” to make learning engaging and fun. He is dedicated to building a positive classroom community where students feel inspired, supported, and excited to learn each day.

-
Na Bai
CLA, TK University of Pacific -
Phebe Lo
CLA, TK Cal Poly Pomona -
Maggie Yiu
CLA, TK Jessup University -
Yan Zhang
CLA, TK Shenyang Normal University -
Julie Fong
Art Teacher UCSD -
Jordan Sparks
Music Teacher CBU -
Nikki Sibucao
STEAM Teacher CSUF -
Johnny Huynh
PE Teacher CSULB
Leadership
-
Estefania Castro
Head of Operations UCI, APU, USC -
Candy Lin-Huang
TOSA LMU, USC -
Carin Truong
Special Education Coordinator Concordia University, CSUF, National University -
Celine Chang
Instructional Coach and Curriculum Coordinator UCLA -
Dr. Benson Kwok
Executive Director APU, USC
Student Support Services
-
Jasmine Balladares
Counselor Chapman University -
Michelle Dominguez
Library Tech Long Beach College -
Whitney Gonzalez
Health Assistant CSN, UNLV -
Laura Oliveros & Andrea Segura
Nutrition Service Coordinators CSUF -
Alieska Ruiz
Health Assistant CSULB -
Charlotte Tu
After School Program Coordinator UCI -
Helen Wu
SLP CSUF
Front Office
-
Nicole Lam
Office Assistant UCI -
Maria Loera
Attendance Clerk CSULA -
Maribel Paz
School Community Coordinator CBU -
Olivia Shih
Office Assistant Emerson College
Support Staff
-
Owen Chavez
Custodian CSUF -
Irvine Garcia
Custodian -
Jose Ramirez
Custodian -
Micah Vinh
Technology Services Intern CSUF -
Joseph Wong
HR Tech UCLA
Instructional Aides
-
Luhan Cao
Afterschool Aide Saddleback College -
Evelyn Castro
Campus Monitor/Afterschool Aide CSULB -
Elizabeth Chae
Afterschool Aide Biola University -
Jennifer Chu
Art Instructional Aide Shanghai Theatre Academy -
Saul Diaz
Afterschool Aide -
Kyle Donaldson
Afterschool Aide SJSU -
Anastasiia Dovhal
Mandarin Instructional Aide CSULB -
Ryan Ehara
Campus Monitor/Afterschool Aide UCI -
Jaden Fong
Campus Monitor/Afterschool Aide Cal Poly Pomona -
Grace Huang
Music Instructional Aide Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Westcliff University -
Vivian Jiang
Mandarin Instuctional Aide NAU, Chapman University -
Cassie Kao
Mandarin Instructional Aide Concordia University Irvine, UCR -
Alice Liao
Mandarin Instructional Aide CSUF -
Weina Li
Mandarin Instructional Aide Inha University, CSULB -
Emily Liu
Mandarin Instructional Aide BNU, ECNU, UCLA -
Jasmine Liu
Mandarin Instructional Aide University of Houston -
Monica Mejia
Instructional Aide UMass Global -
Anthony Suazo
Afterschool Aide CSUF -
Sirena Sun
Mandarin Instructional Aide UCI, LMU -
Zoe Sun
Mandarin Instructional Aide JWU, FIU -
Sophia Wang
Mandarin Instructional Aide SISU -
Xinyun Wang
Mandarin Instructional Aide USC -
Silvie Wong
Mandarin Instructional Aide -
Sherry Xu
Mandarin Instructional Aide -
Jaqueline Zambrano
Campus Monitor Lead CSUF -
Jen Zeng
Mandarin Instructional Aide Saint Louis University -
Kelly Zhang
Mandarin Instructional Aide -
Vickie Zhang
Mandarin Instructional Aide CSULA, HIU
