During Yue's years working in American educational institutions, she developed deep practical knowledge through teaching and managing programmes for both preschool and elementary school students. Yue's academic foundation includes a Master's degree in Bilingual and Bicultural Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, built upon a Bachelor's degree in English (International Journalism) from Communication University of China.

Forged through the global and local educational experiences, Yue’s professional journey reflects this international vision – most notably during her four-year tenure at a bilingual IB private school in Manhattan, New York City. She pioneered the English-Chinese immersion programme from the ground up, designing and teaching Mathematics, Units of Inquiry, and Chinese for K-G1 students. This hands-on experience in building an inquiry-based bilingual framework highlights both her innovative spirit and deep commitment to cross-cultural education.

Since joining the Huitong community in 2021, Yue has served as a dedicated homeroom teacher in both K and Nursery, transitioned seamlessly to become a Grade 1 homeroom and English teacher, and most recently held the position of Assistant Section Head for Grades 1-3. Aligning with Huitong's educational inspiration and academic standards, she designs an age-appropriate bridging curriculum for K-G1 students. Yue believes that the early years represent a magical and boundless window of possibility. She is committed to cultivating learning environments that deeply honour children's innate potential. Driven by her genuine passion, Yue strives to nurture each child's growth within Huitong's exceptional programmes—where creativity meets structured inspiration. She looks forward to partnering with families to discover each student's unique path to success and fulfilment.

Xin Tu is a dynamic and deeply reflective educator with over seven years of experience in both China and the U.S., including five years in teaching and leading curriculum development in international schools in Shenzhen. Holding a Master's degree from Harvard and dual certification from Massachusetts, she specialises in designing balanced curriculum frameworks that integrate structured academics with child-led inquiry and play. She embraces a strength based approach, trusting that children thrive when their natural strategies are supported by intentional teaching and responsive adult-child interaction.

Lawliet (Jia-Hui) Chen has extensive experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE). She served as a Kindergarten Chinese teacher for over two years at BASIS International School Shenzhen (Pre-school-12). Prior to that, she participated in designing and making Montessori materials at Peninsula Montessori Elementary School in Shenzhen. Lawliet is passionate about teaching children under six years old. When she was in college, she devoted herself to taking internships and collecting research data in diversified kindergartens in Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Taiwan, and Singapore. After Lawliet gained her master’s degree in ECE from the University of Hong Kong, she studied formal Montessori Education at an American Montessori Society (AMS) program. Lawliet is capable and creative in the design and preparation of fun, supportive, and educational classroom environments.

Shawn Macaulay was born and raised in South Africa and continued his studies in Asia and America. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in education with an American teaching license and QTS. He is also a qualified Cambridge oral examiner.

 

As an experienced early years, primary homeroom, and under and postgraduate teacher, Shawn is thrilled to begin a new journey at Huitong. He is dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment that promotes the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of his students. He believes in a student-centered approach, recognizing and integrating each child's unique interests and strengths into the learning process. He strives to create engaging and interactive lessons that encourage active participation and critical thinking by incorporating a range of teaching strategies, including project-based learning, cooperative learning, and technology integration, to make learning enjoyable and meaningful for his students.

 

Creating a supportive classroom community is one of the core pillars of Shawn's teaching philosophy. He prioritizes building strong relationships with his students, their families, and colleagues because he believes that a collaborative partnership is essential for student success. He works towards creating a safe and respectful environment where students feel valued, empowered, and motivated to take risks on their learning journey. By promoting open communication and fostering a sense of belonging, he aims to create a classroom where all students can thrive academically and personally.

Matt Toy grew up in the South West of the UK and came to China in 2006.  He has spent many years working with young children in a variety of contexts, most recently working for seven years as a homeroom teacher at Bromsgrove School Mission Hills.  He holds a bachelors degree in computing, a post graduate certificate in education and is currently working towards a US teaching licence.  Matt has a passion for encouraging children to follow their interests, allowing them to take risks and learn from their successes and mistakes, enabling them to ‘connect the dots’ in their understanding of the world around them.  He loves to bring his creativity and passion for music and movement into the school environment, allowing children to learn in an authentic and holistic manner.

Originally from Qinghai, Mengmeng was raised in Shenzhen. After studying psychology for one year at South China Normal University, she transferred to Kansas State University in the United States. Later, Mengmeng joined the psychology program at George Mason University as a doctoral student on a full scholarship. Before joining Whittle School & Studios, she used to volunteer at Head Start in the US and conducted development assessment work for 2-6 year old children in a Shenzhen international kindergarten. Additionally, together with her husband, she co-founded the Libai International Foundation, which is devoted to the dissemination and communication of Chinese culture. Mengmeng has also organized many art exhibitions and business investment forums under the “Belt and Road” initiative. From her multicultural working experience, she is a firm believer in Whittle School & Studios’ vision for a modern, personalized global education.

Khloe Li is a registered ECE teacher in New Zealand and has lived there for 13 years since secondary school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from the University of Auckland, a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE), and a full teaching license. She is currently pursuing Harvard University's Certificate in Early Education Leadership (CEEL).

Prior to joining Huitong, Khloe worked as a classroom coordinator at a leading Reggio Emilia-inspired centre in Auckland, New Zealand, where she taught children from diverse backgrounds. During her tenure at Huitong, she participated in the planning and curriculum design of the Dali Summer Camp programme.

With years of international teaching experience, her practice is deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and project-based learning (PBL) within a holistic curriculum framework. As a teacher, Khloe believes that children are competent and capable learners and communicators. She embraces the role of a co-learner, working alongside children to scaffold and support their learning journey.

Ms. Bella holds a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Pshychology from Dickinson College. During her study abroad, Ms. Bella has interned and taught in public kindergartens in the United States and many Reggio centers in Sydney, Australia. Ms. Bella's diversified learning and working exeriences has given her a deepen understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach and accumulated teaching experience spanning classes from 0 to 5 years old. Ms. Bella believes that every child is a strong, capable and resilient individual.

Ivy Hung is an experienced early childhood education practitioner and researcher with over two decades of experience in the field. Since 2003, she has been deeply involved in both the study and practice of education. Ivy earned her bachelor’s degree in preschool and primary education from Ningbo University and later completed her master’s degree in the UK. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral degree in Education at the University of Nottingham, with a focus on glocalized school-based curriculum development.

Throughout her career, Ivy has worked in a variety of educational settings, including international, bilingual, and public schools. She has been exposed to and implemented various educational systems such as the IB framework, the Montessori method (she is AMI trained), the Chinese National Curriculum, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and the Positive Discipline Approach. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in the establishment and growth of four prominent K-12 schools, serving as a founding class teacher, curriculum representative, and foundling Kindergarten principal.

Ivy views herself as a lifelong learner, constantly seeking to expand her knowledge and refine her practice. Her ongoing education at the University of Nottingham provides her with robust theoretical foundations in curriculum and pedagogy, which she applies to her work. She firmly believes that "Education Happens Anywhere Anytime,"  and this philosophy drives her commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Claudie Li holds a Bachelor's degree in Preschool Education from Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai) and a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University, USA. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in academic exchange programmes in Singapore and Taiwan. She is certified as a National Psychological Counselor and holds qualifications as a Child Nutritionist.

With nearly a decade of experience in international early childhood education, Claudie possesses extensive practical knowledge and a deep understanding of the HighScope curriculum, the Project Approach, and the Reggio Emilia philosophy.

 Claudie is dedicated to integrating international educational philosophies with Chinese cultural context. She believes in the power of multiculturalism and respects the uniqueness of each child. She strives to create meaningful learning experiences based on children's interests, aiming to help them become more capable, intrinsically motivated lifelong learners.

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Zach has been teaching in China for over 7 years. A graduate of Whittier College, Zach majored in Economics and Chinese. It was originally his interest in continuing to learn Chinese that brought him to China, before realizing his true calling was in education.

 

After working at an international kindergarten in Shanghai incorporating a “Learn through Play” approach, that experience ignited his passion for teaching the early childhood years.

 

Zach believes in fostering confidence in each and every student and strives to have a classroom encouraging exploration and creativity through an abundance of hands on activities and experiences both inside and outside the classroom.

Arora Zhu graduated from Xi’an Jiaotong-liverpool University with a bachelor's degree in Foreign language and Literature. She also has a master's degree in education from the University College London (UCL). Her main research direction is early childhood education psychology and in-depth comparative research on the teaching methods of early childhood education in various countries. How to combine the advanced pedagogy of early childhood education with Chinese traditional culture is the key concept she pays more attention to in her teaching process. Before joining Whittle School&Studios, Arora worked for several different kindergartens in London and Shanghai, which has given her turn what she learned into practice and accumulated rich teaching experience in practice. She believes that Whittle provides a comfortable, natural and open working space for children, where children can freely explore, discover the unknown and get enlightenment. She is willing to be the follower and observer of children's exploring the world.

Nancy Huang studied in the United States for ten years. She graduated from Miami University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and obtained an Ohio 4 Year Resident Educator Early Childhood (P-3) Licence. She then studied Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University, earning her Master of Arts degree. Over the years, she has gained extensive teaching experience in Chongqing, Ohio and New York. Prior to joining Huitong School, she provided Mandarin immersion teaching for children in kindergarten and foundation classes at Reade Street Prep in New York. Nancy is fascinated by multicultural and inclusive education, and believes that every child is unique and has an innate ability to learn in their own way. She aims to stimulate children’s curiosity and creativity through hands-on, play-based activities to help them develop in a multitude of areas. Furthermore, she always employs culturally responsive teaching and differentiated instruction to support each child’s individual learning and developmental needs. She wants to be a friend to the children and to learn and grow alongside them!

Ms. Gaga holds a PhD in Education, specializing in Children’s Health and Sports Medicine, an MA in Physical Education, and an MA in Business and Innovation Management. She possesses over 10 years of teaching experience, including roles in both international and Chinese schools. After leaving her position as a junior university professor, Gaga has resided and worked in China for the past nine years, instructing children aged 3 months and older. She has collaborated closely with parents, offering guidance and contributing to children's improvement. Gaga is also the author of a parenting handbook that has been published internationally and in China. Furthermore, Ms. Gaga is a certified swimming coach and soccer referee, in addition to holding AMI 0-3 Assistant and TESOL certificates. She is fluent in five languages, including Chinese.

Cecilia Yang holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Hong Kong, and acquired bachelor's degree in psychology as an undergraduate. She is a passionate early childhood teacher with nearly 10 years of hands-on experience in facilitating young children’s development, especially those aged from birth to 6. She used to work as a co-researcher in the ECE field in a Hong Kong & Shenzhen Knowledge Building Forum. She respects children’s autonomy and advocates child-centered learning as she believes that each child is a unique thinker with great potential. In Huitong, She will put Reggio Emilia into practice and encourage children to maintain curiosity toward the world and support them to become a future citizen with inner learning motivation.

Ivy Huang is an experienced practitioner and researcher in early childhood education who has studied and worked in education since 2003. She graduated from Ningbo University majoring in preschool and primary education and accomplished her Master's degree in the UK. Now she is pursuing her doctoral degree in Education at the University of Nottingham researching in glocalized school-based curriculum.

Ivy worked in different types of schools involving international schools, bilingual schools, and public schools, and experienced various educational systems such as the IB curriculum, the Montessori method (trained in AMI), the Reggio Emilia approach, the Chinese National Curriculum, the early years foundation stage (EYFS), and the positive discipline.