Meet the Teacher

My academic background and professional experience have provided me with insight into what current K-12 students are learning in school and what they need to thrive beyond it.

Education & Background:

• BA in Global Studies, College of William & Mary

• As a Global Studies major, I had a robust interdisciplinary education, where my schedule was always filled with classes in history, sociology, anthropology, English, psychology, and government.

• American-Born Chinese/Mongolian, fluent in spoken Mandarin

Qualifications:

My journey as an educator began at Chantilly High School, where I was a Writing Center tutor—and later an executive board member—for the entirety of my time in high school. I have been a private tutor for 10+ years, and I've also held the following roles:

• Remote Academic Coach at Cardinal Education Burlingame (2020), where I helped students applying to private middle and high schools prepare for their assessments and admissions process;

• Literacy tutor volunteer at Williamsburg non-profit Literacy for Life (2022-23), where I tutored low-income ESL adults in English, GED testing, and more; and

• William & Mary Office of Undergraduate Admissions Senior Interviewer and Office Intern (2023-24), where I conducted over 200 interviews with prospective students and acquired behind-the-scenes knowledge about the college admissions process through working with W&M Admissions Deans on a daily basis.

Currently, I am a Fairfax County Public Schools guest teacher as well as a:

• College Essay Consultant and Editor for a college admissions counseling firm (since 2021), where I assist with students during their college application essay brainstorming process and help edit/polish their essays; and

• Public Speaking and ACT Reading/Writing teacher at a local academy (2025), where I teach a class of 10+ students how to become great public speakers and a group of high schoolers reading skills and timed-test strategies, respectively.

I have extensive experience with:

• K-12 learners, English language learners, international students, and first-generation college applicants

• Researching education trends and student needs in public schools, including Title I

• Fairfax County Public Schools curriculum as a former FCPS student and current teacher

Working with me will help students:

• Finish academic essays or creative pieces within a set timeframe

• Build strong, practical writing skills such as style and syntax

• Organize and express their thoughts clearly and effectively in both speech and writing

• Develop time-management and executive functioning skills

• Analyze literature, non-fiction texts, historical sources, and media sources with scrutiny and purpose

• Write organized and original essays even under the pressure of time

• Evaluate and edit their own work with intention

• Prepare efficiently for presentations, speeches, discussions, or even interviews

• Learn to question everything they read/see and develop their own opinions on complex topics, even on social media

• Gain the confidence and necessary skills to craft strong college applications that stand out from the crowd

• Connect academic learning to real-life academic, professional, or social situations
  

I do believe that schools provide essential academic instruction; however, one-on-one coaching offers valuable space for students to slow down, ask questions, explore concepts more deeply, and attain knowledge far beyond just what they learn in school. The individualized support that I provide ensures that students not only excel in class, but they are also grow into independent and thoughtful people who approach the world with curiosity and a thirst for learning. With one-on-one coaching, students can:

1. Receive consistent, personalized feedback: I value constant communication and frequent check-ins with students about their goals and progress. I also communicate regularly with parents or guardians to provide feedback and track students’ progress, and I am always happy to hop on a phone call or stay a little longer after a session to chat!

2. Build confidence in a low-stress space: Although large classroom settings and group classes encourage collaborative learning, some students also need quieter, more low-key environments where they can ask as many questions as they need to and learn to be confident in their thinking without any pressure.

3. Learn and master concepts at their own pace: I never expect my students to grasp every single concept right away. Instead, I make sure that they never feel embarrassed to express their confusion about challenging topics. I give my students plenty of space to figure things out and develop ideas on their own instead of repeating what their classmates have said.

4. Close learning gaps and make up for the pandemic learning loss: Teachers, students, and families are still feeling the 2020 pandemic’s negative impact on education. Research shows that even after five years, the huge learning loss for reading and writing during the pandemic still hasn’t been fully recovered. In fact, the National Assessment of Educational Progress’s report from 2024 shows that the reading achievement gap has actually widened. Individualized support will help refresh foundational skills and knowledge so that students can move forward with confidence.

5. Prepare for their futures: One of my priorities will working one-on-one with students is helping them develop long-term goals and establish the knowledge, skills, and habits they’ll need for academic success and emotional fulfillment in the future.

As a lifelong learner, I understand that education is never just about grades or tangible achievements; it’s about building confidence in one’s abilities and developing a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. I view teaching and learning as a liberatory practice: one that empowers young people to think critically and empathetically, express themselves with boldness and clarity, and live with confidence in themselves and a genuine care for others.

As an educator, my priority is my students’ intellectual and emotional well-being. Every student’s context matters and plays a huge role in how they navigate the world. I wholeheartedly believe in forming genuine connections with my students and understanding them as whole people.

My approach is deeply grounded in community and care. Every student deserves to feel seen, challenged, and supported throughout their education journey.