Jing Educators Award 2020: Kindergarten Educators

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Following the 2020 Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) in October last year, which brought together more than 70 schools, daycares, and educational centers, we’d like to acknowledge the people who make those schools and institutions truly great. Many of Beijing’s esteemed international schools submitted their nominations for the Jing Educators Award 2020, celebrating those who dedicate themselves to education, create innovative learning experiences, and maintain outstanding environments for our kids to study in. In this #JingEdAwards series, we’ll share these committed individuals and why they were nominated.

Name: Maria Cordelia "Odie" Oliver
Position: Nursery Teacher
School: 3e International School

Odie has years of experience in the education field. After a short stint in government service and in a UN population project, she entered the realm of education, helping children with special needs to live happy, independent lives. From then on, teaching became both a career and a calling. Odie holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, both from the University of Nueva Caceres. She completed all academic requirements for an M.A. in special education at the University of the Philippines. She also holds a Certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard University.

She got her first peek into international education at one of the most prestigious International Baccalaureate schools in Manila. Teaching in the early learning center as well as in the lower and middle schools opened her eyes to the beauty and rewards of developing young minds into their fullest potential. She has now been teaching at 3e International School for nine years. She was a nursery school English teacher for seven years and a younger and older pre-kindergarten teacher for two years. For Odie, teaching the youngest of learners is a dream come true because they are at their most malleable stage. Her more than twenty years experience as an educator plus her passion for teaching have resulted in an amazing rapport with students and parents.

Name: Kitty Zhang 张翘楚
Position: Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
School: Beijing Enlighten School

Kitty graduated from Beijing Language and Culture University, majoring in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. She has completed postgraduate studies in psychology at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Kitty has more than 12 years of experience as a homeroom teacher, trainer, and lead teacher at a well-known international kindergarten in Beijing. She led the kindergarten’s International Curriculum Organization evaluation and achieved outstanding results. Kitty has also worked as an interpreter for foreign experts in curriculum training in China.

Over her years of teaching, Kitty has developed a professional approach and a wealth of experience in the fields of school readiness and children’s education. Her training and management experience have also given her excellent coordination and leadership skills. She frequently conducts teacher trainings and has led a team of teachers to continuously improve their professional competence in education. Kitty often provides practical and professional parenting advice to parents through workshops and conferences.

Name: Subi Li 李琴秀
Position: Kindergarten Teacher
School: Brilliant International School

Subi graduated from the Minzu University of China and majored in Art Education. She has more than 15 years of working experience in kindergartens and now works for Brilliant International School. Subi always inspires kids to explore by themselves and she likes to observe and encourage them to show the best of themselves. Subi loves kids and respects them. She is the most popular teacher in BIS and loved by kids and parents.

Name: Jean-Pierre Taute
Position: Lead Teacher
School: Etonkids International Kindergartens

Jean-Pierre attended the North-West University of Potchefstroom in South Africa, where he studied marketing and tourism management. After he graduated, he first went to work in hospitality on Mabalingwe Nature Reserve. Two years later, he came to China, where he started at Etonkids as an English specialist. After two and a half years of outstanding experience, he became a lead teacher and has now been a lead teacher for a further two and a half years.

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Name: Dong Shuang 董爽
Position: Lead Teacher / Teaching Supervisor
School: Kidtopia

Shuang holds a master’s degree in regional economy from the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northeast Normal University. During her doctoral study, she chose Montessori education for her child and was deeply impressed by its scientific and systematic nature, respect for children’s lives, and effective education. As a result, she chose to pursue a career in early childhood education. During her nine years of teaching, she has always followed the Montessori education philosophy and has obtained professional training from the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). As a member of Kidtopia’s teaching and research team, she is committed to guiding the teachers in devoting themselves to teaching, continuously improving their teaching quality, and popularizing scientific parenting concepts.

Name: Gao Tingting 高婷婷
Position: IC Class Lead Teacher
School: Kidtopia

Tingting majored in preschool education at Beijing Normal University. She is the founder of the Green House of Beijing Kidtopia Montessori Kindergarten, IC class lead teacher, instructor of positive parenting, and the mother of a seven-year-old child. She is deeply engaged with the Montessori education philosophy and, over the years, has helped more than a thousand families with scientific parenting methods and provides appropriate guidance and solutions according to different stages of childhood development. She has held lectures on various parenting topics so that more families can enact scientific Montessori parenting concepts. She has also conducted family environment guidance and designed parent-child activity courses.

Name: Jojo Zhou 周洁
Position: Member of the Management Team / Teacher
School: Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy

Jojo graduated from Yangzhou University, majoring in teaching Chinese as a second language. After graduating, based on her passion for promoting Chinese language and culture, she went to the US and taught Chinese at kindergartens and elementary schools for almost two years. In the summer of 2015, she returned to China and joined Kids ‘R’ Kids as a member of the founding team. In just over five years, she has grown from a front-line teacher into an outstanding member of the management team, setting an example of dedication and professionalism for others. She was also named one of the “2020 Top Ten Touching KRK Figures.” As the most experienced front-line teacher at Kids ‘R’ Kids and as a bilingual, multicultural international citizen, she continues to contribute to the school, to Kids ‘R’ Kids as a brand, and to the early childhood education industry as a whole.

Name: Candy Tang 唐迎
Position: Teacher
School: Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy

Candy graduated from Capital Normal University, majoring in early childhood education. She decided to become a kindergarten teacher early on in her career. With more than 13 years of experience since 2007, she has worked at many different kinds of kindergartens, from traditional Chinese to Montessori to bilingual international kindergartens. Growing through new challenges and adventures, Candy has won many awards for her outstanding performance. She is fully committed to improving the life of every child.

Name: Cici Xiong 熊聪聪
Position: Teacher
School: Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy

Cici graduated from Jiaozuo Normal College, majoring in early childhood education. Thanks to her dedication and hard work, in just over four years at Kids ‘R’ Kids, she grew from a regular assistant teacher to an outstanding lead teacher, gaining popularity among her students, recognition from parents, and admiration from her peers. She was also named one of the ‘2020 Top Ten Touching KRK Figures.” While trying hard to improve her English, she continues to advance her education and has received training to be a kindergarten director. A perfect example of “staying true to your heart,” she aims to be a positive influence on the children with her positive energy.

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Images courtesy of the schools

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