Third Grade Teachers

I was born and raised in San Francisco and am a product of SFUSD’s public school system. I attended Miraloma Elementary, Aptos Middle, and Lowell High. Growing up with immigrant parents meant learning Chinese was not optional for me. My sisters and I were expected to know English but also master Chinese. My parents relied on us to be their translators because they did not speak or read English, so the only language allowed to be spoken at home was Chinese. Learning Chinese seemed like a chore when I was young, but as I got older, I felt accomplished for knowing another language. In high school, I took Mandarin Chinese because I wanted to understand the main dialect spoken in China. My interest in learning Chinese grew as I went on to college majoring in Chinese. I am fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

I have been volunteering and student teaching at CIS since 2011 and am very excited to OFFICIALLY be a part of this great family!

Hi! My name is Mei-Yi Yu (AKA Yau Lo Si), and I am very excited to return to the CIS Family! 

I have been with SFUSD since 1995 and had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the team that founded Chinese Immersion School at De Avila in 2009. Throughout my 20+ years in education, I have taught students from kindergarten through 5th grade in Chinese bilingual, ELD, Chinese immersion, and STEAM classes. After taking a sabbatical, I joined the Multilingual Pathways Department to support the K-12 Chinese language programs in our district. I enjoyed collaborating with many teachers across the district, but I missed the children and the action in the classroom. Therefore, when the opportunity arose, I decided to return to the one place that makes me the happiest – working and learning with children in the classroom!  

I was born and raised in Taiwan and immigrated with my parents to the U.S. to attend high school. Growing up speaking only Mandarin, I had to learn both Cantonese and English after settling in San Francisco. As a multi-language learner, I understand the challenges and can identify with our students who are learning new languages. My goal is to create a safe and fun learning environment for all students!

During my spare time, I enjoy watching K-dramas, hanging out and trying different restaurants with friends, and playing Pokémon Go!

Hello everyone! My name is Ellen Hong. I am very excited to be part of the CIS family! I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and learning Chinese and English is the foundation of my education. I enjoy being a bilingual learner because it allows me to communicate better and explore different cultures. In addition, being bilingual keeps me thinking fast about switching between languages and increases my vocabulary. As a mother of two kids, I encourage my children to learn Chinese, especially when speaking Cantonese. I hope they can understand not only the language but also our culture.

I have taught in Hong Kong and San Francisco for over twenty years. Throughout my different teaching experiences, from preschool to fifth grade, I have admired the art of teaching, which is the art of assisting discovery. Seeing my students overcome their struggles and reach their full potential brings me great joy. Teaching young minds is challenging but rewarding. My goal is to keep my students motivated and engaged in learning so that they will be lifelong learners with grateful hearts.

I enjoy practicing yoga, playing board games, and watching movies in my spare time. During our time together, my students will have chances to do these fun activities with me.