Our Staff
Campus Director
Ryan Cardwell
Ryan Cardwell is the campus director of Ivy Academy and comes from British Columbia in Canada. This is his sixth year at Ivy Academy. Ryan has been working with children for over 10 years in both recreational and educational settings. Previously, Ryan worked as a teacher in private schools in Beijing and in Vancouver, Canada, as well as after–school centers as a special needs aide. Before coming to Beijing, Ryan was active in social outreach programs, working with a non-profit organization that provides financial aid to Central America, as well as educational and social assistance to new immigrants.
Ryan was educated at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where he studied Physical Education, History and Asian Studies. He also has a certificate in Multiple Intelligence from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Ryan was educated at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where he studied Physical Education, History and Asian Studies. He also has a certificate in Multiple Intelligence from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Administration
Tracy Tao （陶宁）
Tracy Tao is the office manager at Ivy Academy and is responsible for administrative and admissions duties. Previously, she had worked at Raffles Hotel in Beijing as an administrator. She enjoys traveling in her spare time.
Tracy received her Bachelor's degree in English literature from Beijing International Studies University.
Tracy received her Bachelor's degree in English literature from Beijing International Studies University.
Jodiee Zhu （朱玎玎）
Jodiee Zhu is the office assistant of Ivy Academy. She has worked as an English instructor at FasTracKids before jioned in Ivy. In her spare time, she likes reading and playing badminton.
Jodiee graduated from Kede college of Capital Normal University with English major.
Jodiee graduated from Kede college of Capital Normal University with English major.
Jinghong Shi （石敬红）
Jinghong Shi is the school nurse at Ivy Academy and has been with us for over five years. Before joining us she worked at Number One Kindergarten for over 2 years.
Dr. Shi received her Nurse's Certification from Chaoyang District Nursing College in 1994.
Dr. Shi received her Nurse's Certification from Chaoyang District Nursing College in 1994.
Nursery
Rebecca Zhang
Rebecca Zhang (Becky) is the English lead teacher in our Nursery class and joined us from Sydney Australia five years ago. She has worked in Pre-Kindergartens and Kindergartens for the past seven years both in Australia and in China. Previously, Becky had also taught English as a Foreign Language at both International and local kindergartens.
Becky holds a Bachelor's degree from Sydney University and an advanced TAFE certification in Early Childhood Education. She has also received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Becky holds a Bachelor's degree from Sydney University and an advanced TAFE certification in Early Childhood Education. She has also received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Sherry Tang
Sherry Tang is the English assistant teacher in our Nursery class and she has been living in Beijing since 2002. Previously, she had taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Denver, Colorado for two years providing ESL instruction to children from kindergarten to sixth grade in interactive and small group settings. Sherry later taught first and second grades in Cupertino, California and worked with students from diverse backgrounds.
Sherry holds a B.A. in Japanese Studies and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She had also earned her post-graduate certification in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction from the same university. Sherry is trained in the implementation of Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory in the classroom and has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Sherry holds a B.A. in Japanese Studies and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She had also earned her post-graduate certification in English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction from the same university. Sherry is trained in the implementation of Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory in the classroom and has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Lili Jiang （蒋丽丽）
Lili Jiang is the Chinese assistant teacher in Nursery class and she joined us in 2007. Previously, she worked at several bilingual kindergartens in Guangzhou and Beijing for four years. Lili loves children and is especially interested in early childhood education. In her spare time, Lili enjoys playing and listening to music, dancing and traveling.
Lili graduated from Hebei Normal University and received training in the Orff approach to understanding music.
Lili graduated from Hebei Normal University and received training in the Orff approach to understanding music.
Pre-K 202
Lisa Perdomenico （Sha Li）
Lisa Perdomenico is the English lead teacher in our Pre-K 202 class and comes from Boston. She has been teaching pre-school for almost 15 years. Previously, Lisa had facilitated a wide range of workshops for teachers and parents, and is also the author of two science recipe books for children. She had also hosted exhibitions of young children's art at the prestigious Cambridge Science Festival.
Lisa graduated with an M.A. from Wheelock College majoring in Early Childhood.
Lisa graduated with an M.A. from Wheelock College majoring in Early Childhood.
Sylvia Yeung
Sylvia Yeung is the English assistant teacher of our Pre-K 202 class. Previously, she had worked as an English Teacher at Fastrackids in Beijing. Sylvia enjoys traveling, basketball and bowling, as well as singing and dancing.
Sylvia received her M.A. in Early Years Education from The University of Manchester and B.A. in Economic and Social Studies from Institute of Education, University of London.
Sylvia received her M.A. in Early Years Education from The University of Manchester and B.A. in Economic and Social Studies from Institute of Education, University of London.
Sophia Zhang （张玉婷）
Sophia Zhang is the Chinese assistant teacher of our Pre-K 202 class and she joined Ivy Academy in 2010. She loves children and has a great passion in early childhood education. In her spare time, Sophia enjoys singing, dancing, drawing and cooking.
Sophia received her Bachelor's degree and Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Teacher's College of Beijing Union University.
Sophia received her Bachelor's degree and Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Teacher's College of Beijing Union University.
Pre-K 203
Leigh Jansson
Leigh Jansson is the English lead teacher in our Pre-K 203 class and she joined us in 2010. Leigh has over 15 years of experience in early education, 5 of which she was involved in developing teachers and MI-based curriculum. Leigh enjoys theatre, poetry, camping, and a cappella music. She also likes traveling, learning to speak Mandarin, and playing the harmonica.
Leigh received her Master's degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education and her B.S. from Northwestern University.
Leigh received her Master's degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education and her B.S. from Northwestern University.
Juliana Saehrig
Juliana S. Saehrig is the English assistant teacher in our Pre-K 203 class. She has more than 4 years of experience in education. Before jioned in Ivy, she had worked as an English Teacher at Web International English in Nantong. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, playing lacrosse, traveling, as well as learning to speak Mandarin.
Juliana graduated from University of Denver.
Juliana graduated from University of Denver.
Hana Wu （吴秀花）
Hana Wu is the Chinese assistant teacher in our pre-k 203 class and she joined Ivy Academy in 2006. She loves children and has a great passion in early childhood education. Previously, she had taught English as a foreign language to children from elementary to high schools.
Hana holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature Studies from Beijing Normal University. She has also been certified as a Kindermusik educator and has been leading Kindermusik classes in both international and local kindergartens. Hana is trained in the implementation of Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory in the classroom and has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Hana holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature Studies from Beijing Normal University. She has also been certified as a Kindermusik educator and has been leading Kindermusik classes in both international and local kindergartens. Hana is trained in the implementation of Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory in the classroom and has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Kindergarten
Jeff Sanders
Jeff Sanders is the English lead teacher in our Kindergarten class and he first joined Ivy Academy five years ago. He has over 24 years of teaching experience at international schools around the world, including Japan and Germany. Jeff's interests include reading, watching and playing sports, as well as traveling.
Jeff graduated from Oregon College of Education. He also holds a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Jeff graduated from Oregon College of Education. He also holds a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Phoebe Teng （滕孟凝）
Phoebe Teng is the Chinese assistant teacher in our Kindergarten class. She has over more than 5 years of experience in education. Before jioned in Ivy, she had worked as an English Teacher at Hellerup Language School, Denmark and Beijing Xicheng Foreign Languages School. In her spare time, she adores reading romantic story and also travelling over the world which gives her colorful and multi-cultural experiences.
Phoebe received her M.A. in Education from Flinders University.
Phoebe received her M.A. in Education from Flinders University.
Specialty Teachers
Daisy Guo （郭于华）
Daisy Guo is our art teacher at Ivy Academy. Influenced by her family that consists of many educators, she grew up with a strong interest in education. Before joining Ivy, she had three years of experience in early education. Daisy's passion is to bring happiness and joy everyday to the children that she works with.
Daisy graduated from Shanxi Normal University and Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts majoring in English education and multi-media design respectively.
Daisy graduated from Shanxi Normal University and Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts majoring in English education and multi-media design respectively.
Li Cao （曹利）
Li Cao is our Orff music teacher. She has been training Orff music teacher at Chinese Orff-Schulwerk Association since 2003, and has been working with pre-school age children since 2000.
Ms. Cao has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She went to America three times and has received a certificate in Orff music teacher from the San Francisco Orff Certification Program.
Ms. Cao has received a certificate in Multiple Intelligences from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She went to America three times and has received a certificate in Orff music teacher from the San Francisco Orff Certification Program.
Caregivers
Suju Li （李素菊）
Suju Li has been one of our caregivers at Ivy Academy for over five years and she is a native Beijinger. Before joining us she was a Kindergarten teacher.
Liming Han （韩莉明）
Liming Han is one of our caregivers at Ivy Academy and she joined us 2 years ago. Previously, she worked at Ivy's bilingual campus.
Ling Ji （纪玲）
Ling Ji is a caregiver at Ivy Academy and she joined us in 2010. She has over 10 years of experience in other kindergartens as a caregiver.