meet 25-26 hub residency Asian Language TEACHER Fellows

Ehtalow Zar is one of the first two licensed Karen language teachers in Minnesota and possibly in the nation. She is an educator dedicated to supporting bilingual students and fostering strong connections with families. She began her career as a bilingual education assistant, later transitioning into her current role as an English Learner (EL) teacher at Saint Paul Public Schools. She teaches mathematics and Karen at Johnson High School and co-teaches Critical Ethnic Studies as part of her dual licensure in mathematics and English as a Second Language (ESL).  

Passionate about culturally responsive education, Ehtalow actively contributes to curriculum development in Critical Ethnic Studies, EDL Math, and the Karen Language and Culture program. Ehtalow recently earned a Master’s degree in K-12 Administration and aspires to take on a leadership role to further advocate for equity and excellence in education.

Htoo Ku Wah is a Karen kindergarten teacher at Wellstone Elementary in Saint Paul Public Schools. This year, she also serves as a TOSA in the Office of the MLL department. She is passionate about teaching her language and culture to the younger generation of Karen in the diaspora because she believes that maintaining and preserving culture is crucial to self-identity. Htoo encourages her students to take pride in their culture and roots, as they are beautiful. 

Htoo is actively involved in the Karen community and fosters strong relationships with families and colleagues. She currently holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary K-6 and is pursuing her master's degree in the World Language Instruction program at Concordia Moorhead, Minnesota.

Hyein Lee is a dedicated educator with a strong background in both music and language immersion education. Originally from South Korea, she earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Sookmyung Women’s University and a Master of Music from Yonsei University. 

After more than a decade as a piano instructor and accompanist, she transitioned to immersion education and joined Sejong Korean Immersion School in St. Paul Minnesota in 2017.

Since 2018, Hyein has taught kindergarten for seven years, where she fosters Korean language development and inspires a love of learning in young children. Beyond the classroom, she has served in multiple leadership roles, including Korean Language Coordinator, PLC Group Leader, Elementary Lead Teacher, and currently Lower School Instructional Coach and Division Lead. In these roles, she supports fellow educators through curriculum planning, professional development, and instructional coaching.

Recognized as Teacher of the Year (2019–2020) at her school, Hyein is known for meeting students at their individual levels and helping them grow to their fullest potential. She is deeply committed to nurturing bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural learners who are confident, curious, and connected to both Korean heritage and the wider world.

Yejin Hong is in her fifth year of teaching Korean at Sejong Academy, where she now serves as the Director of the Korean Immersion Program. She is passionate about helping students discover the joy of language learning and is inspired by the way Korean opens new perspectives and connections to the wider world. At Sejong, she has taught secondary students across multiple proficiency levels and contributed to school-wide cultural and academic initiatives. In her current role, she leads curriculum development, teacher support, and program-wide cultural programming from PreK through high school.

Yejin holds both a master’s and doctoral degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota. Before beginning her career in immersion education, she worked in media, cultural research, and international non-profit organizations—experiences that continue to inform her teaching and leadership.

In recognition of her dedication, Yejin was named Teacher of the Year (2024–2025) at Sejong Academy. She is dedicated to creating engaging ideas and school-wide events that allow students to learn, grow, and thrive while truly enjoying the process of language learning.

Gaonang (Nkauj Naag) is a Hmong American educator entering her fourth year of teaching. In the 2025–26 school year, she serves as a Pre-K Hmong Language Teacher and Kindergarten ELL Teacher at the Community School of Excellence in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Gaonang is deeply committed to preserving and promoting the Hmong language and culture through her teaching. She has a special love for children’s literature, especially Hmong books, which she enjoys sharing with her students to spark both learning and cultural pride.

Xiong Yang holds a Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts Education, K-12 from Gustavus Adolphus College. Over the past decade, he has gained experience teaching art at both middle and high school levels at the Community School of Excellence in Saint Paul. In the summer of 2024, he earned his Master’s of Education in World Language Instruction, with a particular emphasis on Hmong language and culture, from Concordia College in Moorhead.  Xiong is now teaching Middle School Hmong language courses within the Saint Paul Public Schools district for this academic year. In addition to teaching, he actively collaborates with Minnesota Zej Zog (MZZ) on a variety of initiatives. These projects include working with CLIMB leadership program, participating as a teacher at iStrive Camp, contributing to the OJP Mental Health Conferences, and serving as a Mentorship Lead. Through these diverse roles, Xiong continues to demonstrate his commitment to education, cultural preservation, and community engagement. 

Zhe (Andrea) Feng is a dedicated Chinese teacher at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, where she has been teaching for six years. She is passionate about creating a warm and inclusive classroom community, engaging students with hands-on cultural activities, and inspiring students to become earth citizens.  Andrea earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from Minzu University in Beijing. 

She continued her studies in the U.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before completing her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Second Language Education at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2019. Currently, she is pursuing an Education Specialist degree at Hamline University.

Zhuo Li holds a M.Ed. in Second Language Education from University of Minnesota, and a M.A. in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.  Her professional journey has taken her across multiple countries and cultural contexts, where she has combined theoretical study with extensive classroom practice. These experiences have shaped her conviction that language education serves as a critical bridge for fostering empathy, cultural understanding, and respectful dialogue.

Since relocating to the United States in 2019, Zhuo has been teaching as the MYP Chinese Teacher at Camden High School, Minneapolis, working with a highly diverse student body.  Currently in her fourth year in this role, she continues to advance her commitment to equity and global awareness in language education. Most recently, she has initiated a program to bring students from low-income backgrounds to China for summer language and cultural immersion, broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of the world.

Meng Tisdell is currently a Chinese language teacher at Wayzata High School in Minnesota. She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and brings over 12 years of experience in teaching.

Meng began her teaching career as a Chinese instructor at Angeles University Foundation in the Philippines. Upon moving to the United States, she continued her work in Chinese language education, teaching both Chinese immersion and world language programs at Hopkins West Middle School and Hopkins High School. During her time in the Hopkins School District, she also served as a CIS (College in the Schools) instructor, offering college-level Chinese courses to high school students. 

With a passion for language instruction and cross-cultural communication, Meng is dedicated to fostering global citizenship and language proficiency among her students. 

Xiaogong Pan is an Upper School Chinese Language Teacher at Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) in Forest Lake, where he teaches within the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). He previously taught for seven years in LILA’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) Chinese immersion program.

Xiaogong holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Nantong University in China and a Master of Education in Elementary Education, with a specialization in language immersion, from the University of Minnesota. 

He is committed to fostering students’ curiosity and global perspectives through inquiry-based learning and believes that language acquisition is a powerful pathway to developing critical thinking skills and intercultural competence. He is passionate about creating meaningful, engaging curriculum that empowers students to become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens.

Lin Niu is a second-grade teacher at XinXing Academy in Hopkins Public Schools, where she has been teaching the district’s Chinese immersion program for over 12 years. She is passionate about fostering an engaging and inclusive learning environment, helping students build strong foundations in literacy, math, and inquiry-based learning. 

Through hands-on activities, cultural exploration, and real-world connections, Lin makes learning meaningful and encourages student agency, empowering children to take ownership of their education.  Beyond the classroom, Lin actively collaborates with families, colleagues, and the broader school community to promote language immersion education. She plays a key role in organizing cultural celebrations, leading field trips, and supporting students in extracurricular activities.

Lin holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and is a certified Yoga Calm instructor for youth. Her dedication to teaching and student success was recognized when she was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award.

Jieming Jin is a second-grade Chinese immersion homeroom teacher from Minnetonka Public Schools.  She finished her second master's program (M.Ed) at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Second Language and Culture Education. She also completed her B.A. and M.A. in Chinese Language and Literature at Shanghai University in China.  Before moving to the U.S., she was a full-time Chinese teacher at an international high school in Shanghai. She has been teaching Chinese as a foreign language at different levels for over 15 years.

Jieming was honored with Minnetonka Public Schools’ prestigious Brad Board Award for Excellence in Elementary Education, becoming the first Chinese immersion teacher in the award’s 20-year history to receive this distinction. This award recognizes outstanding educators who demonstrate exceptional teaching, leadership, and commitment to students. Jieming’s recognition not only highlights her dedication to fostering academic excellence and cultural understanding in the immersion classroom, but also marks an important milestone in elevating the role of world language and dual immersion programs within the district.

Dr. Yao Tu, a faculty member at the University of Minnesota’s College of Liberal Arts, will collaborate with We As One Education to support this project.  Dr. Tu received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Teaching from the University of Kansas.  Her research interests include curriculum design, blended learning, and language testing. As the Associate Director of the Chinese Flagship Program, a federally funded initiative that prepares undergraduate students to become global professionals, and the faculty coordinator of the College in the Schools (CIS) Chinese program, Dr. Tu brings extensive expertise in language education and curriculum development. She will lead our middle and high school educators in designing a community-centered cultural curriculum while also creating service-learning opportunities for college-level Chinese learners from the University of Minnesota to engage with the project. 

Additionally, she will facilitate connections with nine Minnesota high schools offering CIS Chinese courses, encouraging participation in Hub events. By integrating this experience into her university teaching, Dr. Tu will enhance her college students' understanding of heritage language education and provide them with real-world, community-driven learning opportunities that strengthen their engagement with local Asian communities.

Xuyang Zhang (Fiona) is a dedicated and experienced educator with 12 years of experience fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment for students in Chinese immersion schools.  She holds a Master's degree and a K-6 teaching license in dual language and immersion education from the University of Minnesota. 

Currently serving as the Kindergarten Team Lead and Mentor Teacher at Yinghua Academy, Fiona is passionate about supporting her colleagues and guiding them in creating enriching learning experiences. She  has represented Yinghua and their excellent immersion program on multiple occasions, sharing her expertise and teaching experiences through public speaking engagements. Fiona’s commitment to excellence was recognized when she was awarded Yinghua Academy’s "Teacher of the Term" for the 2024-2025 school year.  

Maiyer Xy is currently a first-grade Hmong Dual Language teacher at Txuj Ci Hmong Language & Culture Lower Campus. A dedicated educator with 14 years of experience in Saint Paul Public Schools, Maiyer is deeply committed to fostering academic growth while affirming students’ cultural and linguistic identities. She is especially passionate about designing curriculum that centers diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that every student feels represented and valued in the classroom. In addition, she brings strong skills in integrating technology into her teaching, using digital tools to create engaging, innovative, and accessible learning experiences for her students.

Maiyer earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and her Master of Education from the University of Minnesota. She is currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in World Language Instruction with an emphasis on Hmong language at Concordia College, further deepening her expertise and leadership in dual-language education.