Vivi Teng (Teng Lao-shi)
Executive Director, Chinese Coordinator
I was born in the country side of Taiwan (Hsin-wu) where I spent the first 16 years of my life with my farmer parents and 8 siblings (I am the youngest one!). Living with nature allowed me to enrich my life with an appreciation and love for the people and environment. As a child, my teachers played a tremendous role in nurturing my passion for learning. Because of the influence from my teachers, I took it upon myself to make a difference in the lives of young children – a goal which serves as one of my top priorities in my teaching career. After I graduated from Taipei Teachers University, the first school I taught at was a bilingual international school in Tangmu. After two years, I moved to Tucheng (20 minutes away from Taipei), where I was the academic director of the Ming-Ren Bilingual Preschool. I was also the owner of Ming-Shine English Language School, where I developed the first English program and established the first bilingual school in the Tucheng area. After 1998, I moved to the U.S. and started my Montessori certificate training. I taught at Bayside Montessori School in Alameda as a preschool teacher for one year. I earned my Master’s degree in Montessori Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Saint Mary’s College and continued my teaching career at Pacific Rim International School as the Elementary Chinese teacher. In May 2004, I established an English language program, located in Berkeley, for college students who come from around the world to study English, because the English language program at UC Berkeley was closed. I garnered valuable experience in both Taipei and the United States, which has allowed me to familiarize myself with different personalities and learning styles. I dreamt that one day I would open a bilingual Montessori school that incorporated the values of the Montessori philosophy and emphasize the value of a demographically diverse community. Thus, I have dedicated my time and efforts to the Berkeley community through various projects and businesses. I hope to make a difference in the global community and the world with my positive outlook in life. I enjoy teaching kids, reading, shopping and watching movies.

Melissa Chan
Administrative Director
I grew up in San Francisco and received my Bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego in Ethnic Studies and Japanese Studies, while also taking Teacher Education courses and volunteering as a Classroom Teaching Assistant in kindergarten and elementary classrooms. After graduating, I participated in the JET Program for two years, teaching English at elementary and junior high schools in Tokyo, Japan. Once I returned to the United States, I enrolled in a graduate program at Stanford University, earning my Master’s degree in Education, with a concentration in International Comparative Education. My Master’s Monograph examined English education policies and practice in Japan. I can speak Japanese and Cantonese and can understand some Mandarin. I enjoy reading books, listening to music, traveling and baking.

Lee-Na Chang (Lee Lao-shi)
Academic Coordinator
Head Chinese Teacher, Children’s House
I have taught both the Montessori curriculum and Mandarin Chinese for many years and in many different places – including Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Prior to coming to GMIS, I taught at Berkeley Montessori School for 20 years, in both Preschool and Elementary classrooms. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in History from National Taiwan University and AMS (American Montessori Society) Early Childhood Certificate from Contra Costa College. Currently, I am in the process of completing my Montessori Elementary Certificate and Masters degree. I love music and take every opportunity to learn a new instrument. I am a certified Orff-Schulwerk Musical Education Specialist. I am a strong believer in lifelong learning and enjoy learning something new every day.

Hsiang-Fei Chen (Chen Lao-shi)
Chinese Teacher, Children’s House
I was born and raised in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. After graduating from high school, I was encouraged to study abroad by a family friend who was attending school in London. Thus, I went to England and enrolled into a Montessori program. After receiving my AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Certificate in London, I moved to Northern California to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies. Then, I decided to broaden my study in early childhood education by attending Saint Mary’s College and earned a Master’s degree in Montessori Early Childhood Education in 2006. I began to work at a preschool in 2003, while still attending Saint Mary’s College. Starting in February 2009, I became a member of GMIS and am determined to incorporate my knowledge into great lessons for the children here. Children have been my love for many years and I am devoted to staying connected with the school’s amazing staff, students and their families as we all grow and change.

Emma Boblak (Ms. Boblak)
English Teacher, Children’s House
After completing my Nursery Nurses Examination Board Certificate in Bristol, England, I have used it to work with children in Turkey, France and the United States. I have lived in the U.S. for 14 years and for the past 6 years, I have been working in the Montessori environment. Currently, I am taking my Early Childhood Montessori training at Saint Mary’s College, whilst enjoying the beautiful location of Global Montessori International School and its children and staff.

Claire Chingying Kui (Kui Lao-shi)
Chinese Teacher, Elementary
I earned a BA of Foreign Languages and Literature (English) from Tunghai University in Taiwan in 2005, and did an internship at Tunghai Elementary School. After that, I came to the United

States to pursue a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to the Speakers of Other Languages) at San Francisco State University in 2007. While in graduate school, I worked with different ages of learners, from age 2 to age 80, in various Chinese and English teaching environments. I also taught Chinese in San Francisco and Palo Alto for more than 3 years from ages 2 to 11 and specialized in working with elementary students on Chinese culture, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. With my educational background and teaching experiences in America, I am more than ready to give my students a happy and bright future. I am currently taking my Elementary Montessori training at Saint Mary’s College.

Eshanthie Nugapitiya (Ms. Nugapitiya)
Head English Teacher, Elementary
I spent my formative years in Sri Lanka (previously known as Ceylon), where I began my teaching career. My passion to work with children was further enhanced after I learned about the Montessori philosophy. I obtained my AMI Early Childhood Diploma in Sri Lanka and taught in a 3 to 6 age-group classroom for several years prior to coming to the United States. My early years in United States were spent volunteering and teaching in an early childhood classroom. I continued my education at Saint Mary’s College, where I obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal and Civic Studies with a minor in Montessori Thought and a Montessori Credential in Lower and Upper Elementary. I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to work and learn in an elementary Montessori environment for the past five years.

Vivian Wu (Wu Lao-shi)
Chinese Teacher, Young Children’s House
I was born in Taiwan and came to the United States in 2003. In 2007, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. After graduating, I worked as a teacher in a bilingual school in Palo Alto for one and a half years, teaching Chinese to young children. I used various forms of games, songs, story, and questionings to entertain my students. This allowed me to interact more with the students and it allowed the students to learn the Chinese language in a more effective way. To better suit the needs of working with children, I had been taking several child development courses at Berkeley City College. I also volunteered for child watch at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA. In my spare time, l love to cook, and I enjoy great foods. Unfortunately, I still need A LOT of practice before I can say I am good at cooking. Currently, I am enrolled in Saint Mary’s College Early Childhood Montessori training program and taking classes here at GMIS.

Vicky Mitsuyo (Mitsuyo Sensee)

Japanese Teacher, Elementary

My name is Mitsuyo Vicky Umene and I am a second generation Japanese American. I wanted to be a teacher all my life and have taught in both public and private schools in the East Bay for almost ten years. I am passionate about motivating the children to learn and for the children to take pride in their own learning. I see children as having great potential and my job is to provide a learning environment that is intriguing and fulfilling. All in all, I take great pride in the Japanese language and culture and heavily credit my parents for providing an environment to keep up my interest in learning the language and culture.

I was raised in LA until I was 17 and moved to Berkeley for my undergraduate studies in Psychology at UC Berkeley . I then worked for 3 years in various educational capacities, such as an English teacher for UC Berkeley Extension, Arts and Crafts instructor for Cal Youth Camp, a literature consultant for a children's novel, and also as a tutor for grades 1 through 7. I returned to school to earn my Masters in Education and a Multiple Subjects Credential from UC Berkeley. My program valued the understanding of child development and the importance of making the content developmentally appropriate for the child. I constantly reflect on my teaching practices in order to find areas that need improvement. My masters thesis was a case study of a fifth grade student and I devised an innovative approach to a writing intervention.