I Immigrated to Framingham from Hong Kong at the age of 6 and spent a year in ESL (now ELL). Because of this, and my world travels, I understand global education differences first hand. I see the pros and cons of our education system versus that of some other countries.

I am a life-long learner trying to instill the same in my children. I earned my Bachelors in English and Psychology and my Certificate in Asian American Studies at UMass Amherst in 2004. During this time I studied abroad in Oxford and traveled around Europe. Then, I earned my Master’s in Education, Teaching and Curriculum and my ELA Teaching Certification for 5-12 in 2005. I continue my education earning more credits and certificates, notably a certification in Technology Integration Projects.

Training is imperative to help life-long learners grow. I was a Western Mass Writing Project teaching consultant presenting a Best Practices workshop on teaching poetry. I also presented for the College Board’s Accuplacer National Conference on Integrating Technology in the Classroom for College and Career Readiness.

Trained in experiential/project-based learning and in ways of integrating technology into the curriculum, I taught various ELA and Humanities Classes in Springfield, Framingham, Randolph, Northshore Community College, and College Bound Dorchester. These experiences showed me the difference in equity and accessibility of my students. I would look for resources to support them in their hierarchy of needs with food, support, connections, and more. I also realized that not all teachers share the same workload, even if they share the same number of students, because of papers, projects, and focus on testing.

In 2016, I stepped out of the classroom and into education consulting – writing curriculum, specializing in blended and project-based learning, working on instructor training, doing research and analysis, and helpdesk troubleshooting. During COVID, I created a Remote Learning Guide, Best Practices for Remote Learning, and updated materials to reflect remote learning.

From a young age, I knew that if I want to see change, I must speak up and take action. In my adult life, this belief led to passionate conversations on teaching to standards and not to tests, partnering with Panera to bring breakfast for my opportunity youth students in Dorchester, and creating a Halloween map for fellow Waltham neighbors willing to set up pre-bagged treats on tables outside during COVID in all neighborhoods in Waltham and sharing the information with other parents. Recently, I shared my vision for the Waltham Dual Language School, where my oldest son started kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, to the School Committee.

I moved to Waltham in 2007 and have been an active Waltham resident, Waltham mom, Infancy to Independence board member, and PTO member at the Waltham Dual Language School. My passion is to create equal opportunity and equity of access for all students and parents, to allocate manageable class loads for all teachers, and to give students a holistic, high quality education that is project-based, experiential, with early second language acquisition, and a focus on mental well-being, which will set them up for success in the world. That is what I want for Waltham because that is what I want for my multicultural/multiracial sons.