Primary School Teachers Team
Sally Li
PYP Coordinator
Sally has served as an IB PYP Coordinator at our school, bringing with her an impressive 11-year tenure in the International and Bilingual educational institutions.Leveraging her extensive experience within the IB framework, Sally has been honored as a faculty member for the Graduate Certificate of International Education (GCIE) program at East China Normal University. Additionally, she has been invited as a keynote speaker at both the IB China Conference and the IB Asia-Pacific Conference, where she shared invaluable insights and experiences. Beyond her profound expertise in IB education, Sally is also a renowned expert and workshop facilitator for the Philosophy for Children program. She has mentored students at the Philosophy Departments of East China Normal University and Xiamen University, and has authored several influential academic publications in this field.
Zhang Youxia
Head of Chinese, Primary School
She graduated from Shandong Normal University with a Bachelor’s Degree and is our Chinese instructor at the Primary School. Ms. Zhang has many years of teaching experience at public schools, with tenures at Shanghai Qibao Foreign Language Primary School and SVKS. Ms. Zhang has had a long and decorated career, having won numerous academic awards, including the Municipal Outstanding Teacher’s Award, Municipal Outstanding Treatise Award, First and Second prizes, District Teaching Competition Second Prize, and DTD Excellent Teacher’s Awards. “I shall become a ray of sunshine, beaming light and warmth to students, and a wisp of spring breeze, carrying with it affection and fragrance.” This has been Ms. Zhang’s motto, guiding her every step of the way throughout the 23 years of a distinguished and dedicated teaching career. To her, teaching and learning are part of a never-ending process, and there is still a long way to go.
Sarah Cai
Chinese Subject Supervisor, Head of Mathematics, Primary School
Graduated from the University of Turku with a master’s degree, Cai Manhua has been engaged in first-line teaching of mathematics for 21 years and currently teaches third-grade mathematics. Her class is lovely, interesting and rational, which means encouraging every student to know how the math knowledge comes, to feel the interest of learning math and to gain a sense of achievement, so that they will fall in love with math and study.
Sarah Shan
G2 Curriculum Coordinator
Graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a master degree in education and have been practicing and exploring teaching in cross-cultural environments for a long time. So far, she has been engaged in bilingual education for five years. At present, she is an EAL teacher in primary school and a coordinator of English courses in Grade Two. During the time when she stays with the students, it has always been her top priority to respect their nature and personality, focus on their all-round development, and cultivate their sense of responsibility and self-confidence.
Vivian Shi
G3 Curriculum Coordinator
Graduated from University of Delaware in MA TESOL and published lesson plans in the United States during her master’s program. She has been an EAL teacher at primary and middle school for 7 years. In the past, she worked at schools that implement IB and commoncore standards. At VKBS, she works closely with teams, and integrates different standards into VKBS own curriculum. As a teacher, she was titled as Senior Teacher many times in her teaching career. Ms. Shi’s motto is Every child is so unique that a teacher must be dedicated to inspring his or her unlimited potential. She is always close to her students and try to create a safe and comfortable learning environment for them. To see them grow happily is the motivation for her to be a teacher.
Penny Shen
Grade Leader of High Grades, Primary School
Graduated from Ningxia University with a master’s degree in pedagogy. As the primary school group leader of high grades, she is responsible for the homeroom management of Chinese and foreign teachers. At the same time, she is also a homeroom teacher of the fourth grade. In moral education, she has always been adhering to love, patience and responsibility to students. At present, she has 7 years of experience in mathematics teaching. She is full of enthusiasm and skills in teaching. She can better grasp the classroom learning resources of students, fully respect and trust students, and realize efficient classroom teaching.
Larry Miller
Homeroom teacher
Graduated from University of Edinburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a TEFL qualification holder. He graduated from University of Nottingham with a master’s degree in Education. He joined our school in 2021 and is currently serving as a primary homeroom teacher.
Sean D. Freston
Homeroom teacher
He graduated from the University of West Florida with a Master’s Degree in Education, and holds the US Teaching Certification and the International English Teaching Certification. Mr. Freston has over 10 years of teaching experience in both Chicago and Shanghai. He has been with VKBS since its establishment and is the Elementary-Higher Grades Coordinator and G5 Team Leader.
Middle School Teachers Team
Lv Junli
Head of Chinese, Middle School
She has been engaged in Chinese teaching in Shanghai for more than ten years. She is a core Chinese teacher in middle school and has many years of teaching experience in graduating class. She has her own unique views and methods on Chinese teaching, and is good at inspiring students and teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, which is recognized by students and parents. At the same time, she is committed to integrating traditional Chinese teaching with bilingual teaching, extending students’ knowledge boundary, cultivating students’ learning ability, stimulating students’ learning interest, so that diversified and happy Chinese language learning help students become Chinese talents.
He Chunli
Head of Mathematics, Middle School
Majoring in mathematics and applied mathematics, she is a middle school mathematics teacher who has engaged in first-line teaching for more than ten years. Mathematics is a rigorous basic subject. In order to make mathematics class interesting and vivid, she always uses humorous language in class and pays attention to the combination of mathematics and life, so that students can feel the essence of mathematics originating from life and serving life. She teaches students in accordance with their aptitudes, enlightens their minds, and shows her goodwill to them. She thinks that every student is a treasure, and teachers need to use love and wisdom to tap their unlimited potential.
Lucy Wang
Head of Science, Middle School
Joined VKBS in 2018 and is now the head of the science group of the middle school. She has been engaged in the teaching of Chinese science and bilingual physics since she entered the school, adhering to the student-centered educational concept and actively advocating interdisciplinary inquiry learning. She has gradually formed a lively and humorous teaching style suitable for bilingual school students. She has rich experience in subject research and tutoring students’ essay writing. She has won the DTD Group “Star Teacher in moral education”, “Advanced Teachers in professional ethics”, school-level “Excellent Teachers” and other honorary titles.
LISA MARTEL CHISHOLM
CCE Teacher , Middle School
Graduated from Lubbok Christian University with a bachelor’s degree and Texas Tech University with a master’s degree, both majoring in history. More than 20 years teaching experience in Shanghai International School and bilingual schools. She joined the school in 2006 and currently serving as a CCE teacher.
