EY1 Bumble Bee teaching partners
Jean Jin & Lisa Moyes
Jean Jin, from Shanghai is a founding member of Hiba Academy Shanghai. Graduating from Fudan University with a major in Chinese Linguistic Literature, Jean has eight years’ experience in teaching. Jean has worked in local, international and bilingual early years settings and has qualifications in Kindergarten teaching and Primary School English teaching. To enhance practice, Jean studied and practised ‘Misulo’ in Hong Kong and Korea. Away from the nursery, Jean’s hobbies are watching movies, reading and gardening. Her philosophy is, ‘treat all the children as my friends; respect their personalities, explore with them and love their innocence. I hope to use my major to support children to speak bilingually and help them to enjoy their life in nursery’.
Jean’s teaching partner is Lisa Moyes who moved from the UK to Shanghai this summer to join the team here at the nursery. Lisa has described the experience thus far, ‘I arrived in Shanghai at the beginning of August this year, and although it is very different to Scotland, my experience so far has been wonderful. I am looking forward to seeing more of China during my holidays from nursery’. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Gaelic Language and Music and a PGCE and has been working in early years for five years. Her school in the UK was bilingual, operating in the languages of Gaelic and English, therefore Lisa is bilingual herself. Lisa is a keen fiddle player who played as part of a traditional Scottish ceilidh band. Lisa hopes to learn how to play the piano and her aspiration is ‘to be a teacher that children will always remember’.
Jean and Lisa are supported by Kim, Julie and Elaine.
EY1 Dragonfly teaching partners
Introducing Angela Gu & Rebecca Harrington
Angela not only holds the position of teacher at the nursery, she is also the team lead for EY1. With over 20 years’ teaching experience, Angela has taught in local, bilingual and international settings and has won a number of awards for teaching. Most recently, Angela was a co-teacher and dual-language teaching co-ordinator at an international school in Shanghai. Having held this position for nine years, Angela joined the team here at Hiba Nursery in the summer. Outside of work, Angela loves travelling, reading and shopping. When asked about her aspirations for the future Angela had one personal and one professional. Whilst travelling and spending more time with her family is a dream, Angela also hopes that she can, ‘keep working for Hiba and use my knowledge with my team, to make the whole environment an inspiring and fascinating one’.
Angela’s teaching partner Rebecca has been teaching in China for five years. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Education specialising in Key Stage 2/3 education, Rebecca taught Primary in the UK for two years. To fulfil her love of travel, Rebecca moved to China five years ago and since then has taught for three years in Hangzhou and two years in Shanghai. With the move East came a move in to early years and Rebecca joined the team here this summer from a well-known kindergarten in Shanghai. Rebecca has a good understanding of Mandarin and uses this effectively in her teaching, able to understand what children are saying, whilst responding in English. Rebecca is passionate about exploring the world, going off the beaten track and has been to 60 countries already! Her love of photography helps her to document her travels. Rebecca’s ambitions are to ‘become fluent in Mandarin, learn Spanish and tour the rest of the world, especially travelling to rural parts of China where fewer tourists have been’.
Angela and Rebecca are supported by Mary, Lucy ang Yong Ju.
EY2 Bunny teaching partners
Erica Ni and Richard Bagshaw
Erica Ni is a founding member of Hiba Academy Shanghai and previously worked in EY1. Graduating with a Master Degree in Early Childhood Education from Monsh University in Melbourne Australia, Erica has been teaching for three years.
Outside of work, Erica loves reading, movies, gym, painting, long board and travelling. Her reflections on life as a teacher are, ‘working in Hiba gives me opportunities to learn about myself as well as to challenge myself to be a better person. I want to enhance my expertise in early childhood education and to transfer all my skills in the teaching position in Hiba’.
Erica has a creative and open mind and she believes there somewhere in another dimension in the universe, there are a few Ericas are doing different things, experiencing different feelings, living different lives at the same time….
Richard Bagshaw joined the team at Hiba Academy Shanghai in 2017, when his family moved from the UK to China. Richard holds a BA (Hons) Film Studies & Media and Communication Studies and Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). With 12 years teaching experience, 8 specifically teaching EYFS, Richard is well-placed to offer our pupils an inspiring learning experience.
Outside of work, Richard goes to the cinema as often as he can and loves spending time with family and friends, going to the theatre and restaurants. When asked to tell me something that others may now know about him, Richard revealed, ‘Since the day my children were born, I have filmed their life. At the end of each year I edit the footage to create a highlights video which will be given to each of my children when they are adults’. Richard aspires to continue living and teaching in Asia.
Erica and Richard are supported by Dora, Jack and Lin.
EY2 Kitten teaching partners
Tracy He and Carmen Chow
Tracy He is also a founding member of the team here at Hiba Academy Shanghai and has taught in EY2 since we first opened our doors. Tracy has been teaching in international and bilingual education for 15 years. Graduating from Tongji University with a Bachelor Degree and Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood, Tracy uses her experience to support young children’s learning.
Outside of life at the nursery, Tracy like travelling, athletic sports and relaxing watching TV. Here is something that you certainly wouldn’t know about Tracy: ‘I like to play basketball and I can shoot three-point shots’. Tracy has a desire to travel the world and explore new cultures.
Carmen Chow joined us this year from an international school in Shanghai. Carmen moved from Toronto, Canada to Shanghai three years ago and has over 10 years’ experience in teaching young learners. Carmen holds a Bachelor Degree in Education and aspires to, ‘to inspire children to be lifelong learners, dream big and believe they can do anything possible in life!’ Outside of life at the nursery, Carmen has a passion for photography, travel and is developing her cooking and culinary skills. She has a twin sister who lives in Toronto and once spent a summer living and working with beautiful husky dogs in Rovaniemi, Finland, right on the Arctic Circle.
Tracy and Carmen are supported by Cici, Yuhan and Huiju.
EY2 Duckling teaching partners
Hannah Zhang and Luke Jones
Hannah Zhang has been in teaching for 16 years in international and bilingual education. She is a long-serving member of Hiba Academy Shanghai. Graduating from East China University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor in Business Administration and certificate in Early Childhood Education, Hannah uses her skills to support young children as they grow and develop.
Her hobbies are cooking, watching movies and reading, and she has a passion to travel around the world. Her aspiration is to ‘continue to learn and develop together with her colleagues and share her experiences and knowledge with the children to help them be the best that they can be’.
Luke Jones came to China in 2010 for what was supposed to be one year, but this September will mark the start of his tenth living abroad! He qualified in 2009 and has been teaching ever since. In his 10 years of teaching Luke has worked with students from the age of 3 years old to 16 and enjoys the challenges that teaching young children brings. Luke holds a BA Primary Education with QTS and is currently studying an MA in Early Years Education.
When not at work, Luke loves to play the guitar, travel by train on the weekends to new places in China and has just started boxing. Luke aspires to always live life to the full, taking every situation encountered as an opportunity to grow. When asked to reveal something about himself, Luke explained, ‘my favourite food here in Shanghai is xiaolongbao. So, on the spur of the moment I decided to go and get a tattoo of my favourite Chinese delicacy on my inner arm’.
Hannah and Luke are supported by Flora, Emily and Yanyan.
EY2 Lamb teaching partners
Vivian He and Paula Zimmerman
Vivian He is both a teacher in and the team lead for EY2. Vivian graduated from East China Normal University with a Major in Primary education. She also holds a teaching certificate in Modern Languages from China Normal University. With 17 years’ experience in teaching (3 years bilingual and 14 years international) Vivian is passionate about supporting young learners in their journey throughout the earliest years of their education. Outside of the nursery, Vivian loves travelling, painting and cooking. She once interviewed to be an air hostess and was once on a TV show! Vivian’s wish for her career is, ‘to one day have the opportunity to do research about supporting special needs children in early years’.
Paula Zimmerman joined us this year from a well-known nursery in Shanghai. With a Bachelor degree in Law (LLB), TEFL and PGCE Paula has used her teaching skills over the last five years in Thailand, Hong Kong and most recently China. Paula explains, ‘My degree is in Law and I originally aspired to be an Attorney, but after a year teaching English in Thailand (on what was supposed to just be a gap year) I realised my potential as a teacher and I’ve never looked back’.
Outside of work, Paula enjoys yoga, reading, travelling and exploring as much as possible. Travelling is a big passion of Paula’s and she feels that there are still so many places to visit in China and Asia. Her aspiration is to continue her teaching journey abroad and further her teaching qualifications. Paula hopes to be living in Shanghai for a long time to come and to support life in China, she is slowly but surely working on her Mandarin.
Vivian and Paula are supported by Crystal, Echo and Lilian.
