STAFFS & TEACHERS

Champion Learning Academy staffs and teachers are a group of professionals who are responsible, loving and caring of others, dedicating to passing on knowledge to the young generation, while practices on the children safety priority.

​*Class assigned teachers are updating.

​Jeff Lee ( Co - Founder and Principal )
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Co-Founder of the Champion Learning Academy. He was born in Korea and received a B.S. in Animal Husbandry in Zhongxin University, Taiwan.  He is fluent in Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese.  With many years’ business experience, created Champion Learning Academy 10 years ago, with his wife, in  Cary, NC. Students come from all over the Triangle; Cary, Apex, Morrisville and Raleigh.  After ten years of diligence and effort, the couple have witnessed the growth of hundreds of students ranging from K to 5th grade. Even with high-school seniors still choosing to continue learning art at Champion. One of his most treasured memories is when a student's parent sent a thank you letter to Jeff, which read: "Yesterday was my son’s last day in your school, he couldn’t sleet last night and he told me 'I will miss Jeff ... 'he does not want to leave Champion, he especially misses you, I would like to thank you for the past few years of taking care of my son, really appreciate your caring and patience to him; I feel so sorry I have no chance to thank you in person, only this short message, thanks. Your school is doing very well, God bless your family and your school!" Jeff loves all of Champion Academy's students, and works hard every day to improve Champion Learning Academy. 

Olivia Ouyang ( Co-Founder, Principal and Director ) 
Olivia is the co-founder of the Champion Learning Academy, Olivia came to the USA in 1993 and got her MFA degree at The University of Art and Design, in California. She worked as 3D computer artist in the game industry for several years before she created her first after-school program in CA. In 2006, her family moved to North Carolina and started Champion Academy in Cary, Since a decade of its founding, Champion has grown a lot, incorporating many elective programs, summer camps, track out programs; etc into its curriculum. Now she lives in Apex with her family, and shares her passion for art with her students and shows her love for art through her own personal paintings. 

Thomas Volkman/ Mr.V ( After School Director ) 
Tom Volkman is a retired teacher for the state of North Carolina with over 32 years of teaching and leadership experience. He is passionate about working with students of all ages and is a practicing artist who has always enjoyed sharing his love for the visual arts with others. Tom received a MA in Art Education from UNC- Pembroke and is recognized as a NBPTS (National Board Certified) art teacher.  As a new team member at Champion Education, he looks forward to getting to know, and support, the students, staff, and families in maintaining an outstanding program. He spends his free time enjoying family time, producing art, keeping physically active, and spoiling the grandkids.

Samantha Mai ( Principal Assistant )
Mai was born in Guangdong province (Southern part of China) so she is fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin. Mai gladly works at Champion Learning Academy right after she got her M.A. in Education at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Being a caring and loving educator in a student-centered education organization is one of her career goals. Now, to assist the principals and program directors, she prioritizes and deals with big/small tasks that comes from any aspects of the Academy - evaluate educational programs, enhance curriculum to cater students' needs, arrange creative contests and enrichment activities, or in person, increase the transparency and efficiency of the school, manage social media and school websites, create lengthy brochures, vouchers and flyers and etc to include both domestic and global students in the Champion structured, supportive and challenging programs. With her years of graphic design experience, she is currently joining the day camp art team to educate students about design and art.

Jianqun Gong ( Mandarin Program Director & Mandarin Class 2A Teacher )
Ms. Gong, graduated from Shanghai Normal University, majoring in Chinese Literature . She had taught at middle school in Shanghai for many years. Before joining Champion she worked as a Chinese language teacher at Cary Chinese School, for three years. In 2014, she worked as CSL teacher as well as General Administrator at Apex campus of Champion Learning Academy for three years before moving to Morrisville campus. Now beside teaching, I also be a Mandarin program director in Champion, and help the Champion dancing for CAFA Gala  each year.  I believe in “education through happy learning” by motivating my students with encouragement, care, love and passion. My goal is to make every minute of my students’ time at Champion a happy learning moment of their lives.

Michelle Sun  ( Mandarin Class PK Teacher )
Michelle Chen earned her B.A. in French language from Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taiwan. Ms. Chen is certified in the Chinese Culture, Seed Teacher Training program and is sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Culture Representatives Office in Washington DC. She has done extensive work as a Mandarin sub-teacher and as a special program TA in WCPSS (Wiley Magnet Elementary School K-5). Ms. Chen was the Vice-Principal of Raleigh Chinese Language School from 2000-2001. She joined Champion in 2009 and has been a teacher here ever since. She is good at developing hands-on activities featured with the Mandarin class, and she never fails to engage students in her class with activities such as Crafting, Chinese Brush Calligraphy, Origami, Mahjong/Card Chinese word games, Chinese Yo-yo and etc. 

Jinghua Zhao ( Mandarin Class 1A Teacher )

Duan Jing  ( Mandarin Class 1B )
Graduated from Liaoning University of China with a Bachelor degree in Science and a major in statistics. Teaching basic writing, reading and mathematics to the first graders. Ms. Duan has been teaching at Champion for a while;  focusing on Chinese immersion program and exploring playing and learning in mathematics teaching approach; having passion to work with kids.
Shuyuan Wang ( Mandarin Class 2B )
Graduating from Shandong University, with a major in the English Language and Literature, she began her career as an English Teacher at Qingdao University of Science and Technology in China. Ms. Wang is fluent in English and Chinese, with a keen interest in literature works in both of these languages. She is now working at Champion Learning Academy as a teacher. She believes a qualified teacher has to be a lifelong learner first and we only have confidence in the classroom when we are academically and psychologically prepared. Her rich teaching experiences make it able to adapt her teaching skills to the unique needs of each student by recognizing and implementing their Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic learning styles (VAK). 
Shujing Li ( Mandarin Class 3A )
Ms. Li had taught high school English in Hebei and Beijing for more than 30 years. She got her
bachelor’s degree in English Education from Normal University of Hebei. She worked as a
substitute Mandarin teacher in Champion Learning Academy (Champion) in 2016-2017. Since
2019, she has been teaching Mandarin both in Champion and Raleigh Academy of Chinese
Language (RACL).
As a professional teacher with 30+ years of teaching experience, Ms. Li understands the
fundamental principles of education. She knows how to effectively teach students knowledge
with love, patience, and a sense of responsibility. All her classes are lively and interesting so that
her students are always motivated and engaged in learning.
Zhaojun Wang ( Mandarin Class 3B )
Zhaojun Wang recieved her Bachelor of Science from the Intitute of Mechanical & Engineering,  Beijing University of Technology. She is the owner of Bizwisdom -- Database Analysis Consulting (Jan 2007 to present). Zhaojun Wang grew up in Beijing and is fluent in standard Mandarin. She was an instructor in Mechanical Digital Automatic Control Laboratory in Beijing Industry University for a decade. Additionally, she has extensive experience in teaching Chinese as a second language; before she joined Champion in 2013, she taught at Denver Chinese School from 1999- 2003, from 2007 to present she taught Chinese at Raleigh Academy of Chinese Language. Ms. Wang is knowledgable in Chinese cultural activities such as Chinese paper cutting, Chinese Traditional dance, Beijing Opera, Chinese drawing, etc. She is also experienced in teaching math and other subjects.
Guowei Yu ( Mandarin Class 4A )
She graduated from the Inner Mongolia Normal University; there she earned a Bachelor of Art degree with a major in Philosophy. In China, she was a history teacher in a middle school for years before she came to USA. She joined Champion in 2015 and currently teaches the fourth grade.  With many years of teaching experience she enjoy working with children and helping them explore their potential through their education. As a teacher of wisdom and patience, she believes that every child should be treated with respect, and that by being empowered by education, they will be an invaluable asset to our world. 
Weiwen Guo ( Mandarin Class 4B )
She obtained my PhD degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the Department of Crop Science at Michigan State University. She has been working as a research specialist at NC State University from 1994 to the present. Since 2008, she has also been teaching Chinese at the Raleigh Academy of Chinese Language. She taught sixth grade Chinese there for three years, and now teach fourth grade. She joined the Champion Learning Academy in May 2016 and have since been participating in fifth grade Chinese teaching.
Updating
Daihong Zhang ( Mandarin Class 5B )
Daihong Zhang graduated from Shijiazhuang Railway Institute with a Bachelor degree in Science and a major in Mechanical Engineering. Ms. Zhang worked for China Railway Engineering Corp 13th Bureau Technician College and taught Mechanical Fundamental there. She also taught e Mechanical Drawing along with Automobile Mechanism and Advanced Mathematics for a correspondence college.  Ms. Zhang developed course plans which included schedules, contents and experiments. AdditIonally, she invented new teaching methods that made it easier for students to learn while leading classes and training groups and training mechanical technicians for local companies. Eventually, Ms. Zhang wrote a textbook published by the China Railway Press for training mechanics. Before she joined Champion she was volunteering at Cary Chinese School as well as serving as a tennis program coordinator, PTA president, activity program assistant director and director.  She has been teaching at Champion for a while and she enjoys working with kids. Teaching has become part of her life.
Yan Zhang ( Mandarin Class 6A )
拉姆老师大学期间主修汉语言文学专业，毕业后曾做新闻记者五年，发表数
百篇新闻作品。1986年调入国内高校新闻系任教，此后近30年的教学工作中主
讲新闻采访、新闻写作、广播电视节目主持概论等专业课程，忝为新闻传播领
域资深教授与跨文化传播研究学者。2016年初由北京移居美国北卡，随即受邀
参与北卡凯瑞中文学校公益教学活动，任课四载。拉姆老师有着比较丰富的教
学经验，擅长汉语朗读与汉语写作，略通民族音乐舞蹈、手工编织和中式面点
制作。最重要的是她非常喜欢孩子，诚心愿与孩子们共度快乐的学习时光。

Translating ....
Tiffanny Tan ( Mandarin Class CSL )
Tiffanny Tan received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta, Indonesia. Tiffanny's grandparents were originally from the province of Fujian Sheng in China during China's republic era. Tiffanny and her parents were born and raised in Indonesia. She grew up on a small island called Batam near Singapore. Being close to Singapore made her fluent in Standard Mandarin. Ever since she was a kid she learned Chinese from Singapore. At the Bina Nusantara University, she was an assistant lecturer pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree for two years. She also had experience working as a Chinese Interpreter in Taiwan for 6 years and has had extensive experience speaking in Chinese and Taiwanese as a second language. Before she joined Champion in 2019, she was also an assistant teacher at the Morrisville creative school from 2016 to 2019.  Mrs. Tan is very knowledgeable and works well with children, being creative and passionate about working with them. She also knows a lot about traditional Chinese culture.

Calvin Ulrich (After School and Camp Art Teacher)
Calvin Ulrich attended UNC-Chapel Hill and received a bachelor of arts in Studio Art, with an emphasis in painting and drawing.
He typically try to educated students with at least two different methods of instruction: explaining concepts verbally and showing them what he was talking about visually, but sometimes he tries to switch things up. He believed that It is very important that his students understand the underlying principles behind what they are doing, because that helps them much more long term. 

His expectation is that students slowly build a base of knowledge and technique from which to create art and problem solve in his fun and friendly art class. He hopes to see students progress throughout the year and gain the confidence to solve problems and create more independently than when they began.

For Calvin's personal art, he seeks to illustrate the connection between symbolism and the natural world. Much of his artwork uses animals as representations of current political events, ideologies, and issues. His goal is to show the ways in which nature and animals are used as tools for political gain and often separated from any ties to the real natural world. 

As far as interesting things about Calvin, he has two dogs, and he grew up in the country of Zimbabwe, and he likes to play soccer.