LEADERSHIP AND FACULTY
TERESA TSENG
PRINCIPAL
B.A., Chinese Literature, National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan
M.S., Education, California State University, Fullerton
For the past twenty years, Ms. Teresa has been the backbone of Pacific Academy and its educational affiliations. She served in multiple positions: from teacher to school administrator, utilizing her knowledge and passion in education. She has established and implemented effective and engaging courses blending trilingual education delivered in project-based learning method. Ms. Tseng enjoys her daily collaboration with teachers and students, discovering and implementing new methods that spark creativity, critical thinking, and interactivity in the classroom. In her leisure time, she loves gardening, exploring nature, and learning about new technology.
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
EDUCATION
LIKE
NO
OTHER
Every day, I am inspired and moved by the moments children and teachers share with me—their growth, their challenges, and those transformative "lightbulb" moments. Our vibrant school life begins with smiles and laughter at drop-off and continues with engaging activities, field trips, and countless opportunities for students to lead and shine throughout the year.
At PACM, "The Opportunity to be Me" resonates deeply with each member of our community—faculty, students, and parents alike. This shared belief fuels our collective passion and drives us to excel in all that we do. PACM is such a unique place, a dream school where our philosophy is actively discussed, collaboratively nurtured, and passionately embraced in every corner, one child at a time. It is my great honor and passion to lead and cultivate the growth of a strong faculty team and positive school community unlike any other.
ILENIA CHEN
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
B.A.Diplomacy and Political Science,
National Chengchi University Taiwan & Seoul National University
M.A., International Relations, New York University
Ilenia Chen received a Masters in International Relations from New York University, and a B.A. in Diplomacy and Political Science from National Chengchi University in Taiwan and Seoul National University. Before moving to the west coast, she worked at the United Nations Headquarters as a diplomat stationed in a Permanent Mission in New York. There she participated in national policy decision-making and drafting resolutions for crises. She also previously worked with the British Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan, and Supervisor Campaign Office for San Bernardino County. Aside from government work, Ilenia has experience in both international and domestic non-profit organizations prior to joining Pacific Academy Foundation. She has also volunteered at a youth care foundation in Taiwan for almost a decade to assist students in need to complete secondary to undergraduate educations. Ilenia is ecstatic to be the latest member of the Pacific Academy family and to continue her passion and dedication to service.
KAREN YU
K-6 PROGRAM DIRECTOR
B.A., M.A. Chinese Language and Literature, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
M.A. East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Southern California
Ph. D. Candidate, East Asian Languages and Cultures, USC
California Single Subject Teaching credential in Mandarin
Ms. Yu is a certified Chinese Teacher and received her Master of Arts specialized in second language acquisition from the University of Southern California (USC). Prior to teaching at PA, she has worked with students at various levels and in different Chinese immersion settings such as Middlebury College summer language immersion program and STARTALK. Ms. Yu was also a language lecturer at USC. Ms. Yu is an expert in Chinese teaching with functional language development, student-centered learning, and enhancement of learning strategies. She has extensive experience in augmenting students’ motivation of learning and ability of thinking independently through project-based teaching methods. In addition, Ms. Yu is also a certified Oral Proficiency Interviewer through The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and she can help students with their Mandarin Chinese oral proficiency skill. She enjoys guiding her students to be successful and making her students become life-long learners in an educational environment.
TIFFANY POON
PRESCHOOL DIRECTOR
B.A in Child Development and Family Study, CSU Long Beach
Ms. Poon was born and raised in Hong Kong, China. At the age of 18, she came to the US to pursue a higher education by attending the California State University, Long Beach with a concentration in Child Development and Family Study. She has been working with children for over 5 years. Ms. Poon believes that early education is like a cornerstone that lays a foundation in children and guides them as they learn and grow. Furthermore, she also values the uniqueness of learning for each individual student. She is hoping to assist her students to search for their unique learning styles and develop their potential in a comfortable learning environment. Besides working with kids on campus, Ms. Poon also loves camping, hiking, drawing, and spending time with her family.
Lucy Lu - Social Emotional Counselor | Pacific Academy
Providing compassionate guidance and emotional support to help students at Pacific Academy thrive academically and personally.
Christine Jiang - K-6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Inspiring K-6 students as both a teacher and culture ambassador to foster a deep understanding of Chinese language.
Alice Zhang - K-6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
K-6 Chinese Teacher at Pacific Academy dedicated to inspiring students to explore language, culture, and communication with confidence.
Alyssa McBrearty - K-6 Teacher | Pacific Academy
Dedicated to nurturing K–6 students’ love for learning and literacy, Mrs. McBrearty creates a supportive classroom environment where every child feels valued, confident, and inspired to grow as a lifelong learner.
Claudia Kratzberg – K–6 Spanish Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Kratzberg inspires K–6 students to learn Spanish through curiosity, collaboration, and culturally rich lessons.
Alicia Medina - Preschool Teacher | Pacific Academy
Preschool Teacher at Pacific Academy fostering creativity, confidence, and curiosity in young learners through engaging, play-based learning.
Cheryl Chen – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Chen inspires K–6 students to explore Chinese language and culture through creativity, art, and engaging classroom experiences.
Sandy Lu – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Lu cultivates a dynamic and supportive K–6 classroom where students develop confidence and curiosity in Chinese language and culture.
Vera Wu – K-6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Wu brings a global perspective to her classroom, helping K–6 students build strong Chinese language skills through engaging and meaningful learning experiences.
Trevor von Winckelmann
K-6 English Teacher
Karla Escalera – Preschool Lead Teacher | Pacific Academy
With extensive experience in early childhood education and a strong foundation in child & adolescent development, Ms. Escalera leads the preschool team with passion and expertise.
Alejandra Rodriquez - Preschool Teacher | Pacific Academy
Dedicated preschool teacher nurturing curiosity, creativity, and social growth in young learners through engaging, hands-on learning experiences.
Susan Zhang Frazier – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Zhang Frazier inspires K–6 students to master Mandarin through creative, culturally enriched lessons that connect language with real-life understanding.
Lanxin Mi – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
With a background in child development and early Mandarin immersion teaching, Ms. Mi guides K–6 students to explore Chinese language and culture through engaging, student-centered learning.
Kimi Karatsu K–6 English Teacher, Reading Specialist | Pacific Academy
With over a decade of experience in Orange County schools, Ms. Karatsu equips K–6 students with reading proficiency and fosters independence and persistence in their learning.
Ana Cervantes – K–6 Spanish Teacher | Pacific Academy
With a strong linguistics background and years of teaching experience, Ms. Cervantes designs skill-based Spanish lessons that foster communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity in K–6 students.
Zoe Chen – Preschool Teacher | Pacific Academy
With a B.A. in Early Childhood Education and experience in Mandarin-immersion preschool, Ms. Chen creates hands-on, joyful learning experiences that help young children build a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Ashley Xiao Preschool Teacher | Pacific Academy
Blending care with creativity, Ms. Xiao inspires preschoolers to explore, imagine, and develop a lifelong love for learning.
Anka Huang – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Anka Huang, a certified Chinese Language Arts educator with extensive experience, inspires K–6 students to embrace Mandarin, culture, and confident communication.
Angel Wang – K–6 Chinese Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Angel Wang fosters a love for language and culture in her K–6 students, blending academic rigor with joyful, immersive Mandarin learning experiences.
Desiree Butler – K–6 English Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Butler supports K–6 students in developing strong English skills and a lifelong love of reading through engaging, student-centered instruction.
Lily Farias – K–6 Spanish Teacher | Pacific Academy
With over eighteen years of international teaching experience and a Cambridge-certified background, Sra. Farias nurtures K–6 students to become curious, compassionate and globally-minded Spanish learners.
Anqi Liu – Preschool Teacher | Pacific Academy
Ms. Liu combines her background in psychology and child development to create a nurturing, curiosity-driven classroom where preschoolers thrive academically and emotionally.