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. As the former K-6 Director of the Irvine Campus, 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.