LePort Montessori

Ms. Luhan Cao graduated from the Saddleback College with an Associate’s in Arts Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. Born and raised in China, she is a native Mandarin speaker. She possesses a childlike heart and deeply loves every child. She is a proud mother of a young boy. Since the birth of her son, she has effectively integrated her professional knowledge with Montessori educational principles. She has discovered that the essence of early childhood education is to respect the natural laws of life development.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Ms. Cao is a promoter of Chinese classical culture. In her spare time, she leads a nonprofit organization’s recitation class in her community, teaching and chanting the classics of sinology. Ms. Cao believes it is incredibly exciting to immerse more children in the Montessori educational environment while also exposing them to the classics of Chinese culture. Therefore, she feels very fortunate to join the LePort family.

Ms. Jackie Chang was born in Taiwan and raised in Taiwan and South Africa. She is fluent in Mandarin, Taiwanese and English. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. In addition, she has always enjoyed experiencing and learning new things and therefore also studied music, business and theater production during her college years.
Ms. Chang’s early childhood education experience started in 2007 with a group of elementary children in an English learning center in Taiwan. Since then, she continued working with children ages 1.5 to 13 in various school settings, including Montessori schools, bilingual schools, English and Mandarin immersion schools, public schools, play-based schools and language learning centers.
Through her many years working in different school settings, she found her true passion in Montessori education. She observed how children enjoyed working in Montessori classrooms and is still fascinated about how children progress within a Montessori environment. Ms. Chang received both her Association Montessori Internationale Primary certificate and Elementary certificate at the Montessori Institute of San Diego.
After teaching for 13 years, she stepped into educational leadership roles, focusing on teacher and parent coaching, program development and school administration. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, playing instruments and spending time with her loved ones and her cats- Lala and Picasso.

Ms. Shu Chen is from China and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Language and Literature from Jiangsu Normal University. She then earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. With a background in administration and a strong interest in early childhood education, Ms. Chen now serves as an Administrative Assistant. Ms. Chen enjoys traveling, painting, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Lina Chen is from Beijing, China. She is fluent in Mandarin. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in International Trade English at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. She is a mother of three children, including a pair of adorable twin sons. Growing up with her sons, she developed a strong interest in Early Childhood Education and took courses at the Irvine Valley Community College. She has a great passion for children and regularly engages in various parenting and education activities. Raising her children, continuing lifelong learning, and pursuing a more meaningful career are a natural part of her life. She is willing to put in extra effort to share her passion and meticulousness with kids.

Ms. Suet Chow received her Early Childhood Education Certificate of Achievement with an Infant/Toddler Emphasis from Irvine Valley College. Her past work experiences include running a licensed family childcare in her community for ten years. She also worked at another Montessori school in Irvine as an Assistant Teacher in the toddler class for four years. Ms. Suet joined LePort in September of 2008 and worked as a Toddler Assistant Teacher at the Irvine Westpark campus until the Irvine Mandarin campus opened. Ms. Suet completed her Association Montessori Internationale teacher training for the 0 to 3 age group at the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She loves working with children. She believes childhood is a time of natural creativity and curiosity, and a time to motivate children in a positive way and encourage them to discover, learn, and grow. Ms. Chow is excited at the opportunity of teaching the Montessori program she loves in her native Chinese language, equipping children with the foundation for joyful learning and giving them the gift of bilingualism.

Other than working with children, Ms. Chow also enjoys watching dramas and doing arts and crafts. Her idea of a perfect weekend consists of relaxing, having a cup of coffee, reading in the morning, shopping, and spending time with family.

Ms. Debby Chueh graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development. In 2013 she received her Montessori Primary certificate from Capital Education Institute. Ms. Chueh was born and spent the majority of her childhood in Taiwan. She is fluent in both Mandarin and English. Before she joined the LePort family, she worked in different schools, including a Chinese immersion school. Outside of the classroom, she likes to read educational books, watch dramas, and cook.

Ms. Acai Gu graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts. She grew up in China and is fluent in Mandarin. Ms. Gu worked at an elementary school as a director assistant in an international program. After that, she was a tutor of international students. However, after she got married and had a child, she spent all her time on her son and started to focus on child development. Ms. Gu sent her child to a Montessori School and became so impressed with his progress and development. She enjoyed listening to his stories from the school at that time. Ms. Gu has a true passion for working with children and helping them make progress in all areas.

Ms. Shanshan Han was born in Beijing, China and is a native Mandarin speaker. She earned her Master’s Degree in Music from the Royal Academy of Music in the United Kingdom. She previously served as the Director of the Piano Department at the New York Bilingual Music School.
In 2017, Ms. Han was featured on the Nasdaq big screen as a young musician and was the only pianist invited to attend President Obama’s dinner party. As Ms. Han teaches music to young students, she has developed a strong interest in early childhood education and began studying courses related to early education.

Ms. Maria received her American Montessori Society certificate at Capital Education in 2018. Her past work experiences include working as a special education teacher at Yorba Linda/Placentia school district. She also has worked at other Montessori schools in Fullerton and Laguna Niguel as a lead Teacher and Spanish Immersion teacher in the primary classroom for four years. Ms. Maria joined LePort in 2013.

Mrs. Ann Huang is the passionate and experienced manager of our Montessori preschool at LePort. Born and raised in Taiwan, she is fluent in both Mandarin and English, which makes her an excellent fit for LePort’s immersion programs, enriching the cultural experience for young minds. Mrs. Huang’s educational journey began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the prestigious National Taipei University of Technology. However, her true passion lies in education and fostering the growth of young children. She pursued her dream by acquiring Early Childhood Education certificates through the Theoria Technical College, solidifying her foundation in the field.

Mrs. Huang’s connection to LePort is deeply rooted in her belief in the Montessori philosophy. She is excited about the school’s commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience that caters to each child’s unique strengths and interests. Montessori’s hands-on approach to learning resonates with her deeply, as she has witnessed firsthand the positive impact it has on the holistic development of young learners. Beyond her professional life, Mrs. Huang is an avid swimmer and an ardent traveler. She finds joy in exploring new places and cultures, constantly seeking opportunities for personal growth. In her free time, she cherishes gatherings with her friends and family, as they share moments of laughter and connection.

Ms. Yuan Li was born and raised in Kunming, China. She is fluent in Mandarin. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the Yunnan Normal University in 2010, and later obtained a Master’s Degree in computer science from Xiamen University. She previously worked at the largest futures company in China until she had her first child. After becoming a parent, she developed a strong interest in early childhood education and started taking various courses related to children’s education in Beijing, including obtaining certifications in Lactation Consultant and Positive Discipline for Children aged 0-6. She is highly skilled in teaching using Mandarin. Both of her children grew up in a Montessori environment, which made her deeply appreciate the Montessori education. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her family, watching movies, hiking and making pour-over coffee by herself. She likes Chinese food and Chinese culture.

Ms. Grace Li is originally from Xian, China. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the Beijing Normal University Department of Mathematics. She has been teaching ever since and is especially interested in working with preschool children. Ms. Li loves children and is very patient with them. She hopes that every child can grow up happily and make progress in doing everything well. She likes to travel, cook and do yoga in her free time.

Ms. Elsa Ma was originally from Shenzhen, China. She graduated from Shenzhen University with a degree in Business Administration and has received an American Montessori Society (AMS) certification from Montessori Teacher Education Center, San Francisco Bay Area. Ms. Ma comes to LePort with many years of Montessori teaching experience in English-Mandarin bilingual classrooms. Ms. Ma is the proud mother of 2 young boys and it was her own journey through motherhood that ignited her interest in a career working with young children. Ms. Ma believes that teachers can make a profound impression on our children and their future and is honored to have the opportunity to guide students in their development.

Ms. Trina Zhang has been a member of our LePort Mandarin campus community since early 2016. She earned her Association Montessori Internationale diploma from the Montessori Institute of San Diego. She also received a certificate in child development from Imperial Valley College.

Ms. Zhang grew up in Singapore and in the past has worked in investment banking as well as for Knight Frank as a real estate broker. She later earned a diploma in special education. Ms. Zhang previously lived in Tokyo for a few years as well as other major cities. In Chicago, she studied art and attended Ray College of Design. She also spent time in New York City, where she earned a computer business diploma from Drake Business School. Ms. Zhang has been working with children in preschools for more than ten years. Prior to joining LePort, she worked for the Imperial County Office of Education and Kids R Us (Early Care & Education Programs). Her aim is to guide each child to reach their fullest potential. In her spare time, she enjoys arts and crafts, cooking, gardening and music.

Originally from China, Nancy moved to the United States in 2012 to pursue studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where she earned a BFA in Fashion Design in 2015. She worked at URBN from 2016 to 2020 as a Creative Technical Designer after graduation. Her experience in the design industry instilled a strong appreciation for creativity, attention to detail, and thoughtful communication. In 2020, she returned to SCAD to pursue a Master of Arts in Luxury and Brand Management, which she completed in 2022-”the same year she welcomed her baby boy. Becoming a mother sparked a deep interest in early childhood development and education. While caring for her son, she began exploring Montessori philosophy and developed a passion for nurturing young learners. She joined LePort in April 2025 and is excited to support children’s growth and discovery in a warm, respectful environment. She finds joy in contributing to a classroom where curiosity is celebrated and every child is recognized as capable, unique, and full of potential.

Ms. Ruby Xu earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and has 25 years of experience working as a head teacher in a kindergarten in China. She was an active participant in the local preschool education community and has received multiple certificates and awards from the city’s education board. After moving to the United States, Ms. Xu brings her passion and experience to LePort Montessori as a Mandarin assistant teacher, aiming to create a supportive learning environment for children. In her spare time, Ms. Xu enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.