Gulu Gulu teachers and staff want to form a strong and trusted partnership with you to ensure the best possible relationship with your child.

Our teachers provide daily communication with families and seek to understand your unique needs.

Karen Chan

2010 | Founder of Gulu Gulu Learning Academy program

Starting in 2010, Karen has been dedicating herself to a career in young children’s early development and education. She studied Education/Multiple Subjects Teaching (Liberal Studies) at Fresno State University, California. Before she started Gulu Gulu, she had been working with different age groups of children, as well as volunteering in special education classrooms. All these experiences prepared her well for her future teaching path to serve more children and families!

Moreover, with the benefit of her Asian heritage, she is determined to bring diverse cultural values into her classrooms. She believes that teachers should provide a positive and caring environment for children to bolster their skills and achieve possible accomplishments.

As director of the program, Karen has been playing a leadership role with her staff, as well as being a team player! In order to reach this goal, Gulu Gulu offers staff development opportunities and staff events to build up team spirit.

Besides, parents and teachers should also work as a team! Therefore, Gulu Gulu offers parents ongoing communication platforms through email, phone meetings, Saturday playdates, and family events.

“As adults, we can inspire and encourage a love of learning in our children, but we can’t push them to learn. We can do far better by creating an environment of support — both at home and at school — in which children can develop their own ideas, express feelings, take chances, make choices, share their opinions, and most of all, grow to be strong individuals. By knowing what interests your child has and discovering how she/he learns best, we can help him/her build skills in the context of his/her strengths and assist him/her to explore the full potentials.”

Karen Chan, Director

Our Staff

Ms. Christine - Program Director - Gulu Gulu Learning Academy Rancho

Hello Families! I earned two associates in Sociology and Social and Behavioral Sciences from Chaffey College and soon after graduated with my Bachelor's in Sociology. I have been working in the field of education for nearly 8 years and truly find it to be my passion. Throughout my teaching career, I have accumulated crucial knowledge and techniques to modify and improve my craft as an educator while also attending career development programs, seminars, and workshops. I have worked with a variety of youth age groups from Infants to Middle School at several education centers which include Tutor Time, KinderCare, City of Rancho Cucamonga Playschool, and Church Schools, while also providing independent teaching and life coaching services to students or families.

Overall, I've dedicated a lot of time and effort to providing the best education for my students, as well as providing helpful and supportive information for families. I am a firm believer that active self-development is one of the most important traits a teacher can possess because as an educator we are role models for our students; the role of an educator is not only to teach academics but also to help students learn about the world, humanity, develop a goal mindset, and striving to self-improve.

My goal is not only to get students to reach academic excellence but to also guide students to become the best version of themselves, develop a curiosity about the world, have compassion, critically think, and be equipped with important life skills and values.Outside of the classroom, I am very much a foodie! I love trying out new foods and restaurants! While I am home I also enjoy watching historical movies or documentaries and tending to my herb garden.

Ms. Amanda

Preschool to a kindergarten teacher, English teacher, and Math teacher

I have an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. I have been teaching preschool and kindergarten for over 14 years. My passion in life is helping other people in any way I can. One of those ways is helping students learn, grow, and mature.

Ms. Anh

Homework Club, English, Math, Coding, Vietnamese, On-site teacher

Hello, I'm Ms.Anh, and I'm on a mission to make learning math, coding, and Vietnamese an absolute blast! With my Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, I'm not just teaching subjects; I'm creating an experience that's bursting with enthusiasm and excitement.

In my classroom at Gulu Gulu, every lesson is an adventure. Whether we're diving into coding challenges, tackling math problems, or exploring the beauty of the Vietnamese language, I'm all about infusing energy and passion into everything we do.

But what really gets me going is understanding child development. I've delved deep into the world of how kids learn, and I use that knowledge to craft teaching methods that are as unique as each of my students. Because for me, it's not just about imparting knowledge; it's about empowering young minds to reach their full potential and discover the joy of learning in their own way. I hope to see your child in one of my classrooms!

你好，我是Anh老師。

我致力于让学习数学、编程和越南语变得充满乐趣！

拥有软件工程学士学位的我，不仅仅是在教授学科，更是在创造一种充满热情的學習体验。

我認為在咕嚕咕嚕学院的教室里，每一堂课都是一次冒险。无论我们是在探索编程挑战，解决数学问题，还是探索越南语的美丽，我都致力于将能量和熱情融入於我们所學所做的每一堂課。

但是真正吸引我的是理解儿童发展。我深入探索了孩子们的学习世界，我利用这些知识打造了与我每一个学生独特的教学方法。因为对於我来说，传授知识並不是最重要的，我更着重的是让年轻的心灵充分发挥潜力，以自己的方式发现学习的乐趣。

Ms. Victoria

Afterschool Assistant, Chinese Language Coach

I earned a bachelor's degree from Tainan University of Technology in Taiwan. My personality is cheerful, careful, and enthusiastic. I love to do arts and crafts. While I treat our students like friends, I always do my best to help them learn and grow at the same time.

Ms. Mara

Spanish and English Teacher

I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Child & Adolescent Development and Psychological Science. During my undergraduate studies, I also minored in Spanish and tutored the subject at my university. — ¡Hola! — Additionally, I earned my Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL) Certificate, and I am currently studying German for fun. — Wie geht es Ihnen? — I am also an active Research Assistant in the Bilingualism, Mind, and Brain (BMB) Lab at the University of California, Irvine. — Did you know that research studies have shown there are cognitive benefits to learning more than one language?! — I am passionate about language learning and I genuinely enjoy working in early childhood education. I have more than five wonderful years of experience working with children and youth in a variety of educational settings, including but not limited to: preschool, pre-kindergarten, and school-age programs at Tutor Time in Murrieta, California, and at multiple U.S. military Child Development Centers (CDC) in Kaneohe, Hawaii and Stuttgart, Germany. With that being said, I love to learn, I love to travel and I believe children should have the opportunity to explore the world and different cultures in the classroom (and outside of it!) whenever possible. Language studies are an excellent way to incorporate multiculturalism into the curriculum and I am excited to provide my students with ample opportunities to investigate, experiment, explore, discover, play and learn!

Ms. Rana

Education Coach + Math, French, Public Speaking teacher

My name is Rana Abourizk and I am proud to be an Educational Coach at Gulu Gulu Learning Academy. I have held many positions like TOEFL Instructor, Kids Teacher, Lesson Writer, Teacher Supervisor, Lead Instructor, Teacher Recruiter, and now Educational Coach at Gulu Gulu.I have trained students for taking various exams like TOEFL, IELTS, ACT, SAT, and Accuplacer. I have written well over 300 English lessons for an online school while I was a Teaching Supervisor and over 30 Business lessons while I was a Lesson Writer. I recruited several qualified teachers for a few online schools.I still continue to recruit teachers, write lessons and teach. I love teaching children especially because I believe teachers help children build good foundational skills to do well in the classroom. I have a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in E-Learning in addition to an M.B.A. Currently, I am working on developing the ESL program. The focus of the ESL program is to develop students' English Language skills using various teaching styles and strategies that cater to each individual student’s needs.

Ms. Jing

Mandarin Teacher

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in The Capital Normal University at the city of BeiJing. Have more than five years’ experiences for learning coach at Multinational Corporation and got the first level certificate of China Mandarin test (PSC).

It is a good start for my new career at Gulu Gulu, and also, I will be full of passionate about teaching mandarin and supporting students to grow, shine and succeed. Many of us dream of being able to effortlessly converse in many languages.

Let’s face it—multilingualism is a widely desired trait. It’s a key that unlocks new cultures and ways of thinking. The benefits are numerous: speaking a second language increases cognitive abilities like problem solving,creativity, and memory. Becoming and being bilingual actually makes you smarter! I will be guiding students with various learning styles through reading, idiom & Chinese poetry videos and storytelling while being devoted to creating a fun, engaging, and efficient learning environment for students of different level.

Ms. Chelsea

Chinese Mandarin Teacher

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and worked with young kids for several years, and then decided to pursue an advanced degree in the United States. During my graduate school, I found my interest in language learning so I switched my studies to the Language Education field, obtaining a Master of Arts in Language Education, and then became a Mandarin language teacher. My students range from preschool to high school age and come from diverse backgrounds. As an Early Childhood Educator, and with language learners, I know that “Persistence” is one of the important methods towards learning successfully. Therefore, I always encourage my students to continue their learning. Sooner or later, they will be rewarded for their efforts. For young students, I believe ‘Fun’ is a way to help their learning. I enjoy working with students and parents and look forward to seeing you soon.

Ms. Kammy

Chinese Cantonese Teacher

I have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science. I also have a certificate in Child Speech and Language Development, and Early Childhood Teaching Qualifications in Australia and Hong Kong. I have over ten years of teaching experience in various roles, like Online Teacher, Tutor, and Teaching Supervisor. When it comes to teaching, I will never give up on my students. Everyone has their talents and strengths.

Ms. Winnie

Chinese Mandarin Teacher

Ms. Shieh has been teaching Chinese as a Second Language in California since 2015. She graduated from National Kaohsiung Normal University and received her teaching credentials for middle school in Taiwan. She is also certified for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Ms. Shieh believes that learning a second language should be fun for students of all ages, and she utilizes multi-media, interactive activities in class to encourage student participation.

Ms. Angel

English Reading, Writing and Grammar, Math

Hi! I'm Tiffany Angel, but you can call me Ms. Angel.

I graduated with my Associate Degree in Psychology from Salt Lake Community College. I went on an eighteen month service mission to Germany where I learned how to start teaching others and speaking the German language more fluently. I graduated from the University of Utah in May 2010, with double major Bachelor's of Art degrees in International Studies and Human Development and Family Studies. I earned my Master's Degree in Educational Psychology, also from the University of Utah, in December 2014.

I have taught in preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, and a little in 5th grade.

I love the arts, learning about different cultures, and anything creative with writing, arts, crafts, dancing, singing, drama, music, the symphony, opera, food, reading, taking pictures, making videos, etc. I love inspiring others and I look for the good in people. I have a daughter of my own and we love to spend family time together. I would love to start traveling and seeing the world again. I have a goal on my bucket list to visit every United State, and I would love to visit other countries as well. I can't wait to meet you and teach your child(ren)! We are going to have a blast! See you in class!

Ms. Carol

English

Carol enrolled in college later in life. She pursued a career working with children. During that time, shejuggled the roles of being a wife and a mom. She graduated in 2015 and received an associate’s degreein early childhood education.Carol has experience working with children from preschool age to 4th grade. She has primarily workedwith special Ed students. In addition, to working as a paraprofessional in the public school system, Carolalso freelances as a tutor specializing in reading grammar, and writing. Carol has a servants heart and has taught in Sunday school and childrens ministry. On many occasions, Carol would spend hourscreating innovative lessons for her students.

Carol is a creative, encouraging, and motivational educator. She views each child individually and usesthe metaphor of a flower bud to represent them. Each one has the ability to learn and grow when theyare nourished, heard, and understood. Carol believes firmly that teachers should be open-minded,caring, and understanding of all their students. Carol is a student of learning; she often studies a variety of topics and periodically enrolls in onlinecourses. She is an inspirational author and has been featured in several anthologies. She loves arts and crafts and has her own unique jewelry line. Carol loves nature: you could often find her stargazing andor chasing rainbows. Carol loves visiting parks and attending craft fairs. Carol loves to travel and seenew sights. She enjoys trivia and board games.

Ms. Richele

Math and English

My name is Richele and I have a bachelor's degree in Pure Mathematics. I have previously worked for Kumon as a Mathematics teacher for elementary and high school students. I was also a professor's Research Assistant in my university. Currently, I'm working for an Australian law firm specializing in conveyancing and I would love to pursue Law in the future. I believe each and every child has the ability to achieve greatness. It is my duty as an educator to motivate students to reach their full potential.

Ms. Jovy

English and Homework Club Teacher

It is my pleasure to introduce myself to you. My name is Jovy Ann Cubillo. I have been an ESL teacher for two years and seven months and a licensed professional teacher. Additionally, I have nine months of teaching experience in the public sector. I have been a volunteer teacher for six months and a substitute teacher for four months, and yes, I am passionate about teaching. Teaching kids and adults has always been a passion of mine. Looking forward to see you in my class.

Marketing Specialist

Hey there! I'm MJ, your friendly Social Media Manager. Passionate about all things social media, I live and breathe the ever-changing world of online engagement!

I've worked with various companies, from startups to well-established enterprises, creating compelling and impactful social media campaigns. My expertise spans multiple platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more!

My ultimate joy comes from seeing their social media metrics soar! Increased engagement, higher conversions, and a buzzing online community – that's the dream, and I'm here to make it a reality.

Ms. Erica

AfterSchool Educational Coach

Hello, I'm Erica!I pursued my love for languages by enrolling in renowned US institutes. I earned a Bachelor's degree in Language, Culture & Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Throughout my academic journey, I excelled in my studies, and my enthusiasm for language teaching grew stronger.

Growing up in a multicultural environment, I developed a deep appreciation for different languages and cultures. To start my new career at Gulu Gulu, I am passionate about preserving and promoting the Cantonese language in class, blending traditional language instruction with interactive activities and technology.

你好，我是Ms Erica！

我通过在美国著名学府学习，追求我对语言的热爱。

我在加州大学圣巴巴拉分校获得了语言、文化与社会学士学位。

在整个学术旅程中，確定了我对语言教学热情更加坚定。

由於我在一个多元文化的环境中长大，我对不同的语言和文化有着深厚的欣赏。为了开始我在咕嚕咕嚕教育學院的新职业，我对在课堂上推广英語、广東話和国語文充满熱情，並堅持将传统的语言教学与互动活动和技术相结合。期待在班房𥚃與你們相見。