Our dedicated team of passionate educators pledges to provide a nurturing and enriching learning environment for our students. We bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and creativity to inspire young minds and cultivate a love for learning.
Our team comprises professionals who share a common goal:
At Hong Wu Golden Dragon, we are committed to:
We invite you to meet our team and experience the caring, inspiring, and dynamic atmosphere at Hong Wu Golden Dragon. Together, we will empower your child’s educational journey.
Enroll today and be a part of our nurturing educational community!
Ms. Huang, founder of the Hong Wu Kung Fu Taichi Academy and owner of Golden Dragon After School, began her journey as a Wushu teacher after arriving in the U.S. in 2005. A professional Wushu athlete from China, she previously served as a Wushu professor at Ningbo University for three years before moving to the United States.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes to the world, including a shift to online learning in after-school environments. As a mother of two young daughters, Ms. Huang recognized that virtual learning was not a sustainable option for her family. Motivated by her role as both a parent and a martial arts instructor, she saw an opportunity to create a space where students could grow both academically and athletically. This vision gave rise to Golden Dragon After School.
Golden Dragon After School reflects Ms. Huang’s passion for education, discipline, and community. Known for her meticulous approach and deep commitment to her students’ development, she has built a strong reputation through years of teaching and leadership in local after-school programs. With a dedicated team, she strives to find the best teachers and implement high-quality programs that empower students to become their best selves. The school provides an environment where children can thrive, grow academically and physically, and build lasting friendships.
Ms. Wu (Chinese Teacher)
Ms. Wu approaches teaching as a balance of unwavering dedication and the ability to overcome challenges. A graduate of the Art Department at Tianjin Normal University, she gained valuable experience both as an art teacher and by running her own studio.
In 2021, Ms. Wu joined HongWu Golden Dragon Academy as a Chinese and Art teacher. Known for her unique teaching style, she enjoys sharing her ideas and experiences with her students, fostering both creativity and curiosity in the classroom. Her teaching environment combines fun, interactive learning with a disciplined and structured approach, helping students grow academically and artistically.
Leo Xiang
Natural Science Teacher
Leo Xiang is an accomplished natural history painter and science illustrator whose career bridges art, education, and conservation. Over two decades, he has created illustrations for leading publications such as One Hundred Thousand Whys and Chinese National Geography. His projects include organizing the world’s largest clam-shell mosaic to raise awareness for the endangered spoon-billed sandpiper and designing the pioneering Science Container Stations for ecological education in China. As a lecturer and mentor, he has trained young artists and students in natural history painting and STEM+ nature courses, sharing his passion for biodiversity through both classrooms and exhibitions worldwide.
Mr. Josh (FLL Robotics, Math)
During the Golden Dragon After School program hours, Mr. Josh offers classes related to FIRST Lego League (FLL) Robotics and Noetic Mathematics Strategies, along with assistance for various homework assignments students may encounter. His teaching approach of asking questions to questions (similar to the socratic method of learning) helps students reach their own conclusions about what they are learning, and help build intuition on that knowledge so that they can apply it for themselves. Once a student does gain an understanding of a subject, Mr. Josh also makes sure that they can apply it for themselves through different challenging exercises and puzzles he finds or creates to “stimulate” that knowledge.
Background:
Mr. Josh is a recent graduate from the University of California: San Diego, Majoring in Applied Mathematics and Minoring in Engineering Mechanics. Before graduating, Mr. Josh began his STEM journey at a very young age through playing with various Lego sets to express his creativity in mechanical engineering. This journey in engineering would be cultivated through various different programs and student organization that he was apart of throughout his life. These programs and organizations included the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) middle and high school courses, the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) high school program, and the Society of Asian Scientist and Engineers (SASE) College organization.
Ms. Shelly (Office Manager)
Ms. Shelly is a dedicated art educator with a strong background in visual arts, specializing in both traditional and digital media. She earned her degree in Visual Art – Media from UC San Diego and has developed her artistic expertise through a range of experiences, including teaching at various studios and working on illustration projects. Known for her ability to inspire creativity and support individual growth, Shelly offers personalized instruction to students of all ages, encouraging exploration of advanced techniques and the development of strong portfolios. With a foundation in film, photography, and cross-cultural studies, she brings a unique and thoughtful perspective to her teaching, helping students build technical skills and a deeper appreciation for art in all its forms.
Ms. Joy (Math Teacher)
Educator | Dual Language Specialist
Ms. Joy holds a Master’s Degree in Dual Language Education from San Diego State University. She currently teaches in the San Diego Unified School District and at Golden Dragon After School. With extensive experience working with young children, she brings warmth and dedication to every classroom.
She believes in creating a safe, welcoming environment where students feel supported and encouraged to learn. In her math classes, students not only build strong foundational skills but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Guided by the philosophy that “each student is unique and brings their own strengths to the classroom,” Ms. Joy values learning from her students as much as she teaches them.
Ms. Mariam (English Writing)
Mariam is a Californian poet. She has an extensive background as an educator. Her role as a poet-teacher — particularly through her involvement with programs like California Poets in the Schools — contributes to her teaching style. She blends inquiry-based learning with creative expression, emphasizing student voice, cultural identity, and the sensory power of language.
Mariam has her Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Sociology from UC Davis and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry from San Diego State University.
Mariam has Her first book, “Hidden Parts,” was published in January 2025 through Broken Tribe Press.
Ms. Katie (Math, Python)
Katie Jiang holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Social Data Science from UCLA. She has experience teaching STEM to students in grades 2–6 and serving as a volunteer tutor with San Diego Refugee Tutoring. Prior to joining Golden Dragon, Katie worked as a marketing research analyst and grew up in the San Diego area.
Katie’s teaching approach emphasizes building positive connections and motivating students to foster a genuine love of learning. She creates a safe and supportive environment where every student feels welcomed, and she adapts lessons to meet their needs. Through interactive, engaging activities that encourage active participation, Katie helps students connect ideas to the real world, develop curiosity, and take on new challenges with confidence.
Ms. Cao
Chinese Language Teacher
Cao Lao Shi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature and Education from Shanghai Normal University, and a Master’s degree in Chinese Studies from the National University of Singapore. With nearly 20 years of experience teaching Chinese at the secondary level in China and Singapore, she brings deep expertise to her students. Since moving to the United States, she has continued teaching at various after-school programs, including Huaxia Chinese School.
Her student-centered approach focuses on adapting lessons to individual learning needs, using diverse tools and methods to make Chinese both accessible and engaging. Known for creating dynamic, interactive classrooms, she encourages curiosity, humor, and active participation—earning the lasting appreciation of her students.
Maya Li
Art Instructor | Illustrator | Author
Maya graduated from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) with a degree in Art and Design. She received professional training in drawing and painting from a young age, accumulating over ten years of experience before entering CAFA. Since 2011, she has been dedicated to art education, combining her deep artistic background with a passion for teaching.
Maya is a freelance illustrator and a published book author. She is a member of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her excellence in teaching has earned her recognition as one of the top 10 art teachers/studios with high merit in leading K–12 art competitions across the United States for several consecutive years. She has taught hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to win national and international awards.
Maya is a freelance illustrator and a published book author. She is a member of the National Art Education Association (NAEA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Her excellence in teaching has earned her recognition as one of the top 10 art teachers/studios with high merit in leading K–12 art competitions across the United States for several consecutive years. She has taught hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to win national and international awards.
Dalbert Marin
Spanish Tutor | Bilingual Educator | Language Coach
Dalbert Marin is a highly experienced and well-regarded Spanish tutor, committed to helping students achieve fluency and confidence in Spanish, regardless of their starting level. With a strong background in both classroom teaching and private tutoring, Dalbert designs personalized, engaging lesson plans that cater to each student’s unique learning style. He currently teaches at High Bluff Academy and Golden Dragon Academy in California, working with students from elementary through advanced levels.
Since 2019, Dalbert has also offered private Spanish tutoring in the San Diego area, empowering learners to excel through motivational, culturally rich instruction. His teaching approach blends native language proficiency, academic structure, and a deep, empathetic understanding of student challenges.
Dalbert holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from National University in La Jolla and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Universidad del Valle in Colombia. He brings bilingual fluency, cultural insight, and a genuine passion for teaching to every lesson.
Mr Sergio
Chess Teacher
Mr. Sergio is a highly experienced and well-respected chess instructor, dedicated to helping students grow from beginner to advanced levels. With a strong background in classroom teaching, private tutoring, and competition preparation, he brings a well-rounded and structured approach to chess education.
Mr. Sergio is especially skilled at recognizing and adapting to each student’s unique learning style, ensuring that every lesson is engaging, effective, and tailored to the individual. His supportive and encouraging teaching style keeps students motivated while helping them build critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills through the game of chess.
Over the years, Mr. Sergio has successfully guided many students to compete in scholastic chess tournaments, where they have gained both confidence and recognition. Whether working one-on-one or with a group, he fosters a positive learning environment where students not only improve their chess skills but also develop patience, focus, and sportsmanship.
Mr. Sergio welcomes students of all ages and experience levels, and is passionate about instilling a lifelong appreciation for the game of chess.
Li Lao Shi
Chinese/Bilingual Chinese Teacher
Ms. Li is a highly sought-after Chinese teacher, known for her warm and dedicated teaching style, through which she builds strong and positive connections with her students. Before immigrating to the United States, she taught Mandarin at Southwest University in China. She later worked as a host for Chongqing Television Station and then Beijing Television Station. She also managed KAKU Cartoon Satellite TV during her time at Beijing TV Station. In early 2025, Ms. Li joined Golden Dragon After School, where she has been teaching Chinese ever since.
Ms. Andrea Flute and piano teacher
A passionate musician born in Prague, Czech Republic Andrea has been studying classical flute, soprano recorder and piano since an very early age.
Brought up in a musical family and with a wealth of experience studying classical music in musical colleges in Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, Andrea has spent over a decade sharing her love for teaching classical music to children of all ages.
Andrea has excellent subject knowledge in music and a strong desire to provide her students with a world class musical education.
Qingwen Bi (Wushu teacher)
Bi Qingwen graduated from Beijing Sport University with a major in Wushu and Traditional National Sports. She is a National First-Class Athlete and holds a Fifth Duan in Chinese Wushu. She also has certificates as a high school PE teacher and a Wushu routine coach, with strong professional skills and lots of teaching experience.
She has performed many times on China Central Television (CCTV) and at the Liaoning Spring Festival. She won the all-around championship in Long Fist, Sword, and Spear events in Jiangxi Province for seven years. She is a national sword routine champion, and won first prize in the Zhuhai Teacher Skills Competition. She was named as an Outstanding Baduanjin Instructor in Zhuhai, and is a well-recognized referee at both provincial and city levels.
The students she instructed has won first place in the Beijing Wushu competition, and also has won a couple mentals in Guangdong Zhuhai Wushu competition. She also took part in demonstrating the International Third Set of Sword Routines for the Chinese Wushu Association, showing her strong teaching and promotion skills.
Ms. Xia (Dance Teacher)
Ms Xia is both dancer and dance repertoire teacher. She graduated from Beijing Dance Academy and has worked at the China National Opera & Chinese Dance Drama Theater.
In 2011, she performed many times at the Chinese Dance Drama Theater, appearing in large-scale dance dramas such as Rewapu Love Song and The Peddler and the Lady, where she played the street performer girl and also worked as a dance choreographer.
In 2014, she won the overall championship on CCTV-3’s variety show Here Comes the Talent. She was also invited to perform at the special gala celebrating Pan Changjiang 30-year career, Anhui TV’s Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Spring Festival Gala, and CCTV’s Courtesy to You program. She has long served as a choreographer for major programs on CCTV and achieved excellent teaching results.
She is highly skilled at creating original dance, with a fresh and creative choreographic style. She is good at discovering students’ strengths and tailoring her teaching to them, earning great praise from students and parents. Her teaching of dance repertoire is very detailed, helping students shape characters from within. Her original exam repertoire has repeatedly earned top scores in professional entrance exams at Beijing Dance Academy, Central Academy of Drama, and Minzu University of China, receiving wide recognition.
She has successfully trained many students who have been admitted to top professional dance schools in Beijing.
Ms. Alina (Gymnastic Teacher)
Alina Oleinik is a personal trainer and gymnastics coach with over 15 years of experience in fitness, personal training, gymnastics coaching, and customer service. She is a former professional athlete with 14 years of experience in sports acrobatics and holds the title of Master of Sport in Sports Acrobatics. Alina has expertise in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and rehabilitation, and is a certified professional with a strong foundation in fitness program development and client relationship management. She is skilled in working with clients of all ages, including elite athletes and children, and is dedicated to delivering exceptional service while maintaining high professional standards.
Her experience includes coaching at Champion Rhythmics and Nova – Luna Gymnastics, where she developed athletes’ physiological and technical skills, provided orthopedic support, and designed individualized training programs. She previously worked as an elite trainer and supervisor at Fitness Park “KINEXT,” master trainer at Forma – Fitness, and personal trainer and supervisor at Health-Improving Center “Quantum-Athlete.” Alina holds a diploma in General Gymnastics from the Institute of Physical Culture of Sport and Tourism and continues to expand her knowledge with certifications including Orthopedic Exercise Specialist (ACE, in progress).
Ms. Mia
Graduated from Southwest University with a degree in Broadcasting and Hosting and hold a Level 1-B Mandarin Proficiency Certificate. With a strong foundation in language and extensive stage experience, I have hosted numerous large-scale events in San Diego. I bring the energy and presence of the stage into my teaching, creating lively, engaging, and dynamic classes that spark children’s interest in learning. My teaching emphasizes interaction and fun, and I specialize in helping students refine their pronunciation, improve the clarity of their speech, and build confidence in their self-expression. This passionate and student centered approach has made me a teacher loved by both children and parents.
Karama “Ayanna” Butler provides class instruction for Ballet, Modern Contemporary Dance, Musical Arts Theater, Jazz Dance, and Hip/Hop Street Jazz. Her programs and classes are widely available for beginners to professionals thanks to her adaptive style, focusing on helping students progress at every level. She pushes students technically as much as possible, while maximizing their class experience by deeply exploring their individual needs as a dancer while honoring the culture they bring into the studio. She is very passionate about bridging the cultural gap in dance by being a diverse addition to our faculty and bringing her wealth of experience into every classroom. She is a wonderful addition to HWGD as well as the San Diego dance community.
Background:
Recently relocating to San Diego from Los Angeles, Karama was previously an Adjunct Dance Professor at Hussian College. During her time at Hussain, she instructed ballet and contemporary class to commercial dance majors from freshman to senior level. Before that, she trained at the Alvin Ailey School and Cincinnati Ballet along with many other notable programs. Passionate about diversity in dance, she is guided by mentors in this field and teaches with many diverse experiences. In Los Angeles, she worked in various companies within the Latin, African, and Asian communities. These companies include Conga Kids, Korean Federation of Dance, and Pointe Ballet School/Chinese Schools where she utilized dance to enhance socio-emotional development.
Wang Lao Shi
Chinese language teacher
Ms. Wang holds a certificate as an International Senior Chinese Language Teacher，she has been deeply dedicated to this field, having guided nearly a hundred students through critical breakthroughs in their Chinese learning journey. She specializes in creating customized learning plans tailored to each student’s age, proficiency level, and individual learning style. In teaching, she is good at creating a lively and efficient classroom: she uses interesting animations to explain Chinese characters, simulates life scenes with situational dialogues, and designs group challenge games to consolidate knowledge points, allowing children to easily master Chinese in laughter. Her class is rigorous yet very interesting, and it is a valuable class to participate in.
Jenny Z
Ms. Jenny is a skilled acrobatics instructor with a lifelong connection to the art. Born into an acrobatics family, she developed a deep passion for the discipline at an early age. She graduated from Shandong Jinan Art College, where she specialized in acrobatics and flexibility.
From 2014, Ms. Jenny toured the U.S. for five years, performing in a variety of acrobatic shows across multiple cities. After retiring from touring, she spent three years as a professional coach and instructor with the Bay Area Soaring Education Group. In 2023, she joined HongWu Golden Dragon Academy as an acrobatics instructor.
Ms. Jenny’s teaching style is supportive, patient, and highly personalized. She takes the time to understand each student’s individual needs, carefully breaks down complex movements, and provides hands-on demonstrations to build confidence and skill. Her passion for acrobatics and her encouraging nature make her classes enjoyable and rewarding for students of all ages.
