The Northern California Chinese School Association held a press conference on May 28th to announce the campaign platforms of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the association. The candidate for the 47th presidency is Li Naya, while the candidate for vice president is Fu Qijun.
Li Naya, the principal of Bay Valley Chinese School and founder of Lafayette Fun Mandarin, holds a Master’s degree in Broadcast Television Management from the City University of New York. She has taught at Bay Valley Chinese School, Contra Costa Chinese School, and Las Lomas High School, and has also worked as a television news anchor and program host.
Fu Qijun, the principal of Bo’ai Chinese School, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He has held various engineering positions in multiple technology companies, including engineer, senior engineer, engineering manager, and engineering director.
Regarding schools, the focus is on fostering connections with mainstream schools, paying attention to teachers’ mental well-being, and advancing the development of overseas Chinese schools and the association on the basis of heritage. Concerning students, the emphasis is on the growth of the new generation of American-born Chinese (ABC) students, promoting joyful learning, driving cognitive shifts, and simultaneously placing importance on the balanced development of language and culture.
In terms of initiatives, a comprehensive support system for member schools will be put in place, such as assisting in connecting with mainstream communities, promoting Chinese culture, strengthening the cohesion of teaching staff, consolidating team strength, upholding the core values of overseas Chinese education, supporting mutual assistance among schools, and maximizing community impact. Efforts will also be made to unify and integrate resources while providing necessary assistance.
Additionally, creating an effective, warm, and safe environment for teachers is a key priority. This includes hiring outstanding teaching staff from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, sharing diverse and highly interactive teaching methods, providing opportunities for mainstream school certification exams and further education, inviting experts to explain the needs of special education students, offering workshops for teachers’ personal growth, and arranging mental health sessions and childcare services to care for teachers’ well-being.
Furthermore, a variety of academic and cultural competitions and activities will be organized for students, including storytelling, idiom contests, multimedia presentations, singing competitions, academic competitions, and Chinese proficiency tests. Events like calligraphy contests, Chinese New Year poster design competitions, co-organizing Confucius Memorial ceremonies and National Day painting contests will also be held to provide students with immersive experiences in Chinese culture. Scholarships and volunteer awards will be offered to recognize academic excellence and community service spirit.
This proactive approach aims to elevate the educational experience for both teachers and students, emphasizing cultural exchange, academic growth, and community engagement within the Chinese language school community.