Teaching & Admin Team
Little Tiger is a teacher-led school. All of our teachers possess extensive classroom experience. Most have master’s degree level training in foreign language education, and specific expertise in early childhood education. Most importantly, our teachers are energetic, engaging, and love working with children.
There is extraordinary collaboration across the classroom communities—all of our teachers know all of our students and vice versa. This creates a supportive, family-like environment.
In addition to academic training and professional experience, all Little Tiger teachers possess American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED – Pediatrics certification. School staff are also required to completed a background check with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Fingerprint-based Applicant Clearinghouse of Texas (FACT).
Meggie Chou
Founder + Head of School
Meggie Chou founded Chinese with Meggie in 2006 and Little Tiger Chinese Immersion School in 2015. Originally from Taiwan, Meggie holds a BFA in Studio Art from the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from UT-Austin. She also attended Rice University’s Institute for Chinese Language Teaching. Meggie believes in the power of language education at an early age and is dedicated to creating a fun, productive and engaging environment where students can thrive. In addition to overseeing Little Tiger, she also leads the teaching team in developing innovative programs and learning materials. She is the author of Diving into Chinese, a series of 40 books for young Chinese language learners. The books are published by China Sprout and Higher Education Press; e-books for the iPad are available through the iTunes Bookstore.
Jiao Li
Director of Little Tiger
Originally from Nanjing, Jiao Li is the Director of Little Tiger and a teacher with many years of experience in Chinese immersion education. Prior to joining Little Tiger, she was a Chinese immersion classroom teacher in Minneapolis’ Xinxing Academy for 6 years. She has an MA in TESOL (teaching English as a second language) from University of Florida, and a BA in Elementary Education from Nanjing Normal University in China. She also holds a TESOL certificate from Florida, K-6 teaching licenses from both Minnesota and Texas, and a K-12 teaching license from China. Before moving to the US, she taught middle school English in China for 3 years. She is a passionate teacher and loves using her energy and creativity to make Little Tiger an exciting and engaging place for her students and colleagues.
Rui Cao
Director of Admissions and Administration
Dr. Rui Cao received her BA in English for Foreign Trade from NanKai University in China. She earned a MA in English (with a concentration in ESL) from University of Toledo and a PhD in Linguistics from University of Florida. Dr. Cao directs the school’s admissions and administration. In the past, she also led Adult Professional Classes at Chinese with Meggie. Prior to joining Little Tiger, Dr. Cao was a faculty member at the Defense Language Institute, Concordia University Texas, and Schreiner University. While at Schreiner, she served as Coordinator of the Texas Learning Consortium between 2015-2019.
Yuxia Liu
Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
Yuxia Liu received her Masters Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from Jinan University in Guangzhou, and she holds K-12 teaching certification in China. Before joining the Little Tiger team, she taught for three years in China and abroad. Among her previous teaching positions, she was a Chinese teacher for the Confucius Institute in Bangkok, where she also learned to speak Thai. Her passion for teaching is equally matched by her passion for learning.
Anny Chen
Early Childhood Division Montessori Teacher
Anny Chen Martinez works with students in Little Tiger’s Early Childhood Division (PK2-4), drawing on her training as a Montessori guide. Prior to her teaching career, Ms. Anny was based in China and worked as head of Asian market expansion for a large clothing retailer. She received her BA in International Trade from Tunghai University, Taiwan, in 2004. Between 2013 and 2014, she was awarded a scholarship in the EMBA program at Hult International School. In 2016, she received her certificates in TCSOL (Teaching Chinese to Speakers Of Other Language) and EDI (Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language). At Little Tiger, Anny uses her Montessori expertise to help our youngest students develop essential skills, strong foundational working habits, and a sense of independence and pride.
Sharon Lin
Lower Elementary Lead Teacher
Sharon Lin is a lower elementary lead teacher at Little Tiger. Before beginning her career in education, she received her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard University, and later worked as a landscape designer in Taipei, Taiwan. While in Taipei, she co-founded and led a TESL after-school program for eight years. Sharon holds certificates for TCSL from National Taiwan Normal University, and LOTE Chinese writing and oral proficiency from ACTFL. Sharon is passionate about using pedagogical methods grounded in science to create fun and effective learning experiences.
Ms. Shanna Flores
English/ESL Teacher
Shanna Flores graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and Sociology, focusing on different cultures, ways of life, and societies. This academic experience sparked a passion for teaching in international settings. Ms. Shanna has taught children in America, South Africa, Kenya, and China. Prior to joining Little Tiger, she spent five years in Shanghai, where she was an early years teacher at a renowned British international school, Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong. Although she misses Shanghai very much, she is grateful to be back in Texas, closer to loved ones, and part of the Little Tiger family, where she and her daughter can continue to be immersed in Chinese language and culture. In her free time, Ms. Shanna enjoys traveling the world, learning Mandarin, fostering rescue animals, and reading.
Han Zhong
Upper Elementary Class Four Homeroom Teacher
Han Zhong is a passionate educator who enjoys teaching and learning with young children. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language and Southwest University with a BA in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Prior to joining Little Tiger, she was certified in Washington State, where she taught for two years in a Chinese + Japanese dual-language elementary school. She is dedicated to practicing research-based teaching approaches to help children become lifelong learners. During her free time, she enjoys hiking, watercoloring, and spending time with her dogs.
Jingmin Wei
Early Childhood Division Montessori Teacher
Originally from China, Jingmin Wei holds American Montessori Society (AMS) Credentials in Early Childhood and Elementary I-II. In addition to her Montessori training, she is a graduate of Houston Baptist University, where she earned a Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Prior to joining Little Tiger, she taught in Montessori schools in the United States and China in both early childhood and elementary classroom settings. Ms. Wei is passionate about finding creative ways to combine Montessori pedagogies with traditional teaching methods, utilizing new ideas and approaches to inspire her students. Ms. Wei is committed to creating and fostering a loving and nurturing environment, in which her students can grow and learn to the best of their abilities. Watching students progress through the years gives her the greatest joy, and it is that unique experience which she finds professionally rewarding.
Cassandra (Cassie) Scheiber
English, Social Studies, and SEL Teacher
Cassie Scheiber graduated from Gettysburg College in 2017 with bachelor’s degrees in Globalization Studies and Political Science. Upon graduation, she moved to Taiwan, where she taught English for three years at an English Immersion elementary school in the southern city of Chiayi. While there, she developed new ESL and creative writing programs for the school, as well as an English immersion summer camp. Cassie has spent her life deeply involved in and passionate about multilingual and multicultural education, having grown up overseas and spent most of her life in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Cassie is also passionate about music. She has over 15 years of operatic vocal training and plays numerous instruments including violin, tuba, and upright bass. She loves sharing these passions with her students and believes that through a global education we can better prepare students for the future. Her goal is for every student to feel prepared, curious, and inspired to engage the world around them in their own way.
Xiaohong “Kitty” Li
Kinder Teacher
Kitty Li was born and raised in Shaanxi, China. She graduated from the prestigious Xi’an Foreign Language University with a bachelor’s degree in English (International Trade). After earning her degree, Kitty taught high school and college English in Shanghai for seven years. Kitty has extensive experience working as a certified translator and simultaneous interpreter of English and Chinese. Kitty first moved to the U.S in 2010 to teach Chinese. Since then she has gained spent over a decade teaching Chinese to students of diverse age groups and backgrounds. Before joining Little Tiger, Kitty taught Chinese at Montessori schools for 6 years in the Austin area. In her spare time Kitty enjoys her many hobbies, including hiking, biking, painting, sewing, and playing music instruments.
Andy Phillips
Upper Elementary Homeroom Teacher
Andy Phillips graduated from Gettysburg College with a bachelor’s in both Chinese Studies and Political Science. After graduating, he moved to Taiwan and served as a classroom teacher at Noble American Children’s School in Chiayi City. Andy has always had a passion for language acquisition and teaching. While in Taiwan, he implemented a new English reading program for his school’s elementary students. Andy always strives to make any subject fun and accessible to children so that they can feel empowered in their learning. Andy himself is passionate about multicultural education and believes it will better prepare students for their future. Andy’s goal for his students has always been to help them develop a curiosity for learning and a love for themselves and others. While Andy teaches in English, he also speaks excellent Chinese.
Mengyu Hu
Curriculum Developer and Administrator
Mengyu Hu earned her BA in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong and an MA in Philosophy at the University of Connecticut, where her research focused on philosophy of language, semantics, and logic. She is currently completing a PhD dissertation on the nature of logic of non-representative language. At Little Tiger, she works as a Curriculum Developer for Chinese Language Arts as well as assisting with administration. Before joining the Little Tiger team, she taught undergraduate level philosophy courses, leading small-group discussions for symbolic logic classes.
Dr. Wanchun Tseng
Elementary Math Teacher
Originally from Taiwan, Dr. WanChun Tseng earned her BA in English from National Kaohsiung Normal University and MA in Applied English from Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology. She received her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas Tech University. She holds an English teacher’s certificate issued in Taiwan and as well as several Texas teacher certifications related to English, Mandarin-Chinese, and Mathematics. Before moving to the United States, she taught high school English for 9 years and also served as an administrative coordinator. After receiving her doctoral degree, she taught in a public elementary school for 3 years, supporting intervention and enrichment in math and English as well as teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Prior to joining Little Tiger, she taught math in a middle school setting for two years. All of these experiences have developed her growth mindset and driven her to keep exploring and learning various creative ways to provide quality education for kids.
Yesica Perez
Teacher Support and Aftercare Staff
Yesica Perez is a classroom assistant who provides support in our ECD program and supervision in our after-care. Yesica is a long-time member of the Little Tiger community. For the past 6 years, she and her husband have provided daily custodial services to the school. Yesica is bilingual in English and Spanish, and she is now picking up some Chinese, too, through her daily exposure at Little Tiger. In addition to her work at LT, Yesica is a mother of two elementary age boys.
Stephen Donnellan
Physical Education Coach and SEL Instructor
Coach Stephen Donnellan is originally from the Republic of Ireland. He received his BA in Psychology from the National University of Ireland Galway and is certified to teach ESL, having received his CELTA certification from Cambridge University. Stephen has over ten years experience teaching both English and Physical Education in China, South Korea, The Czech Republic and Ireland. Stephen is passionate about sports and has played for and coached teams in soccer, gaelic football, field hockey and basketball. In addition to his work on the field, Stephen serves as an SEL instructor at Little Tiger.
Richard Schneeman
Computer Science Co-Instructor
Richard Schneeman has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and currently works as a computer programmer. Previously, he taught a software course at the University of Texas as an adjunct professor, and he has presented at over 33 conferences in 17 countries. A father of two LT students, Richard co-teaches an innovative Computer Science and Robotics course for the school’s upper elementary students.
Kalia Crowder
Computer Science Co-Instructor
Kalia Crowder has an MS in Electrical Engineering and a BA in Chinese, and has spent the majority of her career as an electrical and systems engineer in space systems research and development. In her current role as Principal Systems Engineer, she focuses on satellite networking technology. She is passionate about multilingual education and has experience working with students from preschool-age to college undergrads. At Little Tiger, she enjoys introducing upper elementary students to the exciting worlds of computers, programming, and robotics! While she teaches her course in English, Ms. Crowder also speaks Mandarin beautifully.