We as one camp

Sirui is a seasoned educator with over a decade of experience. She holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota with a focus on dual immersion education.  With a passion for multilingual education, Sirui brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to our team.  

Sirui currently teaches Chinese, Math and Social Studies at  Minnetonka Middle School East. She previously worked as a Middle School teacher at Yinghua Academy then a kindergarten homeroom teacher at XinXing Academy.   She strongly believes that integrating various linguistic and cultural perspectives into the curriculum not only broadens students' understanding of the world but also cultivates empathy, respect, and interconnectedness across cultural boundaries.  

Sirui has been part of We As One's team since 2021 and previously served as President on We As One Education's Board in 2024 and 2025.  She will be teaching our kindergarten and 1st Grade class at our Visitation site this summer.

Lin is a second-grade teacher at XinXing Academy in Hopkins Public Schools, where she has been teaching the district’s Chinese immersion program for over 12 years. She is passionate about fostering an engaging and inclusive learning environment, helping students build strong foundations in literacy, math, and inquiry-based learning. Through hands-on activities, cultural exploration, and real-world connections, Lin makes learning meaningful and encourages student agency, empowering children to take ownership of their education.  Beyond the classroom, Lin actively collaborates with families, colleagues, and the broader school community to promote language immersion education. She plays a key role in organizing cultural celebrations, leading field trips, and supporting students in extracurricular activities. 

Lin holds a Master’s degree in TESOL and is a certified Yoga Calm instructor for youth. Her dedication to teaching and student success was recognized when she was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award.  Lin has been teaching at Blake school camp 1st to 3rd grade classrooms since 2024 and also serves at We As One Education's lead teacher and helps refining curriculum and with the We As One Camp daily operations. 

Jieming has been teaching Chinese as a foreign language at different levels for over 15 years.  

She is a second-grade teacher Chinese immersion homeroom teacher from Minnetonka Public Schools.  She finished her second master's program (M.Ed) at the University of Minnesota, majoring in Second Language and Culture Education. She also completed her B.A. and M.A. in Chinese Language and Literature at Shanghai University in China.  Before moving to the U.S., she was a full-time Chinese teacher at an international high school in Shanghai. 

Jieming was recently named as the recipient of the Bradley G. Board Award for Excellence in Elementary Education from Minnetonka Public Schools. This award recognizes excellence and achievement in an elementary teacher or mentor who has a great impact on children.  Jieming has been teaching at We As One Camp Blake School site since 2024 and will be teaching  the 2nd and 3rd grade class at our Visitation School site this year.

Xuyang Zhang (Fiona) is a dedicated and experienced educator with 12 years of experience fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment for students in Chinese immersion schools.  She holds a Master's degree and a K-6 teaching license in dual language and immersion education from the University of Minnesota. 

Currently serving as the Kindergarten Team Lead and Mentor Teacher at Yinghua Academy, Zhang Laoshi is passionate about supporting her colleagues and guiding them in creating enriching learning experiences.  Zhang Laoshi has represented Yinghua and their excellent immersion program on multiple occasions, sharing her expertise and teaching experiences through public speaking engagements.  Her commitment to excellence was recognized when she was awarded "Teacher of the Term" for the 2024-2025 school year.   Fiona has been teaching at We As One Camp Blake School site as our Kindergarten and 1st grade teacher since 2024. 

Mengying is an experienced educator with over a decade of teaching experience in language and education. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a MN K–6 teaching license.

Throughout her educational journey, Mengying has taught across a variety of settings and age groups. She previously worked as a substitute teacher in Minnetonka Public Schools and served as a 1st and 5th  grade classroom teacher at Lakes International Language Academy (LILA) for 8 years.  She currently teaches Chinese at both the Lower School and the Middle School at Visitation School. Mengying believes that learning a language is a powerful way to open the door to understanding another culture and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.  She sees language learning not only as a tool for communication, but also as a journey that helps students develop a stronger sense of self while becoming more open-minded, empathetic, and understanding of others.  

Mengying has been part of We As One's team since 2021 and  will be teaching at both our Blake and  Visitation sites this summer as our 4th and 5th grade group teacher.

Yuqi brings over 17 years of teaching experience in both China and the United States.  After 6 years of elementary school teaching in China, she earned a Master’s Degree in Education from St. Thomas University and has taught in the Chinese Immersion Program in the Hopkins School District for the past 11 years. 

In addition to her classroom teaching, Yuqi is an accomplished vocal music educator with over 20 years of experience.  She currently serves as the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Minhua Chorus, integrating music and cultural learning to deepen students’ appreciation of both Chinese and American traditions.

Yuqi is excited to spend a fun and memorable summer with all 5th grade campers at We As One Camp at the Blake school site.  She looks forward to creating a joyful, engaging, and enriching experience where every child can learn, explore new interests, build lasting friendships, and create wonderful summer memories.

Zhe (Andrea) Feng is a dedicated Chinese teacher at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota, where she has been teaching for 6 years.  

Andrea earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from Minzu University in Beijing.  She continued her studies in the U.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before completing her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Second Language Education at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in 2019.  Currently, she is pursuing an Education Specialist degree at Hamline University.

Andrea is passionate about creating a warm and inclusive classroom community, engaging students with hands-on cultural activities, and inspiring students to become earth citizens.  She will be teaching the Middle School class at We As One Camp Blake School site this summer.

Neil Bray currently teaches Middle and Upper school Chinese as world language and culture at Saint Paul Academy. 

 In his 31 years of teaching, he has taught elementary, middle and high school students in public, private, and international schools settings.  Neil taught at Shanghai Community International School, one of the top IB schools for a few years before he moved to Minnesota with family.   He has been the World Languages Department Chair and currently serves as the Smith Endowed Chair for World Languages at St. Paul Academy.  

Neil is also the school Fellow for Intercultural Life, focusing on the K-12 student experience and student programming through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  He lives with his family in St Paul.  Neil  has been teaching the Middle School class at We As One Camp Visitation School site since the summer of 2025.