Academic Teachers
Apart from Dr. Wu’s advanced academic work in Anthropology, she has a B.A. in History and English. As an instructor and teaching assistant at Cornell, she received a 4.9/5.0 rating from students for her teaching effectiveness. She has received recognition for improving student performance on oral and written exams. Additionally, she taught afterschool programs in a private school in Potomac, Maryland. As a tutor, she has worked with students in elementary, middle, and high schools in MCPS (Montgomery County Public Schools). Dr. Wu is now employed by MCPS and is a parent of a student at CCACC.
Mr. Johnny Shih brings over a decade of experience in tutoring mathematics to elementary, middle, and high school students. In addition to managing his restaurant business, Mr. Shih holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Maryland and a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently involved in teaching after-school programs (Lego Stem Club and Coding) at a private school in Potomac, Maryland. Mr. Shih is fluent in English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese.
Art Teachers
Marta Lautz is a talented graphic designer and illustrator with a passion for teaching art. Currently, she is working on illustrating two children’s books—one featuring watercolor paintings and the other using graphic software. Marta has extensive experience teaching art to students of all ages. At Montgomery College, she has taught a variety of art classes, including drawing, two-dimensional design, and color theory. At Black Rock Center for the Arts, she has taught drawing and watercolor painting to students ranging from ages 7 to adults. In addition to her work in drawing and painting, Marta has also collaborated with children to produce over 50+ backdrops for musical theater performances.
Over the years, Marta has learned the importance of fostering students’ awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the visual arts through creative and engaging instruction. She believes that nurturing creativity and encouraging self-expression are key to helping students connect with art in meaningful ways.
After graduated from the University of Maryland (UMCP) with a major in piano performance and a minor in voice performance, Ms. Hsu continued her study at the Catholic University of America (CUA). She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestra conducting.
She was the conductor of Chinese American Music Society Orchestra for 9 years, included the 15th anniversary concert at the Kennedy Center and the 20th anniversary concert featuring violinist Cho-Liang Lin and soprano Yun Deng. She also worked as the assistant conductor and chorus mistress of the Summer Opera Theater Company in Washington DC for 8 years.
Beside her professional career, Ms. Hsu is an acclaimed music educator. She was a piano teacher at the Lavine School of Music (Washington DC) and the chairperson of Maryland State Music Teacher Association piano concerto competition. She also founded the JinHua Children’s Chorus for ages 4-17 and taught children and youths to sing since 1990.
She loves to spend time with children, leading them to learn and enjoy music
Chinese Mandarin Teachers
Ms. Afang He has been engaged in cultural publicity and education for several years. She once worked in the outreach department of the China “Overseas Chinese Business Daily” and participated in the compilation of local industry corporate culture books. After coming to the United States, she worked as a Chinese teacher in a Chinese school for nearly 10 years until now. In 2017, after studying and passing the exam, she obtained the “Chinese Language Teacher Certificate” in the United States.
Out of her love for Chinese culture, Ms. Afang He has been committed to the teaching and dissemination of Chinese culture overseas. She is serious and responsible, patient and meticulous, good at teaching and diligent in management. She loves children and is willing to work with parents and children to contribute to the revitalization of Chinese culture overseas.
Ms. Winny Chen has been teaching Chinese Mandarin as an enrichment subject to kindergarten students since 2012. Her role as a teacher has evolved from being the first Mandarin teacher at CCACC Academy Preschool to helping implement the dual language immersion program. Winny is happy and proud to be part of CCACC Academy. Her Chinese class is a perfect integration of the target language, culture, and art. She is a constant leader of various Chinese cultural celebrations for students at CCACC Academy.
Mr. Roger Chen has worked as a teacher for over 38 years. He has a firm belief that education needs to take root at an early age. After graduating from the National Changhua Normal University in Taiwan, Roger sought to understand grass-roots education. Roger Chen was once selected as one of the “Top 10 Excellent Teachers” in Taiwan. Roger has taught at every level of education and received numerous awards, one of which was the 2017 Rotary International 3480 Regional 2016-17 Thank You Letter – (International Rotary Youth Exchange Students’ Tutoring Chinese Language Teaching Work, Promote Cultural Exchange, Specially Awarded Thank You Letter B Paper. )” Because of his passion for teaching, Roger Chen has been teaching for many years even on Saturdays and Sundays at two different Chinese schools in the Washington area. In 2022, he was selected as an excellent administrator of the Washington Metropolitan Association of Chinese School. And In 2023, he was selected for the Excellent Teacher Award of the Washington Metropolitan Association of Chinese Schools.
Future Leader Teachers
Movement Teachers
Hui Zhuang is a professional athlete from Beijing, China. She started training in Chinese Martial Arts when she was nine years old. She was chosen by the well-known Beijing Wushu Team when she was fifteen years old and became a professional Wushu Athlete. In 1988, she first competed in the National Wushu Championship for Beijing Wushu Team. In 1989, she was awarded the second place in spear. In 1990, she won two gold medals in spear and double straight sword and was awarded a title called,“WuYing” (the top ranking for Wushu athletes). From 1991 to 1995, she consecutively won the women’s all-round champion for 5 years and many gold medals for the single events. In 1992, she represented the China Team and competed for the Third Asian Wushu Championship held in South Korea and she won women’s all-round champion and other three single forms gold medals. In 1994, she competed in the 12th annual Asian Olympic Game held in Hiroshima, Japan and won the women’s all-around champion once again. She was awarded the title of the First One Hundred Wushu Hero. After she came to America, she went to a martial arts school for nine years and has a great experience teaching.
Laura Garofalo is a Chinese American adoptee whose passion for Chinese dance stems from her desire to explore and share her Chinese culture with others through the universal medium of dance. For the past ten years, Laura has been teaching Chinese dance in Maryland to students from preschool through college. Currently, she dances and assists with courses at the Xuejuan Dance Ensemble in Herndon, VA. Laura has performed throughout the Washington, DC area, including at events hosted by the Chinese Cultural and Community Services Center (CCACC) in Montgomery County, MD, as well as at the Freer Gallery in Washington, DC as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Chinese New Year Celebration. Laura has also helped develop and present Chinese dance educational programs for organizations in the Washington, DC area, including the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA, and the Kennedy Center’s Dance Sanctuaries social impact program.
Mr. Serg Kharchev is a USPTA Certified Tennis Professional who earned a degree in Business Administration from Morgan State University in Baltimore while on a 4-year Full Scholarship for Varsity Tennis. In 2019 Serg won the Mid-Atlantic Conference and played in the NCAA D1 National Championships! Serg directs most of the Junior and Adult programs at QOSTC. He enjoys working with all age groups and skill levels including many who are preparing to compete and actively compete in tournaments. Serg began his coaching career in 2014 working with top Ukrainian players (of all ages) and working with members of the Ukrainian National U12 Team. Before arriving from Ukraine in 2018, Serg competed in tennis at all age levels with numerous accomplishments: ranked in the top 3 for U12, U14, U16, and U18 including winning the Ukrainian Championship for U14 and U12. Serg was also a National Team member. From 2021-2022 Serg was an Assistant Tennis Coach of the Men’s and Women’s College Teams for Morgan State.
Multi-Interest Teachers
Hello! My name is Dawn Covington and I have been teaching cooking and art classes at the CCACC academy for more than five years, and I have enjoyed a long fulfilling career as a highly qualified art teacher throughout Montgomery County Public Schools. It has been a pleasure to share my passion for art with children for so many years. In my free time I love to spend time with my children, and I am an active member in my church community. I have enjoyed my time at CCACC academy, and I look forward to creating with your students.
STEM Teachers
Mr. Simbisai Kahari, an enthusiastic educator, has been working with and educating youth for over a decade. His passion for technology education is evident in his work as the Summer Camp Director for CCACC Academy for the past three years. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.F.A in Communication Arts, Mr. Simbisai Kahari has been passionate about STEAM & STEM education and has led CCACC Academy’s science and technology-related programs. In addition to teaching, Simbisai has painted and illustrated for over ten years, and designed (Graphic & Web Design) for the past three years. Simbisai currently resides in D.C., teaching robotics and technology and promoting technology education.
Afterschool Monitor
Chelsea Mai is an artist who began drawing at the young age of 9. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in 2015. After teaching a range of people aged between 5 and 25 at the Renaissance Art Center and the Baltimore Academy of Illustration (BAI), Chelsea learned she loves being able to see the growth of her students and imparting all the tips and tricks of the trade she’s learned over the past 20 years and is still learning to this day.
Operations Coordinator
