Dr. Luyi Lien, CEO/Executive Director
Email: luyi.lien@yinghuaacademy.org
Dr. Luyi Lien is the new Executive Director at Yinghua Academy. She has been working at Yinghua since the very beginning, from its inception in 2006. Before being appointed as Yinghua’s Executive Director for this school year, Dr. Lien has served as a classroom teacher, curriculum writer, textbook author, and Academic Director; before she joined Yinghua, Dr. Lien published and wrote novels and essays in her native Taiwan. When Yinghua started in 2006, Dr. Lien was the language teacher, curriculum coordinator, interim executive director, and academic director for the past 16 years. She has been an integral steady force, responsible for establishing Yinghua’s strong immersion curriculum and dedication to excellence. She continues to provide outstanding educational opportunities to students and has maintained an attitude of looking to the future to create programs that help students expand their worldview and their ability to work with others.
Dr. Lien creates opportunities for students to connect with the world, and advocates for providing world-class educational programs. She has worked and lived in both Taiwan and the United States, and through reflection on her own experiences in emigrating to a new culture and becoming well versed in another language, she knows how much young people benefit from understanding a new language and culture. Through her own learning in both Taiwan and the United States, she grew to value both educational systems and came to understand that being bicultural (or multicultural) can enrich one’s ability to gain knowledge and overall wellbeing. Never losing sight of her original vision of leading Yinghua to become a place where students are happy to learn, Dr. Lien also holds true to the goal of bringing up global citizens, building on immersion education’s capacity to deepen both language and cultural understanding, in addition to helping students build critical thinking and reflective learning skills. Through all of this, the overarching goal is to cultivate world citizens and close gaps between people from different backgrounds to create a more harmonious world. She has been widely recognized by the immersion field as a pioneer and reflective practitioner.
Dr. Lien is widely involved in the immersion education world. She has been invited to speak at various conferences, including National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC), ACTFL, and Startalk conference. She has also been invited to speak internationally in China, Taiwan, and Canada. She has been a consultant for new immersion schools as they build their curriculum, and has sat on the advisory board for multiple language learning organizations.
As a firm believer in immersion education, Dr. Lien carefully crafts Yinghua students’ immersion trips to China and Taiwan, during which students have an opportunity to stay with a host family, experience authentic daily living with local students and families, and participate in project-based language application activities. During her tenure as the Academic Director, Yinghua has been recognized for its outstanding academic performance as a Blue Ribbon school and is an internationally recognized immersion school. Yinghua students graduate with a reputation for having native-like bilingual speaking capacity, and many doors have been opened as a result of these abilities. They have also been honored by being selected to participate in the Chinese Bridge competition, have been chosen as part of a contest to ask questions to astronauts, and have been strong performers in Chinese speech contests. She is excited to lead Yinghua to not only sustain its legacy, but also build a strong future. Dr. Lien’s collaborative working style will serve as a model to bring staff together to help build a community of learning that balances excellence with health and happiness.
Dr. Lien is married to Dr. Chu. They have three children, all of whom have graduated from Yinghua. Each has their own definition of success and has enjoyed travel, seeing the world, and spending time with family.
With ideas, suggestions, and questions, contact Dr. Lien at luyi.lien@yinghuaacademy.org.
Lori Magstadt, English Academic Director
Email: lori.magstadt@yinghuaacademy.org
Lori Magstadt is the Director of English Instruction at Yinghua Academy.
Lori Magstadt brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for authentic student learning. Holding a Master’s degree in English as a Second Language from Hamline University and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Mrs. Magstadt has dedicated her career to enhancing educational outcomes. Her extensive experience includes roles such as Learning and Development Specialist at Imagine Learning, where she coordinated impactful professional development activities, and as a founding educator and academic leader at Cologne Academy. Her commitment to student achievement and teacher development is evident through her work as an Educational Consultant, where she significantly improved achievement through standards-based assessment development, curriculum design, and instructional development.
As an Educational Consultant, Mrs. Magstadt specialized in standards-based curricular development and instructional coaching, collaborating with numerous schools across Minnesota. From 2013 to 2020, she supported schools in aligning their academic vision, mission, and goals with rigorous curriculum plans. Mrs. Magstadt coached school leaders in designing data-driven instructional models and curriculum maps across all subject areas, ensuring adherence to state standards. Her expertise extended to training over 100 teachers on assessment design, including elements like Norman Webb’s Depth of Knowledge. She also led annual workshops on reading instruction and data-driven practices for Friends of Education schools. Mrs. Magstadt’s consulting work included direct services to schools such as DaVinci Academy of Arts & Science, Eagle Ridge Academy, and Yinghua Academy, among others. Her strategic implementation of instructional strategies and data-driven approaches has been instrumental in elevating the academic performance and instructional quality in these institutions.
Outside of her professional life, Mrs. Magstadt enjoys a fulfilling personal life with her husband, their two grown children, and their dog, Stormy. Growing up as a third culture kid in Hong Kong, Thailand, and Malaysia before moving to the US at 13, she has a unique perspective and deep appreciation for diverse cultures, aligning perfectly with Yinghua Academy’s Chinese Immersion program. Mrs. Magstadt is an avid hiker, gardener, and crocheter, and she enjoys volunteering in her community. She is also a certified Minnesota Master Naturalist, reflecting her deep commitment to nature and the environment. As the new Academic Director, Mrs. Magstadt aims to foster a culture of rigorous academic knowledge, critical thinking skills, and wise decision-making at Yinghua Academy. Her strategic vision and hands-on experience in diverse educational settings equip her to lead the school in creating a supportive and enriching learning environment, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.
At any point, feel free to contact her at lori.magstadt@yinghuaacademy.org.
Fang Wu, Middle School Chinese Academic Director
Email: fang.wu@yinghuaacademy.org
Fang Wu is the Middle School Chinese Academic Director at Yinghua Academy.
Wu Zhuren has worked for Yinghua Academy for eighteen years. She graduated from Tianjin Normal University in school management in China and has had over 17 years of experience with extensive training in the field of education before coming to the United States. Wu Zhuren taught 2nd grade for 11 years at Yinghua Academy starting in 2007, and she is proud to watch them grow both academically and as strong individuals throughout their years here. The thing Wu Zhuren enjoys the most is seeing how young students have grown to enjoy learning and speaking Chinese with the support of teachers and parents in the Yinghua community.
Most recently, Wu Zhuren has worked as a Chinese immersion instructional coach since 2019. She worked very closely with the Academic Director as well as the Chinese and math team. As an instructional coach, Wu Zhuren worked with teachers to improve the quality of lessons and the quality of students’ education, serving as mentor and role model, helping teachers stay fresh and use the latest techniques and technologies in their classrooms. Additionally, during the pandemic, Wu Zhuren took the new assignment as a 5th grade homeroom teacher and a MS CLA teacher.
Outside of the classroom, she loves traveling, cooking, watching historical dramas, and enjoying nature. Her husband works as a software engineer, and her older daughter works for Microsoft in Seattle while the younger one just graduated high school and will be attending UMN.
Wu Zhuren is very excited to continue her role as Chinese Academic Director this year. She’ll continue to collaborate with Dr. Lien, the Executive Director, and Ms. Miller, the English Academic Director, to ensure that our students receive the best experience while learning at Yinghua.
If you have any questions feel free to contact Wu Zhuren at fang.wu@yinghuaacademy.org.
Shu-Mei Lai, Lower School Chinese Academic Director
Email: shumei.lai@yinghuaacademy.org
Shumei Lai is the Director of Lower School Chinese Instruction at Yinghua Academy.
Shu-Mei Lai has dedicated over two decades to the field of education, shaping young minds with enthusiasm and compassion. Her career with Yinghua began in the third-grade classroom in 2008, where she nurtured curiosity and fostered a love for learning in her students. After ten fulfilling years as a third-grade teacher, Ms. Lai embraced a new challenge by transitioning to the seventh and eighth grade. This shift allowed her to expand her impact on students at a critical developmental stage. Over the years, her innovative approaches and dedication quickly distinguished her. She has held various leadership roles, including grade level team lead, curriculum developer, teacher mentor and instructional coach, each time making significant strides in promoting quality teaching and learning environments.
Ms. Lai’s professional philosophy centers on the belief that every student deserves access to high-caliber education that not only challenges their intellect but also supports their social and emotional well-being. She is particularly passionate about integrating academic and socio-emotional learning, advocating for a holistic approach that nurtures both the mind and the heart.
In her role as Chinese Academic Director, Ms. Lai aims to inspire educators to embrace effective teaching strategies, develop inclusive curricula, and create supportive learning spaces. Her goal is to lead initiatives that enhance student engagement in learning of Chinese language and culture, foster resilience, and prepare learners for future success.
Ms. Lai holds advanced degrees in Second Language Acquisition, and Curriculum and Instruction. Her commitment to education is reflected not only in her professional achievements but also in her ongoing efforts to stay at the forefront of educational research and best practices.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Lai enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the great outdoors, and pursuing her passion for reading and gardening.
If you have any questions feel free to contact Lai Zhuren at shumei.lai@yinghuaacademy.org.
Sherry Edwards, Student Development and Family Liaison
Email: sherry.edwards@yinghuaacademy.org
Sherry Edwards is the Student Development and Family Liaison.
This is the beginning of Ms. Edwards sixth year working at Yinghua Academy. She has a son and daughter and seven grandchildren that range in age from six months to 16 years old. She is a former elementary teacher, and thus can relate to the teaching staff with regards to the commitment it takes to run an effective classroom, so that all students’ needs can be met.
Ms. Edwards role as the Student Development and Family Liaison will allow her to further develop positive relationships with teaching staff, students and parents. This position has been developed not only to address behaviors that may interfere with learning, but to work with the students, parents and teachers to discover the reasons for inattentiveness. Oftentimes, there are underlying reasons why a student may be disruptive in class or has difficulty finishing assignments, for example. If we can together discover the reason/reasons for the disruption in learning, then we can all support the student for success. Ms. Edwards has high expectations for students simply because they are very capable young people. We are all their cheerleaders!
Ms. Edwards looks forward to getting to know you and working together to ensure all students are successful.
Ms. Edwards can be contacted by emailing sherry.edwards@yinghuaacademy.org.
Ting-Wen Chen, Special Education Coordinator
Email: ting-wen.chen@yinghuaacademy.org
Ting-Wen Chen is the Special Education Coordinator at Yinghua Academy.
Dr. Chen been a part of the SpEd team at Yinghua since the 2014-2015 school year. She became a special education teacher after graduating from the National Changhua University of Education in Taiwan in 2005. She later received her Ph.D. degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2014, with a major in Special Education and a minor in Quantitative Methods in Education.
Dr. Chen has successfully cae managed a variety of students with Specific Learning Disabilities, Other Health Disabilities, Developmental Cognitive Disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder in the past. Her primary role evolved into completing comprehensive special education evaluations over the last five years. Through conducting evaluations, Dr. Chen had the opportunity to get to know each student who has been receiving special education services and to support case managers in developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) by considering students’ strengths and learning needs. She is excited to take on this new role as she can work more closely with the families and support our students and staff.
Dr. Chen looks forward to meeting and collaborating with the families and students. She wishes everyone a great school year!
Dr. Chen can be contacted by emailing ting-wen.chen@yinghuaacademy.org.