Chinese Immersion School

Name: Trish Lucas

Position: Kindergarten & 1st Grade English Teacher

Home town: Wyoming

All the places you’ve lived: Oregon (Portland, Tualatin, Eugene, Agness); Poitiers, France; Beijing, China

Favorite places you’ve visited: Old Summer Palace in Beijing, Great Wall about 7 different sections, Miao villages, Lijiang China, Bangkok, The Castles in the Loire Valley, Mont St. Michel, Pont D’Avignon and Lyon, Agness and the Oregon Coast

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene:  Kung Fu Bistro and Wonder Wok

Favorite part of living in Eugene: The clean air and green trees, parks and trails,  it is small and doesn’t take long to get anywhere in Eugene.

Favorite thing about our school: My favorite things about Chinese Immersion are the students and their families and that we get to learn Chinese.

Name: Haihui Wang

Position: Kindergarten & 1st Grade Mandarin Chinese Teacher

Home town: Beijing, China

Alma mater: Bowling Green State University, MA’ 03 – Rehabilitation Counseling in College of Education

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene:  Kung Fu Bistro & Papa’s Soul Food

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Evergreen, natural and beautiful

Favorite thing about our school: Multicultural environment 

Name: Xiaowen Jensen

Position: 2nd & 3rd Grade Mandarin Chinese Teacher

Home town: Shanghai, China

Alma mater: Portland State University (EMT) and Bushnell University (MAT)

Favorite thing about our school: I will be able to pass on my Chinese language and culture to our young generations. 

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene:  Cornucopia & Chinese restaurants

Favorite part of living in Eugene:  I like the fresh air and breathtaking nature here. Eugene is close to the coast. 

Name: Bren Techawongtham

Position: 2nd & 3rd Grade English Teacher

Home town: Ashland, Oregon

All the places you’ve lived: California, Oregon, Japan, Taiwan 

Favorite places you’ve visited: Kyoto (Japan), Koh Lipe (Thailand) 

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Cornbread Cafe, Moo Ping Thai Street Food, Kung Fu Bistro 

Favorite part of living in Eugene: I love the easy access to beautiful hiking trails. 

Favorite thing about our school: Each grade level has just one class and they all get to stay together as they move up. Each class is a family! 

Name: Karen Rayle

Position: 4th & 5th Grade English Teacher

Home town: Citizen of the World (I can’t choose one–Born in California, lived there a month, grew up in Oxford, Ohio, left at 17 and never really went back). Eugene since age 17, but spent most of my adult life overseas.

Alma mater: University of Oregon

Favorite thing about our school: Small size, small classes, supportive parents

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Kung Fu Bistro, Angkor Cambodian Cafe, Cafe Roma (coffee and munchies)

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Peaceful and green

Name: Siqin Taoli

Position: 4th & 5th Grade Mandarin Chinese Teacher

Home town: Inner Mongolia/Shanghai, China. HCMC, Vietnam, Even Yehuda, Israel, Eugene, Oregon.

Alma mater: Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China – BC, University of Nevada – BA., University of Oregon – Dual MMs., Bushnell University – MAT.

Favorite thing about our school: Warm Community, fun kids, and playground.

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Ta Ra Rin Thai Cuisine, Cornucopia, Sichuan Bistro, Saigon Cafe, Beppe & Gianni’s Trattoria, Prince Pucklers Ice Cream.

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Beautiful nature, hiking trails, trees, and quietness.

Name: Stephen Thompson

Position: Music Teacher

Home town: Eugene, Oregon

All the places you’ve lived: Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, Spain, England, Germany, Vietnam, China, Israel

Favorite places you’ve visited: Tibet, Istanbul, Greece, Jordan, Jerusalem, 

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Ta-ra-rin Thai food

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Eugene is quiet and it is easy to get outdoors for hiking, fishing, and other activities

Favorite thing about our school: Friendly students and staff, small school

Name: Rachel Farkas

Position: PE Teacher

Name: Cindy Chan

Position: Bilingual Educational Assistant

Hometown: Hong Kong

Alma mater: Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Chinese University of Hong Kong

Favorite thing about our school: Everybody knows everybody 

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Various food carts

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Nature and friendly people

Name: Kyrie Lucas

Position: Bilingual Educational Assistant

Name: Winnie Wang

Position: Utility Educational Assistant

Home town: QINGDAO, CHINA

All the places you’ve lived: QINGDAO, JINAN, NANJING, VENETA

Favorite places you’ve visited: SAN FRANCISCO

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene:  TACO TIME (VEGGIE BURRITO), Shari’s Cafe and Pies, Vietnam Restaurant, Yi-Shen, Legend of Szechuan, China Sun Buffet, Wheat Bay Uniquely Chengdu 

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Bailey Hill

Favorite thing about our school: Chinese culture

Name: Kwasi Diehl

Position: SpEd Instructor

Name: Cynthia Wenks

Position: ELD Specialist

Name: Korey Rice

Position: Speech Specialist

Home town: Northeast Ohio

All the places you’ve lived: Ohio; Cornelius, OR; McMinnville, OR; Kyoungsanbuk-do, South Korea; Hyogo, Japan, unincorporated Lane County

Favorite places you’ve visited: It’s impossible to choose a favorite! 

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: My back porch

Favorite part of living in Eugene: All the advantages of a college town (good food, culture, events) while still being close to nature. 

Favorite thing about our school: Besides the students? Its commitment to instilling a broad and inclusive world view. 

Name: Jen Hebard

Position: Principal

Home town: The Dalles, Oregon

Alma mater: Roseburg High School, Pacific University – Undergrad, and Concordia University – Graduate

Favorite thing about our school: The students and staff that make it so fun to be here everyday!  I have the best job ever.

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: B2, Mezzaluna, and Planktown

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Close to everything!  The coast, the mountains, no matter which way you go there’s a lot to do and explore!

Name: Scott Marsh

Position: Vice Principal

Name: Kimberly Sills

Position: Counselor

Name: Mallory Whitaker

Position: Secretary

Home town: Eugene, Oregon

Favorite thing about our school: The amazing students!

Favorite places to go eat in Eugene: Bao Bao House & Fisherman’s Market

Favorite part of living in Eugene: Close to family and the airport

Favorite places you’ve visited: New York City, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Vermont, Montana & Disneyland

Name: Mandy Osmundson

Position: Head Custodian

Name: Sara Scouten

Position: Kitchen Lead

Name: Delaney McMahon

Position: TSS