Our Team & Administration
Administrative Team
Dr. Luyi Lien, CEO/Executive Director
Dr. Luyi Lien is the current 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 our legacy, but also build our 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.
Fang Wu, Director of Middle School
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. Wu Zhuren is married and has two lovely daughters. Her older daughter works in Seattle, while the younger one just graduated high school and will be attending college.
Wu Zhuren is very excited about her new role as the Director of Chinese Instruction this year. She’ll continue to collaborate with Dr. Lien, the Executive Director, and Ms. Miller, the Director of English Instruction, 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.
Shumei Lai, Director of Lower School
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.
Lisa Heathcote, Director of Student Development and Family Engagement
Lisa Heathcote, the new Director of Student Development and Family Engagement at Yinghua Academy, brings more than three decades of experience in education and school leadership and a deep commitment to helping students, families, and educators thrive. Mrs. Heathcote earned her K–12 Minnesota Principal credentials through Bethel University, a Master of Science in Elementary Education from Hamline University, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from North Central University. She also completed advanced doctoral studies in educational leadership at Bethel University through the dissertation stage. A licensed Minnesota and Florida K–12 Principal and elementary educator, Mrs. Heathcote has focused her career on building strong school communities through meaningful relationships, high expectations, student-centered systems, and authentic partnerships with families. Prior to joining Yinghua Academy, Mrs. Heathcote served for twelve years as an Assistant Principal with the School District of Manatee County in Florida. Most recently, she served on the leadership team at Stewart Elementary School, where she helped support the school’s rise to become the highest-achieving elementary school in the district and earn designation as a Florida School of Excellence. Her leadership encompassed student development and behavior, family engagement, school culture and climate, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), instructional leadership, teacher coaching and evaluation, school safety, crisis response, and school operations. Throughout this work, she partnered closely with students, families, teachers, counselors, specialists, and district leaders to create coordinated systems of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support. Before relocating to Florida, Mrs. Heathcote spent ten years in leadership at St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater, Minnesota, where she helped guide the school through a period of significant growth from approximately 200 students to more than 1,200. As Lower School Principal, she supervised more than 30 staff members and approximately 450 elementary students while collaborating with executive leadership and the governing board on strategic planning, policy development, curriculum, professional learning, and organizational growth. Through her leadership career, Mrs. Heathcote coached, mentored, and evaluated hundreds of educators while remaining grounded in her belief that successful schools are built on strong relationships among students, families, educators, and the broader school community. Mrs. Heathcote’s approach to student development combines compassion with clear and consistent expectations. She believes that student behavior provides an opportunity to teach, restore relationships, build responsibility, and help children develop the skills they need to make thoughtful choices. Equally important is meaningful family engagement. Mrs. Heathcote views families as essential partners and believes that trust, communication, and collaborative problem-solving are fundamental to helping every student succeed. Her experience has reinforced her belief that academic excellence and student well-being are not separate goals; when students feel known, supported, challenged, and connected to their school community, they are better positioned to reach their full social, emotional, and academic potential. Outside of her professional life, Mrs. Heathcote enjoys spending time with her husband and family, exploring Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida, being outdoors, and spending time with her dog, Poppy. Returning to Minnesota brings her closer to family, including two amazing grandchildren, and back to a state where she previously spent many years as an educator and school leader. As Yinghua Academy’s Director of Student Development and Family Engagement, Mrs. Heathcote looks forward to building strong relationships with students and families, supporting faculty and staff, and contributing to and advocating for Yinghua’s distinctive Chinese immersion community. She is committed to fostering a school environment where every student feels known, valued, supported, and empowered to make a positive impact on our world.
If you have any questions feel free to contact Lisa at Lisa.heathcote@yinghuaacademy.org