Little Panda Staff Bios
Xiaoping Johnson, PhD
Principal
A native Mandarin Chinese language speaker, Xiaoping was born and raised in China. She received her BS and Masters degrees from China and her PhD degree from the US. She has many years of experience teaching Mandarin to children and adults. Her expertise was recognized recently by the US government when she was asked to develop its Mandarin teaching curriculum -- a program currently in operation. Xiaoping and her husband live in Cary with their son.
Julie Huang, MBA
Vice Principal
Teaches: Preschool Class (4&5 year olds)
A native Mandarin Chinese speaker, Julie was born and raised in Taiwan. She received her BS in Taiwan and MBA degree in the US. She also has many years of experience teaching Mandarin to children and adults. Julie's proficiency in Mandarin teaching has also lead her to establish the curriculum for local Chinese schools in the US. She has been with Little Panda Preschool since the start and is adored by all her students. Julie lives in Durham with her husband and two daughters.
Lisa, Wu, BA
Teacher
Teaches: Preschool Class (3 & 4 year olds) and Extended Day Program
Ms. Wu was born and raised in Anhui province in eastern central China. She majored in Educational English at college in China and received her Teaching Certificate in 2006. Ms. Wu was an elementary school English teacher for two years. She also received an AA degree in Humanities and Letters in the U.S. in June 2010.
Nancy Mappes, BS
Teacher
Teaches: Preschool Class (2&3 year olds), and Extended Day Program
A native Mandarin Chinese speaker, Nancy was born and raised in Taiwan. She graduated with a BS degree from Tainan College and has working experience as a teacher, sales manager, and business owner. Most recently, Nancy received an Early Childhood credential at Durham Technical Community College in December 2009. Nancy has lived in Durham with her husband since 2000.
Chunyan Han, BS
Teacher
Teaches: Preschool (3 & 4 year olds) and Extended Day Program
Chunyan is from Northeast China. She received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in China and Associate in Applied Science degree at Durham Technical Community College in 2009. Chunyan has recently finished some early childhood program courses and is applying for the Early Child Care Credential (NCECC). She lives in Durham with her husband.
Yvonne Yu, BS
Teacher
Teaches: Preschool all age groups
Yvonne was born and raised in Taiwan. She graduated with a BS degree in Taiwan and has completed K-8 education courses in USA. She has many years of experience teaching English and Mandarin to children and adults both in Taiwan and USA. Yvonne lives in Apex with her husband and two children.
Barbara Simpson, BSc Nursing
Marketing and Administration
Barbara comes from Western Australia. She worked as a Personal Assistant in Australia and the United Kingdom before completing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1996. Barbara worked in Perth as a Registered Nurse in PACU, post-surgery wards and pain management. Barbara and her husband moved to Durham in 2003. They have three children who attend Durham Chinese School.