Ms. Ning Ji
Kindergarten Mandarin Immersion Teacher

Ms. Ning Ji is the kindergarten Mandarin (Eastern) teacher. Ms. Ji is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Heilongjiang University where she majored in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. During her undergraduate term she was an international cultural and educational college intern and also worked part-time as a Mandarin Chinese teacher. Her experience includes being a translator for the Dongli Educational Delegation to London, England, teaching Mandarin to beginning and advanced speaking students in elementary and high school settings in the United Kingdom and China. Ms. Ji also taught English to ninth grade students and was an English Department intern in China. She is currently working on her Master of Arts in Teaching and Curriculum at Michigan State University. Ms. Ji enjoys cooking, playing the cucurbit flute, Chinese painting and calligraphy, Chinese traditional paper cutting, and traveling. She brings her talents in these areas of interest to the classroom!

Mrs. Pam Uhrik
English-speaking Kindergarten
Mandarin Immersion Partner Teacher

Mrs. Pam Uhrik is the partner (Western) teacher for the first grade Mandarin program. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from North Park University in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Uhrik has taught kindergarten for the past 4 years in District 67. She is also the head diving coach for the boys and girls’ diving team at Lake Forest High School. Mrs. Uhrik is excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this innovative program that provides new educational opportunities for students.

Mrs. Qiong Jan
First Grade Mandarin Immersion Teacher

Mrs. Qiong Jan is the first grade Mandarin (Eastern) teacher. Mrs. Jan is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese. She attended Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. Although she had a very successful career in the advertising world and business management, Mrs. Jan wanted to work with children. She attended DePaul University to attain her Master of Education in Teaching and Learning with a minor in World Language. While attending graduate school, Mrs. Jan had extensive experience working with toddlers to high school students as a Mandarin tutor and instructor at Multilingual Chicago, Crème de la Crème preschool, and St. Sylvester Elementary School. Her strong mathematical training in college and later in business provides a solid foundation for teaching math in the classroom.

Mrs. Denise Galatsianos
English-speaking First Grade
Mandarin Immersion Partner Teacher

Mrs. Denise Galatsianos is the partner (Western) teacher for the first grade Mandarin program. She attended Winona State University in Minnesota where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. Mrs. Galatsianos attained her Master of Arts from Roosevelt University. She joined the ranks of master teachers in 2008 when she became a National Board Certified Teacher. She has been on staff at Cherokee School since 2002 teaching extended day kindergarten and first grade.