HEARTLAND CHINESE TEACHER AWARD 2022 CELEBRATES OUTSTANDING TEACHERS

It is with much appreciation of the many teachers who have been teaching the Chinese Language in the Heartland region, often with little resources, that USHCA launched our inaugural Heartland Chinese Teacher Award in 2022, sponsored by LingoAce, to recognize the hard work of the many Chinese language teachers in the heartland region who have built cultural bridges through language learning.

We were deeply moved by the enthusiasm and support from our Heartland community for this award. Nominations came in from 13 Heartland states and 30 cities. Many from school administrators and mayors. 

The selection committee included Susan Thornton, Gloria Guo, Minru Li, and Rosie Levine. Each nominated teacher was evaluated based on the creativity of their curriculum, their impact on students, as well as their contribution to Chinese language learning and cultural dissemination in their community.

Key Dates:

  • Nomination Deadline: Sept. 30th, 2022
  • Nominee Applications due: Sept. 30th, 2022
  • Finalists announced: Oct. 24th, 2022 *Updated
  • Virtual Awards Ceremony: November 19th *Updated

Susan Thornton

Senior Fellow for the Paul Tsai China Center, Yale Law School

Gloria Guo

Co-founder, LingoAce

Minru Li

Professor at OSU Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures

Rosie Levine

Deputy Project Director at the United States Institute of Peace

Five award recipients were recognized during a virtual award ceremony. Three teachers received the 2022 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award and two received the People’s Choice Award. Each teacher was awarded a cash grant.

Reflections from USHCA Leaders

“World languages are best taught early, but few American schools make it part of their K-12 curriculum. For this reason, we are proud to honor the teachers who have championed and built successful Chinese language programs at their schools and districts across the heartland region.”

Bob Holden

USHCA Chairman and President

Former Governor of Missouri

“Language is crucial to understanding other cultures. These teachers work hard every day to make this journey exciting and accessible for their students and they demonstrate clearly their passion for being a bridge between the United States and China.”

Susan Thornton

USHCA Board Member

“As a Chinese American who grew up in China and came to this country when I was a college student with broken English, I can’t emphasize enough what a special gift these teachers are offering to their students and their community.  Learning Chinese will open a world of opportunities to these students.”

Min Fan

USHCA Executive Director

2022 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award Winners

Dr. Alpha Edens - Tulsa, OK

Dr. Edens' Bio

Dr. Xinying Edens has been teaching second languages for 15 years in the United States and in China. She started her Chinese teaching in 2012 when a group of students from University of Oregon went to Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China to learn Chinese. After relocating to Tulsa, Oklahoma, she has worked as a Chinese teacher at Oklahoma Chinese Language Institute, Holland Hall Upper School, the East Asia Institute at Oklahoma University, Jenks Public Schools, and South Tulsa Chinese School. She is a winner of Yeh Laoshi Memorial Scholarship from Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools (CLASS). In her spare time, she translated and published a book “ Train Your Brain” in 2011 and also volunteer as a reviewer of K-12 Chinese Language Teaching at USA Chinese Language Teachers Association, a Sitting President of Oklahoma Chinese Teachers Association, a Rater of AP Chinese and Rater of Elementary Education Certification, Educational Testing Service, and the Chair of Beihai Partnership to serve as a liaison between the mayor of City of Tulsa and the mayor Beihai, China.

Dr. Edens' Bio

Dr. Xin Yang Edens received recommendations from both the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Tulsa Global Alliance for this award in honor of her exemplary effort to effectively teach Mandarin Chinese to all levels of students from beginners to advanced learners by integrating traditional curriculum with technology. In addition to teaching Chinese at Holland Hall Upper School, she also teaches for OU’s summer programs for local K-8 students and chairs the Tulsa-Beihai Sister City Partnership at Tulsa Global Alliance.

“Chinese, this class, has been one of the best things I’ve ever taken. It’s a class I can go to if I’ve had a bad day. It’s just such a welcoming environment. I get so sad when I think about graduation and not being in this class anymore. It’s one of the best things.”

Zoe Abdalla

11th grader at Holland Hall


On News on 6 in Tulsa, Dr. Alpha Edens was quoted on her importance of language learning and the importance of bringing out new perspectives.

“I think that learning two, three languages will help us to see the world from different perspectives and reduce biases and misunderstandings,” Edens said. “Learning another language is not only about a language, it is a window, a door, to another world.”

Dr. Edens utilized her award funds to help organize a Lunar New Year Celebration for her community in Tulsa, as well as buy learning materials for students to support the public at local AAPI month events.

Heidi Kuo - Muscatine, IA

Ms. Kuo's Bio

Heidi Kuo is a Chinese teacher in Muscatine High School and Muscatine Middle School. Heidi is a Chinese native speaker and first-generation immigrant in the United States. She earned the Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design and Communication from a Normal University, which was created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum for secondary school students. Her technical savvy in graphic design enables her to create vivid graphical Chinese materials and presentations which arouse the students’ interest and concentration. Heidi also earned a master of art degree in Radio and Television, and she attributes her excellent Chinese pronunciation when she had an internship as an anchor.

Ms. Kuo's Bio

Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark recommended Heidi Kuo for being a pivotal role model and guide for her students to understand Chinese language, history, and culture. She is beloved by her students who have previously nominated her for The Muscatine Community School District Employee Recognition Award. Every year, she organizes a field trip to Chicago’s Chinatown and actively seeks sponsorships so that the trip is not a financial burden for her students. Recently, she worked with the Muscatine Middle School to start a Chinese language class, which allows   interested students to start learning earlier.

“I am proud to support the nomination of one of Muscatine’s teachers in recognition of their contributions to world language learning and cultural dissemination in our community. Ms. Kuo has been a tremendous asset in encouraging Muscatine’s students’ academic achievements as well as broadening their global awareness.”

Dr. Brad Bark

Mayor of the City of Muscatine

Ms. Kuo contributed her $5,000 cash award toward a field trip to Washington D.C. for her Chinese language students. Like many Heartland schools far from major centers of Chinese culture, her school has limited funding to support field trips, which are expensive and often beyond the means of many families.  Thanks to her donation and with additional support from local nonprofits, Ms. Kuo was able to bring her class of 13 students from Muscatine, Iowa to visit the Chinatown in Washington DC, the Chinese Embassy, the National Museum of Asian Art, and many other sites of interest. The students’ experience and field trip was so special, it was featured in a piece from local news organization, Discover Muscatine.

Yan Wang - Lexington, KY

Ms. Wang's Bio

Yan Wang is a certified Chinese teacher at Dixie Magnet Elementary School in Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS), Kentucky. She holds a master's degree in education and a master's degree in Russian Language and Literacy. Ms. Wang has 20 more years of teaching foreign language experience in both US and China.  She serves as district lead Chinese teacher,  co-director of FCPS STARTALK Student Program. She is a board member of Chinese Language Association of Secondary and Elementary Schools (CLASS). Ms. Wang is passionate about developing student's Chinese language skills and intercultural competency. Her leadership has made a significant impact on the Chinese teaching field in district, state and national levels. Her dedication to the field was well organized. She received 2019 CLASS outstanding Chinese Teacher Award, named as KY-NNELL Teacher of the Year in 2019 and Kentucky Outstanding Chinese Teacher in 2012. In spare time, she enjoys photography and traveling with family and friends.  

Ms. Wang's Bio

Mayor Linda Gorton recommended Yan Wang for always exceeding expectations in the classroom and preparing her students to understand other cultures and be a positive force in our changing world. In 2007, she initiated Chinese language programs for two Fayette County Public Schools, starting with kindergarten and adding a new level as her students advanced each year. She developed the entire curriculum from scratch and later mentored other Chinese language teachers. Today, there are approximately 3,500 students enrolled in the district’s Chinese language programs across four elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools, taught by 10 teachers.

“Lexington is a city that values diversity and cross cultural experiences. We are proud Ms. Wang is teaching young people about the world’s oldest surviving civilization and its language.”

Linda Gorton

Mayor of Lexington Kentucky

Mrs. Wang used her Heartland Chinese Teacher Award to host a ‘Multicultural Night’ Dixie Magnet Elementary School to raise the awareness of diversity, equality and identity in her community. The theme of the event was “Traditional Clothing Across Culture”. She used the award fund to purchase traditional Chinese clothes such as Hanfu, Tang Zhuang, and Qipao to dress the student models. The authentic clothes made the show beautiful and students and their families had a great time at the fashion show. About 500 people attended the event and it received positive compliments from many members in the community. 

“I really liked Dixie Multicultural Night because it was very entertaining. I think this because we got to learn about the different cultures by discovering how people from different cultures wear different clothing. I learned how to accept different cultures and diversity. I am looking forward to having Multicultural Night next year!”

Gabi Fields

4th grader at Dixie Magnet Elementary

People's Choice Award Winners

Cindy Casto - Maumelle, AR

Ms. Casto's Bio

Cindy Casto grew up in Shanghai, China. Casto has a Bachelor of Science from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Central Arkansas. She has been in education for 16 years and teaching Mandarin for 8 years. She teaches Chinese for 6th-12th graders at Maumelle Middle School and Maumelle High School and Pulaski County Special School District in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her favorite quote is "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 

Outside of school, she gifts her time and talent to her community at the local public library, teaching Chinese and the beauty and importance of culture-sharing. She has also served as a Chinese interpreter to former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Beebe, and
current Governor, Asa Hutchinson.
Ms. Casto's Bio

Maumelle Mayor Caleb Norris recommended Cindy Casto for her exemplary effort to effectively teach Mandarin Chinese to all levels of students from beginners to advanced learners by integrating traditional curriculum with technology. Outside of school, she gifts her time and talent to teach Chinese language and culture to the community at the local public library and has also served as a Chinese interpreter to former Governor of Arkansas, Mike Beebe, and current Governor, Asa Hutchinson.

“Ms. Casto is a credit to Maumelle and to China. Her encouragement and dedication have inspired tremendous achievement among her many students. I am proud to support the nomination of Cindy Casto for this award.”

Caleb Norris

Mayor of Maumelle Arkansas

Ms. Casto used her award to purchase Chinese learning materials to supplement her language curriculum and to help organize a Chinese New Year celebration and make Chinese lanterns to celebrate.

Tungfen Lee - Carmel, IN

Ms. Lee's Bio

Tungfen Lee was born and raised in Taiwan and graduated from National Taiwan University. She received a Master’s degree in Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While raising and teaching her sons their heritage language, she found her calling as a Chinese teacher.  She returned to school in 2007 to pursue a teaching license at Indiana University, Bloomington. In June 2009, Tungfen completed the teacher training program and accepted a position at Carmel High School. During her tenure there, the Chinese program has grown steadily from 50 students in 2009 to nearly 150 students in 2022.  Mrs. Lee has furthered her own education as well, attending summer teacher training programs at the Chinese Institute at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 2011 and the Chinese Teacher Training Program at Nanjing University, China in 2012.  In 2017, she received instruction at an Advanced Placement (AP) Conference in Chinese Language and Culture at the Oakton Community College, Illinois.  In 2021, she completed two ENL courses at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.  She participated in IB (International Baccalaureate) Ab Initio training at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University.   Besides teaching, Tungfen also works as a Chinese translator for an environmental education company. She has served as an AP Chinese reader at the College Board annual exam reading in summer 2019 and 2021

Ms. Lee's Bio

Carmel Mayor James Brainard recommended Tungfen Lee for her exemplary effort to effectively teach Mandarin Chinese to all levels of students from beginners to advanced learners. During her tenure at Carmel High School, she has grown her program from 50 to 150 students. She currently teaches Chinese Level 1, 2, 3, and AP courses. Since 2009, well over 100 students have taken the AP Language and Culture test with an average score of 4.0.

“Tungfen is an exemplary model of what highly effective world language teaching and learning should be. She makes Chinese accessible to all of her students…and empowers all of her students to frow through her nurturing and constructive manner.”

Jim Brainard

Mayor of Carmel Indiana

Current with Carmel also quoted Tungfen Lee on why awards like this celebrate a progressive initiatives and push the importance of cultural appreciation:

“Having opportunities to learn world languages like Chinese will create more positive attitudes and less prejudice in the community. Moreover, learning Chinese culture enables people to gain a more profound understanding and appreciation of their own culture.”

Ms. Lee used her award to sponsor a Chinese New Year Celebration at her local library. The event was open to the public and the community. Her Chinese students organized and participated in activities like calligraphy, paper-cutting, face-painting, and a station that had Chinese snacks! The students and the community were able to get a small taste of Chinese culture and more than 450 people attended the celebration!

2022 Sponsor

Learn Mandarin Chinese with LingoAce

LingoAce is an online language learning platform where kids ages 3-15 can learn Mandarin Chinese 1:1 with a professional teacher. Aligning with globally-recognized syllabi, their expert-designed curriculum engages learners with games, interactive storytelling and other interactive multimedia.

Media Coverage

The Heartland community shared our enthusiasm for this inaugural Heartland China Teacher Award. Many media outlets covered the exciting news of their local teachers being recognized.

One of the goals for this project is to highlight excellent instructors, and of course, to spread awareness of Chinese language learning in the Heartland as well. Our 2022 Heartland Chinese Teacher Award was able to capture attention from various local news sources and reach several new audiences in our region. The award and its winners were mentioned in no less than 11 media publications last year:

Tulsa, OK

Carmel, IN

Lexington, KY

Muscatine, IA

General

 

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