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Faculty & Staff
Principal of HFI
  • Joseph Hearn

    Joseph Hearn

    Academic Principal

    - Master of Science in Special Education, Oklahoma State University

    - Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Oklahoma State University

    - Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, Arkansas State University

    - State Teaching License and TESOL certification

    - Worked for HengShui No.1 High School and Hangzhou No.4 High School as a teacher and Principal

    - Taught as a Professor at Renmin University Beijing

    - Worked as an academic coordinator in Intl. High School aff. to Renmin University

AP English
  • Matthew Bender

    Matthew Bender

    Head of English dept. AP English Literature Teacher

    -Master of Arts in Secondary Education, Piedmont College

    -Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, Appalachian State University

    -Taught AP Literature course in Schools of North America (WASC Accredited) in Vietnam

    -Obtained CELTA-Cambridge English Language Teaching Accreditation


  • Mary Gillis

    Mary Gillis

    Pre-AP English Teacher (Y10)

    - Bachelor of Arts in Comprehensive English Education, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
    - Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Program English Certification, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
    - Worked as a high school English teacher since 2016

  • Harriet Pan

    Harriet Pan

    AP English Language Teacher

    - Master of Arts in Comparative Literature, Dartmouth College(Full scholarship)
    - Master of Arts in English Literature, Peking University
    - Bachelor of Arts in English, Peking University
    - Teaching experience since 2016
    - Experienced AP teacher


  • Alex Li

    Alex Li

    AP English Language Teacher, English Teacher (Y12)

    - Ph.D. in Second Language Acquisition and Instructional Technology, University of South Florida

    - M. Ed. in TESOL, University of South Florida

    - Worked as the ESOL instructor and academic writing consultant at the University of South Florida

AP Science and Mathematics
  • Jenny Ge

    Jenny Ge

    Head of Math & Science dept. Calculus BC and Advanced Calculus Teacher

    - Master of Accounting, Grand Valley State University

    - Bachelor of Science in Math Education, Liaoning Normal University

    - Taught as a Math teacher in Shanghai and Guangzhou for 20 years

  • Bharati Hirani

    Bharati Hirani

    AP Computer Science A Teacher

    - Master of Computer Management in Computer Science, Management and Technology from Institute of Business Administration & Research (IBMR)

    - Bachelor of Commerce in Economics, Marketing & Advertising, Indira College of Commerce & Science

    - Teaching Computer Programming since 2012 and AP Computer Science since 2017

  • Yolanda Guan

    Yolanda Guan

    AP Statistics Teacher

    - Master of Actuarial Statistics, Australian National University

    - Bachelor of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Beijing Normal University

    - Teaching Math in Beijing and Guangzhou since 2012

    - Math competition Instructor

  • Roland Forson

    Roland Forson

    AP Calculus AB & BC Teacher


    - PhD in Graph Theory, Zhejiang Gongshang University

    - MSc in Applied Mathematics, Zhejiang Normal University

    - Master in Education in Mathematics Education, Rhodes University

    - Postgraduate certificate in Education in Teaching Methodology in Mathematics

    - Taught as a Math teacher since 2008

    - Member, South Africa Council of Educators (SACE)

    - Reviewer, Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology



  • Erin Ma

    Erin Ma

    AP Physics Teacher

    - PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware

    - Bachelor of Science in Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University

    - Taught as a Physicas teacher since 2015



  • Joel Benavidez

    Joel Benavidez

    AP Biology, AP Environmental Science Teacher

    - Bachelor of Science in Biology for Teachers, Philippine Normal University

    - IBDP Certified Biology Teacher

    - Taught as a Biology Teacher in Manila since 2008

  • Sijie Liu

    Sijie Liu

    AP Chemistry Teacher

    - Master of Chemistry from Oxford University, Trinity College
    - Edexcel Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) tutor
    - UK Chemistry Olympiads (UKChO) and Chemistry Canada Chime (CCC) tutor
    - Taught as a teacher from 2017 and experienced AP teacher


  • Feng Ai

    Feng Ai

    Chemistry Teacher (Y9)

    - Master of Development and Education Psychology, Peking University
    - Bachelor of Polymer Material and Engineering, Zhejiang University
    - Taught as a teacher from 2015

AP Social Science
  • Damon Six

    Damon Six

    Head of the Social Science dept. AP Psychology, Sociology, Film studies Teacher

    - Bachelor of Arts, Texas Tech University

    - Teacher Certification in Education, University of Texas-Permian Basin

    - 23 years experience as Secondary Teacher

    - 11th year teaching at HFI

  • Derek Schneider

    Derek Schneider

    AP World History, AP Art History

    - Bachelor of Arts in Broad Field Social Studies, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

    - TEFL certification

    - Teaching experience since 2014

    - Experienced AP teacher

  • Jerry Redfield

    Jerry Redfield

    AP Economic Teacher

    - Bachelor of Arts, Economics, Wheaton College

    - Teaching experience since 2012

    - Experienced AP teacher

  • John Cullen

    John Cullen

    AP Human Geography Teacher

    - Master of Arts in History, University College Dublin

    - Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (English & History) ,  St. Patrick's College

    - TEFL Certificate
    - Experienced teacher since 2011


  • Jasper Yang

    Jasper Yang

    Philosophy and Symbolic Logic Teacher, School Counsellor

    - Master of Arts in Philosophy, Columbia University
    - Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Colgate University

    - Teaching Certification from USA

    - Working at HFI since 2022


  • Nick Waldrop

    Nick Waldrop

    AP European History and US History Teacher

    - Master of Arts in History, Lowa State University

    - Bachelor of Arts in History, Appalachian State University

    - TEFL/TESOL Certification

    - Experienced AP history teacher since 2016

Local teachers
  • Harky Li

    Harky Li

    Dean of Students / PE Teacher

    - Bachelor of Physical Education, Guangzhou Sport University
    - Licensed Referee for football, basketball, volleyball, Ping-pong, and athletics
    - Teaching experience since 2008
    - Working in HFI since 2012

  • Delia Yi

    Delia Yi

    General English Teacher (Y11)

    - Master’s Degree in English Language Studies, Sichuan International Studies University

    - Been teaching TOEFL, SAT & ACT test-preparation courses since 2008

    - Working in HFI since 2011

  • Wendy He

    Wendy He

    English Teacher (Y11)

    - Master’s Degree in Applied Linguistics, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Bristol

    - Bachelor’s Degree in English Teaching, Southwest China University

    - TESOL Certificate

    - Working in HFI since 2014

  • Yoee Yang

    Yoee Yang

    English teacher (Y10 ECC), Head of Language Centre

    - Master’s Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, University of Bath

    - Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Literature, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications

    - TESOL Certificate

    - Working in HFI since 2015

  • Eva Chen

    Eva Chen

    English Teacher (LC EAP)

    - Master of Education, University College London
    - Bachelor of English, Central China Normal University
    - Taught as an English teacher since 2011



  • Chloe Zhao

    Chloe Zhao

    General English Teacher (Y10)

    - Master of Arts in English Interpretation & Translation, Hongkong Polytechnic University

    - Bachelor of Arts in English, Beijing Institute of Technology

    - Certificate of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test
    - Teaching experience since 2011
    - Experienced IELTS & TOEFL & ACT & SAT teacher


  • Joe Zhou

    Joe Zhou

    General English Teacher (Y10)

    - Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language, University of Central Oklahoma

    - Master of Arts in Marketing, Texas A&M University

    - Certificate of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test

    - Teaching experience since 2013

  • Rachel Li

    Rachel Li

    Chemistry Teacher (Y10)

    - Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry Education, Hunan Jishou University

    - Certificate of Senior High School Teacher

    - 18 years of Chemistry teaching experience

    - Researches in AP Chemistry teaching, experienced AP Chemistry teacher and SATII trainer

    - Working in HFI since 2010



  • Elicia Yu

    Elicia Yu

    Physics Teacher (Y10)

    - Master’s Degree in Theoretical Physics, Sichuan University

    - 12 years of Physics teaching experience

    - Guided students to attend international Physics competition including Physics Bowl, ASOP(Australia), BPHO(UK)

    - Teaching experience since 2009

  • Susan Chen

    Susan Chen

    Math Teacher (Y10)

    - Master’s Degree in Mathematics Competition, South China Normal University

    - Member of The National Elementary Mathematical Society

    - Teaching experience since 2006

    - Working in HFI since 2015

  • Lillian Li

    Lillian Li

    Biology Teacher (Y9 & 10)

    - Master’s Degree in Life Science,Beijing Normal University Member of Guangzhou Teaching and Research Office Biology Center

    - Awarded Distinguished Contribution to Gaokao, Excellent Teacher title, etc.

    - Involved in writing and editing Senior High School Biology course book

    - Teaching experience since 2005

    - Working in HFI since 2015

  • Titania Chen

    Titania Chen

    Physics Teacher (Y9)

    - Master of Nuclear Science and Technology, Tsinghua
    - Bachelor of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua
    - Second Bachelor of Business Administration, Tsinghua
    - Taught as a Physics teacher since 2020


  • Effy Zhang

    Effy Zhang

    Chinese Literature Teacher (Y11 & 12)

    - PhD in Chinese Language and Literature, Hanyang University, Korea
    - Taught as a teacher in Wenshan University in 2018

    Academic Paper:

    - Research on Diplomatic Records of the Ming Dynasty-Chosun Dynasty Based on LDA Model—— Centering around “The Annals of the Chosun Dynasty” and “The Annals of the Ming Dynasty”

    - Sentiment Analysis of Chinese Modern and Contemporary Literature Based on Text Analysis and Deep Learning


  • Vicky Zhou

    Vicky Zhou

    Chinese Literature Teacher (Y9 & 10)

    - Master of Education in Chinese Education (International), Shanghai International Studies University

    - Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Education (International) in Guangzhou University

  • Dolores Zhang

    Dolores Zhang

    General English Teacher (Y9)

    - M.S.Ed in TESOL, University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education

    - Worked as a teacher in Riverdale Country School, US

    - CELTA certification

    - American Teacher Certification (in progress)

  • Hazel Shi

    Hazel Shi

    English Teacher (Y9&10 EAP)

    - Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Studies, Media (Minor), New York University
    - Summa Cuma Laude
    - Phi Beta Kappa National Honors Society
    - Certificate of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test
    - Teaching experience since 2017
    - Experienced IELTS & TOEFL teacher

  • Hector Zhang

    Hector Zhang

    Math Teacher (Y9)

    - Master of Science in Nuclear Energy from Sun Yat-sen University
    - Taught as a teacher from 2020
    - French elite engineering diploma


  • Charlie Gong

    Charlie Gong

    Music (Y9) and Drama (Y11/12) Teacher

    - Postgraduate of Music Performance, University of West London
    - Bachelor of Music, University of West London and Singapore Raffles Music college
    - Authorised member of Hongkong Musician Association and London College of Music
    - Michael James Oratorio Singing Prize (Excellent Award)
    - ABRSM Piano, Singing and Music Theory Grade taken
    - Engaged in education as music tutor for over nine years


  • Troy Liu

    Troy Liu

    PE Teacher

    - Bachelor of Science in Social sports specialty from Nanjing Sport Institute
    - Badminton referee certificate, tennis coach certificate, swimming coach certificate, fitness coach certificate, MMA mixed martial arts coach certificate, AFAA youth fitness coach certificate, orienteering coach certificate, American Crossfit level 1 coach
    - Teaching experience since 2020