K-8 EXCELLENCE SINCE 1973 2027 7th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710 (map) • 510‑845‑0876
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“The relationship among the adults has more to do with the character and the quality of a school than any other factor.”
Roland Barthes
Faculty
Xiaoyan Xu is a native Mandarin speaker who has been in the teaching field for almost 24 years. She earned her B.A. in English from BISU in Beijing and her M.A. in education from SFSU. Xiaoyan has received various teaching certificates and training throughout her career, both in China and in America, such as the International Baccalaureate, Reggio Emilia, Cambridge language teaching certificates, and TPRS certificate. Xiaoyan taught multiple subjects in Mandarin immersion independent schools in Berkeley and San Francisco before launching the Mandarin program at BPC in 2013. Prior to the U.S., Xiaoyan taught multiple subjects in both English and Mandarin to students ranging from pre-k to 12th grade, as well as adults, for eight years in Beijing. She also ran her own language school in Beijing. Xiaoyan enjoys talking to students, playing games with them, listening to concerts and podcasts, watching dance shows, and spending time with her family and friends.
Teaching Since
2001
Pronouns
she/her
Contact
Email >
Why I Work with Children
Children are our future; I want to be part of it.
A Favorite Book
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. It’s a very inspiring and interesting book.
Quick Fact
Once ate deep-fried silkworms
Eighth Grade History & Geography Teacher
Keen on floating houses and mutant Basset Hounds
Full Bio >
Seventh Grade Math Teacher, Math Club / Math Team Coach
Played soccer on a Zambian teacher team
Eighth Grade Spanish Teacher
I speak several languages.
Eighth Grade Math Teacher
Loves to travel
Fourth-Sixth Grade Music Teacher
Tamed a mechanical bull in Nashville, Tennessee.
Sixth Grade Science Teacher and Sixth Grade-Level Coordinator
Herded sheep by motorbike in Australia.
Upper School Physical Education Teacher and Upper School Athletic Director
Eighth Grade English and Eighth Grade Drama Teacher
Ask me about the time I had a magical and terrifying stand-off with a bison in the Badlands.
Seventh and Eighth Grade Music Teacher, Band Director
Performed music in South Africa during the end of legal apartheid.
Eighth Grade Science Teacher
Apprenticed with a luthier, adept with a paddle
Sixth & Seventh Grade Math Teacher
Seventh Grade History Teacher
Sixth Grade English Teacher
Loves to write or paint
Upper School Assistant Teacher
Fluent Russian speaker
BPC String Orchestra Leader
Creates musical arrangements for fun
Seventh Grade Science Teacher
Kissed a shark once!
Sixth Grade Spanish Teacher
My birthday is April 1st, no joke!
Seventh Grade English Teacher
Obsessed with the Salem witchcraft trials
Sixth Grade History Teacher
Played Gaelic Football as a youth, and won a Minors championship in Ireland
Seventh Grade Math Assistant, Math Team Coach
