Susan Chen 陈淑惠
Preschool Class Teacher
Susan Chen is a native Mandarin speaker from Zhanghua, Taiwan. She holds a bachelor's degree in Pedagogy from Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo and a minor in Child Psychology. Her passion is teaching, especially teaching the Chinese language to children.
Ms. Chen has more than 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience. She taught private Portuguese language classes to elementary and middle school Chinese-speaking students when she was a university student in Brazil. She worked at “Escola de Educação Infantil Happy Kids” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after she graduated from university.
After she moved to the US, Ms. Chen had an opportunity to teach Mandarin in preschool and Chinese language enrichment classes at Westwood Christian School, and private Mandarin classes to young kids, elementary, middle school, and tutorials to adult students in Miami, Florida.
Ms. Chen moved from Miami to Virginia with her husband. She taught Chinese language immersion preschool at Communikids and Richmond Chinese School until she had her first child. In 2024, Ms. Chen returned to Richmond Chinese School, where she teaches the Preschool Class. Ms. Chen loves to teach and play with children, and she teaches small-group Chinese Immersion Preschool Program classes on weekdays, as well as private Chinese Tutorial Classes. Ms. Chen spends her free time doing outdoor activities and taking trips with her husband and two sons.
Hong Chartrand 曾鸿
Secondary Class (11-16) Teacher
Dr. Hong Chartrand is a public health professional and a Chinese linguist by training. She was born and raised in China and received her bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and literature from Peking University. She holds a doctoral degree in Public Health from the University of Arizona. She taught Chinese language and civilization at colleges in China and the United States, respectively, and has volunteered to teach Chinese to kids at the Richmond Chinese school in the United States for years now.
Jowai Chen 陳周艾
Kindergarten (5-6) Teacher
Ms. Jowai Chen is a dedicated educator with more than 10 years of teaching experience in Taiwan. After moving to the United States, she's taught the Basic Chinese class at Richmond Chinese School for six years.
With a strong background in education, Ms. Chen is passionate about helping students grow in both language learning and cultural understanding. She remains committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that connect children with the richness of Chinese language and culture.
Huifang Shao 邵慧芳
Elementary (7-10) Teacher
Huifang Shao joins Richmond Chinese School with a heartfelt passion for teaching children the Chinese language and sharing the richness of Chinese culture with the community. She brings with her nearly a decade of Sunday School teaching experience, where she developed a love for guiding young learners and encouraging them to grow both academically and personally. Although she has not received formal training in education, Huifang is fond of engaging with students and learning alongside them. She firmly believes that each child is uniquely created by God and contributes their special value to the class. Her goal at Richmond Chinese School is to foster a warm and nurturing environment where students can develop a genuine love for learning, deepen their knowledge, and take joy in the process of discovering both language and culture.
Dr. Jason Lau 刘艺峰
Board Member / School Principal
Dr. Jason Lau is a dedicated educator and instructional leader with over 15 years of experience teaching mathematics in Virginia public schools. He currently teaches high school math full-time in Henrico County, where he also serves as a department leader and mentor to fellow educators. Dr. Lau holds a Doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University, with a focus on professional development and effective teaching practices.
Dr. Lau’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. He has served as a board member of the Richmond Chinese School, a Cub Scouts den leader, and a community event organizer. His passion for education is matched by his dedication to fostering inclusive spaces where students and families feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Dr. Lau lives in Chesterfield with his wife, Elizabeth (Liza), who is also an educator. The two met while teaching together and continue to share a love for learning and service. They are proud parents to Matthew (8) and Maggie (5), whose curiosity and energy inspire Dr. Lau’s work every day.
As Principal, Dr. Lau is honored to help lead the Richmond Chinese School into its next chapter, working collaboratively with families, teachers, and community partners to celebrate Chinese language and culture and promote lifelong learning.
Donna Ashworth 劉秀敏
Chairwoman / Teacher
Chairwoman, Richmond Chinese School / 光華中文學校
Donna Ashworth serves as Chairman of Richmond Chinese School, bringing a deep commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in the community. With a passion for education and cultural exchange, she works closely with the school’s leadership, teachers, and families to create an enriching learning environment for students of all ages. Under her guidance, the school continues to strengthen its programs, expand cultural activities, and foster a welcoming space where heritage and learning thrive. Donna’s leadership reflects her belief that language is a bridge that connects generations, communities, and cultures.
Adult Chinese Conversation Class Teacher
Donna Ashworth teaches the Adult Chinese Conversation Class at Richmond Chinese School, where she helps learners gain confidence in speaking Mandarin in practical, everyday situations. Her teaching style is interactive, encouraging, and tailored to the needs of adult students, blending language skills with cultural insights. Donna creates a supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable practicing, making mistakes, and improving together. She believes that learning a language should be both useful and enjoyable, and she is dedicated to helping her students connect with Chinese culture through meaningful communication.
Renée E. Warren-Mebane (REN) 王美芮
Board Member
Renée E. Warren-Mebane, affectionately known as REN, is a lifelong advocate for education and a mentor to many. Her journey with the Richmond Chinese School (RCS) began in 2022, inspired by her daughter’s love of the Chinese language and culture. With languages and Mandarin study at the heart of her family, REN quickly recognized the extraordinary value of RCS—not just as a school, but as a community where language, culture, and heritage come alive. She believes passionately in its mission and is committed to helping the school grow, thrive, and change lives for generations to come.
REN lives by the motto: “Do what you love and love what you do,” pouring that spirit into her work and family life. As co-founder of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc. and president of Arielle-Wren, Inc., she has produced major national and international events, commercials, and conferences, while also succeeding in real estate. Her career includes roles at CNBC, Dow Jones, WTKR-TV (CBS), The Daily Press, and The Virginian-Pilot, and she is co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread: The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business. A dedicated educator, she spent over a decade teaching social media and event PR at NYU and has lectured at several universities. REN holds degrees from Old Dominion and Columbia, studied British media in London, and earned a Certificate in Finance from the New York Institute of Finance. Honored with awards including Forty Under 40 and the ODU Distinguished Alumni Award, she now divides her time between New York and Virginia with her husband and daughter—enjoying travel, teaching, cooking, and keeping Chinese language and culture at the heart of family life.
Winny Chen 陳慧予
Treasurer
Winny Chen is a dedicated member of the Richmond Chinese School community, serving as both a Board Member and Treasurer since 2020.
She previously taught an adult class from 2018 to 2020 and has most recently been teaching an elementary class for the past two years.
Winny demonstrates a commitment to the entire school community through her work in the classroom, her administrative role, and her willingness to support the school’s needs wherever they arise.
Sarah Braggs 柏莎拉
Board Member / Public Relations
Sarah Braggs is a dedicated community leader and member of the Board of Directors for the Richmond Chinese School. Originally from North Carolina, she moved to Virginia in 2006 with her husband and has since built strong roots in the Richmond area. Sarah is the proud mother of three children—a 14-year-old son Reece who leves Boy Scouts, and nine-year-old twins, including her son, Morgan who is a part of the school and does gymnastislcs, and Michael who loves playing basketball. She is passionate about supporting education, cultural enrichment, and family-centered community initiatives.
Susan Chen 陈淑惠
Preschool Class Teacher
Susan Chen is a native Mandarin speaker from Zhanghua, Taiwan. She holds a bachelor's degree in Pedagogy from Mackenzie Presbyterian University in Sao Paulo and a minor in Child Psychology. Her passion is teaching, especially teaching the Chinese language to children.
Ms. Chen has more than 20 years of teaching and tutoring experience. She taught private Portuguese language classes to elementary and middle school Chinese-speaking students when she was a university student in Brazil. She worked at “Escola de Educação Infantil Happy Kids” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, after she graduated from university.
After she moved to the US, Ms. Chen had an opportunity to teach Mandarin in preschool and Chinese language enrichment classes at Westwood Christian School, and private Mandarin classes to young kids, elementary, middle school, and tutorials to adult students in Miami, Florida.
Ms. Chen moved from Miami to Virginia with her husband. She taught Chinese language immersion preschool at Communikids and Richmond Chinese School until she had her first child. In 2024, Ms. Chen returned to Richmond Chinese School, where she teaches the Preschool Class. Ms. Chen loves to teach and play with children, and she teaches small-group Chinese Immersion Preschool Program classes on weekdays, as well as private Chinese Tutorial Classes. Ms. Chen spends her free time doing outdoor activities and taking trips with her husband and two sons.
Hong Chartrand 曾鸿
Secondary Class (11-16) Teacher
Jowai Chen 陳周艾
Kindergarten (5-6) Teacher
Ms. Jowai Chen is a dedicated educator with more than 10 years of teaching experience in Taiwan. After moving to the United States, she's taught the Basic Chinese class at Richmond Chinese School for six years.
With a strong background in education, Ms. Chen is passionate about helping students grow in both language learning and cultural understanding. She remains committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that connect children with the richness of Chinese language and culture.
Huifang Shao 邵慧芳
Elementary (7-10) Teacher
Huifang Shao joins Richmond Chinese School with a heartfelt passion for teaching children the Chinese language and sharing the richness of Chinese culture with the community. She brings with her nearly a decade of Sunday School teaching experience, where she developed a love for guiding young learners and encouraging them to grow both academically and personally. Although she has not received formal training in education, Huifang is fond of engaging with students and learning alongside them. She firmly believes that each child is uniquely created by God and contributes their special value to the class. Her goal at Richmond Chinese School is to foster a warm and nurturing environment where students can develop a genuine love for learning, deepen their knowledge, and take joy in the process of discovering both language and culture.
Dr. Jason Lau 刘艺峰
Board Member / School Principal
Dr. Jason Lau is a dedicated educator and instructional leader with over 15 years of experience teaching mathematics in Virginia public schools. He currently teaches high school math full-time in Henrico County, where he also serves as a department leader and mentor to fellow educators. Dr. Lau holds a Doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University, with a focus on professional development and effective teaching practices.
Dr. Lau’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. He has served as a board member of the Richmond Chinese School, a Cub Scouts den leader, and a community event organizer. His passion for education is matched by his dedication to fostering inclusive spaces where students and families feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Dr. Lau lives in Chesterfield with his wife, Elizabeth (Liza), who is also an educator. The two met while teaching together and continue to share a love for learning and service. They are proud parents to Matthew (8) and Maggie (5), whose curiosity and energy inspire Dr. Lau’s work every day.
As Principal, Dr. Lau is honored to help lead the Richmond Chinese School into its next chapter, working collaboratively with families, teachers, and community partners to celebrate Chinese language and culture and promote lifelong learning.
Donna Ashworth 劉秀敏
Chairwoman / Teacher
Chairwoman, Richmond Chinese School / 光華中文學校
Donna Ashworth serves as Chairman of Richmond Chinese School, bringing a deep commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture in the community. With a passion for education and cultural exchange, she works closely with the school’s leadership, teachers, and families to create an enriching learning environment for students of all ages. Under her guidance, the school continues to strengthen its programs, expand cultural activities, and foster a welcoming space where heritage and learning thrive. Donna’s leadership reflects her belief that language is a bridge that connects generations, communities, and cultures.
Adult Chinese Conversation Class Teacher
Donna Ashworth teaches the Adult Chinese Conversation Class at Richmond Chinese School, where she helps learners gain confidence in speaking Mandarin in practical, everyday situations. Her teaching style is interactive, encouraging, and tailored to the needs of adult students, blending language skills with cultural insights. Donna creates a supportive classroom environment where students feel comfortable practicing, making mistakes, and improving together. She believes that learning a language should be both useful and enjoyable, and she is dedicated to helping her students connect with Chinese culture through meaningful communication.
Renée E. Warren-Mebane (REN) 王美芮
Board Member
Renée E. Warren-Mebane, affectionately known as REN, is a lifelong advocate for education and a mentor to many. Her journey with the Richmond Chinese School (RCS) began in 2022, inspired by her daughter’s love of the Chinese language and culture. With languages and Mandarin study at the heart of her family, REN quickly recognized the extraordinary value of RCS—not just as a school, but as a community where language, culture, and heritage come alive. She believes passionately in its mission and is committed to helping the school grow, thrive, and change lives for generations to come.
REN lives by the motto: “Do what you love and love what you do,” pouring that spirit into her work and family life. As co-founder of Noelle-Elaine Media, Inc. and president of Arielle-Wren, Inc., she has produced major national and international events, commercials, and conferences, while also succeeding in real estate. Her career includes roles at CNBC, Dow Jones, WTKR-TV (CBS), The Daily Press, and The Virginian-Pilot, and she is co-author of You Buy the Peanut Butter, I’ll Get the Bread: The Absolutely True Adventures of Best Friends in Business. A dedicated educator, she spent over a decade teaching social media and event PR at NYU and has lectured at several universities. REN holds degrees from Old Dominion and Columbia, studied British media in London, and earned a Certificate in Finance from the New York Institute of Finance. Honored with awards including Forty Under 40 and the ODU Distinguished Alumni Award, she now divides her time between New York and Virginia with her husband and daughter—enjoying travel, teaching, cooking, and keeping Chinese language and culture at the heart of family life.
Winny Chen 陳慧予
Treasurer
Sarah Braggs 柏莎拉
Board Member / Public Relations
Sarah Braggs is a dedicated community leader and member of the Board of Directors for the Richmond Chinese School. Originally from North Carolina, she moved to Virginia in 2006 with her husband and has since built strong roots in the Richmond area. Sarah is the proud mother of three children—a 14-year-old son Reece who leves Boy Scouts, and nine-year-old twins, including her son, Morgan who is a part of the school and does gymnastislcs, and Michael who loves playing basketball. She is passionate about supporting education, cultural enrichment, and family-centered community initiatives.