Lily Jing
Founder and Kirkland Lead
Lily从事幼儿教育工作近30年，是北美AMS蒙特梭利0–3岁及3–6岁认证教师、正面管教认证培训师、ICF受训意象教练、蒲公英家庭教练。她是Little Steps创始人，也是一位17岁女孩的妈妈。多年来，她始终关注儿童的发展、情绪与个体差异，并相信：接纳每一个独一无二的孩子，与他们建立真实而稳定的联结，是一切教育的开始。在不断学习蒙特梭利、依附关系、教练技术与儿童发展的过程中，Lily愈发相信，教育不仅是陪伴孩子成长，也是教育者不断认识自己、成长自己的过程。正如蒙特梭利所说："儿童是成人之父。" 与孩子同行的每一天，都让她对教育、对生命有了更深的理解。她期待与每一个家庭建立信任、真诚的伙伴关系，在爱与尊重中，共同陪伴孩子迈出人生的每一小步。
Lily has dedicated nearly 30 years to early childhood education. She is an AMS-certified Montessori teacher for both Infant & Toddler (0–3) and Early Childhood (3–6), a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, an ICF-trained coach, and a Family Coach with the Dandelion Family Coaching Program. As the founder of Little Steps and the mother of a 17-year-old daughter, Lily brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work with children and families.
Throughout her journey, Lily has been deeply interested in children's emotions, individuality, and development. She believes that every child is unique, and that accepting each child for who they are and building a genuine connection with them is where all meaningful education begins.
Through years of studying Montessori education, attachment, coaching, and child development, Lily has come to believe that education is not only about helping children grow—it is also a journey of growth for the adults who walk alongside them. Inspired by Maria Montessori's words, "The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind," she has found that every day spent with children offers new opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow.
Lily looks forward to building trusting partnerships with families, walking alongside each child with love, respect, and curiosity, and helping every child take their own little steps toward a joyful and meaningful life.
Mrs. Wanling
Mercer Director and Lead Teacher
婉玲老师是AMS（北美蒙特梭利协会）0--3岁受训教师，也是一双快乐儿女的妈妈。性格温婉细腻，踏实平和，亦刚亦柔有担当。她从事幼教多年，坚信幼儿早期的习惯养成和思维启蒙对孩子的后期成长乃至整个人生至关重要。在扎根教书育儿的探索中，她不断修炼自身的文化底蕴、德行厚度、内心高度和审美境界，在爱的涵养下唤醒、激发孩子的潜能，协助、引领孩子健康成长。她期待和家长们一起携手共建小步美好家园！
Wanling is an AMS-trained teacher for children aged 0-3 and a mother of two happy children. She has a warm and gentle personality, is down-to-earth and peaceful, yet firm and responsible. With many years of experience in early childhood education, she firmly believes that habit formation and cognitive development in early childhood are crucial for a child's future growth and overall life. In her exploration of teaching and parenting, she continually cultivates her own cultural foundation, moral character, inner strength, and aesthetic appreciation. Nurtured by love, she awakens and inspires children's potential, supporting and guiding them toward healthy growth. She looks forward to working together with parents to build a beautiful home and a bright future for their children!
Dandan Wang
Assistant Teacher
Dandan老师拥有伦敦大学国际传媒硕士学位，曾任《中国日报》、央视、《北京青年报》及英国《观察家报》记者，也是一位三个孩子的妈妈。从新闻走向教育，她始终相信，语言不仅是沟通的工具，更是孩子认识世界、表达自我的桥梁。她将新闻人的思辨精神与中华优秀传统文化相结合，陪伴孩子在阅读、思考与表达中建立自信，发展独立思考能力，养成良好的表达习惯。Dan老师温暖真诚，善于倾听，尊重每个孩子独特的成长节奏，也乐于发现并激发他们的潜能。她期待与家长携手同行，在爱与尊重中陪伴孩子成长为自信、善良、充满好奇心的学习者。
Teacher Dandan holds a Master's degree in International Communications from the University of London. Before entering early childhood education, she worked as a journalist for China Daily, CCTV, Beijing Youth Daily, and The Observer in the U.K. She is also the proud mother of three children.
Her journey from journalism to education reflects her belief that language is more than a tool for communication—it is a bridge that helps children understand the world and express themselves with confidence. Drawing on a journalist's spirit of inquiry and the richness of traditional Chinese culture, she inspires children to build confidence through reading, thinking, and meaningful expression while developing strong communication skills and independent thinking.
Warm, genuine, and an attentive listener, Teacher Dandan respects each child's unique pace of development and is passionate about discovering and nurturing every child's potential. She looks forward to partnering with families to help children grow into confident, kind, and curious learners in an environment of love and respect.
Mrs. ZQ
English Teacher
ZQ拥有多⽂化背景经历。⼤学时代留学⽇本，专攻语⾔学。精 通中、英、⽇语。因家庭原因往返于欧，美，中，⽇之间。作 为两个中英混⾎⼥⼉的妈妈，⼀直从事语⾔类教学。 多样的经 历让她不仅注重孩⼦多语⾔的培养，更能深⼊认识到多样⽂化 的重要性。ZQ相信⼀个充满了快乐与安全感的童年是带给孩⼦ 们⾃信、幸福与⽆限未来的第⼀步。
ZQ is one of our teachers with a multi-cultural background. She grew up in China and went to university in Japan, where she majored in linguistics. She is fluent in Chinese, English, and Japanese. ZQ has also lived in the UK, the Netherlands, and now the USA. She is the mother of two children of mixed heritage. Her various experiences have inspired her to specialize not only in teaching kids to speak Chinese in an anglophone environment but also to understand and appreciate the value of contributions from different cultures. ZQ believes kids are the bridge to the future, they need to have both self-awareness and confidence; and with those as a foundation—in a fun and safe environment—they will get a solid first step towards a confident, successful, and happy life.
Zhao Yan
Assistant Teacher
Yan是一个做建筑设计的妈妈，深度参与了女儿的养育和教育，用心陪伴她直到她步入大学。陪伴孩子成长的过程，给了她很多观察，学习和了解生命发展过程的机会， 也收获了很多的感悟和成长。Yan认为如果说设计和建造一幢房子是为人们构筑一个物质上的庇护所，从而让人们获得身体和精神上的安全感；那幼儿的养育和教育就像是一个帮助他们建构起强大的物质身体和内心世界，造起一座精神上的房屋，穿上一副无形的铠甲保护他们去勇敢地探索未来和经历世界。Yan非常开心加入到小步这个充满爱的能量场，希望能带着觉察和关爱，用心扶助小朋友们茁壮成长，搭建起他们内在的明亮小屋。
Yan, an architectural designer, was deeply involved in her daughter's upbringing and education, accompanying her wholeheartedly until she entered university. Accompanying her child's growth has provided her with numerous opportunities to observe, learn, and understand the developmental processes of life, accumulating profound insights and growth. Yan believes that if designing and building a house provides a physical shelter, providing a sense of physical and spiritual security, then raising and educating a child is like helping them build a strong physical body and inner world, creating a spiritual home and an invisible armor to protect them as they bravely explore the future and experience the world. Yan is thrilled to join the loving energy of Little Steps, hoping to bring awareness and care to nurture and support the children's growth, building their own bright inner worlds.
Ying Chen羊毛老师
Assistant Teacher
羊毛老师是一位大学艺术系老师，迁居西雅图后从事艺术教育和环保活动多年。对教育、对利他有着天然的觉知，一直抱着一颗敬畏的心陪伴孩子。同时在养育自己的一女一儿的过程中，对生命的成长有了更加深刻的体验。很高兴能陪伴小步幼儿园的孩子们一起来探索这个世界。
Ying is a university art teacher who has been involved in art education and environmental activities for many years since moving to Seattle. She has a natural awareness of education and altruism, always accompanying children with a sense of reverence. Through raising her son and daughter, she has gained a deeper understanding of the growth of life. She is happy to accompany the children at Little Steps as they explore the world together.
Hasi Shaffer
Assistant Teacher
Hasi，是两个可爱宝贝的妈妈，也是一位充满爱与创造力的艺术老师，在自己的工作室和中文学校担任艺术课老师，用心陪伴孩子们手绘和制作手工。
喜欢美食。喜欢人像摄影，追求捕捉最精彩微妙的一瞬间。喜欢徒步爬山晒太阳，在大自然中感受世间的美好。
生活和工作中，她会接触到各种各样的孩子，深感每个孩子的独特，始终以尊重和善待为原则，用积极正面的能量陪伴孩子们，让艺术成为孩子们童年里温暖美好的记忆。
Hasi is a mother of two adorable children and a loving and creative art teacher. She teaches art classes in her own studio and at a Chinese school, lovingly accompanying children in their hand-painting and crafting endeavors.
She enjoys food and portrait photography, striving to capture the most exquisite moments. She enjoys hiking, basking in the sun, and experiencing the beauty of nature. In her life and work, she encounters a wide variety of children and deeply appreciates the uniqueness of each one. She always treats children with respect and kindness, brimming with positive energy, and makes art a warm and beautiful memory in their childhoods.
Huachen Pan
Assistant Teacher
潘潘老师是一位充满爱心的妈妈。在陪伴自己孩子成长的过程中，她更加懂得孩子细腻的小心思，也善于感知和回应孩子的情绪。加入 Little Steps 后，她特别喜欢这里温暖、友善、彼此尊重的氛围，也真心享受每天陪伴孩子成长的时光。她待人温和、有耐心，总是愿意蹲下来倾听孩子，用爱与陪伴给予他们安全感。除了细心照顾孩子，潘潘老师还喜欢为孩子们准备营养、美味的餐点，希望用一顿顿充满心意的饭菜，让孩子们在 Little Steps 感受到家的温暖。她期待与每一位家长携手合作，共同守护孩子快乐、自在、充满爱的童年。
Teacher Panpan is a caring mother whose own parenting journey has given her a deep understanding of young children. She is thoughtful, patient, and attentive to children's feelings, believing that every child deserves to be understood with kindness and care.
Since joining the Little Steps family, she has enjoyed being part of a warm, welcoming, and respectful community. Gentle and patient, she truly enjoys spending time with children and supporting them as they learn and grow.
Teacher Panpan also loves preparing nutritious, delicious meals for the children. She hopes that through both her care and her cooking, every child will feel the warmth and comfort of home at Little Steps.
She looks forward to partnering with families to create a happy, nurturing environment where every child feels loved, supported, and free to grow.
