About Marco Polo Children's School

Mrs. Kimberly has spent over a decade joyfully immersed in the world of Early Childhood Education. Wearing many hats, from passionate teacher to dedicated administrator. She studied Early Childhood Education at Irvine Valley College and holds a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. What truly sets her apart is her natural ability to connect with young children. Seeing the world through their eyes, celebrating their discoveries, and supporting their unique paths with warmth and intention.

As Preschool Director, Mrs. Kimberly’s mission is to spark wonder, creativity, and confidence in every child. She believes in the power of early education to shape not only school readiness but lifelong curiosity and compassion. At Marco Polo Children’s School, she is excited to lead a vibrant, dual-language Reggio Emilia-inspired program that empowers children to explore, imagine, and thrive in a nurturing, multilingual environment.

Born and raised in Orange County, Mrs. Kimberly is a proud wife to her college sweetheart, Ruben, a retired military serviceman. Together they’ve embraced a life full of adventure, laughter, and love. Whether it’s exploring the great outdoors, gathering with family for weekend BBQs, or dreaming up new ways to inspire young minds, she brings a sense of joy and purpose to everything she does.

Her big dream? To help shape a generation of fearless, kind-hearted learners who believe they can change the world. Because she believes they can!

Amy is a warm, kind, and loving person passionate about serving, empowering, teaching, caring, and supporting children, youth, and families. 

Her mission in life is to make a positive impact on society by nurturing young people to grow up to be their best, feel their best, do their best, and give their best. She believes this is the way towards a brighter future for our world. She has a holistic approach when considering how to optimize the development and education of children. 

She is invested in learning about, understanding, and connecting with each of her students and their families to provide more tailored care. Her experience, work ethic, dedication, and heart allow her to best serve the children, families, and communities she encounters with an open heart and patience.
 

After earning an associate’s degree in English at Fullerton College, she decided to pursue Child and Adolescent Studies at California State University of Fullerton, where she will soon earn her bachelor's degree. 

While being a full-time student, Amy has worked as a tutor and nanny since 2020. Geared with her education and experience, she is excited to work with the children and families at Marco Polo Children’s School and aims to explore, expand, and embrace alongside them.
 

In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, taking care of her cat, reading, hiking, biking, and being outdoors. She also loves exploring new restaurants, cafes, and boba shops.

Janet was born and raised in Orange County, California, and has four years of experience working in customer service, where she has interacted with customers, met their needs and made connections. This skill has taught her how to respond to someone's concerns and questions in a friendly manner. 

She enjoys serving others wherever she can and hopes to bring a smile to every child she encounters. She is very grateful to have the opportunity to be part of Marco Polo Children’s School. 

Janet loves spending time with her daughter, drinking coffee and listening to worship music. 

Grace was born and raised in Nanjing, a beautiful and ancient city in China's historical ancient city! She has Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from from Hubei University of Economics. Grace moved to the United States 10 years ago, and now lives with her husband and daughter in Irvine , a beautiful city with multiple cultures. 

Grace has been working in a pre-school for two years after obtaining ECE certification at Laguna Technology, and she has been tutoring Chinese as well .

Grace loves children and likes working with children with different personalities. She adheres to three respects for children: 1. Respect children's personality; 2. Respect children's personality differences; 3. Respect the growth rules of children. Grace wants to be sure that all children grow up in a loving environment! 

In her spare time, Grace enjoys spending time with husband, daughter and their two chihuahuas . She also loves the ocean. 

Nina was from Fuzhou, a beautiful city in China. She now lives in Irvine with her husband and daughter, who is currently in college.

Nina studied Early Childhood Education at Laguna Technical College and has always been passionate about supporting young children in their growth and learning. She enjoys creating a nurturing and engaging environment where every child feels respected, valued, and encouraged to explore the world around them.

Outside of work, Nina loves spending time with her family. She enjoys playing badminton, which helps her stay active and energized. Some of her favorites include eating fruit, drinking tea and coffee, and shopping at Trader Joe’s. She also loves the fragrance of orchids and wooden scents, which bring her peace and joy.

Rachel was born in China and has a happy family. Her two children are now middle and high school students. She used to be an obstetrician and gynecologist in China and has been working in the medical industry for more than 20 years. Loving life, saving lives, and caring for others has always been her passion. 

Now that she is here in the United States, she hopes that she can continue to protect and contribute to the lives of our little one’s here at Marco Polo Children's school. 

She is very grateful for this opportunity to be able to start a new career here at Marco Polo Children’s School and she is looking forward to creating a happy and joyful future with them.  

Lydia was born in Beijing, China. She graduated from Shenzhen University with a degree in international business. 

She moved from China to Irvine for seven years. She became interested in early child education when her daughter was young, and she started to take early childhood educational courses at Irvine Valley College, and has an associate teacher certificate, now she is continuing studying early child education at Saddleback College in California. 

She loves kids and wants to support them to grow up with good physical and mental health. She believes every kid has her/his own special character and needs special educational methods. She plays more with kids more like this job. She enjoys every moment with kids and wants to keep doing this job in the future. She also likes Marco Polo's good relationship and good environment.

Lydia has a variety of hobbies. She likes cooking, gardening, talking, and spending time with family and friends.  

  Susan was born and raised in China, where she spent her childhood in the countryside, fostering a deep love and connection with nature. She graduated from Hangzhou Gongshang University with a Bachelor's degree in Food Engineering and holds professional certifications as a Nutritionist and Intermediate Economist. Additionally, she has extensive management experience in China.

After the birth of her twins, Susan dedicated herself to staying at home and caring for her children for nine years. Now that her twins are both attending universities in the United States, Susan and her husband are happily settled in the Los Angeles area. Her love for children has inspired her to pursue babysitting over the past three years, and she finds joy and fulfillment in spending time with them.

Now, as she embarks on the opportunity to teach at Marco Polo Children’s School, Susan is excited to engage with more children, teaching and playing with them while fostering a positive, nurturing environment. She is eager to create joyful and meaningful experiences with her students.

Outside of her professional life, Susan is passionate about traveling, music, art, and literature. She is an avid fan of movies and TV shows, and her optimistic outlook on life shines through in everything she does. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, photography, and cooking. Above all, she strives to share her love for life and a positive attitude with everyone she meets.

  Peggy was born and raised in Taiwan, where she has more than 10 years of experience working in preschools as a teacher of children aged 2-6. Peggy believes that preschool children are like sponges, who constantly absorb and learn new things. 

Playing is the best way for children to learn and develop their sense of structure and maturity. She likes to spend time with children by building their bonding and relationships and being their role model. 

After moving to California with her family in 2005, Ms. Peggy had taught Chinese and traditional Chinese culture to students in grades 3-6 in a Chinese School. That was a wonderful memory that led her to pursue the opportunity to be a preschool teacher in our Chinese immersion program. 

In family life, Ms. Peggy likes to travel with her family and two dogs. She also likes baking, whether baking cakes, cookies or bread. Now, she is a member of Marco Polo, and she looks forward to working with our families to create a beautiful learning experience for our children. 

Elaine was born and raised in China, where she earned her Master’s degree in Journalism from Huazhong University of Science and Technology. She worked for 28 years in television media, focusing on culture, arts, and youth education. Through her career, she developed a strong belief that early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong growth and well-being. This conviction inspired her to pursue systematic studies in early childhood education.

After working for one year at a Montessori school in Texas, Elaine moved to Irvine and joined Marco Polo Children’s School as a Mandarin Toddler Teacher. As a devoted Christian, she believes that education is an expression of love. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes nurturing curiosity, creativity, and kindness, and she is committed to creating a warm, supportive environment where children feel loved, respected, and encouraged to explore and grow with confidence.

Elaine has a beautiful daughter who is currently pursuing a PhD in Pharmacy at the University of California, Irvine. She herself loves art and outdoor activities—painting, photography, video editing, writing, and running—and often integrates her artistic vision into teaching, helping children broaden their perspectives and discover their creative potential. 

Shirley was born in Chongqing, China, and has made Irvine her home for over two years. She recently completed her studies in Early Childhood Education at Laguna Technical College. She teaches Mandarin at Marco Polo Children's School, where she loves guiding young learners. 

Shirley believes every child is like a curious sponge, and opportunities must be created at every stage of growth to inspire learning and exploration, helping them develop into healthy, well-rounded individuals through early development.

She is kind, gentle, and resilient, and truly enjoys being with children. Her Christian faith is the compass guiding her actions and decisions. In addition to teaching, she loves singing in her church choir and has a passion for food and cooking. 

In the classroom, she brings storytelling, crafts, and other engaging activities to foster creativity and social skills, creating a caring and encouraging environment where students can thrive.

Danielle was born and raised in Orange County. She is an identical twin and adores her   brother and three sisters. 

Danielle graduated from Cal State University Fullerton in May 2024 with her Bachelors in Human Services. Got an Associates in psychology and liberal arts at Saddleback College, along with 12 ECE credits.

After interning with Marco Polo for a year, Danielle realized how much she enjoyed working with children, helping them learn and, making lasting connections. 

She is honored to be a part of the Marco Polo Family and hopes to be a lead teacher one day. She values the trust that parents place in her and understands the importance of family and communication. 

Outside of the classroom, Danielle finds joy in spending time with family, painting, yoga, and baking. She is currently in the process of applying for a Masters degree in Child Development.

Venus is our English Preschool co-teacher and has been in the education field for over twenty five years. She has taught Farsi to school aged children for sixteen years while living in Iran. Along with her family, Venus moved to the United States and continued mentoring children through play and exercise. 

Venus studied Child Development earning her associates degree from Irvine Valley College.

She has been happily married for twenty eight years. She has two children and a dog “Chico.” Venus enjoys planting and taking long nature walks with her family. She continues her active lifestyle by playing volleyball. Venus looks forward to long-term projects and exploring nature alongside the children.

She is very excited to bring her passions into the classroom and create a diverse atmosphere of learning and exploration. 

Melissa was born and raised in Orange County and has been in the ECE field since 2016. 

Melissa graduated from Santa Ana College in June 2023 with her Associates of Arts with over 30 ECE units, currently she is attending Cal State Fullerton to get her Bachelor of Science Child Adolescents Studies. Her career goal is to become an elementary school teacher. 

Working with children has always been her passion and she is honored to be a part of the Marco Polo. 

When she is not working, she loves spending time with her family and being spontaneous!

  Mayra was born and raised in Chicago and moved to California in 2017. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Morton College and recently graduated from Santa Ana College with a degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.  

With over six years of experience working with children—from infants to Pre-K, including children with disabilities—Miss Mayra has always been passionate about supporting children’s growth and development. She loves helping kids build independence, express themselves, and discover their unique strengths. As an advocate for children, she believes strongly in empowering the next generation.  

Outside of work, Mayra has been happily married for three years and enjoys life with her two dogs. In her free time, she loves photography, hiking, traveling to new places, and relaxing with a good movie.

Diana has always had a passion for teaching and children.  She has a B.A. in Sociology with a Minor in Education from UC Riverside.  She started teaching K-6 as a RSP (Resource Specialist Program) teacher  for Rowland Unified School District.  She also taught junior high at an after school program.  

Diana then left the education field to go into the medical field and worked as a surgical coordinator for a plastic/reconstructive surgeon.  After 13 years, she decided to return to teaching.  She taught preschool at a Montessori before joining Marco Polo.  She believes children learn through play and truly see everything.  She loves to be able to help them explore their curiosities and learn about the world around them.

Diana was born in Norman, OK and moved to southern CA when she was 2.  She moved to Orange County when she was 15.  Her parents are both from Taiwan and she can understand Mandarin and Taiwanese.  She has two daughters, ages 20 and 16.  She likes to travel, eat, sleep, and read.  

Diana loves to try new restaurants and loves anything to do with the ocean, pool, or beach.  She loves to drink coffee and Coca-Cola.  She is super excited and grateful to be able to give all her love, patience, and support to the kids at Marco Polo.

Lisa has worked with preschoolers for many (30 plus) happy years.

At 16, her first job was a volunteer lunch assistant at the preschool she attended as a

child in Downey, CA. This setting is where her love for early education began as she saw the excitement the students shared in the preschool extended classroom.

Lisa attended Cerritos College, earned 26 Early Childhood Education units and received an Associate of Arts Degree in 1994 . 

Lisa began teaching three, four and five

year-old students in Downey and Long Beach As she continued her education and training, she became a Special Education Instructional Assistant to preschool and elementary students through the Downey Unified School District.

After moving to Orange County in 2009. Lisa began serving in a Children's Ministry at a local church. It has brought her much joy to serve in the infant, toddler and preschool Sunday school classrooms over the years. 

Before joining Marco Polo, Lisa had a rewarding time at Nellie Gail Ranch Preschool and Lutheran Church of the Cross Preschool in Orange County.

In her free time, Lisa enjoys trying new recipes, music and spending time with her three grown children. She has fun walking her two dogs, Hope and Tiny.

It is an honor for Lisa to be a part of your child's daily discoveries at Marco Polo

Children's School.

Ruben Molinar was raised in Orange County, California, and has had a diverse career. A retired military member, former medical first responder, and dive master specializing in search and recovery, Ruben has also been deeply involved in volunteer work, from assisting the needy to supporting disabled students. He served as a lead builder for Tuff Shed/Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Ruben’s leadership skills were evident early on. He managed teams straight out of high school, graduated with honors from Ocean View High School’s business academy, and held leadership roles in several clubs, including the Veterans Club and the Biology Ecology Environmental Studies Club (BEES Garden).

Passionate about science since childhood, Ruben’s favorite shows included Reading Rainbow, The Magic School Bus, and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. His interests evolved into a love for The Big Bang Theory, Dirty Jobs, and How It’s Made. After his military service, Ruben pursued his passion for science further by attending IVC, where he met his lovely wife, Kimberly. At IVC, Ruben worked on several research projects, including studying the Channel Island fox, California’s ecosystems, and marine biology along Laguna Beach. He also launched IVC’s recycling program.

Now, Ruben is working toward a career in nursing, aiming to work in a Level 1 trauma center or at CHOC Children’s Hospital, blending his love for science with a desire to help others.