AsEA: Asian Educators Alliance
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  • Home
  • 2023 Conference
    • Call for Proposals
    • Registration
    • Hotel Accommodations
  • Past Conferences
    • 2022 Conference >
      • Registration
      • Program >
        • Workshops
      • Hotel Accommodations
      • Sponsors
    • 2021 Virtual Conference >
      • 2021 Conference
      • Program
    • 2019 >
      • Registration
      • Program
      • Accommodations
      • Additional Activities
      • Sponsors
    • 2018 >
      • Program
      • Additional Activities
    • 2017 >
      • Program
      • Speakers
      • Financial Assistance
      • Sponsors
    • 2016 >
      • Workshop Resources
      • Sponsors
  • About Us
    • Southern California Team
    • Virtual Team
    • East Coast Team
    • Bay Area Team

Meet Our
East Coast Team

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Tuan Nguyen
Georgetown Day School
Tuan was born in Vietnam where he and his family immigrated from. He currently spends his days at Georgetown Day School as a Technology Integration Specialist.  He holds a B.A. in Imaging and Digital Art from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Tuan is looking forward to connecting and supporting other passionate educators from coast to coast. He is excited to be a part of the AsEA steering committee and planning for the second East Coast conference.
Steven Lee
Edmund Burke School
Bio forthcoming
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Jung Lee
Maret School
Bio forthcoming
Sonali Kumar
Maret School
Bio forthcoming
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Kiira Lee
Washington International School
Kiira Lee worked at Lowell School as a second grade teacher for six years before taking this year off to care for her 6 month old son.  During her time at Lowell School, Kiira was a member of SEED and attended the annual NAME and NAIS PoCC conferences.  After having forged many meaningful bonds during the affinity group sessions at PoCC, Kiira helped found AsEA in the DMV, in an effort to unite and connect APIDA educators in the DC area.  Kiira loves teaching young children about culture and identity, with a particular interest in children’s literature.  Kiira looks forward to meeting and learning from fellow educators at this year’s AsEA conference.
Abe Pachikara
Georgetown Day School
In addition to being the 9th Grade Dean at Georgetown Day School, Abe also teaches history to 9th and 10 graders as well as teaching a required course for all incoming 9th graders on diversity, equity, and the intersections of identity.  Abe also helps in advising AAA (Asian American Affinity) alongside Tuan as well as assisting the It’s Academic/Quizbowl team and Model UN Team.  In his free time, Abe loves spending time with his family and wife along with regularly training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ).  He is excited to take part in the process of bringing the AsEA conference to the East coast this year and is looking forward to welcoming all that are new or have been here before!  Abe holds a dual BA in History and Government and Politics from the  University of Maryland-College Park and a M.Ed from American University.
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Joel Sohn
Episcopal High School
Joel serves as Episcopal High School's Director of Community and Equity, coaches cross country and track, and teaches English. In 2013, Joel was recognized by the NAIS as a Teacher of the Future for his work blending technology and social justice curriculum. His classes at Episcopal focus on diversity and racism in America, environmental justice, and the history of jazz and hip hop. In addition to his work at Episcopal, Joel sits on the board of the Virginia Diversity Network, serves as an affinity group convener at the PoCC, presents at the PoCC, TABS, and National Race Amity Conference, and consults other independent schools on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership and justice. Joel is particularly excited to work with AsEA this year and to find ways to support and lift other APISA+ educators to leadership positions within their own institutions.
Kavan Yee
Lowell School
​Kavan earned his BS in biology from North Park College and his MEd in educational leadership from the National College of Education at National-Louis University. Before arriving to Lowell School (Washington, D.C.) in 2010, he taught at the Carleton W. Washburne School in Winnetka, IL and the John G. Shedd Aquarium, in Chicago. At Lowell, he has served in a variety of roles, including Middle School science teacher, science curriculum coordinator, and director of Middle School student life. In 2013, he was selected by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Education to blog his observations of the Finnish school system. Throughout his career, Kavan has been a student and an advocate for progressive practices in both public and independent schools. He became Lowell’s director of Middle School in 2015. Kavan spends most his time afterschool enjoying a glass of wine with his wife or building fairy houses in the backyard with his daughter.

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Laura S. Yee
Georgetown Day School
A native of New England, Laura transplanted to the DMV to teach in DCPS in 2002. After teaching in urban, rural, and suburban contexts, she finally found her home at Georgetown Day School. For the past four years, Laura had the privilege to serve with a talented team of educators as Lower School Principal at GDS; she now works with faculty across the school as Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction, enacting upon her commitment to social justice and anti-oppressive education daily. Outside school, Laura spends her time with her three children - Riley, Taylor and Kennedy - and 14-year old mutt, Mrs. Brisby. When she has free time, Laura enjoys all things outdoors, including hiking, biking and long distance running. Laura proudly identifies as Chinese-American, with family hailing from Sichuan and Qingdao provinces as well as Taiwan. Her favorite fruits include lychee and mangoes, and she indulges in Ben and Jerry's Coffee, Coffee, Buzz Buzz Buzz as much as possible. While Laura possesses a passionate curiosity about people from all walks of life, she strongly dislikes talking and writing bios about herself. She looks forward to welcoming you at this year's conference and hopes you find great joy and nourishment in the experience. ​

​Susan Chung Fontaine
Washington International School

Susan is Korean-American and a native New Yorker. She was born in Queens and raised in Long Island but left to attend graduate school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. Upon finishing her graduate education, Susan began teaching upper school English at New Roads School, located in Santa Monica. It was at New Roads that she fell in love with teaching high school students and being part of a vibrant community committed to social justice issues. Susan continued her teaching career at Wildwood School, in Los Angeles, where she was a co-facilitator of the students of color affinity group, and she created programming for high school students around DEI issues. In June 2018, Susan moved with her husband (a fellow independent school educator) and her stepson to the DMV area where she is currently teaching 9th, 10th, and 11th graders at Washington International School. Being back on the east coast has been a refreshing change, and she is incredibly excited to be part of the AsEA team. Besides loving the beach, green tea, and walks in nature, Susan also loves a good novel that reminds her that no matter what people look like or where people come from, everyone is deeply connected. ​
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Emilia King
Sidwell Friends School
Bio forthcoming
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