Connie Yin - Our Team

Peilin Lee has been in the field of language education in Taiwan, Canada, and Hong Kong for more than 25 years. She has a MA in Applied Linguistics from Birmingham University, and a PGCE in Chinese Education from Sunderland University, UK. In 2007 to 2017, Peilin was the managing director of Jumpstart Mandarin Learning Centre, one of the established Mandarin language centres teaching non-Chinese background children in Hong Kong.

Being a strong believer of Tasked-Based Learning, Peilin always strives to create a hands-on and learner-centred environment based on the students’ needs analysis. She works together with the students in setting the learning outcomes, and facilitates every step on their journey towards the pre-set goals. Peilin has many years of experience in teacher development and curriculum design. Her strengths lie in the ability of combining both the traditional and innovative methods in language teaching and learning.

Prior to joining Bloom KKCA Academy, Peilin worked as the Secondary Chinese Teacher at Victoria Shanghai Academy. She taught IB Chinese Language and Literature to Middle Year students (age 11-15). Peilin is a published and award-winning poet in from Taiwan. She founded the Modern Chinese Poetry Society at Victoria Shanghai Academy, and contributes continuously to various literature journals in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Teresa Lee is a professionally trained counselor who focuses on children and young adolescent development.

Teresa is responsible for the social-emotional development and psychological wellbeing of students. She works closely with the learning support team at Bloom to help students acquire the skills needed to cope with stress and embrace adversity as opportunity for growth, and develop true grit and resilience when navigating an increasingly complex world.

A Singaporean Shanghainese American by birth, Teresa moved to Hong Kong at a young age when her father took up a teaching position as one of the first professors at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Having lived and studied in multiple countries and under different education systems, including American local and Hong Kong international schools, Teresa has a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by third culture kids, and appreciates the importance of being able to adapt to and thrive in changes.

Teresa holds two Masters degrees in Counseling and Psychology from Monash University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) respectively. She has experience in working with children with and without special education needs from pre-nursery to primary levels. She graduated from the University of California – Los Angeles with a BA in History, and went on to obtain a Juris Doctor degree from CUHK. Prior to becoming a counselor, she worked in one of the leading matrimonial and family law firms in Hong Kong for seven years.

In her spare time, Teresa enjoys reading, going on trail rides and receiving private therapy from her mini Shiba Inu (dog) named Norii.

Matthew Gibbs was born and raised in Queensland, Australia, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science at Bond University. After gaining his TESOL Accreditation at the American TESOL Institute in Thailand he went on to obtain his Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Sunderland in England.

Matt began as an educator at Thewphaingarm Canadian Bilingual School in Bangkok, where he taught English and Social Studies in addition to Drama, Health and Art to Grades 7-12 students. Through teaching there and in Spain, he acquired a genuine understanding of the particular needs and expectations of students in multicultural schools.

It was while leading classroom learning at the Canadian International School after moving to Hong Kong that Matt developed his focus on physical training and the health sciences. As sports coach in rugby, football, and basketball, he led numerous ISSFHK sports teams in Hong Kong, and was heavily involved with Senior rugby and the National Age Group in the Hong Kong Rugby Union. He later served as Head of Physical Education at The Harbour School and also their After-School Activity Director where he taught skill acquisition and organized school-wide event planning and sports coaching.

Matt is a firm believer in a PE curriculum based on the tenets of physical literacy – mens sana in corpore sano (a sound body in a sound mind). He cultivates an enthusiasm for learning, trusting, and trying that helps young minds to search for true value in their personal development and well-being. His curriculum planning and trans-disciplinary teaching methods nurture resilience, compassion, sportsmanship, and collaboration. He succeeds by challenging and making physical health fun ... he’s even a licensed AntiGravity Fitness Instructor!

At Bloom KKCA Academy, Matt will help lay the foundations of a robust P.E. Program and build our inter-school sports teams.