Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lily Shu. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

At Berkeley Bears International School (BBIS), our mission is to provide the early childhood education your child deserves in a safe, respectful, and diverse environment that builds a foundation for a lifelong learning, and ultimately prepares your children to become resilient, self-reliant, and productive individuals.
Our mission stems from a deep understanding of the transformative power of early childhood education and a strong commitment to supporting children’s overall growth and development.
Our mission emphasizes creating a safe and respectful environment where children feel secure and valued, free to explore and express themselves. We focus on providing variety and diversity in the learning environment to expose children to different experiences, cultures, and perspectives. This fosters creativity, empathy, and adaptability—skills essential for success in a globalized world.
Our mission’s goal of building resilience, self-reliance, and productivity prepares children not just for academic success but also for life’s challenges and opportunities. We firmly believe that education should extend beyond textbooks, equipping children with the emotional strength, independence, and problem-solving skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. At its core, early childhood education is about more than just preparing children for school— it’s about preparing them for life, shaping them into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals who can make meaningful contributions to society.

Lily, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Lily Shu, and I am an early childhood educator and co-founder of Berkeley Bears International School (BBIS). My journey in education began in 2012 when I volunteered as a Sunday school teacher at my college church. This was my first teaching experience, and the profound sense of fulfillment it brought me instantly sparked my passion for teaching. Later that year, as part of a college course, I was assigned by my professor to observe and assist in a first-grade classroom. Witnessing the children’s learning processes and being able to support them further inspired me to pursue teaching as my future career.

In 2013, I began my master’s degree in early childhood education, which I completed in 2015. During this time, I started working as a teaching assistant in 2014. After graduating, I worked as a lead preschool teacher at a Chinese-English bilingual preschool and later advanced to the role of preschool director in 2017.

Since 2019, I have transitioned my career from teaching to becoming a bilingual case manager primarily serving the Chinese community in the San Francisco East Bay area. In 2023, I evolved to become a CPS (Child Protective Services), serving the County’s Children and Family Services Dept., ensuring the children’s safety, well-being, and permanence while working alongside with the law enforcement and the judicial system. Working directly with children and families in their home environments has deepened my understanding of the community’s needs, including access to culturally relevant resources and the importance of addressing their unique challenges.

While working with children in a school setting is both enjoyable and rewarding, engaging with them and their families in their home environments has been incredibly fulfilling. I find immense joy in utilizing my knowledge and expertise to support those in need and make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Throughout my experiences teaching and collaborating with children and families across various schools and settings, I have been inspired by the idea of establishing my own Chinese-English bilingual school. This school will serve as a vibrant community hub, catering to the children of first-generation Chinese immigrants and families who seek opportunities for their children to explore diverse cultures and languages. In 2020, with the support of my husband, we established BBIS. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrival of my first child that same year, I was unable to open a physical school. Despite this, I remained committed to my vision and focused on designing a comprehensive bilingual learning curriculum. This curriculum emphasizes language and literacy, social-emotional development, physical growth, arts, and STEM education. I believe that children learn in diverse ways, and my goal is to create a learning environment that is secure, bright, home-like, stimulating, and fun. This environment will provide children with opportunities to explore, discover, create, and imagine, encouraging them to reach their full potential.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In 2015, I was initially offered the opportunity to open and operate a preschool, but the offer was later withdrawn due to various reasons that made it difficult to proceed as planned. Despite this setback, the idea took root in my heart, igniting a dream to one day open my own childcare center and contribute my knowledge in early childhood education. Over the years, I gained extensive experience working in preschools, first as a teacher and later as a director. Even after transitioning to a career as a case manager, my passion for early childhood education and my vision of establishing my own school remained unwavering. Now, a decade after that initial opportunity and after years of preparation and perseverance, I am proud to bring this dream to life as my childcare center in the Bay Area gets ready to open soon.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In early 2019, I made the transition to a career as a case manager. This was not an easy decision, but given the high cost of living in the Bay Area and the challenges I faced while working in preschools, it became a necessary step. At the time, I was significantly underpaid due to my reliance on H-1B work visa sponsorship from my employer.

During my time as a teacher, I was told by a director, “You have a master’s degree, but I don’t need someone with that level of experience to teach preschoolers. Our small temple can’t fit a great Buddha.” Later, as a director managing a preschool for a childcare owner, I was advised, “You have to be mean to the teachers to manage them effectively.” These experiences left me feeling disrespected, undervalued, and unsupported by management, which was particularly disheartening given the importance of working with such a precious and vulnerable population.

At the end of 2018, a friend referred me to their organization for a case manager position. The opportunity to continue working with children and families has been a source of immense joy, and I have dedicated myself to supporting their well-being ever since. Throughout this transition, I reminded myself that leaving the school setting did not mean I was giving up on teaching forever. I told myself that one day I would return—not only to open my own school but also to create an environment where employees feel respected, supported, and valued. Only in such an environment can teachers fully focus on what matters the most: nurturing and educating children.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theBBIS.partners
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkeley_bears_int_school/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berkeley.bears.90
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/BBISprincipal/

Image Credits

All the images belongs to me