About Us

Friends of Yinghua Academy (FOYA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization created by current and former Yinghua parents and board members to ensure the long-term strength and stability of Yinghua Academy. FOYA partners with families, grandparents, alumni and community supporters to grow resources that directly sustain Yinghua’s mission.

Meet Our Leaders

Cindy Moeller earned a BA from Northwestern University, an MSW from Western Michigan University, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. She then worked for 20 years in various human resource leadership positions, including more than eleven years at General Mills. Read more
Nathan Bode is a partner at a local CPA firm, bringing more than 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, and technology leadership.
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Charlie Robinson's connection to the Yinghua community spans nearly a decade, starting when his children were students. With his daughter graduating in 2024 and his son having completed 5th grade, he understands the school from a parent's perspective.
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About Yinghua Academy

 

Yinghua Academy is the only full immersion Mandarin Chinese K-8 school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It opened in 2006 as the first public charter Chinese immersion school in the U.S. and the first Chinese immersion school in the Midwest. Yinghua continues to be a national leader, offering an international perspective and outstanding results.

Mission

Yinghua Academy’s mission is to prepare our students to be engaged and productive global citizens by providing a research-based educational program that includes a rigorous academic curriculum, immersion in Chinese language and culture, and a nurturing and supportive school environment.

Philosophy

Yinghua 英华 stands for English – Chinese. We offer students of all backgrounds and abilities a bilingual, bi-cultural, and bi-literate English (American) and Chinese educational experience. Prior knowledge of Chinese is not required for students at Yingua Academy. We combine best practies educational research from the United States and China, bringing safe, rigorous, and happy learning opportunities to all children in accordance with equal opportunity and non-discriminatory policies.

Immersion education has proven through research to be effective for all learners, including students with many special education needs, socioeconomic challenges, gifted-talented students, and non-native English speakers (of any language).

We believe in the importance of preparing all children to be global citizens. Through Chinese language learning, rigorous academics, and service-learning throughout their time at Yinghua, our students acquire the skills to enroll in Advanced Placement coursework in high school and develop knowledge and skills to make future contributions to their world.