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Jessica Decaillon
Founder and Lead Educator

Ms. Jessica is an experienced educator with over a decade of teaching experience, specializing in elementary STEM education and Mandarin Chinese language instruction. As the founder of Wonder Spark Learning, she is passionate about sparking curiosity and creativity in children through hands-on, interactive lessons that inspire a love of learning.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and has completed advanced certifications in Classroom Strategies for Inquiry-Based Learning and Learning, Knowledge, and Human Development. Her teaching style incorporates a variety of educational philosophies, including Montessori, Waldorf, and Classical methods, creating holistic learning experiences tailored to diverse learners.

With a background in both in-person and online education, Jessica has taught over 800 students on Outschool, earning an impressive 5 star rating. She is skilled in integrating technology tools like Google Classroom, Kahoot, and Nearpod to deliver dynamic virtual learning experiences.

Jessica’s classes are known for being engaging, interactive, and fun, with a focus on building students’ confidence and critical thinking skills. Whether she’s teaching STEM, Mandarin Chinese, or hands-on art projects, her goal is to help learners explore new topics in meaningful ways that connect to their everyday lives.

Meet the Teachers Who Make Learning Magical

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    Xiting Dan

    Dedicated Mandarin and English Teacher with TCFL, TESOL, and TEYL Certifications.

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  • Smiling woman with glasses standing by the ocean on a cloudy day, wearing a navy blue shirt and holding a white item.

    Junjun Li

    Professional Mandarin Teacher with Expertise in Poetry and Language Education.

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  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a black top, sitting on a black office chair with a white wall and thermostat in the background.

    Lauren (Yixin) Ran

    Expert Mandarin Educator with a Master’s in Developmental Psychology

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    Shylah Waugh

    Spanish Educator with a B.A. in Communication Studies

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  • A young woman with long dark hair, smiling, wearing a blue top with puffed sleeves, standing against a plain beige wall.

    Yamilex Castillo

    Bilingual Spanish Teacher with Degrees in Education and Spanish Language

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  • Woman with long black hair, glasses, smiling, wearing a gray knit beanie with a red and white logo patch reading 'Fjällräven Sweden 1960'.

    Jiajia Xu

    Passionate Mandarin Educator Dedicated to Teaching with Love

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  • A woman with curly black hair smiling at the camera.

    Tamekka Garrett

    Certified K–5 Teacher Committed to Student Growth

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Xiting Dan

Xiting holds a bachelor's degree in English from Sichuan University and has extensive experience teaching both English and Mandarin. In China, she taught English in public schools and private language academies, as well as worked as a private tutor for adult Mandarin learners. Passionate about language education, Xiting is dedicated to creating an engaging and effective learning environment that helps students achieve their language goals. To further enhance her teaching expertise, she has earned certifications in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL). Outside of teaching, she enjoys cooking authentic Chinese cuisine and expressing her creativity through drawing.

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Junjun Li

Junjun is a professional Chinese language teacher with extensive experience teaching students of all ages, from preschoolers to teenagers. She tailors her lessons to accommodate different skill levels, ensuring that each student progresses at their own pace.

With expertise in Mandarin instruction, Junjun specializes in everything from foundational pinyin and character recognition to more advanced lessons in classical and modern Chinese poetry. She is passionate about making Chinese learning both fun and engaging, using poems and stories to spark students' curiosity and deepen their appreciation for the language and culture.

Beyond teaching, Junjun enjoys playing the piano and guitar, arranging flowers, and painting.

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Lauren (Yixin) Ran

Lauren is a passionate Mandarin teacher with a strong background in bilingual education and developmental psychology. She has worked with students from ages 2 to 17, giving her a deep understanding of how different age groups learn best. She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Columbia University, as well as a CDA credential.

As a native Mandarin speaker with a Level 1 Putonghua Proficiency Certificate, Lauren brings both linguistic expertise and cultural depth to her classes. She has also worked as a host for large events and holds certifications in translation and interpreting. Before becoming a teacher, she was a journalist at a TV station in China and now runs her own social media channel, keeping up with modern Chinese slang and trends to make sure her students learn natural, up-to-date language.

Lauren loves making her lessons fun and interactive, incorporating songs, stories, and real-life conversations to help students connect with the language in a meaningful way.

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Shylah Waugh

Shylah is a passionate language educator with several years of experience teaching Spanish and English online. She tailors every lesson to meet the unique goals, interests, and learning styles of her students, creating meaningful and personalized learning experiences.

Her deep love for language and culture is enriched by annual travels to Mexico and Spain, where she immerses herself in the local way of life. These journeys allow her to bring authentic cultural and historical perspectives into the classroom, helping students not only learn the language but also connect with the rich heritage behind it.

Shylah holds an A.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Communication Studies, and she is currently pursuing her M.A. in Mediation and Conflict Resolution with a focus on negotiation and peacebuilding. She plans to continue her studies in Spain, where she will pursue a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies with the long-term goal of becoming a professor and empowering future generations through education.

Fun fact: Shylah shares her home with a Xoloitzcuintle—an ancient Mexican hairless dog named Huitlacoche. Once revered by the Aztecs as spiritual guides, these dogs symbolize her deep connection to the cultures she teaches.

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Yamilex Castillo

Yamilex is a bilingual educator with over 10 years of experience teaching in both the U.S. and Mexico. She holds degrees in Education, Bilingual Education, and Educational Technology, and is currently earning a Master’s in Teaching Spanish Language and Culture at the University of Granada, Spain.

Yamilex specializes in Spanish instruction for all ages, including AP Spanish, and has extensive experience teaching online. She’s passionate about creating engaging, culturally rich lessons that help students build confidence and use Spanish in real-life situations.

As a native Spanish speaker, she loves sharing the beauty and diversity of the language and culture with learners around the world.

Fun fact: Yamilex spent six months traveling through nine Spanish-speaking countries in South America, an adventure that continues to inspire her teaching every day.

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Jiajia Xu

Jiajia is a dedicated Mandarin educator who recently completed a teacher preparation program and is currently applying for a New York State K–12 Mandarin teaching certificate. She holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in Russian Language and Literature. Drawing on her own experiences as a foreign language learner, Jiajia is passionate about helping students build confidence and remain engaged in their Mandarin studies. She incorporates fun activities, videos, and songs into her lessons while guiding students through speaking, listening, reading, and writing practice.

As a mother of two, who developed patience, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility, Jiajia truly enjoy spending time with children and firmly believe that every child deserves to be loved and supported. This belief forms the foundation of her teaching philosophy: teaching with love.

“Treat your students as you would treat your own children.” - this statement resonated deeply with her and continues to guide her teaching practice.

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Tamekka Garrett

Tamekka Garrett is an experienced math teacher with 14 years in education. She loves helping students discover new ways to learn and grow. Math is her favorite subject to teach because she finds it fun and enjoys seeing students gain confidence and apply what they’ve learned in real life. Certified in K–5, Tamekka has worked with diverse learners throughout her career and always strives to make learning engaging and meaningful.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and shopping. A fun fact about her is that she loves music and dancing. Tamekka is excited to get to know each of her students and looks forward to a wonderful year together.