Master of Arts in Teaching, 2015
School of Education
October 1, 2013
“The rich education that I received from my professors and mentor teachers at UCI shaped me to become a reflective teacher and lifelong learner.”
Ruthy Fong Loi graduated from the University of California, Irvine (UCI) with a major in Psychology and Social Behavior and a minor in Educational Studies. Her best times at UCI were actually spent abroad through the university’s Education Abroad Program (EAP). Ruthy studied in Taiwan, Canada, and Sweden during her undergraduate years, allowing her to broaden her view of the world.
After graduating from UCI, Ruthy was accepted to teach in Japan through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET). She gained an understanding of the Japanese educational system while teaching and living there. She was a Head English Teacher, supporting teachers and conducting professional development training sessions.
Although I planned to stay for only one year, my love for the Japanese life led me to spend ten years in Japan!
Following a decade of teaching in Japan, Ruthy returned to UCI to pursue her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Master of Art in Teaching (MAT). She was proud to be an Anteater again and served as a student representative for her cohort.
The rich education that I received from my professors and mentor teachers at UCI shaped me to become a reflective teacher and lifelong learner. UCI’s rigorous academic program prepared me well to become a teacher for one of the top districts in the nation, the Irvine Unified School District.
Ruthy is currently a kindergarten teacher for Springbrook School’s Montessori Program. Using her background in Japanese education, studies from UCI, and knowledge of the Montessori Pedagogy, she is fulfilling her mission to provide a quality education for all her students. Through Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI), she engages her students in cognitively demanding tasks and supports student thinking to extend their learning. Her training at the Montessori Training Center for Teacher Education, a program accredited by the American Montessori Society, has given her the tools to create a peaceful environment of respectful learners where students are at the center of an integrated curriculum. Her worldly views and ability to speak Chinese, Japanese, and French lead her to bring an international perspective to her culturally diverse classroom.
I am constantly searching for creative ways to engage my students, and I strive to make impressionable moments in my lessons. I love seeing the enthusiasm for learning in my young students each day!
Ruthy believes she is blessed to be teaching in Irvine and giving back to the city where she grew up.
I enjoy exploring new places with my husband, and we are always looking for our next delicious meal.