Ms. Lau was inspired by teachers who “showed acts of love” to her as the only Asian student in the school. “They were patient with me, and I want to do that for the students here. It’s a ripple effect. I have a soft spot for kids who don’t fit in initially.”

 

Now Ms. Lau, who radiates enthusiasm, can pay it forward. Just as her school set up a meal train for her family when her mother had surgery, she arranged a similar mitzvah for a student. The Jog-a-Thon is a way to get the school excited as well as to thank her parents and mentors.

After teaching third and sixth grade at Woodbury Elementary in Irvine and a dual immersion Mandarin program at College Park Elementary in the Bay Area, she taught second and fourth grade at TVT. Although she had little familiarity with Jewish people and customs, she was instantly embraced by students and parents who have become “extended family.” She described TVT as “welcoming to people with different backgrounds and loving to me.”

 

Ms. Lau described TVT as welcoming and collaborative. She said, “It’s about much more than academics.  TVT allows teachers the creative freedom to come up with interesting projects, and the students respond with a lot of energy. These projects also take us outside the walls of the building, where we can bring the warmth of the Jewish community to other people.”

 

During her spare time, Ms. Lau enjoys taking long bike rides, cooking and studying web design. On occasion, she also performs with a fife and piccolo band.