Hyein Lee
Lower School Instructional Coach and District Literacy Lead
hyeinlee@sejongacademy.org

Hyein Lee, a graduate of Sookmyung Women’s University (B.Mus.) and Yonsei University (M.Mus.), brings over 20 years of teaching and performance experience to Sejong Academy. Since joining the school, she has served as a kindergarten teacher, Korean Language Coordinator, PLC Leader, and Elementary Lead Teacher. Known for meeting each student at their individual level and helping them grow to their full potential, she now serves as the Lower School Instructional Coach and Elementary Division Lead. In this role, she supports teachers through professional development, curriculum planning, and instructional guidance. Guided by Sejong Academy’s mission, she is committed to helping students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural learners who are confident, curious, and connected to both Korean heritage and the wider world.

Eun Joo Oh Tipka. 오은주
Pre Kindergarten Main Classroom Teacher
eotipka@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Oh was born in Busan, South Korea and is a licensed teacher in Korea in Dance and Physical Education.  She has over 26 years experience in both teaching and performing Korean traditional dance, drumming and musical drama to all ages ranging from Pre-K to adult.  In addition, She put on a professional Dance performance Named “Understanding” at the Gumjong culture theatre where she did all of the choreography, trained the performers and performed herself.  She has performed in five different countries around the world along with the 1988 Seoul, Korea Olympics.  Ms. Oh enjoys planting a garden every spring and spending time with family at the cabin along with traveling to various places throughout the US for vacation time with her husband, Terry. She has almost 12 years teaching experience at the Orono Montessori School and during this time she earned a Montessori teaching diploma.

Eh Kler Wah
Pre Kindergarten Educational Assistant
ewah@sejongacademy.org

I started joining sejong academy in February 25-26 and I enjoyed working at sejong and looking forward to this school year. I graduated from Humboldt high school and have high school diploma. During high school years, I play two sports which were soccer and badminton, during free time I love to go shop and favorite food is pho.

Noah Larson
Kindergarten Main Teacher
Nlarson@sejongacademy.org

Mr. Larson is a Minnesota native, discovering and learning Korean at the University of Minnesota starting in 2020. At the University, Mr. Larson received a BA in Global Studies and eventually a MA in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Both of his degrees focus on areas of Korean studies: Korean pedagogy in Language classrooms and Korean media & pop culture. 

His goal is to create an environment that encourages student autonomy, while also showing them a first hand example of a non-hertiage Korean speaker.  In his free time, he enjoys reading and exploring nature.

HyeYoon Park
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
hyeyoonpark1248@gmail.com

Ms. Park graduated from Seoul National University of Education and taught in Korea for five years before her path led her to the United States. Along the way, she came to recognize a deeper calling: to nurture the flourishing of communities through the growth and resilience of children and their families. Before joining Sejong Academy, she worked in the nonprofit sector, supporting communities as they sought to thrive and grow.

In 2025, as she begins her first year at Sejong Academy, Ms. Park looks forward with gratitude and hope to planting roots with her students and growing side by side. 

Beyond the classroom, she is a certified yoga instructor, creating gentle spaces where body and spirit may be grounded, restored, and at peace. Some of her happiest moments are found under Minnesota’s wide skies, camping with her husband and their two children.

Jiyoung Kim. 김지영
1st Grade Main Teacher
jikim@sejongacademy.org

Ji Young Kim was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from SungKyunKwan University with a BS degree in Mathematics. This year is her second year at Sejong Academy and she is excited to meet and teach 2nd graders. She enjoys hiking, playing jigsaw puzzles, and listening to music.  She resides in Woodbury, MN with her husband and two daughters.

Meesuk Park. 박미숙
1st Grade Assistant Teacher
mpark@sejongacademy.org

I was born in Gwangju, South Korea, and after majoring in early childhood education at Duksung Women's University in Seoul, I worked with children as a childcare teacher at a private kindergarten, an attached kindergarten, and an elementary school for about 10 years. Through cognitive, physical, and emotional activities with children, I learned about the diversity of behavior and infinite potential of children in infancy and childhood. And through volunteering at church Sunday school for about 15 years, I had the valuable experience of being able to read the various emotional changes of children in the upper grades of elementary school and the emotions of adults through storytelling and music at a nursing home for about 2 years. When I immigrated to Minnesota four years ago, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge and thinking by taking an ESL course and meeting cultures and people from various countries. I believe that my various experiences outside of early childhood education will be helpful to the needs of the children at Sejong Academy. My hobbies include visiting various cafes, tasting coffee and bread, and appreciating nature through hiking.

Jungyeol Park. 박정열
Teacher G2 + LS Lead Teacher
jpark@sejongacademy.org

He has been teaching at Sejong Academy of Minnesota since 2022 as a homeroom teacher for 2nd and 3rd grade. Before moving to the United States, he lived in Korea for over 30 years.

He earned my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from Seoul National University in Korea. After coming to the U.S., He continued his studies and completed a Master's degree in K–6 Elementary Education at Hamline University, and earned my Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota.

He enjoys playing sports like tennis and soccer, and in his free time, I love spending time with his wife and two sons.

Seonmin Oh. 오선민
Grade 2 Cooperative Teacher
minoh@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Oh is the 2nd-grade homeroom teacher for the 2025–2026 school year. She is originally from Busan, a city famous for its beautiful ocean, and has also lived in Seoul for many years. She moved to the United States in 2020 and continues to teach clarinet every day after work. She majored in music with a focus on clarinet performance and is passionate about Korean language education, holding a Level 2 Korean Language Teaching Certificate.

Ms. Oh truly loves teaching and approaches each student with care, dedication, and genuine affection. She also has great passions for strong coffee, psychology, classical music, jazz, and traveling.

She is committed to creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment where every student feels respected and enjoys learning. She looks forward to collaborating closely with parents and colleagues to support the growth and happiness of all her students.

Da-In Beck 백다인
Grade 3 Main Teacher
da-inbeck@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Beck was born in Seoul, South Korea, and came to the States when she was 14 years old. She majored in elementary education (k-6) at North Central University and had experience teaching Korean school(한글학교) for three years. This is her second year at Sejong as a kindergarten teacher. Ms. Beck's educational philosophy is that all students are unique, and need to have an environment where all students can grow physically, emotionally, and socially.

Hayeon Lee 이하연
Grade 3 Assistant Teacher
halee@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Heyeon Lee came to Minnesota in 2016 as an international student. Thanks She finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and She currently in the MCAD Master of Fine Arts program from 2022 to 2024. She is passion about to create design that visual interest and try something new every time.

Nari Park
Grade 4 Teacher
npark@sejongacademy.org

It is her second year at Sejong Academy and she is excited to step into her new role as a 4th-grade teacher. With dual Bachelor’s degrees in Korean Language Education and Creative Writing, a Korean Language Teaching Level 2 certification, and years of teaching students of all ages across Minnesota, she brings both experience and a love of learning to the classroom.

Formerly a feature editor at Design House in Korea, she learned to value the quiet space between words — the pause that lets meaning breathe — and she carries that belief into my teaching. In free time, she runs a book club in neighborhood, write essays, and snuggle her cat on my lap.

Haelim Wee 위혜림
Grade 5 Main Teacher
haelim@sejongacademy.org

Ms.Haelim Wee was born in South Korea and moved to the United States in 2012. She studied Elementary Education and Global Studies at Purdue University and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration at Hamline University. 

This is her third year at Sejong Academy, and she previously taught 3rd and 6th grade at the school. This is her first year as a 5th-grade teacher, and she is excited to begin a new journey with our 5th graders. 

Ms.Wee is passionate about creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment where all students feel valued and supported. She incorporates differentiated instruction, cultural responsiveness, and hands-on activities to help students reach their full potential.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops, playing tennis, and watching sports. She looks forward to working with students and families to make this school year a rewarding experience for everyone.

Danielle Bass
Library Media Specialist
dbass@sejongacademy.org

Danielle Bass is a lifelong learner of language, literature, and culture and is pleased to model curiosity and wonder for Sejong Academy students as a licensed library media specialist. She holds a MN K-12 Library Media teaching license and a Master of Science degree in School Library Information Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato. During her undergraduate years, she earned a BA in Linguistics with a minor in Korean Language and Literature from the University of Minnesota. She spent seven years in South Korea teaching English and developing English language curricular materials with several publishing houses. After returning to the Twin Cities in 2015, she has worked in various public school districts as a Pre-K assistant, media and technology paraprofessional, and substitute teacher. She is overjoyed to teach Sejong Academy students to love language, literature, and develop information literacy skills critical to success in the 21st century.

Sebastian Montes 세바스찬 몬테스
Pk-12 Art/ IB Design
smontes@sejongacademy.org

The 2025-26 school year marks Mr. Montes’s 4th year teaching lower school Visual Art, and his 2nd year teaching upper school IB MYP Design at Sejong Academy. With an academic and professional background in both the visual arts and English, Mr. Montes enjoys sharing his individual experience and skill set with the diverse staff and students of Sejong Academy. After living and working in South Korea from 2015-2022, Mr. Montes feels Sejong is truly a perfect fit for him in his relatively new home of St. Paul Minnesota! When not teaching Mr. Montes enjoys doing film photography, making music, gardening, grilling, and being a cat dad to his 2 feline companions.

Dissel Moo
LS Physical Education Teacher
dmoo@sejongacademy.org

Dissel Moo was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to the USA in 2012. Dissel is very excited to be a PE teacher this year. He recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Elementary Education, and this will be his first year of teaching. He has worked for several years as both a part-time and full-time education assistant.

Dissel’s hobbies include playing pickleball, volleyball, running, soccer, and reading manhwa. He also loves traveling, especially visiting national forests around the state.

First person

My name is Dissel Moo. I was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to the USA in 2012. I am super excited to be a PE teacher this year. I recently graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Elementary Education, and this will be my first year of teaching. I have worked for several years as both a part-time and full-time education assistant.

My hobbies include playing pickleball, volleyball, running, soccer, and reading manhwa. I also love traveling, especially visiting national forests around the state.

Taipou Wu
Taekwondo Teacher PreK-5
twu@sejongacademy.org

Bio coming

Sacha Chandavong. 사샤 찬도방
ELL 3-5 Teacher + EL Coordinator
schandavong@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Sacha holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota and earned her Master’s Degree in TESOL from Hamline University. Before coming to Sejong Academy, she taught English Language Learners from multicultural backgrounds ranging from children to adults. This is her eighth year at Sejong Academy and her seventh year as an EL teacher. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, visiting coffee shops, and cooking.

Hyomin Tae Kudo. 태효민
ELL K-2 Teacher + G2 KLA Teacher
hkudo@sejongacademy.org

Mrs. Kudo was born in Korea and moved to the Philippines in sixth grade to study abroad. Later on, she came to Minnesota for college, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from the University of Minnesota.

This is her fifth year at Sejong Academy! After four wonderful years as a classroom teacher, she’s excited to take on a new role with the EL team and support students in different ways. This year, she’ll be working closely with kindergarten through second grade and is passionate about creating a welcoming, fun, and inclusive learning environment where every student can shine.

When she’s not at school, Mrs. Kudo loves spending time with her family, checking out local coffee shops, and trying new baking recipes.

She’s so excited to kick off the new school year and can’t wait to connect with students and families!

Hyewon Lim. 임혜원
English Language Learner Teacher
hlim@sejongacademy.org

Hyewon was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. She has a bachelor’s degree in History from University of London, UK, and a master’s degree in Marketing Communications from University of Westminster, UK. She worked as a marketing manager at LG Electronics in Seoul, Korea for ten years before pursuing a career in teaching. She earned a master’s degree in TESOL from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota and worked as an ESL teacher for six years. Apart from teaching, she loves to travel around the world. She has traveled to over twenty countries. She also loves to read books, watch movies, and spend time with her family and friends.

Suhyun Na
Special Education Teacher
sna@sejongacademy.org

Suhyun Na was born and raised in Korea. She studied special education at Ewha Womans University of Korea at BA, MA, and Doctorate level. Before moving to the US, she worked as a special education teacher, taught at colleges for many years, carried out lots of research and published some books/journals about special education. It has broadened and deepened her knowledge and experience. At Sejong, she worked as an ADSIS Reading teacher, ADSIS coordinator, Reading Corps coach and special education teacher. As a leader of the Special Education team, she will take responsibility for overseeing and managing all Sejong’s special education system including program development, service delivery, staffing, compliance, and budgeting. Also, she will serve as an Administrative Designee at IEP and Evaluation meetings, supervise special education staff and try to  meet the diverse needs of all students with disabilities continuously. 

Seohyun Yoon
Special Education Teacher
shyoon@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Yoon brings a diverse background in education to her role. She began her career teaching English in middle and high schools in Korea before moving to Minnesota in 2019, where she earned a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology with a focus on special education. With her passion for ongoing professional growth, she also participated in the Heritage Language Cohort program hosted by PELSB, which led her to earning the very first Korean teaching license ever issued in the state. 

Her teaching experience in Minnesota includes working in a variety of special education settings, including Sejong Academy and District 833. She is now working toward an Education Specialist (Ed.S) degree in Director of Special Education. 

Ms. Yoon is passionate about creating inclusive and engaging learning environments, as she’s dedicated to supporting every student’s growth and success. 

Hye Yun Lee. 이혜윤
Special Education Teacher
hylee@sejongacademy.org

Mrs. Lee was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. She worked as a head teacher for an elementary school English language program and as a team coordinator at an English institute for eight years. Mrs. Lee earned a special education license from LDA of MN and a TESOL certificate from Sungkyunkwan University, which was awarded through a joint partnership with Georgetown University. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dog for walks in local parks and around lakes, as well as traveling.

Miseon Hwang
Special Education Teacher, Grades 3-6
mhwang@sejongacademy.org

Miseon Hwang was born and raised in South Korea where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature & Language as well as a certificate in Teaching Korean as a Second Language. After graduation, she then moved abroad to Dublin, Ireland for 6 years. Ms. Hwang has experience in teaching English to students in grades K-9 for over 5 years. She moved to the United States in 2017 and started working at Sejong Academy as a volunteer. She then worked her way up to Educational Assistant in Special Education and then to First Grade Homeroom Teacher before becoming an Elementary Special Education Teacher Ms. Hwang believes that a role as an educator is to be a positive influence on more than academics. Educators should be a positive influence on aspects like emotional well-being, social skills, and physical health. Ms. Hwang lives in Midway, St. Paul and likes to tend her garden with her husband. She also loves traveling, camping, and listening to music.

Joenieferr Jamito
Special Education Educational Assistant
jjamito@sejongacademy.org

Mabuhay!
My name is Joenieferr Providencia Jamito, also known as Jhun from Maple Grove, Minnesota. I am a cultural exchange teacher from the Republic of the Philippines, and I am deeply passionate about education. I hold licenses as an Elementary Teacher in both the Philippines and the United States, as well as a Level 1 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teacher license in Alberta, Canada. I have dedicated almost 16 years of my life to teaching.

My teaching journey includes 2 years in Kindergarten, 3 years in 1st Grade, and 8 years in 5th Grade in the Philippines. In the United States, I served as a 5th Grade Teacher for one year and as a Special Education Resource Teacher for another year.

I earned my Bachelor of Elementary Education, Major in General Education, at Negros Oriental State University, where I also completed the academic requirements for a Master of Arts in Educational Management, Major in Administration and Supervision. Throughout my years in general education, I encountered many students with exceptionalities and learning differences. This inspired me to pursue further studies in special education. I completed the Special Education Bridging Program at Western Colleges in the Philippines and later began my Master’s in Special Education. Though I was unable to complete the program, I was blessed with the opportunity to continue through Metropolitan State University with the support of Intermediate School District 917 and the PELSB Teacher of Color Scholarship Grant.

For me, education is a powerful means to overcome ignorance and poverty, and a way to advocate for the success of others. Being part of Sejong Academy this year is both a privilege and a blessing from God. I am committed to keeping my passion for teaching alive and to giving my very best in shaping capable and compassionate individuals, contributions I hope will support the continued success of our school.

Kyuyeol Song
Special Education Teacher
ksong@sejongacademy.org

Mr. Song was born in Andong, South Korea, and graduated from Korea University with a BA in Korean Language Education. He worked as a high school Korean teacher in Korea for 14 years before moving to Minnesota in 2019. He now lives in Woodbury with his wife and two teenage children. Mr. Song loves to play pickleball and is a member of the Woodbury Pickleball Club. He likes coffee and going on road trips. At Sejong Academy, he hopes to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to supporting students in need.

Charitha Kudapanage
ADSIS Math Teacher Grade 3-11
ckudapanage@sejongacademy.org

She was born in SriLanka and moved to U.S. in 2012. She received Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics and pursuing masters in Data Science. She has more than 5 years of academic experience working with elementary and secondary aged students. She lives in Woodbury, MN with her husband and two wonderful sons. Her hobby is to travel around the world with her family.

Jiyeoun Jung
In-house substeacher /ADSIS Math
jjung@sejongacademy.org

She was born and raised as the youngest of 4 sisters in Seoul, South Korea. She graduated from the Nursing school in Yonsei University, where she met her husband and many lifetime friends. She moved to the US in 1998. Before settling in Minnesota in 2010, Jiyeoun lived in Berkeley, California, and Newark,Delaware. She has 3 children. With her family, she enjoys many outdoor activities  such as camping, hiking, and kayaking. She loves having time with children and watching them grow physically, mentally, and socially, which truly inspires her.

Karen Hong. 전은혜
ADSIS Reading Teacher & Reading Corps Coach
khong@sejongacademy.org

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Mrs. Hong is a second generation Korean-American. She graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor's of Science in Business and focused in management information systems and marketing. She has over 10 years of experience teaching and working with children. Mrs. Hong has been an active member of Sejong since the school first opened its doors in 2014. She sent all her children to Sejong and worked as a classroom volunteer when they first opened. She’s also served as the school’s PTO President for 3 years, in-house substitute, and has been the school’s librarian for the last 6 years. Mrs. Hong loves to serve at Sejong in hopes to instill a growth mindset in students where they do not fear challenges or mistakes. Her vision is for students to learn to become lifelong learners. She currently lives just outside of St. Paul with her husband and 3 children.

Danny Decemson
Transportation/ Admin Assistant/ In-house Sub
ddecemson@sejongacademy.org

Mr. Decemson grew up in a Thailand refugee camp and moved to the United States in 2011. He graduated High School in 2016 and pursued his career in Law Enforcement. He graduated from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor's in Degree in Criminal Justice Studies. Someday he hopes to become a police officer in the state of Minnesota and help protect the community. During his leisure he loves to go to the gym and workout. He believes staying fit and active helps promote a healthy body and mind. He also loves working with students. That's why he’s happy to work with students at Sejong!

Mo Bullock
Student Success Coach

Bio coming

Niyat Gegziahber
In-house Sub
ngegziahber@sejongacademy.org

Bio coming

Hanmin Kim
In-house Sub
hanminkim@sejongacademy.org

Hanmin Kim is an experienced educator with a background in early childhood education, holding a Master of Arts in Linguistics. She has served as a part-time teacher at Snail Lake Preschool and a substitute assistant teacher at ParkView Center School, where she focused on creating an organized and optimal educating environment. Her experience also includes teaching basic reading skills to preschoolers as a teacher with Reading Corps. 

Deanna Ginter
School Social Worker
dginter@sejongacademy.org

Ms. Deanna is a second generation Cambodian American born and raised in the Twin Cities. After finishing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of St. Thomas, she moved to Washington state where she lived for 6 years. After returning in 2021 to be closer to family, Ms. Deanna completed her Masters of Social Work degree in 2023. She has been working in the social services and mental health professions since 2015. Her goal as a school social worker is to provide a safe, judgement free environment for students to process their emotions. Ms. Deanna loves connecting with families to provide access to community resources. She enjoys going for walks, spending time with family and friends, cooking, and doing a variety of activities outside.