Charis Language Immersion Academy
Our Mission
We provide quality education to students of different backgrounds to help and equip them to become competent global leaders who strive for academic excellence, moral character, community involvement, and love for Christ.
Our Vision
As a Montessori-style and STEAM-based Mandarin and Spanish Immersion school, we provide engaging music, math, science and Mandarin language immersion in a peaceful and joyful environment to inspire students to be independent thinkers, hard workers, problem solvers, and team players.
Our Distinctives
Christian Worldview and Mentoring
Our curriculum is designed to reflect a Biblical perspective. Through it, students can understand the connections between humanity's history, present, and future concerning God's plan of salvation. Teachers work alongside and guide young minds, helping them discover their identity and purpose through God's truth. Bible lessons are taught on a daily basis, ensuring that students have a solid foundation to honor and serve God throughout their lives.
Mandarin/Spanish Immersion
Numerous studies have shown that a multisensory approach greatly increases the effectiveness of teaching and learning language. We adopted the Montessori and Orton-Gillingham (OG) approaches to our unique immersion classroom. Our OG trained teachers facilitate students to highly engage in learning activities, which bring desirable results to all exceptional and mainstream students. Our small class size allows every student to interact with native Mandarin/ Spanish teachers for listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiency.
Early STEM Experience
Our curriculum allows for expedited training in math, laying a strong foundation for future studies in science, technology, engineering, and math. We provide rigorous training in mental math and promote kinesthetic learning through Chinese abacus instruction. Our hands-on interactive approach in all subject areas fosters student engagement through an exploratory journey of inquiry. In addition, our enrichment programs consist of early Robotics/ LEGO, G1-12 Computer Programming and Chinese Abacus Mental Math classes.
Early Music Experience
Our daily ABRSM music program instills in students key musical concepts such as note-spelling, rhythm, and pitch in keyboard knowledge through daily music lessons. Students learn how to sing, read music notes, and match pitch and perform with piano skills starting from kindergarten grades, and can choose to continue their studies in a specific instrument through our enrichment program with the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
Our Teachers
With continuous observation and understanding of the learning styles and individual needs of each one of our students, our collaborative team works to build a curriculum with a rigorous effective design consists of academic knowledge, diverse cultural understanding and spiritual nourishment for the holistic growth of our students' body, spirit and mind. We model with the love of Christ in showing respect and love to build an inclusive community with appreciation of different cultures, values and solutions of problem-solving.
Head Teacher
Jessie Jiang brings to the school 30 years of experience teaching Chinese and English language immersion. She also facilitates professional development programs for other educators. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Sociolinguistics Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, USA; a Graduate Diploma in Interpreting and Translating from Deakin University, Australia; a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary; and a Master's Degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University.
Jessie is accredited by NAATI (National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters), certified
by CCHI (Certification Commission for Health Care Interpreters), an Orton-Gillingham trained instructor,
and AMI (Association Montessori International Montessori) certified teacher. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate in Education at Gardner-Webb University. Her research interests include bilingualism/multilingualism, effective classroom management, immersion teaching pedagogies,
and dyslexia, bilingualism and students with learning disabilities.
She has a great passion for providing education for students to excel in their God-given potential and to be
competent learners who make wise choices in social, academic, and spiritual settings. She has great joy in
equipping mainstream students and students with exceptionalities (those who learn differently than the
norm) to be college and career-ready.
In her spare time, she likes gardening, swimming, singing with a guitar, and writing children bilingual
reading materials.
Administrative Assistant/Teacher
Mr. Sam has a wealth of experience teaching students K-12 in both public and private schools. He has directed choirs, orchestras, and musicals and has led student choirs to prestigious awards. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Erskine College and is working toward a master's degree in piano performance at Converse University. Mr. Sam is fluent in both Mandarin and English and has helped design curriculum for elementary and middle school aged students in core subjects such as ELA and Math. He is also trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach, a multi-sensorial method of teaching literacy to students with learning difficulties. Mr. Sam holds an ABRSM Licentiate Diploma in piano and grade 8 certifications in cello and voice. Mr. Sam is also a private music instructor and an active church and local event musician.
Teacher
Natalie Stubblebine
Teacher
Board of Directors and Advisory
Board Member
With over 27 years of expertise in electronic engineering and information technology (17 years of which was teaching at college level), John has helped numerous engineering students succeed in the industry as professionals in Computer Science. Currently he is working at a prestige high school teaching Computer Science and developing and designing curriculum.
His passion is to provide a Christian-based learning environment for students to engage in research-based learning strategies. He strongly advocates for a hands-on approach through project-based learning in all academic subjects and a strong early math foundation for college and career readiness. His teaching pedagogies are effective for students with all learning styles and exceptionalities.
He believes that to know and love Christ is the foundation for all knowledge. John's persistence in working towards establish MMM Academy is an expression of his endeavor for his love to glorify God and to serve the community.
Kenny Gilliland has a distinguished background that blends two decades of military leadership,
executive-level technology consulting, and dedicated non-profit operational experience, Kenny
brings a unique and valuable perspective to board governance. As a retired U.S. Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel, he honed skills in strategic planning, large-scale project management, and
leading diverse teams in high-stakes environments. This foundation is complemented by deep
expertise in IT strategy and enterprise architecture, which he applied as an Associate Director at
a technology consulting firm, developing and implementing solutions for a wide range of
government and commercial clients.
Beyond the corporate and military sectors, Kenny's career is defined by a consistent
commitment to community and organizational growth. In his current role as Director of
Operations for LEAD Collective, he oversees all daily functions, develops staff leadership, and
executes the annual budget in close collaboration with the Executive Director. This hands-on
experience in fiscal oversight, process improvement, and talent development is a recurring
theme across his extensive career, from leading a successful martial arts school to directing
mentor programs and coordinating large volunteer teams for community-focused organizations.
Kenny Gilliland's diverse professional journey demonstrates an ability to navigate complex
challenges, drive operational excellence, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. His
expertise in technology, coupled with a passion for mentorship and mission-driven work, makes
him a dynamic and insightful addition to the Charis Academy board.
Clarence has been a resident of the Upstate of South Carolina since 2014, and currently lives in Travelers Rest with his wife, Rachel, and 3 children.
He has over 10 years of experience as a Human Resource professional and enjoys meeting new people and learning about their individual career paths. Clarence has supported organizations in the US, Singapore and across Southeast Asia, in
industries like technology, construction, manufacturing and professional services.
Clarence also currently serves as a Trustee of Greenville Community Church where he is an active member. He has also held previous board positions with the Greenville Society of HR Management (GSHRM) and East Link Academy (Mandarin Immersion Charter School).
Born and raised in Singapore, Clarence graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Murdoch University, and speaks mandarin as a second language.
Robin has been teaching in some shape or form since 1992. She homeschooled her own two sons as they grew up in China. She taught other expat children, as well. For the last ten years, Robin has taught in South Carolina public schools. She has taught everything from high school Mandarin to kindergarten reading.
Robin and her family moved to China in 1996. They lived in Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces. Her family returned to the United States in 2009. Living in China has given her a deep appreciation for the Chinese language and culture.
Three of Robin’s greatest passions are education, Chinese language and culture, and the Lord Jesus Christ. All three of these combine beautifully at MMM Academy. What a wonderful opportunity for these students to become bilingual and biliterate. And to be able to do that in a Christ-centered environment.
Robin has her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Winthrop University. Her master's degree in linguistics and education is from the University of Texas-Arlington.
Robin has two sons, both in their twenties. Ben lives in Boston, and Daniel lives in Washington, D.C.
Natalie Goglia began her career as a high school social studies teacher at Southside high school she taught for 10 years and then after she had her daughter, Samantha, she went part time as a test coordinator. She finished her education career as an ADEPT evaluator for two years currently, she is a licensed Funeral Director and pre-planner of Palmetto Mortuary which she and her husband own. Space she also volunteers with hospice organizations. Natalie enjoy her spare time with her family and exercising.
Brian Burgess
President
Brian Burgess is the current director of Front Porch Housing, a non-profit ministry in Greenville, SC. Brian received his degree from Clemson University, focusing on Parks, Recreation, and Tourism management. He also has a minor in Nonprofit Leadership. Brian is a member of Grace Church in Powdersville. He and his wife Kim call Powdersville home with their three kids Jackson, Catarina, and Liam.
Advisory
Larry Gamble earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Georgia State University, a Master’s Degree of Business Administration from Rollins College and a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary. He is a certified public accountant and is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church of America.
He has extensive experience in leadership in the financial and Christian fields in organizations including Hubbell Lighting Inc, Ligonier Ministries, Southern Fruit Distributors, Martin Marietta Corporation, Conagra Inc., and Westminster Presbyterian Church (Clinton, SC). At present, he is an adjunct professor at Anderson University.
Faith Statements
1. The Holy Bible is the inerrant written Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
2. There is only one living and true God who has revealed Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without divisions of nature, essence or being (1 John 5-7).
3. After the voluntary disobedience of our ancestors, Adam and Eve, humanity inherited a sinful nature opposed to God's holiness and deserving of His righteous judgement. It is by God's grace alone that man can be brought into God's holy fellowship and be fully reconciled to Him. (Romans 3:23)
4. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He was born at a particular time and place in history and is fully God and fully man. (John 1:14)
5. Jesus led a perfect life, suffered and died on a cross, was buried, and rose again, to secure salvation for those who put their faith in Him. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
6. Salvation is offered freely to all who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:13).
7. After placing their faith in Christ, God’s people are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who works to transform them into the likeness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
8. Jesus will one day return to Earth in power and glory to judge and renew the whole world and receive His people to Himself. (Mark 13:26)