Principal's Profile

Dr. Sueling Chen

In the fall of 1988, a new private preschool opened its doors at 1700 W. Valencia Drive with an enrollment of 7 young children, two of whom belonged to the principal. The school, though small, was purposefully built and the brain child of Sueling Chen, who was determined to establish the best quality school for her own children and the community. She saw a need and decided to fill it. This was the beginning of Arborland Montessori Children's Academy. Since its modest inception, the school has achieved outstanding growth, both in student enrollment and campus expansion. Dr. Chen has successfully created an excellent, warm, nurturing and friendly learning environment based on Dr. Maria Montessori's

teaching philosophy. The school now has multiple classes from toddlers to upper elementary and caters to the educational needs of children ranging in age from eighteen months to twelve years. The school expanded again in December 2003 and opened a second campus, the Arborland Education & Youth Activity Center Hughes Campus in Amerige Heights.

As the principal of Arborland, Dr. Chen has astutely blended in the needs of public school requirements into the Montessori curriculum.The results are evident in the excellent grades achieved in the yearly standardized tests. The school has graduated many children to local junior high schools, all of whom have achieved accelerated placements in the math and language areas.

They also excel in public speaking and debating skills, thanks to the in-house radio station installed by Dr. Chen, which offers a facility for children to practice their radio communication abilities.

The secret of the school's success is Dr. Chen's educational background which has eminently prepared her for the challenges of running a school. She has a Bachelor of Education degree and teaching credential from National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, and a Master degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Her education has provided her with a sound combination of knowledge both for the educational needs of the children and the necessary business background needed to provide such an education. With a constant drive to improve Arborland, Dr. Chen went back to school to obtain a Montessori Teaching Credential and a Doctorate in Education because she believed the insight she could gain would provide her with more knowledge to pass onto the teachers. After a few years of going to school in addition to working full-time, Dr. Chen received her Ed. D. from the USC Rossier School of Education in 2005.

Dr. Chen's business acumen is the motivating force which enables her to see that to produce the best, the correct preparation is necessary. The facility she has prepared meets the highest standards, not only for the child's educational needs, but also for the highest standards of safety and well-being of all entrusted to her care. The campuses are well structured; all of the classrooms are bright and spacious and each has its own restrooms, sinks and drinking fountains. The furniture in each classroom meets the needs of the children at each age level and is very pleasing to the eye. Each class is fully equipped with all the required Montessori manipulative materials, which are regularly replaced as the need arises.

Being a strong believer in a quality program, Dr. Chen has been meticulous in her selection of teaching staff and employees; she only accepts those teachers with the best background and Montessori teaching credentials. She offers scholarships to train teachers and further enhance their knowledge. Her strong support for her faculty has resulted in an experienced, loyal group of teachers who form the academic nucleus of her establishment.

Dr. Chen's achievements were recognized by Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, Mayor of Fullerton, Orange County Supervisor, California State Assembly, California State Senate, and United States Congressman when she was named "Educator of the Year 2002." Then in 2004, Dr. Chen was presented with "Woman of the Year 2004" by Assemblymember Lynn Daucher of the 72^nd District and the California State Assembly in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the people of California.

In 2012, Dr. Chen was not only recognized as "Woman of the Year" by Assemblyman Chris Norby, but Arborland itself was also awarded "Business of the Year" by the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce. All the recognition she and Arborland receives are an enormous honor and are possible only because of dedicated staff, supportive parents, wonderful students, and outstanding alumni and their continued cooperation and support.

Not only is Dr. Chen a successful educator, but she is also a mother of three. They have all graduated from Arborland, after receiving their early primary and elementary education at this establishment. They are living proof of her success. They are responsible, well-rounded, and compassionate individuals, where the solid foundation they received at Arborland is coming to full fruition.

Dr. Chen's oldest daughter graduated with a full International Baccalaureate diploma, lifetime membership for the California Scholarship Federation, 4.56 GPA, and high honors from Sunny Hills High School in June 2002. She was accepted early decision to her first choice school, Cornell University, where she actively competed in and taught ballroom dancing with the Cornell Ballroom Dance Club, performed traditional Chinese Dance at events around campus, and conducted olfaction research with Professor Bruce Halpern. She graduated in May 2006 with a Biology major.

Her highly self-motivated and eager-to-learn personality has her continually going back to school to further her education. She went on to receive her masters degree for education and math teaching credentials from the University of California Los Angeles in 2010. After that, she worked in the public school system, teaching high school trigonometry and algebra. Currently, she is attending the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and will receive her second masters degree in 2013.

Dr. Chen's second daughter graduated from Sunny Hills High School in 2004, also with high honors and an International Baccalaureate Diploma. As a junior in high school, she excelled in AP BC Calculus and was a member of the Girls Varsity Tennis Team, Helios yearbook staff, and National Honor Society at Sunny Hills. She graduated from the prestigious Haas School of Business from University of California Berkeley in 2008, and currently works as senior associate staff at the renowned Ernst and Young accounting and consulting firm. She proves to be a valuable member of their company as she continually impresses her superiors with her outstanding contributions. At her young age, her intellectual prowess has also brought her all around the world.

She is not only gifted with an analytical mind, but she is also endowed with a golden heart. She volunteers as a Big Sister, showing that her compassion and dedication are in equal parts.

Not to be left out, Dr. Chen's youngest daughter attended Arborland since she was two years and three months old. She is currently a freshman at Sunny Hills High School, where she continues to excel. She is in the International Baccalaureate program, and consistently on the principal's honor roll. She was also elected to serve as secretary in their student government. She has continually won speech contests both in Chinese and English, the most recent of which is the Lion's Club regional division contest in the first quarter of 2012. She was crowned first runner up at the Miss Fullerton Outstanding Teen contest in 2011.

She is a happy child who finds beauty in the simplest things. Her outgoing and charming personality has continually made her a standout.

Thanks to the qualities promoted by the Montessori philosophy that they have acquired from Arborland, they have continued to succeed and inspire.