Meet Foun Tang

As part of our ongoing series Meet Our GDS Faculty and Staff, we are excited to present: Meet Foun Tang!

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Foun.

Primary Role: Third Grade Teacher

Pronouns: she/her

Years at GDS: Third school year in

What do you love about GDS?

I absolutely love the mission of the school. I have worked in the area for years at another school and have known about GDS. I was always amazed by the large group of people that they sent to the People of Color Conference every year. I love the diversity in the faculty and the staff, and I love the community of the school. 

Why do you do your job? 

Early on, my first degrees were in history and politics. I care very much about the world, and was very interested in how people go about making decisions for other people, and what happens in the world when people make those decisions, and I thought, “How can I make an impact?” Instead of going into government, I thought about going into education. I thought, “What better way to start a revolution than with the minds of the young?” It’s all about teaching them the values that I would like reflected in society. And that is, starting a revolution of kindness, a revolution of caring, and of seeing other peoples’ points of view, and how other people live. That very much sprang out of my passion for history and how important it is to teach people about the lives of other people.

A favorite part of your job?

I love when I get to know students well enough to have a really genuine interaction and connection—forging those relationships. And I love the teaching part. I love the part where students go “OOHHH I get it!” After all of these years—and this is my 27th year of teaching—it still thrills me.

Your work style in a few words?

I have to internalize it and process it before teaching it. It’s got to be my way of understanding something and my way of delivering it. Even if I’m teaching from a textbook.

That’s one of our strengths [as teachers]: we bring the human part of teaching. When teachers are passionate about something, the way we deliver it is so much richer for a student than just reading something. There’s more depth, passion, and more heart in it. 

A top hope/wish for your students and/or colleagues?

I think for my students, I wish that they can be the best versions of themselves, that they fulfill their potential—not just academically, but in who they are as human beings. 

Personal passions/hobbies/pastimes?

Apart from eating? (I love eating Asian food.) 

I love going to art galleries. I like museums, but I particularly love art. 

Favorite countries I’ve traveled to: 

I’m biased. I’m from Scotland. When I go to the highlands, to the west coast of Scotland, it never fails to take my breath away. I have been around the world: I have been to Nepal, to the Himalayas, and that’s spectacular, but there’s something about the beauty of Scotland and the wildness, and my connection with the people that touches my heart. 

Tell us about your family:  

I’m proud of my heritage and background. I’m the first generation in my family to go to college. And that’s because I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors [In my family’s past generations], there was no money for the women to go to school. I have been able to achieve a high level of education because of the hard work of my immigrant parents. My siblings and I have been given this privilege of getting an education. 

One thing on your life "bucket list" you've already accomplished?

One of my achievements is that I spent all my savings when I was 27 and traveled around the world for a year. I went to America, to some of the National Parks. I went to New Zealand, Bali, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong—where I stopped off to see some relatives—and ended in Nepal where I trekked the Himalayas and hiked up 13,000 feet to Annapurna base camp.

Something on your life “bucket list” you have yet to accomplish?

I have never been to Africa, or South America, and would like to go. With Africa, I don’t know where to start. Maybe Botswana or Ethiopia. And I would like to go back to Japan. Before I came to GDS, I was teaching and working in Tokyo. Japan is an amazing country, and I want to make my way back there.