Music Math Multilingual 
Christian Academy

Why Choose MMM Academy?

Our Mission

We equip students 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 Immersion school, we provide engaging music, math, 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 are able to understand the connections between humanity's history, present, and future in relation to God's plan of salvation. Teachers work alongside and provide guidance to 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 Immersion

    Inspired by Montessouri - Waldorf approaches, our unique approach of Spanish/ Mandarin immersion facilitates students to highly engage in learning activities which bring joy and effective student outcomes. 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, G1-5 Genius Computer Programing 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 the 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.

Jessie Jiang

Head Teacher


Jessie Jiang brings to the school with rich experience in Chinese and English immersion programs for over 30 years in teaching Chinese and English and facilitating professional development of educators.


She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics from The University of Melbourne, Australia, with Sociolinguistics Studies at The University of California, Berkeley, USA,  a Graduate Diploma in Interpreting and Translating from Deakin University, Australia, and a Master’s Degree in Religion (Biblical Counseling) from Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a Master's Degree of School Administration with Gardner-Webb University.


Jessie is also a NAATI accredited translator, a CCHI certified interpreter,  an Orton-Gillingham trained practitioner, and AMI 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 and Chinese language learning.


She has a great passion for providing education for students to excel in their God-given potential 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 to be college and career-ready.

In her spare time, she likes gardening, swimming, singing with a guitar, and writing Christian bilingual reading materials.


Sam Tam

Music Teacher/Coordinator


Sam Tam is a pianist, cellist, and vocalist who is experienced in teaching students of all ages. He heads the music program at MMMA and teaches ABRSM piano, cello, and music theory lessons. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Erskine College and is currently a chorus teacher at McCracken Middle School in Spartanburg, SC. Sam is an active church musician and a local wedding/event musician in Upstate SC.


Sam has obtained an ABRSM Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance and has passed Grade 8 Voice and Cello Exams with distinction. He has also obtained honors at international music festivals and competitions including being a finalist at the Ronald Sachs International Music Competition. His choirs have won awards in the Upstate. Sam is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the American Choral Directors Association, and the South Carolina Music Educators Association.


Sam has a passion for developing young talent and helping students discover their love for music.




John Tai Cheung

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.

New Title

Clarence Wong

Board Member

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.

Larry Gamble

Advisory Board

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 Inc., and Westminster Presbyterian Church (Clinton, SC). At present, he is an adjunct professor at Anderson University. 


New Title

Robin Johnson

Board Member

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. 




 Faith Statement

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)