With heavy hearts and profound sorrow, the Pao School community mourns Madam Ni Guyin, Pao School's Founding Headmistress, who passed away on 14th October 2024 at the age of 90. Madam Ni dedicated over 60 years of her life to shaping the minds and hearts of students and teachers alike. Her legacy will forever resonate within the community of Pao School.
Before joining YK Pao School, Madam Ni Guyin was Headmistress of No.1 Primary School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University. Throughout her career, she received numerous accolades, including ‘Shanghai Outstanding Teacher’ and ‘National Advanced Educator’. Due to her exemplary contribution to the primary education in China, Madam Ni Guyin was elected as a delegate to the Fifth National People's Congress and served as a member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Founding Headmistress Ni Guyin teaching maths
“We owe her an enormous debt of gratitude for her willingness to come out of retirement to take on a new and innovative project. Despite her lack of previous experience with international education, she brought an open-minded approach and instilled her philosophy of the joy of learning into the DNA of our School.
- Professor Anna Sohmen Pao, Chairman
Philip Sohmen, Executive Deputy Chairman
In 2006, Madam Ni accepted the invitation to take on the role of the Founding Head of Pao School. Recalling this decision many years later, she said: "Looking back, even though I had already retired, I was deeply moved when I heard Professor Anna Sohmen Pao sharing the educational philosophy of Pao School. I was also touched by the decision of Philip Sohmen, who gave up prestigious positions overseas to establish a non-profit school in Shanghai. As a result, I agreed to take on the role of headmistress at Pao School and oversee the mentor team."
The co-founders, Deputy Chairman Madam Tan Fuyun, Deputy Chairman Philip Sohmen and Primary Deputy Principal Crick Chen welcome Founding Headmistress Ni Guyin to establish the YK Pao School Mentors Group, consisting of renowned educators: Li Aizhen, Chen Beilei, Shi Huifang, Chen Xiantong and Yin Guofang (from left) 2008
From 2007 to 2010, Madam Ni played a pivotal role in creating the Pao Primary School mentor team. Primary School Deputy Principal Crick Chen recalled, "At the time, the team was only beginning, and we needed the ‘masters’ to impart their wisdom to us in various respects, from curriculum development to talent cultivation and management systems. "
Headmistress Ni Guyin with pupils, photograph taken in February 2010.
Headmistress Ni giving a speech at the fifth anniversary celebration of Pao School in 2012
Sun Yifan, leader of the lower primary Chinese language group, was inspired by Headmistress Ni to pursue teaching. "Headmistress Ni often stressed that the essence of education lies in motivating, awakening, and inspiring students' inner worlds,” she recalled. “She would often say, 'There are no students who cannot be taught, only teachers who do not know how to teach.' Over the years, with the accumulation of teaching experience, I have come to increasingly understand the profound meaning of this statement.”
In 2017, Madam Ni visited the newly established Hongqiao campus.
Beyond building the mentor team, Madam Ni Guyin instilled her philosophy of the joy of learning into the DNA of Pao School. Music teacher Carol Zhang, a member of the founding team, remembered. “Headmistress Ni emphasized that musical education primarily focuses on the appreciation of art, enabling students to encounter the allure and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures through the enjoyment of music learning.”
Madam Ni devoted more than 60 years to education in China. Her greatest joy was always to spend time with the students. She was a true educator, who always had a positive attitude and a desire for improvement. Her openness, willingness to learn and commitment serve as an inspiring example for all teachers and students at Pao School.
During a seminar on ‘Madam Ni Guyin's 60th Anniversary in Teaching’ held in 2011, Pao School founder and Vice Chairman Madam Tan reflected: "Madam Ni Guyin's lifetime story teaches us that realizing our dreams requires a grounded attitude and unwavering determination."
On 15th June 2017, Madam Ni Guyin retired her position as a governor of Pao School.
"While we are still in our early stages, as we grow bigger, I am convinced YK Pao School will eventually become a school with distinct characteristics, cultivating compassionate, knowledgeable, and collaborative students for tomorrow’s world."
- Headmistress Ni Guyin at Pao School’s 2007 Founding Ceremony
As we mourn the passing of Madam Ni Guyin, her love for her country, educational philosophy, charismatic spirit, and warm smile will always have a cherished place in our hearts.
Madam Ni Guyin at the Pao Primary School winter music concert, in 2019.
