Betty Bienert joined Waterford’s Chinese program in 2019, bringing over 15 years of experience teaching Mandarin Chinese at independent schools.
A native of Changchun, China, Betty began training for a career in foreign languages at age 13, when she was selected to study at one of China’s specialty language schools established to support the country’s opening up to the West. She later attended the Foreign Language School of Changchun University and graduated with honors with a degree in English Language, with a focus on teaching and international business.
Betty moved to the United States in 1994, working in a series of corporate roles in the technology space. As she researched how to ensure her own young children would grow up fluent in Chinese, she (re)discovered her interest in teaching. She was recruited to rebuild and lead the Chinese language program at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, GA and was named Star Teacher for the State of Georgia in her first year teaching. When the family moved from Atlanta to Phoenix, Betty joined the faculty at Phoenix Country Day School, taking over a program that spanned 7 levels of Mandarin Chinese for grades 7 to 12.
Another family move (the family’s 7th!) brought Betty to Utah, where she enjoys the 4 full seasons, great outdoor activities, and the arts scene of Salt Lake City. She is also an avid international traveler, regularly traveling around the world with her husband.