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Before Vy, no Vietnamese had ever opened a school in the United States because the conditions were very difficult. “The public education market in the US is old and too strong, while we are too new and immature, not to mention I am at a disadvantage because I am not a native and do not have a huge amount of assets.” said Vy
Public schools in the US have a long history, are invested by the government with hundreds of millions of dollars, are beautiful, have free tuition, have lunch, and have a bus system, while Vy’s school has a small campus, students have to provide their own lunch. All of this makes the Vietnamese guy worried about the recruitment process.
Initially, the school had only 2 teachers and 8 students. Thanks to measures to connect friends and care for each student’s condition, the number of students increased to 20 by the end of that year.
Hoang Vy takes a photo with his family.
After teaching for 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the entire US was locked down, Vy had to send his students back to public school because his school did not have enough facilities and experience to organize online teaching. A few months later, the school closed due to lack of operating costs.
When the pandemic subsided, Vy “took a risk” and reopened the school, calling on former teachers to return to the school. Surprisingly, almost all of the former students returned, and even introduced their older siblings and acquaintances to study there. By the end of that year, the number of students had increased to nearly 70, most of whom were children of Vietnamese-American families.
In terms of knowledge, the school follows the motto “Teaching for understanding, not for completing the program”, and sets a minimum goal of 80% of students in the class understanding the lesson, mastering the skills, and not learning by “cramming”. Vy also opened a special class to teach Vietnamese, for students from kindergarten to the end of secondary school.
In 2021, when operations stabilized, Vy again “took a risk” by borrowing 10 million USD from the bank to buy land to build a spacious school. Vy’s love for the profession, students and ambition convinced the bank’s chairman and board of directors. In June 2022, Vy received funding and started construction of VHA school.
In the same year, the school was fully inspected and awarded Cognia accreditation. With this accreditation, the school’s transcripts are recognized throughout the United States and the world. In 2023, the school was licensed to enroll 20 international students from Vietnam for the first time.
The 8x Vietnamese-American emphasized that he will do what is best for his students, not what is best for his business.
Ms. Baha – Vice Principal of VHA commented that Vy is not only a boss but also a source of inspiration and a dedicated advisor to teachers and students. “He has an adaptability beyond comprehension and a friendliness that is second to none.”she said.
Shelly Tavera, a 5th grade reading and writing teacher at the school, said she has never met anyone with a love for teaching and compassion for students and teachers like Mr. Hoang Vy.
And Thu