About Your Instructor
XIAOPENG SANG
Meet Steve Sang, Director and Owner
How long have you been an Instructor?
After attending extensive training at Kumon University, I opened The Kumon Math and Reading Center of Cheshire in 2013.
Why did you choose to become a Kumon Instructor?
My wife and I enrolled both of our daughters in Kumon at an early age, and we realized very quickly how impactful and beneficial Kumon’s program was and will be in our daughter’s futures. After learning more about the Kumon program, I was inspired to make a career change from the medical field, to the education industry, and being a Kumon Instructor has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My older daughter completed the Reading Program and reached Math Level N before departing from the program. My younger daughter is currently studying both subjects and is on target to complete the Reading Program this summer which makes my wife and I very proud parents.
What is your degree in?
I earned two master’s degrees: One in Biochemistry and one in Management Information Systems.
What is your career background?
I worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (Wallingford, CT) as a research scientist in drug discovery for 15 years. I successfully discovered drug candidates that went to clinical trials.
What is your favorite thing about being a Kumon Instructor?
I am truly amazed by how much potential a young child has to learn. I have witnessed first-hand several students studying beyond their grade level, independently. Kumon’s Program has taught me that instruction cannot be a cookie cutter approach but an individualized approach, resulting in teaching 100 different students, 100 different ways.
What is your connection to the local community?
I helped many students regain their confidence in learning, who now excel in school academics.
I’ve been able to cultivate a few high school students who graduated with high honors and attended some of the most elite colleges in the country, such as Yale, Cornell, Brown and UCLA.
I volunteer my time teaching mathematics at the local Chinese Sunday School in Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU).
Do you have any passions?
I love to travel with my family around the country and abroad, to learn about different cultures and try unique ethnic foods.
I enjoy playing competitive soccer, tennis and ping pong.
During the pandemic, I began raising small baby fish and to date have two aquariums with more than 40 beautiful African cichlids.