IEEA’s Founder & President
Eddie & Cindy Mills
The IEEA was founded by Eddie and Cindy Mills in 2000 and has been matching good teachers with Hainan schools ever since. The Mills have taught on Hainan for twenty years, bringing their young family to a small town called Wencheng in 1994.
About Us
Who are we?
We are IEEA.
A non-profit, overseas, teaching organization registered in the United States that holds a license from Beijing to bring teachers to Hainan island. It was founded by Eddie and Cindy Mills in 2000 and has been matching good teachers with Hainan schools ever since.
What do we do?
We teach.
When China opened it’s doors to the world in December of 1978, a world of educational possiblities opened with it. English, being the international language of business, has allowed a unique opportunity of exchange for a native English speaker and a nation that was once closed to the world.
When do we do it?
Well, we do it all year long.
Through IEEA, the chance to live overseas and work has been made possible in sets of one year.
Don’t have that much time? We also have summer workshops created for those who have a smaller window of convenience.
Where do we do it?
In the Hawaii of China, Hainan.
Hainan is a tropical island located underneath China. Within the last twenty years, Hainan has grown from an underdeveloped community to a lively tourist island.
Our Team
Eddie & Cindy Mills
Founder & President
Jim & Cadie Palmer
16 years
Carol Devine
12 years in Hainan, 12 Summer Workshops
John,Sarah, John Gabriel, & Ellie Sinskie
2 years in Hainan, 5 Summer Workshops
Team Member
2 years in Hainan, 3 Summer Workshops
Lindy Leitner
1 Year in Hainan
Josiah Shade
1 Year in Hainan
Crystal Luppino
1 Year in Hainan, 2 Summer Workshops
Matt, Lydia, & Elijah Hoffman
3 years in Hainan, 2 Summer Workshops
Jenny Randall
2 Summer Workshops
Requirements
-Native English Speaker
-Bachlor’s Degree
-TEFL Certification
Documentation
-Passport
-Scanned copy of college diploma.
-Resume
-Two letters of recommendation. (You can get these from college professors, headmasters, or former employers.
-A completed medical examination form
-Any other extra documentation required by the specific school for which you will be teaching.
Shots
The most difficult piece of paperwork is the health form.
Concerning shots, it’s best to visit your local physician to find what’s currently required or recommended. China has had no malaria outbreaks, so malaria shots or pills are not necessary, but teachers often prefer to get typhoid shots, hepatitis A and hepatitis B shots.
Packing
It’s best to pack light, because airlines will generally charge more for bags heavier than 50lb.
We recommend: American Passport Now
American Passport Now is a well-established passport and visa expediting company and a proud partner to IEEA. Our mission critical services are focused strictly on securing your U.S. passport and travel visa for your destination. Our job is a success when we get you to where you need to be on time and reliably. We bring more than 35-years of knowledge and expertise to our clients. “When time is of the essence in your global business, Meeting deadlines for global travel is ours!”
People’s Republic of China
Hainan
Hainan is a tropical island located underneath China, like an egg under a giant chicken. Formerly a colony for political prisoners, it is the newest and southernmost of China’s provinces. Within the last twenty years, Hainan has grown from an underdeveloped, rural backwoods to a lively tourist island with large cities, fast trains, and a cohesive highway system.
The capital and largest city on Hainan is Haikou, in the north of the island, where the IEEA is based. Haikou is a modern city with large supermarkets, an international food store, multiple Starbucks, and several American fast food chains, including KFC, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut. Sanya is the other major city. Sometimes referred to as “The End of the World,” it is on the southernmost point of the island and is popular with Russian tourists looking for a bit of winter sun.
Teacher Testimonials
Don’t take our word for it – here’s what our teachers say:
“I’ve worked with the Mills for two years and three summers now. Not only did they find me a school and negotiate my contract, but they also have gone out of their way to pick me up at the airport, take me to the doctor’s, feed me holiday dinners, and so much more. It’s been like having a second set of parents in China. I can’t imagine teaching in China without their help!”
Miranda R.
2 years in Hainan
“While staying under the care of the Mills, I was amazed at how much time and effort they put into not just providing for us but in giving us the trip of a lifetime. We got to experience so much of the culture because of the Mills. I got to hike a temple mountain, see Chinese beliefs, and taste a variety of delicious foods all while being an English teacher.”
Sharon P.
Summer Workshop
“Hainan, China has a wonderful island atmosphere, and the people are unforgettable. Walking the streets, stores, and markets anytime of day or evening, brought all kinds of fun interactions with local people. They loved to shout out their favorite English phrases at us Americans, and the bolder ones would even start conversations with us.
“It’s rare to be offered the opportunity to join in a work such as the Mills have with IEEA. I’m glad I jumped at the chance to touch lives in China, to support the Mills’s work, and to have my own life permanently changed.”
K. Simms
Summer Workshop
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need other information, feel free to contact us!
