So who are we?
Your PA team is:
International Affairs Division –
Ivan Yatsko (CIR) and Naoto Hiraoka (Japanese PA)
Compulsory Education Division -
Ariel Pace (ALT) and Fumiko Fujimoto (Japanese PA)
Here’s a little message from each of us.
International Affairs Division –
Ivan Yatsko (CIR) and Naoto Hiraoka (Japanese PA)
Compulsory Education Division -
Ariel Pace (ALT) and Fumiko Fujimoto (Japanese PA)
Here’s a little message from each of us.
Ivan Yatsko - CIR Prefectural Advisor
International Affairs Division
Hello!
My name is Ivan Yatsko. I am from Brooklyn, New York, USA.
I used to be an elementary and junior high school ALT in Nagasu, a town in the northwest of the prefecture, for 3 years. It is famous for goldfish, the Ariake Ferry, and its shipbuilding factory. I was also one of the area leaders of the Tamana area for a year.
Over my 3 years in Nagasu, I have learned a lot about being a municipal ALT, and I hope that I can use my experience to support you.
Feel free to reach out if you need any help, or if you just want to say hi and hang out!
My name is Ivan Yatsko. I am from Brooklyn, New York, USA.
I used to be an elementary and junior high school ALT in Nagasu, a town in the northwest of the prefecture, for 3 years. It is famous for goldfish, the Ariake Ferry, and its shipbuilding factory. I was also one of the area leaders of the Tamana area for a year.
Over my 3 years in Nagasu, I have learned a lot about being a municipal ALT, and I hope that I can use my experience to support you.
Feel free to reach out if you need any help, or if you just want to say hi and hang out!
ARiel Pace - ALT Prefectural Advisor
Prefectural BOE Compulsory Education Division
Hello Beautiful People! My name is Ariel.
I'm from the sunny state of Florida, USA. I graduated with majors in Anthropology and American Studies, and minor in Japanese. Before Japan, I worked in a junior high school as an ESOL Teacher Assistant, assisting Spanish-speaking students with their
English immersive education.
On JET, I worked as an ALT at Shoyo and Takamori Senior High Schools for 2 years and had the opportunity to serve as a co-Area Leader the Aso-Kikuchi area. From my third year, I became PA and my goal is to support all of you to the best of my ability. It's an honor and pleasure to be of service! If you have any questions or concerns, I'm more than happy to provide an answer for you, or direct you to a place or person who better can. Let's have another great year together!
I'm from the sunny state of Florida, USA. I graduated with majors in Anthropology and American Studies, and minor in Japanese. Before Japan, I worked in a junior high school as an ESOL Teacher Assistant, assisting Spanish-speaking students with their
English immersive education.
On JET, I worked as an ALT at Shoyo and Takamori Senior High Schools for 2 years and had the opportunity to serve as a co-Area Leader the Aso-Kikuchi area. From my third year, I became PA and my goal is to support all of you to the best of my ability. It's an honor and pleasure to be of service! If you have any questions or concerns, I'm more than happy to provide an answer for you, or direct you to a place or person who better can. Let's have another great year together!
Fumiko Fujimoto - Japanese Prefectural Advisor
Prefectural BOE Compulsory Education Division
Hi! My name is Fumiko Fujimoto. Over the span of 20 years, I worked as an English teacher at four prefectural high schools (Kami Amakusa High school, Kumamoto Kita High school, Hitoyoshi High school, and Seiseiko High school). Last year, I transferred to the Kumamoto Board of Education.
My hobbies are going to hot springs, cheering for my children at games, and traveling.
My son and daughter are both junior high school students in baseball and softball clubs. Every weekend, I’m really excited to see them play. I love traveling as well, especially in South East Asia! Last December, I visited Thailand, and had a valuable experience.
It’s my first year to be a PA and I’m looking forward to helping you at any point. As an ex-English teacher, I believe that all the work ALTs do is definitely indispensable, so please do not hesitate to make contributions in your schools and communities. I hope your views of life are broadened and enriched through your experience on JET. Please enjoy Japan, Kumamoto, and your lives as ALTs and CIRs. I’ll do my very best to support you all! I’m really looking forward to meeting you!
My hobbies are going to hot springs, cheering for my children at games, and traveling.
My son and daughter are both junior high school students in baseball and softball clubs. Every weekend, I’m really excited to see them play. I love traveling as well, especially in South East Asia! Last December, I visited Thailand, and had a valuable experience.
It’s my first year to be a PA and I’m looking forward to helping you at any point. As an ex-English teacher, I believe that all the work ALTs do is definitely indispensable, so please do not hesitate to make contributions in your schools and communities. I hope your views of life are broadened and enriched through your experience on JET. Please enjoy Japan, Kumamoto, and your lives as ALTs and CIRs. I’ll do my very best to support you all! I’m really looking forward to meeting you!
Naoto Hiraoka - Japanese Prefectural Advisor
International Affairs Division
Hello, my name is Naoto Hiraoka, and I work in the International Affairs Division as of April 1st.
Up until March, I worked at the Kumamoto Prefectural College of Technology in Kikuyo.
In my teens and 20s, I was interested in other countries. I participated in the Kumamoto-Guilin High School Student Exchange Mission, and I’ve also traveled overseas and gone to English conversation classes. Since I started working for the prefectural government, I have had experience working in various fields such as welfare, education, disaster prevention, labor, taxation, and statistics. Now, this is my first experience working with international affairs.
Although this is my first job experience in international affairs, I would like to do my best to support the valuable contributions made by the JET Program ALTs and CIRs working here in Kumamoto, while also remembering that international interest from my youth. I look forward to working with you all!
Up until March, I worked at the Kumamoto Prefectural College of Technology in Kikuyo.
In my teens and 20s, I was interested in other countries. I participated in the Kumamoto-Guilin High School Student Exchange Mission, and I’ve also traveled overseas and gone to English conversation classes. Since I started working for the prefectural government, I have had experience working in various fields such as welfare, education, disaster prevention, labor, taxation, and statistics. Now, this is my first experience working with international affairs.
Although this is my first job experience in international affairs, I would like to do my best to support the valuable contributions made by the JET Program ALTs and CIRs working here in Kumamoto, while also remembering that international interest from my youth. I look forward to working with you all!
