MIS - Key Persons
Mr Hall has been working in Chiba at various public schools in Japan since joining the Japan English Teachers Program (JET) in 1998. He joined MIS when the school opened in 2009 as School Librarian and in-charge of our Media Center. He is also one of the contributors to the development of MIS's Art Curriculum. Some of his many interests include illustration, reading and learning traditional Japanese music.
Job Titles:
- Elementary Class Assistant
Chad first visited Japan on a cultural ambassador program when he was 18. After graduating from university, he decided to turn his passion for English and intrigue of Japanese culture into a career. He has spent the last 5 years teaching junior high school students in Japan and is excited to now focus his attention on supporting young children. By creating an engaging learning environment and connecting with students, he aims to develop their confidence not only in learning but also in themselves. When he isn't teaching, Chad enjoys watching American football and exploring Japan.
Job Titles:
- Head of School
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Class Teacher
Mr Crowe came to Japan in 2006 and taught as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in various elementary schools in Tokyo and as a kindergarten and elementary teacher at an international school in Kichijoji, Tokyo. He joined Makuhari International School in 2011. He enjoys watching sports, having BBQ's and playing computer games.
After teaching for several years in his hometown, Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture), Mr Endo spent six years working in the UK and New Zealand. He taught Japanese and Mathematics in Wellington, New Zealand before returning to Japan and joining MIS in 2010. As well as teaching and learning about education, Mr Endo enjoys organising sports events such as Sports Day, soccer for classes, and the MIS teachers' football team.
Job Titles:
- English Support Coordinator
Mr. Hirsch has been teaching English as an Additional Language since 1997 in Japan, Turkey, the United States, Mexico, and the Netherlands, working with learners of all ages. He served as the English Language Fellow in Mexico and has led numerous teacher training sessions. Passionate about how languages are learned through interaction, he loves teaching with methods that encourage communication. He taught K-2 and middle school EAL before arriving in Japan. A lifelong language enthusiast, he learned Japanese at an early age and later lived in Takayama for a year as a high school exchange student. He later returned to Japan to work in Fukui as a Coordinator for International Relations. Outside of teaching, he enjoys walking, ikebana, and traveling.
Mr Satterwhite taught high school band at public schools in Texas and Missouri before teaching K-12 music at Access International Academy in Ningbo, China. Robert enjoys playing many different instruments and learning new ones. In his spare time, Robert loves playing baseball, watching movies, and playing video games.
Mrs Lockley was founding member of the MIS staff, starting in 2009. After graduation, she initially taught for state primary schools in Japan for 4 years before moving to the UK in 2003 where she taught GCSE and A-level Japanese at Bradford Girls Grammar School as well as taking on a number other educational assignments. She has a great passion for the piano, singing and dancing. She also enjoys playing with her children at home.
Job Titles:
- Learning Support Coordinator
Erin is passionate about meeting the educational needs of all students. She has nearly 20 years' experience teaching and leading in Australian schools, with six of these leading learning and support teams. Erin's interests include visiting gardens, temples, art galleries and spending time with friends and family.
Rob is a highly skilled educator who holds a passion for the cognitive science of learning, assessment and sport. Rob specialises in working with higher elementary school grades and has nearly 20 years' experience working in classrooms, leadership and corporate levels in Australia. In 2024, he created state wide staff training modules on assessment practice for the NSW Department of Education. In his spare time, Rob enjoys cycling, running, listening to music, and watching British comedy.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Class Teacher
Being in the profession for 16 years, Ms Havard has been privileged to have been a part of children's - and their families' - lives when teaching in the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Qatar. She has taught all year groups from Foundation Stage to Year 6, and continues to enjoy the diverse cultures, abilities and characters that every academic year brings into her classroom. Upon travelling to Japan in 2019 during the Sakura Festival, Ms Havard told herself, "Wouldn't it be amazing to work here". As an international teacher, Ms Havard loves to explore the countries she lives in, and enjoy their food and their people. She loves a freshly brewed coffee, likes to run, roller-blade and learn how to cook different cuisines.
Job Titles:
- Japanese Learning Support Teacher
Ms Hayashi has experience teaching Japanese language for international students at high school in Kashima, Japan. She also volunteered in five Asian countries teaching English and Japanese language, in four European countries participating in several work camps. In her spare time she enjoys travelling and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Class Assistant
Sri Lanka MS. HERATH Kindergarten Class Assistant Bachelor of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. National Diploma in Teaching (Primary Education), National Institute of Education Sri Lanka. Advanced Course in Early Childhood Education (Reggio Emilia philosophy) , Stockholm Institute of Education, Sweden. After completing her Diploma in Teaching in Sri Lanka, Ms. Hearth worked as a primary school teacher for four years. Her passion for teaching led her to participate in teacher training programs during her stay in Stockholm, providing her with valuable insights into teaching methods employed across different countries. Ms. Hearth joined MIS as a kindergarten teaching assistant in 2011. In her leisure time, she enjoys the art of flower arrangement (ikebana), cooking, and cherishing quality moments with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Class Teacher
Ms. Johnson began her teaching career in Ohio in 2015, where she taught preschool before relocating to South Korea to teach elementary students English as a second language. She continued her teaching journey as a kindergarten teacher in both Ohio and Texas before deciding to move back to Asia. Ms. Johnson arrived in Japan in 2021 and served as a kindergarten teacher at an international school. With a deep love for teaching young children, she is excited to join the MIS community. In her leisure time, Ms. Johnson enjoys travelling, hiking, and trying new foods.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Class Teacher
Mrs. Meriwether started her teaching career in South Korea where she taught kindergarten and early elementary school English while finishing her master's degree in teaching English language learners. She then moved to Hawaii and taught second grade for a year before returning to Asia. She is excited to be back in the classroom working with kindergarteners once again. Mrs. Meriwether enjoyed working with slightly older children but loves the curiosity, energy, and whimsey kindergartners bring to the classroom. She is looking forward to singing, dancing, and playing to help her students have fun learning. In her free time, Mrs. Meriwether enjoys spending time with her cat, listening to podcasts, playing board games, and going to see movies.
Mr. Meriwether has been teaching elementary students for more than seven years. He has taught students at the elementary level in South Korea and China. He most recently taught as a fifth-grade homeroom teacher in Hawaii, where he was able to learn from his students about Native Hawaiian culture while ensuring that they were meeting their educational goals. Currently, Stephen is working on obtaining an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. During his free time, he enjoys playing the drums and riding his bicycle.
After gaining clinical experience as a nurse-midwife in the obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatric wards of a general hospital, Ms. Ogino moved to Australia to fulfil her dream of studying abroad. Upon returning to Japan, she worked as a school nurse and registered nurse at an international school, a childcare centre, and local hospitals. Ms. Ogino considers health to be the most valuable treasure for us. She is deeply convinced that lifestyle and environment, especially during early childhood, greatly influence children's mental and physical growth and development in the future. Ms. Ogino is committed to doing her utmost to ensure that MIS students can grow healthily and enjoy a vibrant school life. In her free time, she loves traveling and relaxing with her dogs.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Japanese Teacher
After completing her studies in Canada, Ms Sekiguchi worked in international schools in Aichi Prefecture and Tokyo. She has about 10 years of teaching experience with the ages 2 to 6 years old. She enjoys outdoor activities, such as travelling, camping, hiking and skiing.
Job Titles:
- Elementary Class Assistant
After earning her bachelor's degree, Mrs Siriwardana worked as a secondary school teacher in a Sri Lankan public schools for three and a half years. Before joining MIS, she served as an International Understanding Instructor for the Yokohama City Board of Education for six years. In Yokohama, she taught culture-based lessons to public elementary school children in English. Her master's degree research area focused on educating young bilingual learners. In her spare time, she loves decorating cakes, drawing and spending time with her family.
Ms Takashina has worked at MIS since 2010. After graduation, she taught Japanese at high school in the USA for two years. She subsequently taught in both public and private elementary schools in Japan. Hisayo's interests include travelling and sewing.
Job Titles:
- Elementary Class Assistant
Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. She taught English in both public and international schools around Tokyo; at a variety of Kindergartens, Elementary, and Junior high schools. She has been teaching English in Japan for eight years. Her interest in Japanese Culture and language brought her to Japan. She likes cooking, baking, reading, singing, travelling and learning different languages.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Japanese Teacher
Ms. Yamazaki's educational background from the US, combined with more than 10 years of experience working in international schools in Tokyo with the children from ages 1 to 6, gives her a unique perspective enabling her to understand, effectively communicate with, and individualize teaching for each child. Outside of school, Ms. Yamazaki enjoys cooking and making crafts as well as traveling and exploring.