HIS Teachers

HIS Teachers & Staff
HIS aims to provide students with the highest caliber teaching professionals available. To this end, HIS hires only fully licensed teachers who are trained in their field of expertise. Annually, the HIS Head of School assesses the hiring needs of the school and selects candidates in a process that can stretch over many months. This culminates with the Head of School interviewing candidates who meet HIS requirements for employment and who best fit the school’s needs. HIS endeavors to hire teachers who stimulate the whole HIS community with their new ideas and their perspectives.

HIS is pleased to introduce the teachers and staff for the 2011 - 2012 acadmic year:

Head of School
Mr. Barry Ratzliff
Barry Ratzliff was born in Ethiopia and grew up on the west coast of Canada. After completing an education degree at Trinity Western University, he left Canada for teaching opportunities in Japan. Two adventurous years in Japan never ended and Barry met his wife, opened a Language School, completed a certificate in ESOL and joined the teaching staff at HIS as an ESL teacher. A masters degree from Michigan State University was followed by a transition to the secondary level to teach L.A., Humanities and History. Barry has most recently been principal of the school will take over from Mr. Rick Branson as Head of School this summer. He looks forward with a great sense of privilege to have the opportunity to participate in the growth and improvement of HIS as a place of learning. Barry and his wife Kaori have three boys, Saimon, Leo and Kamui.

Principal
Mr. Daniel (Dan) Reynolds
Dan Reynolds was born and raised just outside Kingston, Ontario, Canada. He is married to Kako Reynolds and they have one son named Jonah who is in junior high. Dan completed his undergraduate degree at McMaster University (Canada) in Physical Education and his M.A. in Educational Management at Bath University (U.K.). He worked at both Yokohama International School and St. Maur International School prior to coming to HIS and has been in Japan since 1994. Dan loves playing and watching sports as well as music music and also enjoys being involved in outdoor activities.

Primary Years
Ms. Maria Renee Gamarra - Kindergarten/First Grade
Education: B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University.
Certified in early childhood education, Pre-K to 3 with ESOL endorsement
Previous teaching experience: Grade 1 and grade 2 at Colegio Jorge Washington in Cartagena, Colombia; Kindergarten and grade 1 teacher at Hollywood Academy of Arts and Sciences in Hollywood, Florida.

Ms. Naoko Machidori - Japanese and Visual Arts
This year I will be teaching teaching art to K/1 students as well as Japanese from K-12. I have a M.Ed. as well as a teaching license for Japanese as a Foreign Language and also Visual Arts. I have taught art at junior high schools in Kobe, and also taught at a primary school in Saitama. Before becoming a teacher I worked at a kimono company in Kyoto designing kimono patterns.

Elementary School

Ms. Frances Cutler - 5th Grade
Frances has been at Seoul International School (SIS), 2007-2011 and previously at Escuela Internacional Sampredrana in Honduras.
Frances has a M.Ed. in international teaching, and a B.A. in elementary education.
Frances was the curriculum leader at SIS for elementary language arts.

Ms. Doreen Deelstra - 6th Grade
Ms. Deelstra has been an elementary teacher at HIS forever! Though she is Canadian, Doreen received her BSc in Special Education from Calvin College in Michigan, and then in 2001 her MA in Education from Heidelberg College in Ohio. After eight years of teaching in Ontario and Alberta, she arrived at HIS in 1986. Ms. Deelstra loves teaching - especially 6th graders because they are energetic, fun, curious and interested in their learning. And what else? Baseball and hockey, cats, traveling all over the world, farming, walking through beautiful nature, listening to music, and keeping up with family and friends.

Ms. Cecile DeForest - Elementary ELL and Drama
I spent 10 years of my childhood in the Tokyo/Yokohama area and graduated from high school in Okinawa. I received a B.A. and M.F.A. in Acting, then a M.A. in Education. I've taught in New York, California, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg, Myanmar, and now Sapporo. I love sharing my love of books with my students. I backpack around the world and have visited more than 50 countries. My son, Mikiya Matsuda, is married and a pedal steel guitar player living in San Francisco. I share my life with Gael, a 2 year old Golden Retriever, and Gina, a year old Border Collie. We love the outdoors in Hokkaido!!!

Ms. Catherine Fifita — Transitional Teacher for Grade 3

Mr. Rod Kelly - 4th Grade
I am from Tasmania, Australia. My interests are kaitenzushi, mozuku and malt sandwiches, snowboarding, Aussie rules football, glass cutting, and sleeping. I also serve as the HIS Athletic Director.

Ms. Saeko Nara - Japanese
Education: MA in TESOL and BA in Sociology both from Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington.
Experience: taught university accredited Japanese courses at a language school in Seattle, Washington; teaching assistant and the language lab tutor at North Seattle Community College, Seattle, Washington; English teacher at a language school in Sapporo; have also taught TOEFL/TOEIC prep courses in Sapporo. Full-time Japanese teacher at HIS 2003-2005, and part-time teacher since 2007.

Mr. Ethan Salter - Elementary Art
Ethan has been with the Lopez Island School District from 2005-2011 teaching a variety of subjects, including art. Ethan has a BA in Humanities with a minor in geology and natural sciences.
Ethan worked with the Peace Corps in Mali and has been involved in professional photography and video production, and pursues outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, and telemark skiing.

More Elementary Teacher profiles to be posted soon.

Secondary School (Junior & Senior High)

Ms. Celia Lopez Escribens - Spanish
Hola! I am the Spanish teacher at HIS. I was born and grew up in Peru and graduated with a degree in Meteorological Science from the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Lima. In 1995 my husband and I moved to Japan to pursue further studies and I completed a Master’s Program at Hokkaido University. I have been teaching Spanish at HIS since 2008, and also at Sapporo Medical University since 2005. My family and I have made Sapporo our home and we very much enjoy living here. Our children, Enrique and Daniel, are students at HIS.

Ms. Colleen Currie - Social Studies
Colleen taught at Lopez Island School District from 2006-2011 and previously at Robert McQueen High School in Nevada. Colleen has a M.A. in Teaching and a B.A. in Humanities, and has coached Speech and Debate. Collen has also worked with the Peace Corps in Mali and enjoys outdoor recreation.

Mr. Derek Cutler - Science
Derek has been at Seoul International School, 2007-2011 and previously at Escuela Internacional Sampredrana in Honduras.
Derek has a M.Ed. in international teaching, a B.Ed. in science and outdoor experiential education, and a B.Sc. Honours in Ecology.
Derek was the curriculum leader at SIS for middle school science and has coached soccer and cross country.

Ms. Shannon Koga - Secondary ELL, Drama, and Musical Theatre
I have been teaching at HIS for four years. I am advisor to the class of 2012 and will graduate with them in June, as I earn my Masters in Science in Education. I have four kids, ranging from University student to elementary school student and have put my kids through both the Japanese and Western system. I currently teach ELL to secondary as well as Drama and Musical Theatre and love when the two meet and we can use the stage to grow in language and in character.

Ms. Kristina Kosaka - Junior High History and Literature
Kristina was at Yokohama International School, 1996-2001, and previously at H.B. Plant High School In Florida, 1993-1996. Recently Kris has been a contributing writer to Japan Times.
Kristina has a BS in English Education and certificates in creative writing and playwriting.
Kristina has taught English for grades 6 -12 including the IB and AP programs.

Ms. Naoko Machidori - Japanese
こんにちは。This year I will be teaching Japanese language from K-12, and also teaching art to K/1 students. I have a M.Ed. as well as a teaching license for Japanese as a Foreign Language and also Visual Arts. I have taught art at junior high schools in Kobe, and also taught at a primary school in Saitama. Before becoming a teacher I worked at a kimono company in Kyoto designing kimono patterns.

Mr. Owain Phillips - English
Education: MA English from Jagiellonian University, Poland; sort term exchange student Osaka University; B.A. History from University of Washington, Seattle,Washington.
Certified in language arts, social studies and modern & classical languages.
Experience: Language arts teacher, Bernalillo High School, New Mexico; taught college for five years college in Poland.

Mr. David Piazza - Math
Dave has been teaching science at HIS for over ten years spread over two stints, first in the mid-nineties and now in the 21st century. In the 2011-2012 school year he will assume a new role as math instructor for junior and senior high. During his off-hours, Dave enjoys the outdoors and woodworking. Dave hails from the United States, where he first honed his teaching skills in northern California.

Ms. Megan Roe - Math
I am from the US, and a graduate of the University of Missouri. I have a B.S. in Secondary Social Studies Education and have been teaching here at HIS for three years. I live in Sapporo with my husband, Andy, and three daughters Mia (4), Naomi (2), and Eliya (5 months). I enjoy hiking, reading, and spending time with my family.

Mr. Ethan Salter - Junior High Science
Ethan has a BA in Humanities with a minor in geology and natural sciences.
Ethan's interests include outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, and telemark skiing.

More Secondary Teacher profiles to be posted soon.

Arts
Ms. Sophie Burrows - Visual Arts
Education: BA of Education, BA of Arts from Nipissing University, Ontario, Canada.
Certified Arts teacher.
Experience: grade 1 – 12 art teacher, American School of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; grade 4 teacher American School of Ulaanbaatar; student teaching at New Providence Primary in Kingston, Jamaica.

Ms. Cecile DeForest - Drama
Please see Ms. DeForest's profile in the Elementary School section above.

Ms. Shannon Koga - Drama and Musical Theatre
Please see Ms. Koga's profile in the Secondary School section above.

Ms. Shoko Kumagai - Music
Education: Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Montana, USA.
Bachelor of Art Degree in Psychology from the University of Montana, USA.
Certificate: Montana Teaching License (K-12 Music).
Previous Teaching Experience: K-8 Music at DeSmet School, Missoula Montana, USA; Elementary & Middle School Music at Kyoto International School Aomori Campus, Japan.

Ms. Naoko Machidori - K/1 Art
Please see Ms. Machidori's profile in the Primary Years section above.

Technology
Mr. Yuya Hisada - Computer Technology Teacher/IT Coordinator
Education: Graduate school, Hokkaido University, physics; BS Hokkaido University, physics; Japanese teaching certificate for junior and senior high school science.
Experience: Apple computer network technician, Northwood Elementary, Alaska; substitute teacher, Anchorage, Alaska; Japanese tutor for high school immersion students.

Physical Education
Mr. Rod Kelly - Athletic Director
Please see Mr. Kelly's profile in the Elementary School section above.

Mr. Makoto Kosaka - Physical Education
Makoto has been with Yokohama International School from 1997 to 2011. He has a M.Ed. in Coaching Studies and a BA in Physical Education and has coached a variety of sports including volleyball, basketball, cross country and baseball.

HIS Staff
Mr. Ethan Salter - Dormitory Coordinator
Ethan has been with the Lopez Island School District from 2005 to 2011 teaching a variety of subjects. He has a BA in Humanities with a minor in geology and natural sciences. Ethan worked with the Peace Corps in Mali and has been involved in professional photography and video production. He also pursues many outdoor activities including kayaking, rock climbing, and telemark skiing.