David Heywood (Coordinator)

I have lived in Japan for 16 years, in Osaka and now Kobe. I have worked in secondary schools for about half that time, after starting off in a conversation school. I also worked for Procter & Gamble as a teacher for 3 years. Currently I am in my fifth year at Josei Gakuen High School in Osaka. I completed my MA TESOL from Aston University in 2008. In JALT I was president of the Kobe chapter from 2005-2008. I am married and have two sons.
 

William Matheny (Program Chair)

I have lived in Nagoya since 1990 and have worked as an ALT in Aichi Prefecture since 1997. Prior to working in secondary schools, I was in management with a language consulting enterprise and taught business English to adult students in the corporate arena. Since joining the Jr/Sr High SIG, I have written regularly for The School House newsletter and have been involved in professional development programs for JTEs and JET Program participants.  Most recently I have contributed to programs that provide intensive foreign language experiences for junior and senior high school students.

Jeff Singal (Membership Chair) 

profile coming soon!

Jake Arnold (Newsletter)

I am from the UK and have been teaching in Tokyo for the past 15 years or so, apart from a short period of volunteer teaching in Costa Rica. I have experienced many aspects of the EFL system here in Japan, having taught in private conversation schools, public junior high school, night high school, business classes and university. I am now responsible for a communicative task based oral communication program at a private high school. I hold an MSc in TESOL from Aston University and have interests that include facilitating communication, ongoing performance testing and breeding munchkins.

Roger Pattimore (Treasurer)

I am from Canada and have been employed as a private assistant English teacher in Ibaraki for seven years. I currently teach part-time at five universities and work for publishing companies in the Tokyo area. I recently published ‘Everyday English Grammar’, a grammar textbook for high school or low level university students. Currently, I am involved in helping edit the third edition of ‘Favorite English-Japanese Dictionary’ for high school students. As well, I conduct secondary teacher training both as a volunteer in Thailand and professionally in Japan.

Albert McCann (Member at Large)

My name is Albert McCann and I am from Seattle, in the U.S. I have worked in the education field for about 16 years. While studying history at UCLA, I developed a strong interest in Asia and wanted to experience living here. My first trip to Japan was in 1992 and at that time, I only planned to teach English for a year or so. My teaching experience was mostly based in Nagoya, and included teaching at high schools, business classes, and conversation schools. One year turned into more than five, and I headed back to Seattle to obtain an M.Ed. at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1998.

For several years, I worked as an Admissions Advisor at the UW and developed a strong awareness of student motivation. After some time, I missed Japan and teaching, so my wife and I decided to return in 2004. I have worked at public junior and senior high schools and currently teach at Nagoya Junior and Senior High School in Nagoya. NIHS has a dual language program and I teach my own English classes. I also have a homeroom with a Japanese teacher.

Daniel Droukis (Special Counsel)

My name is Daniel Droukis. I am from Boston, Ma. USA. I have been teaching in Japan for over 27 years. I am currently an Associate Professor at Kyushu Kyoritsu University here in Kitakyushu. I have experience teaching at a variety of levels. Having taught kindergarten in America, elementary school in Micronesia while in the Peace Corps, junior high school for 17 years in Japan and university which I have taught for over 20 years with the last 4 being at my current employer.  I am a die hard Boston sports fan, enjoying the recent success of the Red Sox World Series championships, Patriots Super Bowls and the resurgence of the Celtics to the top of the NBA this season. My wife and I have been married for 22 years.