Meet our Officers
Coordinator
Naoko McLellan
Made in Niigata, raised in Hawaii, I'm the NEW TC-SIG Coordinator. I am a teacher trainer and a teacher teaching everyone from 3-years-olds to senior citizens. Bi-cultural, bi-lingual (maybe semi-lingual...). Very interested in cross-cultural, cross-curricular education. Currently teaching Shokuiku (food education) in English. Living in Tokyo with my 8th-grade daughter and my partner. I also have two sons in the US.
Program Chair
Mayuka Habbick
Teacher, teacher trainer. Born and raised in Kyoto. Mayuka has taught English in her hometown for over 16 years. She moved to Kanto in 2002. Lecturer of seminars and workshops on various topics in early childhood education field, she is also a frequent writer for teaching English magazines such as KODOMO EIGO (ALC) and EIGO KYOIKU (Taishukan). A Certified National trainer of LEGO(R) Education and Director of E for ju: a company developing teaching materials, she currently resides in Katsushika-ku, Tokyo.
Membership chair
Mary Burkitt
Mary says: It's a long story! A cousin in Mississippi put me in touch with an unknown cousin in California who then met my sister and got her involved in a sister-city group connected to Kitakami City in Iwate and the rest is history! I've now spent 12 years in Japan and have had my own school for almost 5 years. In addition, I teach at an elementary school and a yochien and hoikuen. When I have time to come up for air I like to play taiko, read British mystery novels, cook Indian food, and do a little gardening and traveling.
Treasurer
Aleda Krause
Aleda says: I'm the TC SIG Treasurer. I'm also a teacher, teacher trainer, textbook writer, talker, taskmaster, and tickler. I'm not a tiptoer, teetotaler, or trendsetter. I'm turned on by tearjerkers, tongue twisters, Turkish coffee, trivia, traveling, the truth, and tomorrow. I have one daughter (23), three dogs, and a cat named Turtle who dominates us all. Tell us about you!
Publicity Chair
Dennis Grass
Dennis Grass joined the TCSIG three years ago, since then he has come to understand the dedication and commitment many of the TC SIG members have to raise the standards of children's English education in Japan. Being the father of a child who will be receiving English education in Japan, he would like to be part of this process. Dennis feels that by working together, we can influence changes which will improve the English learning experience of children throughout Japan.
Publications Editor
Cynthia Keith
Cynthia Keith has been teaching young children for over 10 years. She has a background in performing arts and loves encouraging her student to talk! She has been living and teaching in Kagoshima since 1993, she runs her own English school and is a lecturer at Kagoshima University, Kagoshima Kenritsu Tanki Daigaku and Kukita Nursing College. Cynthia has held various JALT chapter and national positions and is currently the National Vice President. However, what she enjoys most of all is relaxing with friends and family at the many onsens in and around Kagoshima.
