The California Japanese Language Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates exceptional teachers who exemplify teaching excellence, continuous learning through professional development, leadership, and advocacy for Japanese language education. A representative is chosen for each of the two categories: K-12 level & College level.
Notable Achievements
· Taught at all educational levels, including elementary school (summer classes), middle school, high school, community colleges and universities. While doing this, I survived 10 years as a freeway flyer!
· Developed new curriculum for first through third year at U.C. Davis and for second year at Sacramento City College; expanded the programs for Sacramento City College (to add a second year) and Mira Loma High School (from one multi-level class to three classes and established the I.B. Japanese program); introduced and established the Japanese language program at Churchill Middle School.
· Served as an officer of two regional Japanese teachers’ organizations in California (NCJTA and CAJLT) for a total of 15 years.
Favorite story of students
I have loved receiving cards and messages from students after they leave my classes, and I have enjoyed personal visits from former students. My fondest memory, however, is when I was invited to the wedding of two former students. I was flattered that they wanted me to be present for such an important and emotional life event, especially as the wedding was rather small. They did not meet in my class, but they began studying Japanese with me and continued for two years. Later both worked for the JET Program, so I am proud to have nurtured their interest in Japanese.
Thank you statement
Thank you very much for honoring me with this prestigious award. I cannot believe how blessed I am with supportive and caring administrators, colleagues and students.
I have a breadth of experience in teaching Japanese across multiple levels, but at every level, I had immense support that allowed me to develop curriculum and expand programs. I cannot thank those administrators and colleagues enough for their support.
In the first 10 years of my career, dividing my time between teaching middle school, high school, community college, and university, life was difficult. Much of that time was spent on freeways, with too much time to dwell on my disappointment in being unable to find a full-time position at one institution nearby. Additionally, with visa problems, many times I thought about giving up on the dream of teaching Japanese in the U.S. However, my wonderful students and colleagues enabled me to be patient and persistent. Every time I went to the classroom, students re-energized me, and we created fun memories. I love teaching more than anything.
Besides teaching, I served as an officer of two regional Japanese teachers’ organizations in California, CAJLT (California Association of Japanese Language Teachers) and NCJTA (Northern California Japanese Teachers’ Association). Those organizations provided great opportunities to connect with many wonderful teachers outside my school who had the same goals of helping students, improving Japanese education, and working on advocacy. My experience with those professional organizations was precious because it inspired me and gave me numerous learning opportunities. Also, I was so fortunate that I was able to meet inspiring teachers and role models in the Greater Sacramento area, gathering for such activities as study sessions, Japanese festivals, and karaoke and speech contests. Without their support and encouragement, I would not have won this award.
I just finished my presidential term at NCJTA this summer, but I plan to stay active in professional organizations for as long as I am able. Thank you, CAJLT, for creating this award. There are so many hard-working Japanese language teachers in California, so I sincerely hope that CAJLT will continue to recognize those teachers.
Thank you very much.
Highlights for Awardee by Selection Committee
Junko Ito, our Higher Ed recipient has been at UC Davis since 2010, but she has taught all levels, elementary through college, where she was recognized and loved for not only exemplary teaching, but her passion and commitment to students. Her career epitomizes service to the profession, which has benefited greatly from her strong, dedicated leadership. She has been a voice for advocacy and a driving force in community and regional events promoting and highlighting Japanese language education in the Greater Sacramento area for more than two decades. She has also served in various leadership positions for two regional Japanese teachers’ organizations (NCJTA and CAJLT) for a total of 15 years, including as president of NCJTA.
One of the letters on her behalf stated that as current president of NCJTA, Ito-sensei is “dedicated to seeing the organization sustain itself for future generations of educators” and that she “envisions expanding and strengthening connections with other world language organizations at both regional and national levels.” Under Ito-sensei’s leadership, NCJTA has made a concerted effort to reach out and recruit more K-12 teachers to the organization, which had traditionally been viewed as being more for university instructors in the San Francisco Bay Area. NCJTA now includes Japanese teachers from all over California as well as other states and Japan and South Korea who are able to participate online in meetings and workshops. Two years ago, when the Japanese Foreign Ministry awarded NCJTA a commendation for its fifty-year contribution to Japanese language education in the U.S., Ito-sensei shared her long term vision of a broader and more interconnected future for NCJTA.