California Association of Japanese Language Teachers

K-12: Mio Nishimura (Salinas Alisal High School)

Notable Achievements

· Outstanding Teacher Award (2018) CLTA

· Teacher of the Year (2018) SUHSD AHS

· Compass Japanese Intermediate: Interactive Workbook and Resource Book (2022) Kuroshio Publisher

Favorite story of students

This student is a risk taker and knows how to be resilient in unknown situations. I still remember the first day I met her. My class is completely immersion, which means I speak to my students in Japanese throughout the class from day one of instruction. After the first day, she came up with furrowed eyebrows and was very concerned that she might not pass this class. I told her to wait a few more days and see how she could get used to the environment. 

Jump forward four years: This May, she graduated from the Japanese AP class with the Seal of Biliteracy in Japanese and Spanish as well as the Civic Seal of Engagement. She was also an active member of the Japan Club for four years and even volunteered to help local events in Salinas (i.e. Kendo competition at Alisal High School, Obon Festival at Salinas Buddhist Temple, etc.), supporting a new culture. 

On the last day for all of the senior students, she again came up with a smiling face and told me, “Sensei, do you remember our first day conversation?”  I told her “Of course I do. Now, look at you! You finished the AP class. I am so proud of you!” 

I am very fortunate to have made connections with this student and to witness how she has grown as a learner and a person. 

Thank you, Vanessa!

Thank you statement

こんにちは。サリナス・アリサル高校の西村美緒です。

このたびは栄誉あるCAJLT Teacher of the Year 賞を頂戴し、誠に光栄に存じます。CAJLT のボードメンバーとコミティーの皆様、そして、推薦してくださった齋藤先生と安座間先生に感謝します。

私は、１９９８年にSUHSDに、日本語と英語の教師として就任してから、Department ChairやMBWLP team leaderなど、さまざまな活動を経験し、現在はPLCのCourse Leadをしながら、日々の日本語教育に切磋琢磨しています。

もちろん、この栄誉は私1人の力ではなく、学校や日本語をふくむ外国語教師界の諸先輩方のご指導、支えてくださったサリナスやカリフォルニア、並びに全米の同僚の皆さまのおかげです。そして何より、毎日教室で私と一緒に笑ってくれる生徒一人一人、「学ぶことの楽しさ」を教えて下さるワークハズバンドとワイフ、それから陰ながら私を支え応援してくれる家族の存在があってこそです。

たくさんの人と一緒に学べることは、私にとってかけがえのない宝です。

今後も、これまで以上に一生懸命、仕事に尽力していきます。

これからもどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。どうもありがとうございました！

これからも大阪のおばちゃん、がんばるで〜！

Highlights for Awardee by Selection Committee

Mio Nishimura, our K-12 recipient, teaches at Alisal High School in Salinas. When she began almost thirty years ago, the district had only a handful of Japanese classes, but the program is now in all five high schools in the district, due in large part to her strong advocacy and active commitment to professional development as both presenter and participant. She continues to serve as a team leader of the Monterey Bay World Language Project, which provides professional development for K-16 teachers of all languages in the tri-county region. She presents extensively at regional, state, and national conferences and workshops. In addition to her leadership at the local and regional level, she served as AATJ’s Nengajo Director for several years. 

Nishimura-sensei is a model teacher. Her teaching is available for all to see in AATJ’s Advancing Our Teaching Practice series. Whenever her district’s educational leaders conduct learning walks during observation cycles for teachers, her classroom is an example for teachers at all experience levels and all subject areas. Having Nishimura-sensei’s classroom be the most visited in the very large district expands the reach of Japanese language education and exposes so many more teachers, board members, and administrators to Japanese language education. It is a very powerful tool for advocacy. 

Her contribution to the profession extends beyond Japanese language to supporting and nurturing the next generation of teachers of ALL languages. As an induction coach for the Salinas High School District for more than ten years, she continues to support and nurture both Japanese and non-Japanese language teachers in the district. She also contributes to expanding the pipeline of new teachers to the profession by co-leading the Student Strand at the CLTA Summer Seminar for the past two years.

Nishimura sensei and her Salinas Union High School District Professional Learning Community

Nishimura sensei’s thank you message video

Higher Ed.: Junko Ito (University of California, Davis)

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. 

Introductory video on Ito sensei’s impact

Ito sensei’s thank you message video