Hello! My name is Brandon Porterfield. I am the co-principal with Mr. Brian. I have been teaching for 15 years and have a Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration. Okinawa has been my home for over twenty years and I currently live in Haebaru with my incredible wife and two kids. I am honored to be a part of this school for the last 4 years and dedicated to support every member of the school community.

Greetings! My name is Brian Bates, and I am part of the Hope administration team. I will be working alongside Mr. Brandon as co-principal. This marks my 10th year in education and my fifth year with Hope International Academy. I have taught in the USA, Thailand, China, mainland Japan, and have comfortably settled in Okinawa with my lovely wife and four beautiful children. I am passionate about my field and will do my best to create a safe and nurturing environment for all Hope students.

Hi there, my name is Colin Gear and I am the Curriculum Coordinator as well as a Mathematics teacher here at Hope. I have been teaching for the past ten years, mainly working with IPC and IMYC schools in South Korea, China and Thailand. I have a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education. I’m incredibly excited to join the Hope team and work with this excellent school community.

Peace to everyone, My name is Romel A. Bautista, I came here to Okinawa last January 2020 with my wife and 3 lovely kids. As a teacher I always believe in lifelong learning and promoting the power of decision making, goal setting as life skills and social emotional learning. I Graduated at Philippine Normal University Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Physical Education. I have teaching experience for more than 10 years in the Philippines and almost 3 years now in Hope.

Hello! My name is Amanda Rhoades and I am very excited to be teaching first grade at Hope International Academy! I was born and raised in Arizona and graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. I am happy to be part of the Hope Community and to share my passion for learning with students. My goal as a teacher is to help build the foundations for each student to be a lifelong learner and a kind member of society. I am looking forward this year!

Hello everyone! My name is Becca Page, and I was born and raised in the south-east of England. I have a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. I have six years’ teaching experience and have taught in international schools in Thailand (Chonburi and Bangkok) and Tokyo. When I’m not teaching, I enjoy keeping active and spending time outdoors. I am excited to begin my seventh year teaching here at Hope and to be living in Okinawa!

Howdy! My name is Delaney Pace and I was born and raised in the USA. I have a bachelor's degree in teaching English as a second language, and shortly after graduating from college I moved to Okinawa with my husband. When I am not teaching I am spending as much time as I can outside either swimming, rock climbing, or simply enjoying the sun. I have always wanted to be a teacher, so I am very excited to start my teaching career here at Hope!

Howdy, y’all! My name is Yoshitaka Yamauchi. I was born and raised in Okinawa but lived in Texas for a couple of years for elementary. After graduating high school here in Okinawa, I went back to Texas and got my bachelor’s degree in Science (Interdisciplinary Studies) and Special Education. I have been teaching since 2012 and taught in three countries: the United States, Turkmenistan, and Japan. I am excited to be part of HIA to make learning fun!

Haisai! My name is Soo Eung Yoo. I’m a South Korean, born and raised in Japan. I attended an international school from K-12 and completed a Bachelor of Education course in Australia. Since I began my teaching career in 2012, I have taught in IB and English immersion schools in Okinawa and mainland Japan. I love spending time with my family, playing sports, cooking, learning, and helping others grow. “LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE” is my motto. I’m looking forward to growing with everyone at Hope!

G'day! I'm Sam Chambers and I'm from Melbourne, Australia. I hold a Bachelor of Arts with double majors in History and Japanese, and a Diploma in Teaching with specializations in Humanities and Language Education. I also hold a CELTA. I moved to Okinawa in 2012 to pursue both my dreams of learning karate and teaching overseas. I'm currently training to become a yoga teacher. My mission is to help my students explore their unique interests and enable them to pursue their dreams!

Hello! My name is Helene Smittil. I was born and raised in Norway, where I got my Bachelor’s Degree in English, and a Practical-Pedagogy degree which allowed me to pursue my passion for teaching. I have taught for 4 years, in a variety of subjects, such as Science, History, English and Norwegian. I feel very privileged to be working in the Okinawan community and with our smart and friendly students.

Magandang Buhay! My name is Richie Mae Andrei Zuñiga. I am from the Philippines, where I got my double degree in Literature and teaching experience. Through teaching I aspire to help people grow and be part of nation-building. My goal is to nurture and hone a generation of wise, open-minded and capable citizens who will be changemakers. I am glad to work in a school that shares a similar vision with me.

Hello everyone, my name is Jay-R Evangelista. I've been part of the wonderful HIA team since January 2020. I am originally from the Philippines, teaching senior high school, and already in my 4th year in the teaching profession. I specialize in middle school and high school students teaching social sciences and society. I love teaching, and I am very grateful to be part of our school and promote international mindedness that positively affects each student!

Mabuhay! I'm Jessa Mae C. Jarilla. I was born and raised in the Philippines and came to Okinawa in 2020. I am a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education and majored in English. Back in the Philippines, I was an English as a Secondary Language teacher for Koreans for two years. I love teaching students not only because I can share something with them but also learn from them. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful school and community.

A beautiful day to all. My name is Joseph Jerome E. Sanchez, known to everyone as Mr. Sanchez. My passion is to teach young minds and help them realize their dreams by becoming a productive and passionate individual. Being part of this institution from the very beginning, I am proud to say that I have witnessed the school grow and become a place where students are given the opportunity to take ownership of their learning and be globally-minded individuals.

Hello, my name is Akira Givings, and I am half Japanese and half American. I am the new Physical Education teacher, and I have lived in Okinawa for about ten years. I have over ten years of coaching experience, ranging from first grade to high school. I've also been teaching CrossFit and CrossFit Kids for the past five years. My goal is to create a fun and engaging environment where quality of movement is prioritized!