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 5 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.

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!

Hello everyone! My name is Daniel Lunness and I am the Head of Secondary at Hope. I oversee the day-to-day operations of both the Middle and High School. I have been teaching for over a decade internationally and have worked previously in South Korea, Belgium and the UK. I have a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) History and Politics Combined Degree and a Postgraduate Certificate of Secondary Education. I am incredibly blessed to be part of the Hope team and to work with the wonderful Hope community.

Greetings! My name is Adoresa Sidney. I was raised in the Philippines and have been living in Okinawa with my husband and 2 beautiful daughters for 20 years. I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. I have 20 years experience in teaching, and this is my first year at Hope. I am so excited to join the team, and look forward to working with you and your child as they continue to grow and have fun while learning.

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.

Mabuhay! Hello! My name is Hazel Viñas and was raised and born in Philippines .I took up Bachelor of Secondary Education ,Major in Biological Science. I had been teaching since 2011 and taught in three countries: Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Japan. My aim is to create a classroom where children not only learn academically but also enjoy the process of discovery and exploration. Let’s learn, have fun and grow together!

Hello! My name is Janique Allen. I’m Jamaican by birth, but grew up in Canada from the age of 6. I’m a Drama teacher by specialty, but I also love art, music, and dance. I have a bachelor's degree in Education, Fine Arts and Cultural Studies, and Communications. I’ve been teaching in Japan for over 9 years now, but I’m new to Okinawa. I’m truly excited and happy to be at Hope and looking forward to the year ahead.

Hello! My name is Julia Arungan and I come from Lombok, Indonesia. I have been teaching elementary students for over 15 years, with experience both in Indonesia and the UAE. I hold a Bachelor of Education from Mataram University and a Master of Education from the University of South Australia. This is my first time living in Japan, and I am truly excited to join the HOPE family, share my passion for learning, and grow together with this wonderful community!

Greetings, I’m Dennis, an educator with a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Economics. I specialise in elementary education and have taught since 2018, though my work with children began much earlier. Originally from Singapore, I moved to Japan out of a deep appreciation for the country and a desire to make a difference. My goal is to nurture resilience, creativity, critical thinking, quick thinking, ethical values, and a thirst for knowledge in every child I teach.

Hi, I’m Debie! I’m a graduate teacher from Australia with a Master of Teaching (Primary Education). I’m excited to join Hope International Academy as a homeroom teacher—a school I’ve loved since my student teaching days. I'm passionate about creating a safe, supportive classroom where students feel valued and inspired to grow. I’m thrilled to continue my journey at Hope alongside such dedicated educators and wonderful young learners!

My name is Angelique Tee, but many people call me Angie. I was born in Uitenhage, South Africa. After a few years of teaching in my home country, I decided to expand my skills internationally and made my way to Okinawa. I speak three languages, English, Afrikaans and a bit of Xhosa, hopefully I can add Japanese to that list soon. I enjoy the outdoors and practice aerial tricks. I am ecstatic to be a part of the Hope family and create a positive, fun and safe environment for my students.

Hello! My name is Cassie Tregoning, and I am excited to join Hope International Academy. I was born in Gqeberha, South Africa. I hold a BA, an Honours degree in English, and a PGCE. I worked as a high school English teacher in South Africa and an ESL teacher in Thailand before moving to Okinawa. Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, practicing yoga, and exploring the outdoors. I look forward to growing with my students and contributing to this community.

Hello everyone my name is Lebohang Masiteng, but Lebo is "A ohkay". I'm from South Africa , Johannesburg, I have a bachelors degree in education and an honors degree in Education Law and Policy Management. I was teaching in South Korea before moving to Okinawa and joining Hope. I am passionate about education and I absolutely love being an educator. I love everything and anything fitness and sports related, my bias is football(soccer).I am excited to be part of the Hope family!

I am Jay-R Evangelista, an educator at Hope since 2020. I hold a Bachelor of Secondary Education from Bulacan State University, Philippines. I currently serve in a dual middle leadership role as the IMYC Programme Lead and Math Department Head. I am committed to promoting holistic and impactful learning for every learner. My dedication to improving learning and practice within the IMYC program fuels my passion to be a changemaker in education.

Hi, my name is Eyup Kocluoglu, and I am originally from Turkey. I have been teaching for 16 years in a variety of international school settings. For the past 10 years, I have taught IBDP Chemistry in mainland Japan, and I truly enjoyed the experience. Outside of teaching, I have a wide range of hobbies including playing table tennis, football, guitar, cycling, and games. I look forward to continuing to grow both professionally and personally, while contributing meaningfully to the Hope family.

Tachchen! My name is Anja Sueyoshi and I come from Germany. I studied at the Free University of Berlin, where I did my BA and MA in Japanese Studies. My core areas of expertise are international politics, human rights, global issues and the Ryukyus/Okinawa. I came to Japan in 2014 and have since worked at various universities and schools. I love to play volleyball and to explore the island. My goal is to create an interesting and inspiring learning environment for the students.

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.

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!

Hello! My name is Veronica Montalvo. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, USA. My family is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I have a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education from Barry University. I have a Minor in Art and specialized in Special Education. I love art, gardening, and working with children of all ages. I am happy and honored to be part of the Hope team!

Greetings! My name is Brian Mutanu, originally from Kenya and I'm honored to have recently joined this school as a Maths teacher. I'm truly excited to be part of such a diverse and forward-thinking international school community. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Education, specialized in Maths and Physics and I've been teaching for the last 9 years , primarily at the secondary level. My goal is to help students not only understand Maths but also enjoy the process of learning it.