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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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 everyone! My name is Daniel Lunness and I am a Social Studies teacher, as well as the Middle School Global Studies teacher here at Hope. I have been teaching for nearly 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 excited to be part of the Hope team and to work with the wonderful Hope community.

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!

Howzit, my name is Cameron Wilke, and I am the Grade 9 / 10 Homeroom Teacher. I am from the city of Gqeberha, South Africa. I attended Nelson Mandela University. There I received a Bachelors in English and Psychology, as well as a PGCE in English and History. I am new to the island however, not too new to education, as I have been involved in schools in South Africa for the last two years. I have a passion for a learning and I hope to be able to instill that passion onto my students as well!

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.

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.

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 Rebecca Panza and I was born and raised in England. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Before coming to Okinawa I taught Physical Education and Health and Social Care at a Secondary school in London for five years. My goal is to support students throughout their learning journey to become holistic, confident, mindful and passionate individuals. During my free time I like to exercise, explore and try new things.

Hello Hope families! My name Jackie Wilson and I am the ELA teacher for G1 and G2! My family and I moved here from Tucson, Arizona. I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of West Florida. In the United States, I’ve taught in Florida, Georgia, and Arizona. Adding Okinawa to the list is very special to me because I graduated high school here. I’ve always dreamed of coming back so I am honored to be here and very excited to work with the Hope community!

Bonjour everyone! My name is Léticia Berkate and I am from France. I studied biology in Paris and graduated with a Master's degree in neuroscience at Sorbonne Universités. After spending some time working in research, I am now focusing on teaching. This past two and a half years I have been working in Tahiti, California, Colombia, Mexico, but Okinawa won my heart. I wish to transmit my passion for science and discoveries to the students and I am truly happy to be part of the Hope community!