Japanese Teachers Begin Visits to Wisconsin Schools

The Japanese teachers visiting Wisconsin this fall are: (back row, left to right) Tomoaki Kishi, Teruhisa Takiguchi, Satoru Fujioka, Ryuichi Inoue, Daisuke Teranishi, Yoshinori Matsumura, Fumitaka Takita; (front row, left to right) Miwako Irei, Michiko Koda, Midori Haga, Kayoko Saito, Atsuko Kosaki, and Yoko Tanaka.

A group of teachers visiting from Japan began working in Wisconsin classrooms Friday (October 8, 2004). The visit is part of the Japan-Wisconsin Education Connection program, which is co-sponsored by WEAC's Professional Development Academy, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Japanese Ministry of Education.

The 13 teachers arrived in Wisconsin September 23 and will stay until December 12. During their stay, they'll visit 33 schools in 16 districts statewide. The group includes elementary, middle and high school teachers, and special education teachers.

The teachers are attending school board meetings, talking with community leaders and parents, visiting after-school programs, participate in community volunteer activities and working in classrooms.

The program, which is funded by Japanese taxpayers, has sent more than 100 teachers to Wisconsin since 1997. This year, another group of Japanese teachers will visit schools in Ohio.

Posted October 8, 2004