Currently
I am on faculty at the Yokohama International School in Yokohama, Japan and work as a school counselor to provide responsive services and guidance oriented curriculum for middle and high school students (grade 6-10). This age range is fascinating as it spans the distance between childhood through all of early and mid-adolescence. I also just enjoy students in middle school and high school so work is full of laughter most days. If you’re passionate about adolescent mental health, let’s collaborate online using the twitter hashtag #schoolcounseling.
In addition to school counseling, I teach Theory of Knowledge (T.O.K.) as part of the I.B. Diploma Programme for grades 11-12. As an introduction to issues of epistemology this course is a unique opportunity for students to embrace an intellectual existence and to think with insight and creativity. This course also allows me to draw upon both my background in ethics and psychology along with a love of technological interconnection to foster learning. Join the discussion about TOK using the twitter hashtag #IBTOK.
After graduating with an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from the College of Wooster, I spent the first 15 years of my career working in the outdoor education field.
The first program I directed, the Adam Kreiger Adventure Program in New Haven, CT in the US, is a memorial at Hopkins School for an inspiring student who passed away after a long battle with cancer. As Hopkins School faculty I spent much of the academic year with the Middle and High School students of Hopkins and with area public schools. My summers were filled with urban education programs including Summerbridge and L.E.A.P.
As part of Adam Kreiger’s original vision we worked very closely with Yale-New Haven Children’s hospital child life department, founded the first siblings program for the Special Olympic World games, and served the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and other local camps for children with cancer or other terminal illnesses.
After 5 years as director of the Adam Kreiger Adventure Program, I left Hopkins school in 1999 to work with Project Adventure Inc. in Brattleboro, VT still in the States. In 2001, I shifted my focus even more internationally and moved to Tokyo to work in educational reform with Project Adventure Japan. Over the next five years I was immersed in Japanese society helping to bring adventure based counseling and experiential learning strategies to the Japanese Public Schools. While I loved working in a consulting capacity and in Japanese society, I missed the daily interaction with students. When the opportunity came along I was very happy to return to a school setting at Y.I.S.
Since coming to YIS I have worked to more fully establish school counseling within the secondary level, taught health education and collaborated with others to have personal, social, and health education better integrated into the curriculum. I have also established the YIS skatepark, board riders club, and our learn to skate program. I love hearing the elementary school students refer to me as the skateboard teacher.
I am in the final stages of my master degree at the Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. While I look forward to having more control over my own time, I have loved the collaboration with my colleagues and professors. The learning at this program has been incredible and access to the university’s online databases has been a huge asset for both study and work. The combination of work and study has enabled me to operate in that wonderful space of learning and immediate application.
For recreation and self-care, I am an avid cyclist, roller skier, snowboarder, and highly amateur photographer. Making no promises please feel free to see some of the photos I have taken here.
My wife, Asako, is a nationally certified K-9 teacher with 12 years teaching experience. She currently teaches Physical Education. We have two terrific kids and a fantastic dog.
