What is a Prefectural Advisor (PA)?
Prefectural Advisors (PAs) are your fellow Fukuoka JET participants, providing support to both JET participants and Contracting Organizations. They also work alongside Japanese PAs (also called ‘non-JET PAs’), helping to support your time in Fukuoka.
What do PAs do?
The PAs’ roles include but are not limited to: relaying information from CLAIR, Fukuoka Prefecture Board of Education, and Kitakyushu City Board of Education to JET participants, planning and implementing orientations and training seminars, answering questions and giving advice, and mediating between JET participants and their Contracting Organizations where necessary.
The PAs come from a variety of backgrounds and experience and are committed to supporting JETs and fostering a sense of community among participants within Fukuoka.
Please see below for introductions and contact information for the current Fukuoka PAs.
Prefectural Junior High School PA
Anastasia Waring
Allo allo! My name is Ana and this is my 1st year on JET. I am the current Junior High School (JHS) Prefectural Advisor (PA) for the Compulsory Division of the Fukuoka Board of Education.
I'm a KitaCutie JET from the UK (Japan's rainy island cousin), half British half Russian, French and Japanese language major, ex-figure skater, current judo player and roller skater, avid board gamer, LOTR fan, photographer, blogger, umeshu drinker and mango muncher, café hopper, and (more recently) DnD lover and hiker.
As the JHS PA, my main focus is providing ALTs with support and assistance as they navigate living in Japan and working in the Japanese education system. Some of my other responsibilities include helping to plan and organize different educational and ALT related events and assisting with English lesson training for elementary school teachers.
Please don't hesitate to come to me for:
- Advice/referrals (about stress, mental health, teaching/work life, etc.)
- Consultation/information (JET Terms and Conditions, procedural matters, taxes, health insurance, re-entry permits, visas, Japanese culture, driving in Japan, daily life in Japan, etc.)
- Improvement of meetings/orientation (if you have ideas, please let me know. I'd like to integrate them where possible!)
- Mediation (between you and your Contracting Organisations, etc.)
- Crisis response/management (typhoons, earthquakes, etc.)
- Baking bread or hunting for good cheese
I hope that you have a wonderful and transformative experience during your time as a Fukuoka JET and that together we can promote cultural understanding, appreciation, and unity through our work.
Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education
TEL: 092-643-3910
fukuokajhs@gmail.com
Prefectural Senior High School PA
Stephen Paclibar
Dia dhuit!
My name is Stephen Paul Paclibar. I am a 5th year JET hailing from the
cloudy land of Ireland!
I am also your new Senior High School (SHS) Prefectural Advisor (PA) for
the Fukuoka Board of Education.
I’m a practicing illustrator and an art lover! In my spare time, you might
see me doodling in a corner or perusing around in art galleries. In fact,
it was my overall curiosity with Japanese art that led me to apply for the
JET program!
Throughout my long journey here, I have been involved in many JET-related
positions and events. I hope to use my knowledge and experience to fulfill
my goal of supporting the ALTs in their workplace environment and help
answer any of their questions as best as possible from teaching to living
in Japan.
Some of my other responsibilities also include organizing ALT-related
meetings and workshops as well as assisting in various events throughout
the year.
Whether it is only for one year or for the full 5, I hope that your journey
here is a fulfilling one. I am certain that through your hard work, you
will get to learn more about yourself, the people around you and this
wonderful prefecture and country!
If you ever have any concerns, questions or comments please feel free to
send me an email!
Senior High School Education Division
Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education
TEL: 092-643-3905
fukuokashs@gmail.com
Kitakyushu City PA
Sam Bailey
Hello~!
My name is Sam and I am one of the prefectural advisors for Kitakyushu
Board of Education. I am a 3rd year JET from the US (Ohio specifically).
I studied East Asia and theatre in university so I always had my sights set
on JET and was lucky to be accepted during the lovely delays of covid. I'm
always happy to chat to help or if you just want to talk about random
things, I'm down as well. I'm not as social as many participants you may
encounter but I'm always open to small gettogethers and the like.
I currently work at an elementary school, while also fulfilling my roles as
PA.
Although the Kitakyushu municipal ALTs operate a little differently to
Fukuoka prefectural ALTs, we are still very open and happy to get involved
with events outside of the area down in the main sections of Fukuoka. While
our main focus is to support the Kitakyushu municipal ALTs, we are always
here to help whoever may need us.
I hope that you will have a wonderful experience during your time here, be
it 1 year or 5! Please do not hesitate to contact myself of Devyn if you
have any concerns.
Kitakyushu City Board of Education
TEL: 093-582-2367
kitakyushupa@gmail.com
Kitakyushu City PA
Devyn Arnold
Hi, all!
My name is Devyn! Alongside Sam, I'm one of the two PAs for the brilliant
Kitakyushu City.
I went to college in Lawrence, KS, USA, where I studied English and
European Studies, with a primary focus on German language and culture.
Suffice to say, I had no idea JET lay in my future. If I had, I probably
would have studied more Japanese!
When I am not teaching at one of KitaQ's junior highs or helping the
municipal ALTs, I've either got my nose in a book or I'm off enjoying
Fukuoka's incredible natural beauty (probably lost up on a mountain
somewhere). I've also been known to enjoy a nice cup of tea from time to
time!
While my position keeps me tethered fairly tightly to Kitakyushu, feel free
to reach out to Sam or me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
We're always happy to help!
Kitakyushu City Board of Education
TEL: 093-582-2367
kitakyushupa@gmail.com
Municipal and PSPD (Private School) PA
Sophie Gwilt
Hi all,
My name is Sophie and I am a CIR from the United Kingdom, working at the Fukuoka Prefecture International Affairs Bureau. My time is divided between my everyday CIR work and my role as a PA. The main focus of my PA work is supporting JETs who are employed by the municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) and private schools of Fukuoka.
I help to plan ALT Meetings and SDC with the other PAs, and I am also the chair of the Fukuoka JET Orientation Committee, where current JETs help to plan the Fukuoka Prefectural orientation for new arrivals!
As your PA, you are welcome to contact me about issues your CO cannot solve, or even just ask me a question when you don’t know who else to ask. Both ALTs and CIRs can feel free to contact me.
An interest in the Japanese language and a degree in Translation is what led me to apply for the JET Programme. My time here so far has helped me develop a lot of different skills!
With that said, I am also a fan of all things cute in Japan, and you can probably find me at the game center on my day off, trying my hand at the crane machines.
Fukuoka is a region full of a variety from top to bottom, with so many things to do and see in each area. I hope you enjoy your time in Fukuoka and that your time here can give you an opportunity to grow just as I have.
Sophie Gwilt
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
Fukuoka Prefecture International Affairs Bureau
TEL: 092-643-3200
fukuokapa@gmail.com