Mrs. Suzy Brown

Suzy Brown is the founder and principal of the school. She holds a Master’s degree in Education (Language and Literacy), a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a teaching license for Grades 1–8, and a Gifted and Talented certificate. In addition to teaching at NLIS, she has professional experience in a Texas public school system and has taught at three colleges in both Texas and Japan.

Miss Khristine Ilagan

Miss Ilagan teaches Grades 1 & 2. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, an elementary teaching license, and a 120-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. She has six years of teaching experience and is currently working toward a Master of Arts in Language and Literacy. Miss Ilagan has also completed training in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and supports students in the after-school program.

Miss Sarah Gandy

Miss Gandy, from England, teaches Grades 3–4. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), along with degrees in English Literature and Theology, and a TESOL certificate. Miss Gandy brings fifteen years of teaching experience in England and overseas and is a valued addition to the NLIS faculty.

Mr. Christian Brown

Mr. Brown teaches Grade 5. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Dallas Baptist University and brings approximately fifteen years of teaching experience in Japan. He is an American, born and raised in Japan. Our parents appreciate his fluent Japanese. Mr. Brown also teaches ukulele to students in Grades 5 and 6.​

Dr. Glenn Brombuela

Dr. Brombuela specializes in mathematics and science and teaches all math and science courses for Grades 7–12. He also serves as the junior high homeroom teacher. Dr. Brombuela holds a Bachelor of Science in Science Education, a Master's degree in Religious Education, and a Ph.D. in Education, Leadership, and Management. He is a certified secondary teacher with 7 years of teaching experience. He has also completed training in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP).  He leads an after-school  Teen Boys Bible club.

Miss Andrea Boko

Miss Boko specializes in English and teaches all Language Arts courses for students in Grades 7–12. She also teaches a TOEFL preparation class and the elective Home Economics, Drama, Art, and Photography for Grades 7–12.

Miss Boko holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a major in English, a secondary teaching license, a Drama certification, a 120-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, and has 6 years of teaching experience. She leads an after-school  Teen Boys Bible club.

Mr. Kyle Olsen

Mr. Olsen teaches Grade 6. He holds a Bachelor of Science with a major in Political Science and a minor in English and History, along with a teaching certificate for Grades 4–8. Mr. Olsen brings five years of teaching experience in Texas and Japan, and also teaches Physical Education to students in Grades 5–6.

Mr. Martin Pretorius

Mr. Pretorius specializes in History and teaches Social Studies (history, geography, etc.) to students in Grades 7–12. He also teaches the electives Physical Education, Introduction to Psychology, Information Technology, and Life Management Skills.  Mr. Pretorius holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a specialization in History, English, and Afrikaans, as well as a Secondary Education teaching certificate. He has two years of teaching experience in Japan. He also leads an after-school sports club.

Mrs. Kazumi Seki

Kazumi Seki holds Class 1 teaching licenses for Elementary and Junior High School, as well as Class 1 Junior High and High School licenses in Japanese and Calligraphy. She brings extensive experience teaching in multiple public elementary schools and teaching Japanese at Eiwa Junior High and High School. Mrs. Seki teaches grades 3 & 4 and junior high. 

Mrs. Megumi Watanabe

Megumi Watanabe is a licensed teacher with many years of classroom experience. She teaches Japanese to students in Grades 1, 2, and 6th.

Mrs. Reiko Maruyama

Mrs. Maruyama holds a Teaching Japanese to Foreigners license, a kindergarten teaching license, and a degree in education. She teaches the elementary and secondary Japanese for Foreigners classes. In addition, she teaches two after-school Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) classes.

Mr. Stephen Veale 

Mr. Veale serves as the school chaplain. He teaches Bible stories to students every Friday and brings extensive teaching experience from New Zealand.

Dr. Danny Brown

Dr. Brown serves as a consultant for NLIS and is the pastor of New Life International Church.

He is also a full-time English instructor at Yamanashi Eiwa College. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching ESL, and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies.

Mr. Jun Matsuoka

Mr. Matsuoka teaches Japanese to the high school students and Grade 5. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Japanese Language Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts in Education, covering both the elementary and secondary levels. Mr. Matsuoka brings international experience from teaching in Japan and Australia, and previously served as both a principal and teacher in Luxembourg.

Miss Hiroko Hihara

Miss Hihara is the school's bookkeeper. She has a bookkeeping licence, level 2. She is highly trained and experienced. She is at NLIS two days a week. She speaks Japanese.  

Mrs. Chiho Takei

Mrs. Takei serves as the Office Assistant and plays a vital role in the school's daily operations. She supports office operations, supervises students during recess, and assists with the JLPT classes. She is bilingual.

Mrs. Erin Okuaki

Mrs. Okuaki serves as the Principal's Assistant. She is bilingual and holds a Bachelor's degree from Colorado, USA. She helps the principal with translations and runs the office. She also teaches an after-school non-contact karate class with her sister. They both hold a 4th Dan black belt in karate.

Mrs. Aiko Veale

Mrs. Veale served as the Assistant Administrator of New Life International School. She faithfully assisted families in both Japanese and English. She was an instrumental part of the founding of NLIS and a dear member of our school community. Mrs. Veale passed away in February 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer, and she is deeply missed by our students, families, and staff.

Mrs. Rhonda Culver Tezuka

Mrs. Tezuka teaches after-school ESL and EIKEN classes and is our on-call certified American nurse at NLIS. She brings extensive experience in ESL instruction and EIKEN preparation and has served as an EIKEN interviewer for 20 years. In addition, she has served as a speech contest judge at schools across Tokyo and Yamanashi.