Our Teachers

Engaging Education: Create an environment of excitement and curiosity, where learning becomes an adventure. With innovative teaching techniques and a supportive curriculum, you'll have the freedom to inspire students and ignite their love for knowledge.

Mrs. Suzy Brown
Suzy Brown is the founder and principal of the school. She has a Master's degree in Education: Language and Literacy, a B.S. in Elementary Education, a teacher's license for grades 1 through 8, and a gifted and talented certificate. Besides teaching at NLIS, she has experience teaching in a public school system in Texas and at three colleges in Texas and Japan.

Miss Khristine Ilagan
Miss Ilagan teaches 2nd & 3rd grade, and will teach 1st & 2nd next year. She holds a BA in Elementary Education, an elementary teacher's license, a 120-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, and six years of teaching experience. She is working toward a Master of Arts in Education. She has also trained in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program. She watches children in the after-school program.

Miss Claudia Stadius
Miss Stadius teaches 1st grade. She is retiring this year. She has a BS in education and an elementary teacher's license. She is an American with many years of teaching experience in Japan. She watches the children after school.

Miss Sarah Gandy
Miss Gandy, from England, will teach 3rd and 4th grade from April 2026. She has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and degrees in English Literature and Theology. She has a TESOL Certificate and years of experience teaching in England and overseas. She will be an excellent addition to NLIS and we are looking forward to her joining our school.

Mr. Christian Brown
Mr. Brown will teach 5th grade next year. He has a BA in Communications from Dallas Baptist University and has about twenty years of teaching experience in Japan. He is an American but was born and raised in Japan. He teaches the ukulele to grades 4 through 6.

Dr. Glenn Brombuela
Dr. Brombuela teaches all math and sciences to 7th through 12th grade. He is the junior high homeroom teacher. He is starting a Robotics Club in April 2026. He has a Ph.D. in Education, Leadership, and Management, a Master's degree in Religious Education, a Bachelor of Science in Science Education, and a secondary teacher's certificate. He has seven years of teaching science and math.

Miss Andrea Boko
Miss Boko teaches language arts and social studies to students in grades 7 through 12. She is the high school homeroom teacher. She also teaches a TOEFL study class. She teaches the electives, home economics, drama, art, and photography to grades 7 through 12. She has a Bachelor of Secondary Education with a major in English, a secondary teacher's license, a Drama certification, a 120-hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification, and 5 years of teaching experience.

Mr. Kyle Olsen
Mr. Olsen will teach 6th grade next year. He has a Bachelor of Science with a major in Political Science and a minor in English and History. He has a teacher's certificate for grades 4-8 and five years of teaching experience in Texas and Japan. He also teaches P.E. to grades 4 through 6.

Mr. Martin Pretorius
Mr. Pretorius, from South Africa, teaches Social Studies, P.E., Intro. to Psychology, and Art to the junior high and high school students. He has a Bachelor's in Education: Senior Phase and F.E.T. with a specialization in History, English, and Afrikaans. He has two years of teaching experience in Japan.

Mrs. Kazumi Seki
Mrs. Kazumi Seki holds Class 1 Elementary and Junior High teacher licenses and qualifications, as well as Class 1 junior high and high school teacher licenses for Japanese and Calligraphy. She has years of experience teaching in several Elementary public schools and Japanese at Eiwa Junior High and High School. She makes a great addition to NLIS. She teaches grades 4, 7, and 8.

Mrs. Megumi Watanabe
Mrs. Megumi Watanabe is a licensed teacher with years of teaching experience. She teaches the 5th and 6th grade Japanese classes.

Mrs. Reiko Maruyama
Mrs. Maruyama has a teaching Japanese to foreigners license, a kindergarten license, and an education degree. She teaches Japanese to grades 1, 2, and the Japanese for Foreigners class. She also teaches two after-school classes for Japanese as a Second Language.

Mr. Stephen Veale
Mr. Veale is the chaplain. He teaches the children stories from the Bible every Friday.
He is an experienced teacher from New Zealand.

Dr. Danny Brown
Dr. Brown is the consultant for NLIS and pastor of New Life International Church.
Dr. Brown is a full-time English teacher at Yamanashi Eiwa College. He has a Ph.D. in Foreign Language Education, an M.A. in Teaching ESL, and a B.A. in Religious Studies.

Mr. Jun Matsuoka
Mr. Matsuoka teaches high school and 3rd grade Japanese. He has a graduate diploma in Japanese Language Teaching and a BA in Education for teaching at the elementary and secondary levels. He has experience teaching in Japan and Australia and was a principal and teacher in Luxembourg.

Mrs. Chiho Takei
Mrs. Takei is the Office Assistant and is an excellent worker and friend to all the teachers, parents, and students. She does office work, watches the students during recess, and assists in the JLPT class. She is bilingual.

Mrs. Erin Okuaki
Mrs. Okuaki is the Principal's Assistant. Mrs. Okuaki is bilingual and has a BA from Colorado, USA. She has many talents and experience, including a blackbelt in karate.

Mrs. Aiko Veale
Mrs. Veale is the assistant administrator of NLIS. She is an experienced and licensed bookkeeper and calligraphy teacher. She can answer any questions in Japanese and English.
She is currently on a leave of absence.

Mrs. Rhonda Culver Tezuka
Mrs. Tezuka is the after-school ESL and EIKEN teacher at NLIS. She has vast experience in teaching ESL and preparing students for the Eiken. She has been an Eiken interviewer for 20 years and a speech judge throughout Tokyo metropolitan schools.



