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.
Please note that the PAs can only offer their guidance to JET Programme participants in Fukuoka.
Municipal PA
(Prefectural Advisor to Municipal and PSPD ALTs, Prefectural CIRs)
Sophie Gwilt
Hi all,
My name is Sophie and I am a 3rd year 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.
In terms of PA work, 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!
If you are a Municipal ALT, PSPD ALT, or CIR in Fukuoka Prefecture, then our office, the Fukuoka Prefecture International Affairs Bureau, is the port of call for you and your Contracting Organization to obtain advice, and we can also mediate if any issues arise. Of course, you can feel free to email me at the below address, be it for questions or for confidential matters. My inbox is open, and I will not share what you tell me with others without your permission.
An interest in the Japanese language and a degree in Translation is what led me to apply for the JET Programme. I am a bit of an introvert, so being on JET has been a real challenge, but I’m happy to say that my time here so far has helped me develop a lot of different skills.
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.
Be it mountains, ocean, or city, Fukuoka has a bit of everything. You may struggle to experience it all within your short stay here. But that’s not such a bad problem to have! I hope you enjoy Fukuoka as much as I do!
Sophie Gwilt
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR)
Fukuoka Prefecture International Affairs Bureau
TEL: 092-643-3200 (Office)
fukuokapa@gmail.com
Prefectural Senior High School PA
Samantha Evers
Hello! ✿ ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ
My name is Sammi and I’m the Senior High School (SHS) Prefectural Advisor (PA) for the Fukuoka Board of Education!
I’m a 4th year JET from New Orleans ~ Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
I fell in love with Japan while studying abroad in Tokyo in 2019 and haven't looked back since! When I first received my placement for JET, I was a bit nervous because I had never heard of Fukuoka before. However, now I realize that being placed here was one of the luckiest things to have ever happened to me! Not only the JET community, but also the local community here are so welcoming! In my free time, I attend a local Japanese class and I practice karate with some other JETs!
Having arrived during the pandemic, I understand just how important a good support system is. As the SHS PA, I’m here for you! My goal is to support ALTs with the everyday challenges of life in Japan and working in the Japanese education system. No problem is ever too big or too small! If you have any questions at all please feel free to send them my way.
I wish you all the best during your time here in Fukuoka! I hope your experience on JET will be a rewarding one. ʕ•ᴥ• ʔ ✿
Senior High School Education Division
Fukuoka Prefectural Board of Education
TEL: 092-643-3905
fukuokashs@gmail.com
Prefectural Junior High School PA
Anastasia Waring
Allo allo! My name is Ana and this is my 3rd 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
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 4th 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 a junior high 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 Tristan if you
have any concerns.
Kitakyushu City Board of Education
TEL: 093-582-2367
kitakyushupa@gmail.com
Kitakyushu City PA
Tristan Dalueg
Elen sila lumenn omentielvo.
Well met! My name is Tristan and this is my 3rd year being a part of JET. I am also the other half of the Prefectural Advisor duo for the Kitakyushu Board of Education.
Despite being hard pressed to find any of it in Fukuoka, I'm a Canadian (Toronto) that loves the snow and cold. A current volleyball player (also coach), swimmer, and hockey player, I enjoy playing sports to stay active. Though I do also enjoy my indoor activities of games and TTRPGs. As a Japanese history major I came to enjoy Japan long ago yet I'm always learning something new!
Though the Kitakyushu City PA's are primarily focused on Kitakyushu City JETs, we are by no means out of reach from everyone else in Fukuoka. As one of the Kitakyushu City PA's I might be a bit distant or perhaps a tad elusive to the rest of the JETs in the prefecture, though I assure you that's merely because of distance. If there is something you need help with, just want to chat, or anything else please don't hesitate to reach out. The PA's are here for you after all.
My hope is that you will enjoy your time in Fukuoka, however long that might be and form a deep understanding and connection with Japan, Japanese people, and the culture.
Namárië.
Kitakyushu City Board of Education
TEL: 093-582-2367
kitakyushupa@gmail.com