After graduating from WVU, I taught at several colleges.  When I started teaching Japanese at Carrboro High School, I found that I really enjoyed teaching high school students.  I am fascinated by their flexibilities, and I focus on challenging their cognitive levels.  As a language teacher, it is more than an honor and pleasure to work with high school students.  Some of them go to four year colleges in Japan, others decide to major in Japanese, some are looking for jobs in Japan.  One of my best student is on the way to Japan for her job.  

Teaching is learning.  When I teach high school students, I am learning from them.
 yaoyagi@chccs.k12.nc.us

From there I was put in the running for the coveted KWLA “Outstanding Teacher of the Year" Award. I never thought that I would then be named the 2017 Outstanding Teacher from so many worthy candidates. I was shocked! I was terrified to then move on to the next level.

I have never attended SCOLT before. I was nervous to find out that I would be representing my entire state, speaking and representing teachers of all languages, at all levels. I felt I had reached a new place, a chance to be mentored by amazing teachers. Getting to know the other SCOLT TOY nominees left me energized. 

Now I had a chance and a platform to put all the advocacy tools to use. Working with the state Division of Program Standards at the Kentucky Department of Education, I had data and used social media to garner support from teachers from around Kentucky. I used ACTFL’s advocacy tools, the LEAD WITH LANGUAGES campaign data, BYU Research on Foreign Language demand, information from the Kentucky Export Initiative, and also from the KY Cabinet for Economic Development.

 I’ve had many teachers contact me showing interest in how to advocate. I finally found my voice! I feel confident how to speak up, and back up what I say with data!

If I had not become a Teacher of the Year, I would not know how to do all of this! I feel ready to give speeches now, based on what I had to do in the TOY interviews at SCOLT. I can’t wait to keep strengthening my voice, and not only empowering myself, but new teachers as well!

I received my Master’s in Asian Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, my undergraduate from Marshall University, in Huntington, W.Va. I earned my teaching credentials at Northern Kentucky University. I am available to present locally, at the state level, national and international. My passion is working with new world language teachers at all levels! I am also the Louisville, KY, Director of the Certificate course in Teaching English as a Foreign Language for  Via Lingua. I have been working with STARTALK programs each summer since 2006 to 2017. 

Please contact me!