Valuable and up-to-date HR advice from Naomi Noiri, Acting Executive Director at NPO AmerAsian School in Okinawa on hiring high-quality staff as a NPO.

Q: Tell us about your organization.
A: The AmerAsian School is an NPO school that provides education in English and Japanese for Amerasian children (children of Asian and American parentage). The school was established in 1998 by mothers of Amerasian children.

Q: What types of positions do you normally hire for?
A: We hire full-time teachers as both English and homeroom teachers. A teaching qualification is required.

Q: As an NPO, what are some of the hiring challenges you face?
A: Salaries are set by school policy. Since the salaries we offer are by no means high, teachers have to be interested in Amerasian children and keen to work at our school.

Q:Which feature on GaijinPot do you find most useful when recruiting?
A: We are truly grateful for the wide range of applicants and exposure we receive from GaijinPot.

Q: Currently how many students are enrolled in your school? What is the age range?
A: We have approximately 70 students from kindergarten through ninth grade.

Q: What are some of the reasons why parents enroll their kids into your school instead of a Japanese public schools?
A: They enroll their kids at our school because they cannot receive an education in English at a Japanese public school. We should add that since the education provided by the school is guaranteed by its linkage to the public school system, students are awarded a public school graduation diploma, which qualifies them to sit for senior high school entry examinations.

Q: Can you tell us about any future school plans or activities?
A: We are thinking of obtaining “School” status recognized by the Japanese government so that we can receive financial assistance from the state and the local government while remaining an NPO school. We also want to strengthen our ties with American society. Our aim is to be a school that is recognized and supported by both the United States and Japan and for our graduates to be able to live in both societies.

Q:Just out of curiosity, although your school’s name is NPO AmerAsian School, do you accept Eurasians as well?
A: The AmerAsian School is open to all “international children” who require an education in Japanese and English, irrespective of ethnicity.