Metropolitan Education District

Press Release

Metropolitan Education District
760 Hillsdale Ave
San Jose, CA 95136
September 02, 2010

Contact: Michelle Alaimo
Communication Specialist
(408) 723-6464
malaimo@metroed.net

Leslie Johnson-Tatsuta Named MetroED Teacher of the Year

Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher and Curriculum Specialist, Leslie Johnson-Tatsuta has been named the MetroED 2009-10 Teacher of the Year. Johnson-Tatsuta will be honored at the Santa Clara County Office of Education's 41th Annual Teacher Recognition Day ceremony on September 29, at the Heritage Theatre in Campbell.

Johnson-Tatsuta began at MAEP nearly 20 years ago and she has taught every level of ESL from Literacy to Advanced to Multi-Level classes. Her ESL background spans 30 years both in adult education and with community based organizations.

"MAEP is fortunate to have such an inspiring and engaging teacher," MAEP Director, Sylvia Karp, said. "Her support for her fellow ESL teachers and staff is valued because it demonstrates her genuine concern for ESL professional excellence."

Johnson-Tatsuta knows first-hand what it is like to be in another country and not know a word of that country's language. When she was a junior in college, Johnson-Tatsuta spent a year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem but did not know a word of Hebrew. At times she felt isolated and it was hard to connect with her fellow students because she could not read or understand the language. But as time went on, she found herself able to understand Hebrew. From that point on, Johnson-Tatsuta became interested in the process of language acquisition.

During her senior year, Johnson-Tatsuta volunteered to work with Cambodian refugees that were recently relocated to the United States. From there, she began her first teaching job at the Catholic Diocese in Springfield, Missouri teaching English to Southeast Asian refugees. She decided to pursue a master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.

In 1985, she moved to California and taught ESL for seven years at a community based organization in San Jose. While working there, she served on a county-wide refugee consortium that MAEP also belonged to. She said the more she learned about MAEP, the more she wanted to work in an adult education program. In 1991, Johnson-Tatsuta joined MAEP and in 2000, she started the ESL Distance Learning program at MAEP's Campbell Adult Education center.

Her ability to connect with others has led to many long-term friendships. When Johnson-Tatsuta first began teaching 30 years ago, she taught ESL to three young girls from Taiwan. One of the girls who was six at the time, has kept in contact with Johnson-Tatsuta this whole time!

"My students have really changed me as a person through the experiences that they share with me," Johnson-Tatsuta, said. "I feel so fortunate to have met so many amazing people throughout my career."