Mari Matsumoto, Site Manager Mari-sensei joined NLF in 1980, and took over the management of the Sutter site in 1987, one-and-a-half years after the opening of the preschool. Mari has administrative responsibilities in addition to her work with the children, and she helps develop parent workshops and special events for NLF. She earned a BA at UC Berkeley in social welfare and has an extensive educational background in the field of teaching English as a second language. Mari is fluent in the Japanese language as well as having studied here and in Japan for two years.

Esther Leung, Senior Teacher, Big Bird Group - Bigu Baado Gumi
Esther-sensei is the only original Sutter site staff member still with us since we first opened the program in the fall of 1985. She is our Chinese bilingual teacher who has been teaching the children songs and phrases in Cantonese. Born in Hong Kong, Esther graduated from a teacher training college and taught elementary school for 20 years. She came to the US in 1982; and worked for a social service agency in Chinatown for a year before substituting and becoming a teacher for a number of Asian childcare centers in San Francisco. Esther possesses a Children’s Center Instructional Permit.

Yuwen Ye, Teacher, Parrot Group - Omu Gumi
Yuwen-sensei grew up in Taison County in Canton, China. She moved to the US when she was sixteen years old, and has resided in San Francisco ever since. She attended San Francisco State University, where she studied early childhood education and received her BA in liberal studies. Yuwen began teaching at NLF in 1995, and utilizes her multilingual abilities with the children and their families. Her future goal is to enter the elementary teaching credential program. Yuwen also worked as a substitute teacher at Wah Mei School, a Chinese bilingual preschool program, for more than two years. She is fluent in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Taisonese.

Tomiko Oshiro, Japanese Bilingual Teacher, Crane Group - Tsuru Gumi
Tomiko-sensei was born and raised in Okinawa, Japan. She attended the Oogaki Women's Junior College in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan where she obtained her AA in Child Development and Education. She is also certified as a kindergarten and nursery school teacher. Tomiko taught three-year-olds in a Tokyo preschool for two years before coming to the US in March of 1992. She was hired as a full-time teacher in August of 1996. Tomiko's son attends our After School Program.

Kiyomi Davis, Japanese Bilingual Teacher, Woodpecker Group - Kitsutsuki Gumi
Kiyomi-sensei began her work with NLF as a kindergarten teacher at the After School Program in 1991. Two years later, she relocated to Oregon. One year later, she returned to San Francisco, and took a teaching position at ABC Preschool, working with three-year-olds. Then after some extensive traveling with her family, she returned to NLF in April of 1995. Born and raised in Okinawa, she came to the US in 1973. She studied English and Early Childhood Education at City College, and holds an Associate Teacher Permit. Her grandson attends our Bush preschool.

Fujiko Sakata, Japanese Bilingual Teacher, Pelican Group - Perikan Gumi
Fujiko-sensei came to the United States in 1992, from Nagoya, Japan. She received her BA in Japanese literature from Aichi Shukutoku University. After graduating, Fujiko taught high school for nine years in Aichi prefecture and later taught Japanese at UC Berkeley for three years. After teaching university students, Fujiko decided to explore teaching young children and began taking classes in early childhood education. She joined our staff in September, 1998, and continues to take early childhood education classes. She also teaches math and language in Japanese to elementary grade students.

Kiyoko Dorsey, Afternoon, Japanese, Bilingual Teacher
Kiyoko-sensei’s experience with early childhood education began when her children were in preschool. As a newcomer to the US, she was able to make new friends with other parents and teachers by volunteering in her children's classroom. Later, as a single parent, Kiyoko started taking classes in Early Childhood Education. She also joined some of the teachers in her children's preschool to form the Cross Cultural Family Center where she taught from 1969 until 1996, when she retired. Since then, Kiyoko has substituted at both of our preschool sites as well as ABC Preschool. She is also our part-time afternoon teacher.

Mika Sakuma, Teacher, Third Grade - The Brains Group
Mika sensei has been substitute teaching at all three programs since 1999. She took over the Brains Group in February of 1999. She received her BA degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Hawaii Pacific University. At the University, she was a volunteer teacher's aide and assisted with the beginning level Japanese class. Mika has had a wide range of job experiences ranging from Cruise director to manager at Tokyo Toyopet Corporation in Japan.

Anna You, Cook-Assistant
Anna-san assists the head cook, Midori Tomono, with the preparation of our meals. She has been with us since 1989, and has completed a certificate program in food technology and dining service. She has had numerous years of experience working in restaurants. Anna is also fluent in Portuguese, Mandarin, ToiSan and Cantonese.

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