Katie Ross
American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ)
JNCL Position: Board Member at Large
STATEMENT
Foreign language education must not be treated as a luxury, an afterthought, or an adversary—but as a national imperative. It should be seamlessly integrated into K–12 curricula, sustained through post-secondary pathways, and supported by comprehensive teacher training and data-informed policy. When language education is sidelined, we risk deepening the isolation of Americans from global discourse, economic opportunity, and intercultural understanding. This, in turn, undermines our national interests in diplomacy, security, and innovation.
I would be honored to serve on the JNCL-NCLIS Board and contribute to our shared mission of advancing widespread language education across the United States. As someone engaged in Japanese language education and advocacy, I hope to bring forward the perspectives of educators working in Japanese and other Asian languages—voices that are often underrepresented in national policy conversations. I believe that inclusive, data-informed language policy is essential not only for educational equity, but for strengthening our global engagement, cultural understanding, and national resilience.
BIO
I was born in a Tokyo suburb and grew up in small-town northern Utah, so my early years were shaped by the challenges and rewards of cross-cultural adaptation. I arrived in the U.S. with little English and quickly gained fluency. I never forgot the isolation of being unable to communicate in the same language as my classmates.
My academic path led from French studies to a bachelor’s degree in Japanese and Asian Studies, culminating in a role as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. I worked in a Japanese government office, where I witnessed firsthand the national commitment to English language education—an experience that sharpened my awareness of the gaps in U.S. language policy and access.
After returning to the U.S., I earned both a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Public Administration, preparing for a career in international relations. Instead, life called me to a different kind of service: caregiving for my terminally ill mother and then my brother, who has a serious intellectual disability, all while raising my own children.
Today, as Executive Director of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ), I get to combine my legal background, administrative expertise, and cultural knowledge to support Japanese language educators nationwide.