Instructional leadership

The school's educational division is led by an instructional leadership team that includes the staff members shown below, in addition to a number of other area- and subject-based coordinators.

Mr. Kevin Yoshihara

Head of School/Elementary School Principal

Dr. Kevin Yoshihara (Canadian)
Dr. Kevin Yoshihara has been a member of the KIST community since August 2009. Initially working as a classroom teacher with Grades 4 and 5, he was appointed Elementary School Principal in 2012 with responsibilities covering K1 through Grade 5. In August 2019, he was subsequently appointed to the additional leadership role of Head of School. Having also worked in schools in Canada, Kuwait and China, Dr. Yoshihara has held a number of teaching and coordinator roles over the course of his career. Dr. Yoshihara holds a Doctor of Education (Educational Leadership) from the University of New England, a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria. Dr. Yoshihara is a PYP workshop leader for the International Baccalaureate Organization and has led various teacher workshops in the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Yoshihara's outside school hobbies include swimming, cycling and running. Originally from Canada, Dr. Yoshihara's two children attend KIST.

    

Mr. Mark Cowe

Secondary School Principal

Mark Cowe (British)
Mark Cowe joined KIST in August 2007 as the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator for Grades 11 and 12. In August 2011, in addition to his continuing duties as DP Coordinator, he was appointed Secondary School Vice Principal. In August 2014, he was subsequently appointed Secondary School Principal. Mr. Cowe holds a Master of Arts in modern history and politics from the University of Edinburgh, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Nottingham. Mr. Cowe has been teaching since 1999 and held a variety of classroom teaching and leadership roles in the UK, Qatar and El Salvador before coming to Japan. Mr. Cowe is also employed by the IB organization as an examiner for History and Theory of Knowledge, and also as a workshop leader. Mr. Cowe's outside school hobbies include golf, tennis and hiking. Originally from Scotland, Mr. Cowe's two children are currently enrolled at KIST.

     

Mr Clay Bradley

Elementary School Vice Principal

Clay Bradley (American)
Clay Bradley joined the KIST community in August 2012 as a Grade 3 teacher in the Elementary School, and was subsequently appointed PYP Coordinator in August 2013. In August 2014, with increasing enrollments in the Elementary School, he transitioned into the additional role of Elementary School Vice Principal and continued to hold both roles concurrently for five years. Mr. Bradley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in philosophy and a degree in Special Education from the University of Hawaii. Prior to working at KIST, he taught in schools in the Kansai area as well as in Hawaii. He enjoys running, cycling, drawing and playing guitar as out of school hobbies. Both of Mr. Bradley's children graduated from KIST.

  

 

Secondary School Vice Principal

John Rose (Australian)
John Rose joined KIST in August 2013 as the Subject Area Coordinator - Science in the Secondary School, teaching MYP Science - mainly Biology and Chemistry - to students in Grades 9 and 10, and DP Chemistry to students in Grades 11 and 12. In August 2014, he was appointed DP Coordinator, and in August 2019, he was appointed Secondary School Vice Principal. Before moving to Japan, Mr. Rose taught in many countries and has had postings in English, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok and Dubai. Mr. Rose holds a Master of Education in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of New South Wales in Australia. Mr Rose. is an IB examiner for Chemistry. Mr. Rose enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing rugby, playing basketball and most sports as he is Australian. Mr Rose's two children are currently enrolled at KIST.

   

 

PYP Coordinator

Oliver Sullivan (British)
Oliver Sullivan joined the KIST community in August 2013 as a Grade 3 teacher in the Elementary School, a position he held for six years. In August 2019, he was appointed PYP Coordinator. Mr. Sullivan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree in environment and development from Sheffield Hallam University, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Southampton. He has taught in schools in both English and Japan and, during his career, he has taught across a wide range of grade levels and has held various coordinator and mentor roles. In his free time, Mr. Sullivan enjoys going to the cinema and watching football with his friends, and being from Manchester, he has a deep love of Manchester United and music from the '80s and '90s. Mr. Sullivan's two children are currently enrolled at KIST.

   

 

LSP Coordinator

Kei Komaki (Japanese)
Kei Komaki began his teaching career at KIST in April 2017 as a Secondary Mathematics teacher. Since August 2020, he has been involved in supporting students and their families with applications to Japanese universities, and in August 2021, he was appointed Japanese Curriculum Coordinator in the Secondary School. In August 2022, in addition to his continuing curriculum and university counseling duties, he was appointed Lower Secondary Programme (LSP) Coordinator. Mr. Kei is a certified teacher trained at International Christian University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Physics. He has also completed educational leadership training at the Principals' Training Center. Mr. Kei is also employed by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an examiner for DP Mathematics, and was appointed as a Principal Examiner for the November 2021 session. Mr. Kei enjoys cooking and eating, and makes authentic Italian food almost every weekend.

   

 

IGCSE Coordinator

Keith Erickson (American)
Keith Erickson joined KIST in 2011 as a DP History and MYP Individuals and Societies teacher, and was subsequently appointed Individuals and Societies Subject Area Coordinator in August 2012. In August 2023, he transitioned to the role of IGCSE Coordinator. Mr. Erickson holds both a Master of Arts in Secondary Teacher Education and a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from the University of Phoenix as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business (Accountancy and Finance) from Wright State University. Mr. Erickson began his teaching career in 2005 and worked initially within the US curriculum prior to joining KIST. His hobbies include long-distance running and reading. Mr. Erickson has two children.

 

 

DP Coordinator

Hiro Komaki (Japanese)
Hiro Komaki began his teaching career at KIST in August 2013. Initially working as an MYP/DP Mathematics teacher and a Career and University Guidance Counselor in the Secondary School, he was appointed Subject Area Coordinator - Mathematics in August 2015, and subsequently DP Coordinator in August 2019. Mr. Komaki holds a Master of Arts (Applied Educational Leadership and Management) from the UCL Institute of Education, University of London, a Bachelor of Science (Mathematical Sciences) from the University of Bath, and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education from Goldsmiths, University of London. Mr. Komaki is an IB examiner for Mathematics HL, and an editorial reviewer of the Haese IB DP Mathematics Analysis and Approaches HL textbooks. In his free time, Mr. Komaki enjoys seeing musicals and watching and playing football.