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Karin Mordt is currently teaching 3rd Grade at Bob Hope Primary School in Okinawa, Japan.

Mrs. Finney has 12 years teaching experience and has taught in DoDEA schools for 6 years, as a third second and fourth grade teacher at Bechtel Elementary School in Okinawa. She has also taught intermediate Kindergarten and first grade at Okinawa Christian School International.

Ms. Smith has nearly 9 years of teaching experience, and for the past 6 years, she has been teaching Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades at DoDEA schools in Germany and Japan. Her current position is a Literacy Support Specialist on Okinawa.

Regina teaches kindergarten at Kinser Elementary School in Okinawa, Japan. She received her B.S. from Tuskegee Institute and her Elementary Education Certification from the University of Arizona. "Quality teaching comes from collegiality. Colleg...

Mr. Renquist has 8 years of teaching experience. He has been teaching within DoDEA schools for the past seven years. Currently Mr. Renquist is teaching 5th grade Japanese Partial Immersion (JPI) at Kadena Elementary. He has also taught 3rd-8th grade summer enrichment courses within the Okinawa District.

Dannette Jackson teaches fourth grade at Bechtel Elementary School on Okinawa.

Jan teaches first grade at Kinser Elementary School on Okinawa. She holds a M.A. in Reading/Technology from the University of Georgia.

Ms. Sarah McKinney is an English and Literature teacher at Kadena High School where she has taught for the past seven years. Ms. McKinney joined DoDEA in 2001; prior to her tenure at KDHS, she taught Language Arts at Lester Middle School in Okinawa and at Seoul American Middle School in Korea. She has also served as the DoDEA Pacific Instructional Support Specialist for English/Language Arts. Ms. McKinney began her teaching career in Kansas City.

Mr. Geist has 30 years of teaching experience, 11 of which have been with DoDEA schools in Japan and Guam. He is presently a vocal and instrumental instructor at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, Japan. He has also taught the same subjects to students at Zama American High School in Tokyo, Japan and at Andersen Middle School in Guam. Prior to joining DoDEA, Mr. Geist was a vocal and instrumental instructor at Von Tobel Middle School in Las Vegas, Nev.; Dededo Middle School in Guam, Morris School District, Warroad School District, and Waubun-White Earth-Ogema School District, all in Minnesota.

Louise Thompson teaches in the Sure Start Program at Zukeran Elementary School in Okinawa, Japan. She received her B.S. in Psychology from Frostburg State College and certification in Early Childhood Education from Towson State University.

Angie Fino has been named 2021 Teacher of the Year for the Pacific South district. Mrs. Fino is a math support specialist at Stearley Heights Elementary School in Okinawa, Japan. 

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) - Pacific South District has selected Mr. Michael Callahan, a fifth grade teacher at Amelia Earhart Intermediate School at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, as its 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Ms. Garrison teaches 2nd grade at Bahrain Elementary School in Manama, Bahrain. She has 13 years of experience teaching with DoDEA, including 1st and 3rd grades, multi-age grades, and as an instructional coach in elementary mathematics and literacy.