Block System

4-block System; 2019-present

Starting in 2009, Akita Prefecture initiated the block system. This system is designed to create a better local support system concerning work, Japanese Culture, and January re-contracting decisions. Officially, there are block meetings (ブロック会議) sponsored by the International Affairs Division each January.

Block Leadership

Block PA System (April 2019~)

Main article: Prefectural Advisor

Current Block PA Leadership

The April 2024- April 2025 Block Leadership, consisting of Block PAs (BPAs) and Block Assistants (BAs) is as following.

Block	Name	Location	JET Year
North	Julia Wheelehan (BPA)	Kazuno	3
	Lydia Stuker (BA)	Noshiro	2
	William Heins (BA)	Odate	2
Capital	Mikalia Morris (BPA)	Katagami	4
	Lynn Marcus (BA)	Katagami	3
	Tiffany Karolewics (BA)	Oga	2
Yuri	Allysa Elliot (BPA)	Nikaho	3
	Tom Smith(BA)	Yurihonjo	3
South	Charlie Van Bourgondien (BPA)	Semboku	3
	Charles (Tom) Thomas (BA)	Yokote	2
	Jonathan Schuiteman (BA)	Daisen	3

Both BPAs and BAs play key roles in fostering communities in their respective blocks by planning social events and working together on the January block meetings. The main distinction between the two roles is that Block Assistants are not under the jurisdiction of the International Affairs Division and do not have additional PA responsibilities. They both serve as the go-to person for JETs in their respective blocks to turn to regard local questions and concerns and represent their blocks in Akita JET leadership.

Previous Block Leadership

Block PA System (April 2019 - April 2024)

Year	North Block		Capital Block		Yuri Block		South Block
	Block PA	Assistant(s)	Block PA	Assistant(s)	Block PA	Assistant(s)	Block PA	Assistant(s)
2023-2024	Vanessa Limenyande	Glenn (Noel) Darby, Olivia Peacock	Maitseo Bakwena	Mikalia Morris	Aiya Perrine	Gabrielle Gibb Faumuina	Charlie Van Bourgondien	Andrew Stewart, Nick Bush
2022-2023	June Kim	Glenn (Noel) Darby	Majesty Zander	Erica White, Cassandra Collins	Christopher Scrafford		Suriya Ratnam	Ethan Ingram, Melany Yuin
2021-2022	Jody Frye	June Kim	Stephanie Daugherty	Mei Peraza	Catherine Johnson	Christopher Scrafford	Caitlin Wilcox	Amanda Lockwood, Ethan Ingram
2020-2021	Aaron Kern	Glenn Timoney, Jody Frye	Allison Roberts	David Kelly, Mrin Elliott		Peter Bond
2019-2020		Glenn Timoney		Stephanie Daugherty, Robert Stevenson		Katherine Smith, Alexis Baker	Colin Reineberg	Caitlin Wilcox, Jillian Ocampo

Block Leader System (2009-2019)

As of April 2019, this system has been deprecated. The Akita JET Program has since enacted the Block PA System, where the Block Leader role has effectively been modified into the Block Assistant role. The delineation between Block PAs and Block Assistants is defined above.

Block Leaders are people willing to share local information with all new incoming ALTs. In some cases, sempai ALTs or supervisors are unable to do so (for various reasons). In these cases, the block leader is a person you can contact about local information such as where to buy stuff for your apartment, find interesting places, or show you a good place to meet locals. Your Block Leader keeps in contact with the PAs to provide feedback and help with outreach and support.

The Block Leaders coordinate our official January block meetings. In some cases, Block Leaders also coordinate with sempai JETs in organizing smaller local block meetings in August and March/April. Also, Block Leaders attend Akita orientation to welcome new JETs and give presentations concerning work and life in Akita.

It is important to note that, because they are only elected by the community, Block Leaders are not trained or expected to give counseling of any kind. If you require any form of mediation, consultation, help with work-related issues or any problems that you find difficult to deal with by yourself, please contact your Prefectural Advisors. If you want counseling, please contact your CO or Prefectural Advisors for information on finding a counselor. You may also consult the counseling page on this wiki for more counseling information.

As of 2017, block leaders are expected to host a number of social events each year. These are to promote inter-JET relationships, and help keep people involved and active in the JET community. Every year each block will also host one event which specifically caters to JETs from all of Akita's Block.

As of April 1st, 2019, the Block Leader position will be renamed Block Assistant.

Three-block System (2012-2019)

Block Leaders
Year	North Block		Central Block		South Block
2018-2019	Domonique Owens	Ken-Hou Yee	Kaixin Chin	Amber Shamma	Catherine Johnson	Marissa Lightfoot
2017-2018	Aaron Kern	Tristan Hill	Didy Huang	David Wilson	Chloe Doole	Liam Fahy
2016-2017	Michelle Berent	Hannah Phillips	Cari Johnson	Rebecca Bamlett	Jackie Jean-Francois	Danie Manos
2015-2016	Andrew May	Colin Flinn	Dorene Yamaguchi	Alex Childs	Chey Parlato	Sasha Ryan
2014-2015	Sean Corrigan		David Ranzini		Connie Look	Jeffrey Lowther
2013-2014		Jon Stimmer		Kenneth Grant	Russell Kabir	Kinza Cooper
2012-2013	Melissa Noad	Shane Sargeant	Ali Shirazee		KK Miller	Zikon Leung

Four-block System (2009-2012)

Block Leaders
Year	North Block		North Chuo Block		South Chuo Block		South Block
2011-2012	Melissa Noad	Anne Smith	Rachelle Hamonic	Ashley Hinkleman	Paul Yoo	Jonathan Hui	Jim Messner	Nikki Zywina
2010-2011	Alicia Miller	James Jones	Delmer Lopez	Mark Dawson			Michael Culler	Patrick Costello
2009-2010	Michael Nakashima	Jesse Kerstetter	Maureen McCarthy		-		Tina Schoolman	Melissa Dawe

Block Meetings

Held in mid January, these one day conferences provide a forum for exchanging teaching ideas, tips to survive and thrive in winter, and are also a great way to reconnect with local JETs after the holidays. The PAs also use this opportunity to talk to the JET community about the recontracting decision (unless the recontracting deadline has already passed).

See also

• PA/Support System
• Prefectural Advisors
• Block Meetings
• Block Events
• Block Cup
• AJET Blocks

Block Meetings V • T
2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
2020	2021	2022	2023	2024