Prefectural Advisors help JETs and COs deal with problems, provide information and practical advice, and also listen to and serve as a sounding board for any issues JETs may be going through. They can also provide referrals to professional English counselors if necessary.
Gunma Prefecture has two Host Prefecture Prefectural Advisors (one Japanese and one JET participant) and one ALT Prefectural Advisor. In addition, Gunma has one ALT Advisor who also serves as a Prefectural Advisor.
- Information on JET Program procedures and contract issues
- Information on living and working in Japan
- Assist JETs and COs in working through any difficulties they might have
- First-time practical assistance (i.e. first medical/dental visit).
- Help in the event of an emergency
- Acting as a sounding board and providing referrals to professional counselors
- General advice about teaching, team teaching, and educational matters.
- Information on living and working in Japan
- Information regarding schools’ and BOE’s expectations of ALTs and their lessons
- Help in the event of an emergency
- Acting as a sounding board and providing referrals to professional counselors
- Information on JET Program procedures (for all) and contract issues (especially for SHS JETs)
- Information on living and working in Japan
- Assisting JETs (particularly SHS) and schools/COs in working through any difficulties they might have
- Help in the event of an emergency
- Acting as a sounding board and providing referrals to professional counselors
- Provide counseling services
- Force action from people
- Physically complete tasks in lieu of you
All PAs are available via email between 8:30 to 16:30, Monday-Friday. The Host Prefecture PA (Forrest) can also take phone calls during the workday
Forrest Baker
cir/gunma pa
Ryosuke Takayama
japanese pa
Marc Goldberg
alt advisor
Haleigh "Mac" Carr
alt pa
PAs observe confidentiality in most cases, though PAs share information among themselves to provide better support to JETs. PAs must receive permission from the JET before they can discuss their case with a non-PA third party, with the exception of reporting their PA activities to their superiors for work reasons (though personal details will be omitted as much as possible to protect JETs’ identities). The PAs will however break confidentiality if the JET is engaging in illegal activities, or if they are likely to harm themselves or others.