Our Team
The heart behind Valor
Our dedicated educators and leaders bring heart, experience, and vision to every student’s journey at Valor International School, building a foundation of academic excellence and meaningful growth.
Co-Founders
Masaki Jason Fukao
Head of School & Co-Founder
Masaki brings nearly two decades of educational leadership to Valor International School. He holds a Master’s degree in Education, a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies, and dual teaching credentials in Mathematics and History. Recognized as “Teacher of the Year,” he has served in both academic and student life leadership, cultivating environments where students grow in gratitude, resilience, and purpose.
As Co-Founder of Valor and former principal of a startup international school in Yokohama, Masaki has led the development of faculty teams, school culture, and mission-driven programs from the ground up. He believes students progress and thrive most when they are confident their teacher genuinely cares for them. This conviction shapes his leadership, coaching, and approach to education.
Grounded in his Christian faith, Masaki is committed to building a school marked by academic excellence, integrity, and holistic formation. He believes meaningful leadership begins behind the scenes — through prayer, preparation, and faithful stewardship — so that students and families experience a community built on genuine care and lasting trust.
He lives in Yokohama with his wife and their three energetic children. Outside of school, he enjoys running, cycling, family adventures, and cooking meals to share with friends.
Aimee Fukao
Co-Founder
Aimee Fukao is an accomplished educator and leader dedicated to nurturing academic excellence, character formation, and creative expression in every child. She holds a Master’s in Teaching, dual Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Music, and a teaching credential in Music. Her professional experience spans public schools and private studios, with a particular focus on guiding young learners, fostering a lifelong love of learning, and integrating creativity into every aspect of the classroom.
Guided by her Christian faith, Aimee is committed to cultivating a school culture where students are known, encouraged, and empowered to grow as confident, curious, and compassionate learners. She believes that a rigorous and joyful education forms the foundation for students to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.
At Valor International School, Aimee leads with purpose, ensuring every classroom experience balances high academic expectations with opportunities for students to develop resilience, integrity, and a love of learning.
She lives in Yokohama with her husband and their three spirited, kind-hearted children. Outside of school, she enjoys nurturing curiosity, exploring creative projects together, and sharing family meals.
staff
Tsuyoshi Matsumura
Operations Manager & Japanese Language Teacher
Tsuyoshi brings significant leadership experience in both school operations and classroom instruction to Valor International School. During his tenure at a Christian international school, he advanced from Administrative and Finance Assistant to Director of Finance and Human Resources, overseeing all administrative operations. Concurrently, he served as the lead Japanese language teacher for students from Grades 1–12 across all proficiency levels.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Management from Kanagawa University and is currently preparing for the Certified Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (Shakai Hoken Romushi) national examination.
Tsuyoshi believes meaningful education begins with understanding each student as an individual. Having navigated the Japanese education system as a foreigner from elementary school through university, he brings empathy and insight to students experiencing cultural and social transition. In the classroom, he fosters respect and cultural awareness, creating an environment where students feel seen and valued. He is committed to helping build a school community where students feel at home and families feel confident and supported through strong communication and shared purpose. His values are deeply influenced by his Christian faith, which guides his commitment to serve students and families with humility and care.
Outside of school, Tsuyoshi enjoys exploring cafés and restaurants with his wife and friends and values meaningful conversation and connection with others.
Christine Natalia
Lead Teacher
Christine brings depth of experience in elementary education to Valor International School, guiding students in academic excellence, character formation, and creative expression. She has taught across Grades 1–6 in international and Classical Christian school settings in Indonesia and Japan, serving as both homeroom and art teacher.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design, a Christian Educator Certification from ACSI, and a teaching license from the District of Columbia in Elementary Education (Grades 1–6).
Christine is committed to cultivating a classroom that is both respectful and nurturing, where every child is known and given the opportunity to contribute. While she values strong academic achievement, she is equally devoted to developing students’ character, confidence, and critical thinking — essential qualities that prepare them to thrive and to make a lasting impact.
Drawn to Valor’s mission and vision, Christine is honored to help shape the school’s culture from its founding season. She believes deeply in strong partnerships with families, maintaining open communication and thoughtful collaboration to support each child’s growth — academically, socially, and spiritually.
Outside of school, Christine enjoys reading and looks forward to sharing her love of books with her students.
now hiring!
At Valor International School, we are raising a lionhearted generation — and we invite passionate educators to join us in shaping this joyful and purpose-filled learning community.
Board of Directors
Shannon Russ Inouye
Board Member
Shannon is a seasoned nonprofit executive with extensive experience in organizational leadership and strategic development. As a former CEO, she led initiatives that strengthened communities and expanded sustainable impact through clear vision and thoughtful execution.
With a degree in Communications and years of public-facing leadership experience, including hosting a morning radio program, Shannon brings exceptional communication skills and the ability to connect effectively with diverse audiences. Her leadership is marked by strategic clarity, relational intelligence, and a strong commitment to serving families and communities.
She is honored to contribute to Valor’s long-term vision and institutional growth and looks forward to the opportunities it will create for students and families in Japan.
Outside of her professional work, Shannon enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children, especially gathering with friends and being near the ocean.
Janice Tsao
Board Member
Janice is a mission-driven leader with extensive experience in social impact initiatives and nonprofit engagement. Throughout her career, she has worked alongside NGOs serving vulnerable communities, including refugees, survivors of human trafficking, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Holding a graduate degree in Intercultural Studies, Janice brings global perspective, cross-cultural insight, and thoughtful discernment to her role on the board. She is committed to supporting Valor’s vision and contributing to a school culture grounded in purpose, compassion, and excellence.
Janice enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling, and discovering great food. In her free time, she appreciates a well-written Korean drama.
Kenneth Jung
Chief Financial Officer
Kenneth is an accomplished actuary and strategic risk manager at Humana Military, where he helps lead initiatives to optimize healthcare for over 4.5 million Department of Defense beneficiaries. With a degree in Business Administration and a background in both finance and real estate, he brings diverse business acumen and sharp analytical insight to his role at Valor.
Kenneth is committed to stewarding resources with integrity and excellence, ensuring long-term sustainability and responsible growth. He is grateful to support Valor’s mission and its impact on the next generation.
Outside of his professional work, Kenneth enjoys board games, sports, exploring national parks, and spending time with his wife and their two children.