About
The Arizona Association of Teachers of Japanese (AzATJ) is a non-profit and tax exempt organization whose goals are to promote interest in and improve the quality of instruction of Japanese at all levels in the State of Arizona; to provide for the professional / educational growth of the membership; to provide a common organization to promote the mutual interests of all persons interested in the teaching of Japanese language and culture in the State of Arizona; and to provide resources and information to the public concerning the teaching of Japanese language and culture in the State of Arizona.
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History
AzATJ was founded in October, 1990, through the efforts of Prof. Laurel Rasplica Rodd and Kyoko Saegusa of Arizona State University. In 1993, it formed a committee to write its by-laws in order to apply for a grant to legally incorporate. In May 1994, AzATJ received a grant from the Japan Foundation and filed documents with the Internal Revenue Service and the Arizona Corporation Commission. On Dec. 2, AzATJ was classified as a non-profit and tax exempt publicly supported organization under IRS Code 501 (c) (3). The IRS’s final determination of our foundation status as a 509 (a) (2), a public foundation whose income comes from dues or contributions, was given as of May 19, 1999. AzATJ started with approximately 20 members, but by March 26, 1995 it had become a full fledged organization of 36 members. Currently (as of April, 2024) we have 31 members.
AzATJ is an affiliate of the Arizona Language Association (AZLA) and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ).
Officers
President
Caitlyn Kolesar
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Treasurer
Aya Nakanishi McDaniel
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Intern Manager
Bradley Wilson
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Intern
Grant Tucker
