IEP Hawaii : Instructors

	Sherri Fujita, MA, Coordinator Sherri was born in New York and has lived and taught English in the United Kingdom, the United States, Nepal and Japan. For almost 10 years she served as the director of studies at Simul Academy in Tokyo, Japan. So far, she has been teaching EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for 15 years. She has a master's degree in social sciences from the University of London, the Royal Society of Arts certificate in language teaching as well as an MA in teaching EFL from the University of Birmingham in the UK. Sherri's professional interests are testing, content-based curriculum development and writing materials based on authentic sources. Sherri's husband is from Japan and she has two children who were born there. She likes to spend her free time with her family, taking her children to places like the beach and the zoo.
	Steven Clements, Assistant Coordinator Steven was born in southern California, and comes from a family of artists. He studied Fine Art and Psychology, and received a BA from Union Institute. Although he ran a business for many years, he's always enjoyed being a teacher. He taught drawing workshops at the University of California Extension, Web Page Design and Computer Graphics at the New Media Center, and volunteered as an ESL teacher for refugees at the Sudanese English Project. He began teaching English as a Second Language in 1993. He lived and taught English for 5 years in Kanazawa, on the west coast of Japan. He is an avid traveler, and has visited more than 20 countries. Following a lifelong dream of living in a tropical paradise, he moved to Hilo in 2004. He loves gardening, snorkeling, and exploring the Big Island of Hawaii. Steven oversees the Conversation Lounge, Tutoring for IEP students, and the IEP Computer Lab. He is also the Study Abroad Coordinator for Hawaii Community College.
	Karen Riley Karen Riley has taught English to international students for more than fifteen years. She has taught English in Oregon, California and Hawaii in programs for university students and in programs for immigrants and refugees. Karen holds M.A. and Ph, D degrees in the social sciences. She loves teaching. She has traveled to more than twenty countries and has lived in India, Thailand and Mexico. When she’s not working or traveling, she can be found in her garden near Hilo or in her kayak in the ocean.
	Gleah Rider Gleah H. Rider has been teaching English as a Second Language for over 18 years. She loves teaching and meeting students from different places and cultures. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a diversified major in Asian Studies. She has a Masters degree in Reading from the University of California. She also has Certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and Teaching Business English. She taught English in Japan for 15 years and in Mexico for 1 year. She enjoys teaching, traveling, reading and playing with her grandchildren.

	Bill Lawrenz Bill Lawrenz has been teaching ESL, writing, and communication courses for more than 20 years. He holds a Master's degree in Education, TESOL from Temple University, and undergraduate degrees in Communication & Psychology. He has worked as a university lecturer in both Japan and the US, and spent the past four years teaching Psychology at an international school in Hong Kong. Bill loves to see his students excel in their studies and achieve their goals for the future. He has seen many of his graduates go on to study at some of the best universities in the world, and understands the challenges students face in mastering English. In his free time, Bill likes hiking, reading and going to the beach with his wife & 2 year old son, Robert. Lillian Zepeda Lillian Zepeda is a native Californian with extensive experience in teaching ESL. She holds a Master’s Degree in TESL and has worked with all levels of adult students. Lillian worked closely with the California Department of Education’s Adult Education Office as a professional development consultant for many years. She was a pioneer in several innovative ESL developments on a statewide level. Lillian also worked as an adult education school principal and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. She and her husband now call the Big Island home and enjoy all that life has to offer here in Hawaii.