Jill Schimmel

Jill Schimmel was an ALT in her hometown’s Sister City, Tondabayashi-shi (Osaka-fu) from 2002- 2005. She moved to NYC soon after, first working in the translation industry, then after lots of private tutoring (Japanese and Business English), she started in New York City Public Schools as a middle school ESL then Japanese teacher. Now as the Senior Director of World Languages, she’s using her love of languages to help expand equity and access to language classes across NYC schools (meaning all the zip codes!).  Jill works closely with central offices, school administrators, and World Language educators across languages and levels to create professional learning opportunities and resources to support them. In addition, Jill coordinates the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) across ~100 NYC high schools.  Jill serves on the New York State World Languages Leadership Team, the NYSSB Statewide Task Force, and the NECTFL Board of Directors. Jill graduated from the University of Virginia with a Major in Government and Minor in Spanish, then went on to a Masters in Teaching from Fordham University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College of Education.

Outside work, Jill is a soccer mom (!) and enjoys morning workouts and meditation before her daily commute downtown-- an opportunity to read fiction and people watch. She’s a member of the Riverdale-Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture and helps with thematic lessons for the Children’s Program. She’s also kind of (chūto hanpa) trying to teach her son nihongo.