Kristopher Kwiatek, 43, is the lead administrator at Kadena High School in Okinawa, the largest DoDEA (Department of Defense Educational Activity) high school in the DoDEA Pacific Region. He has served as principal there since December 2015 after a stint as principal of Kadena Middle School.
1. When did you realize you wanted to go into education as a career? My original plan was to finish out four years in the air force and go back to the United States to study medicine. After taking some college classes, though, I realized teaching was my calling and that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I went on to teach kindergarten in Detroit before returning to Japan where I taught kindergarten and fifth grade on Yokota Air Force Base.
2. Where are you from? I was born in Jackson, Michigan, but spent most of my childhood in Traverse City, Michigan.