Janet Hayakawa

Janet Hayakawa is an educator and artist who helped Densho develop classroom materials and professional development for teachers from 2010-2019. She co-wrote two plays Nihonjin Face, and GRIT for students with Tere Martinez, about the Japanese American incarceration. Janet is Sansei, a third generation Japanese American, born and raised in Seattle. Her parents and grandparents were incarcerated during World War II at Minidoka, Idaho, and Tule Lake, California. Prior to working with Densho, Janet prepared a study on the achievement gap for the Washington State Legislature, facilitated school reform efforts in Washington and Oregon, and produced over 400 educational television shows and several educational theatre programs. She taught students and teachers across the country through her work at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Education Development Center, public television’s Thirteen/WNET, and the Creative Arts Team at New York University. Janet started her career as a classroom teacher in the Seattle Public Schools. She holds degrees from the University of Washington and New York University. Her art is on display at www.janethayakawa.com.