Aleda has run her own EFL school for children for more than 20 years, and also teaches future teachers of children. She authored two series of textbooks for children and spends a lot of time doing teacher training. She came to Japan 31 years ago "to teach a couple of years, then move on" – but has never left. JALT has been her time-consuming and passionate hobby for 30 years. When she isn't doing JALT stuff (which isn't very often!), she enjoys her three dogs and cat, playing computer games, reading, walking, and just talking to her daughter, Lisa (who attended her first JALT conference when she was 4 months old).
Her JALT background includes:

• 2 years as Conference Program Chair
• 9 years with TLT as collator and column editor
• 2 years as Internal auditor of chapter and SIG accounts
• Treasurer of the TC and LLL SIGs
• 8 years as Coordinator of the TC SIG
• 6 years as National Treasurer
• 3 years as Conference Site Chair
• 2 years as Conference Handbook Editor