Jason Hiruo is a recognized innovator in global education and international collaboration with over 25 years of experience. He began his career teaching World Literature in Newtown, Connecticut before becoming a high school administrator. During this time, he established the Newtown International Center for Education (NICE), a program designed to strengthen global partnerships and enrich student learning through cross-cultural engagement.
Jason’s leadership expanded when he joined ACES as the principal and artistic director of the famed Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) High School, leveraging his experience in education and the Arts. His career background and commitment to school safety and emergency management led him to become a national safety responder for U.S. schools under the Obama Administration, working alongside state department offices to support school crisis management.
In 2015, Jason founded ACES International, pioneering the integration of global education into Connecticut’s public school districts. Under his leadership, ACES launched the first public education service center office abroad in Beijing and expanded its international partnerships from basic beginnings to a worldwide network in 2023. Collaborating with the Association of Education Service Agencies (AESA), ACES International became a global resource to AESA members in 2023, extending its programs across 45 U.S. states, North America, and coordinating countries worldwide.
Today, Jason serves as the Chief Global Officer to AESA Global, spearheading international relations and global development for AESA. His work prioritizes education strategies utilizing "local-to-global and global-to-local" initiatives to bridge diverse learning communities, foster global competencies, and advance intercultural education exchange.
An advocate for inclusive and globally connected learning, Jason remains dedicated to empowering the next generation of educators and students through international collaboration and innovation.