Search found 45 matches

by steve416
Sun Sep 05, 2021 6:33 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: SHANGHAI schools - subsidized tuition for 2 kids?
Replies: 11
Views: 26688

Re: SHANGHAI schools - subsidized tuition for 2 kids?

Look at WISS. Things might be different but back in the day they had some staff with more dependents than that.
by steve416
Mon Feb 15, 2021 11:10 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

Re: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

Thank you for the feedback.

I would like to move into leadership.

It is an educational leadership M'ed. Still waiting for any concrete news so all a hypothetical!
by steve416
Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

Re: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

Not trying to dispute your point at all but that is tough advice to take action on.

Should I not look to have too good a CV otherwise people won't hire me because they may perceive me as a 'threat'?

How do you reasonably proceed then in developing your CV to maximize your opportunities. Would the same logic apply to working at an Elite School then trying to move?
by steve416
Wed Feb 10, 2021 4:50 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

Re: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

Reviving this dead thread with a hypothetical.

Let's say there is a have that I might actually get accepted into a global Ivy (knock on wood).

I had previously stated that dual citizenship between UK/CAN would help me not get charged extra fees, turns out this is likely to be incorrect. Due to residency rules, tuition cost will be a bunch more than I expected.

My plan would be to study part-time and work near full time so I will be able to continue having some income. Let's say this is doable for the sake of the hypothetical. So it would be like a couple years where I don't save much and am basically supported by my partner who works in another industry but I would have an M'Ed from an Elite Uni at the end of it. That is option 1.

Option 2 would be to pass and pursue a more affordable degree.

I know there is no right answer here and it depends on a lot but what would you go for.

1. Keep plugging away in a classroom and knock out an online M'ed with less of a financial commitment?

OR

2. Take a hit financially to get the degree from the big name and hope that translates into financial gain in the longer term?
by steve416
Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:40 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: How to tell if Primary actually teaches?
Replies: 8
Views: 28908

@sid makes a reasonable point
by steve416
Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:29 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: How to tell if Primary actually teaches?
Replies: 8
Views: 28908

Re: How to tell if Primary actually teaches?

I agree with what everyone else has mentioned.

From the perspective of someone who has taught Year 6/Grade 5 for a bit you should look at the academic requirements for new students. You might be able to find it on websites or just ask in interviews.

This is all pretty anecdotal so take it with a grain of salt but I am about a decade into IE mostly at IB schools if that is relevant.

It is rare for schools to have very well run SEN/Spec-ed departments (I know they exist but they are pretty light many places) and some schools have wide open admissions.

So you will get schools in places with a bunch of International Schools that basically collect the students that can't or don't get into the more competitive places or have parents that are not particularly worried about their academics for whatever reason. It just makes for an environment that is unlikely to turn out the things you are looking for.

Throw in a highly transient students/staff maybe a big change in direction from admin every 3 or 4 years and it gets messy.
by steve416
Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

Re: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

If I am able to secure a spot at a global ivy I would definitely do it. If for no other reason than the experience itself. I think, the fees at UK/CAN schools are also not much (or at all) more expensive than less prestigious schools in those countries. In the unlikely event I can secure a spot I'll report back in a couple of years if it seems like it is helping me secure jobs.

Last questions on this thread I promise.

I would like to use the degree to move into leadership. So I am aiming at Educational Leadership programs only as they are direct training for the position I would like. I have found less of these programs offered entirely online from Canadian schools I am interested in then U.K. schools where the fees are a bit higher due to the exchange rates. Is the Educational Leadership title worth it?
by steve416
Sat Nov 21, 2020 8:16 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

Re: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

Thanks for the replies that is very helpful.

I am trying to narrow down programs between U.K. and Canadian schools (I have dual citizenship so no extra fees). Would it be fair to say that generally speaking it doessn't matter where the degree is from unless it is a big name (Harvard, Oxbridge, not really a canadian equivalent that has the same name recognition)?
by steve416
Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:40 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning
Replies: 22
Views: 21435

IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning

So I am looking into doing an M'ED and am a bit torn between some UK and Canadian schools. I was looking at places where I could also complete one of the IB certificates in teaching and learning or perhaps the leadership cert (it is a bit unclear to me if I need to be in a leadership role at this point for that certification).

I have 7 years experience in the PYP and have done an number of IB courses. Is there any additional value for me in completing the Teaching and Learning certificate?

I would like to use the masters as a possible way to break into admin eventually so I assume the leadership cert would be useful in that regard.

Thoughts?
by steve416
Thu Sep 10, 2020 2:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is only using Search Associates a mistake?
Replies: 43
Views: 53873

Re: Is only using Search Associates a mistake?

That's a good idea. I am a UK citizen and have an address there so that could work. Thanks for the idea!
by steve416
Sat Sep 05, 2020 7:16 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is only using Search Associates a mistake?
Replies: 43
Views: 53873

Re: Is only using Search Associates a mistake?

I agree that the Search database is useful. You can "filter" it as well, set email alerts etc. As mentioned above, if you are aiming for something really specific it is perhaps not worth it.

I have been tempted to activate my profile a year early and just watch the database to see what jobs come and go (market research of a sort) but the need to get references from my current employer always stops me.

Search keeping confidential references is also useful. It is hard to track someone down that you worked for a couple schools ago and ask them for a reference. This and the database are the most useful part. The actual associates don't do anything.
by steve416
Thu Aug 27, 2020 10:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Thoughts on Search Online Fairs
Replies: 28
Views: 30193

Re: Thoughts on Search Online Fairs

I agree that confidential references are big. I am in my 4th international school and would be hard pressed to track down admin from earlier positions.
by steve416
Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:40 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Provided housing
Replies: 5
Views: 8017

Re: Provided housing

I have considered that, weather will make that not so doable in the winter but tis an option
by steve416
Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:26 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Provided housing
Replies: 5
Views: 8017

Re: Provided housing

The building is new, nothing sub standard in the unit. New building there seems to be some relatively serious work going on downstairs which strikes me as a potential fire hazard (but when I think about it lots of buildings I have lived in have apartments being worked on maybe I am being cray cray here).

The flat is more than enough, theres an extra bedroom etc. The walk is really the issue, it is in the ballpark of an hour. There is no other applicable location, I think all other new people have a similar deal.

*I have tried to respond to your suggestions below*

The good:

This seems to be the most likely outcome from my perspective. Get a studio apt somewhere close to the metro but not in a super hip area to keep the rent down. There are buses that run to collect people that don't live in the new staff apts so presumably I could commute to one of those pick up spots. I think if I was going to do this I need to give it some time to see if I can adapt to my new situation and then consider this.

The bad: I am close to school just not much else. I like your suggestion of bringing it up as a problem we can solve together. Reasonably speaking it is not a deal breaker for me, I would rent an affordable place before I walked. It would of course hit the saving this first year but such is life.

The bad:

Yeah I am not willing to push it like that, I have no political coin and I don't want to rock the boat. I was thinking about trying to gently ask if there was any flexibility in the housing arrangements. I would be happy to cover some of the costs of getting me out of a lease, stay for a couple months if there is a notice period etc. I would also be happy to accept a much smaller place, longer commute in the morning and so on and so forth down the list of compromises (just want walking distance to a metro).

Basically I am weighing the options of:

a) sucking it up and dealing with it
b) gently asking if there is any flexibility in the arrangements (I assume it makes sense to do this sooner rather than later)
c) renting another place perhaps not immediately see how things go at first and then decide (will let me figure out where I want to live and save some $$$ by living rent free for a couple months)
d).....another option I am not considering?
by steve416
Mon Aug 15, 2016 3:12 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Provided housing
Replies: 5
Views: 8017

Provided housing

Anybody ever have provided housing that they really didn't like?

I am a serious hike from my new cities excellent public transportation at the moment in some new digs and I want to potentially discuss this with the school.

Seeing as I am rather green at this place I fear this will go poorly (marking me as some sort of trouble maker). Next year I would be free to move out etc. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? I am torn between gently broaching the subject subject and seeing what answer I get or sucking it up.

Thoughts?