Search found 21 matches

by JDK
Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:51 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Harvard's CSML
Replies: 14
Views: 19807

Re: Harvard's CSML

@fine dude: Despite the shortcomings, I would still probably do it given how inexpensive it is (which was covered by my school through our PD budget regardless) and the value of the content. However, I'm definitely still looking for other opportunities that are, you put it, more rigorous. This is also one of the cases where I do agree with PsyGuy to an extent: in some situations/schools you may very well have an opportunity you wouldn't have otherwise because of the name recognition.
by JDK
Wed Jan 05, 2022 2:22 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Harvard's CSML
Replies: 14
Views: 19807

Re: Harvard's CSML

I finished up the program a few months ago and really enjoyed it for the most part. A lot of the content is excellent, and the case studies also typically provide good context. The specific strategies and models they describe provide the greatest value, or at least they did for me, and can be put into practice immediately.

However, I would add two big caveats. First, very little screening takes place in terms of entry to the program. If you can pay and hold any position within an education-related field, you're very likely going to be accepted. As a result, the quality of engagement with others can be almost comically poor at times. Many participants submit the bare minimum both in their responses and for the required comments on others' work. Second, the commenting system itself doesn't lend itself to a good experience. Going back to your own responses is easy. Trying to track down a reply to your comment on someone else's post is a pain, which is strange considering that's the type of dialogue they're trying to encourage.

In short, you'll get what you put into it. As others have said, it's a nice item to add to your CV due to the name, but don't expect it to be life changing or an automatic ticket to leadership. That depends more on what you do with what you've learned.
by JDK
Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:58 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Situation in Thailand
Replies: 15
Views: 22009

Re: Situation in Thailand

canadhist wrote:
> We accepted offers in Thailand to start August 2021. A big part of the
> interview process focused on discussing covid, and the HOS made a point of
> reassuring us that everything was open in-person and that, after a possible
> quarantine (paid for by the school, but he implied that this would likely
> not be necessary by the time we arrive) we would be in "the best place
> to be" covid-wise. A major selling point to us was the fact that
> schools have been in-person since the start of the schools year 2020-2021.
> We are now hearing that that is not the case, and that the country's covid
> situation has drastically changed and that schools have had to switch
> between in-person and online multiple times this school year. This was not
> communicated to us accurately during the interviews. We are having
> significant second thoughts about continuing our plan to move to Thailand
> in August. How would this be received by the school? Would we be
> blacklisted?

Assuming you interviewed and accepted the position prior to January, the HOS was being accurate, as mandated closures have only occurred twice since that time. Up to December 2020 school campuses had been open with basic safeguarding measures in place, including social distancing, temperature checks, etc. A spike in cases leading up to the holiday (from a shrimp market in the province immediately southwest of Bangkok) led to the Ministry of Education ordering a closure of all schools from January 4-31. They were then able to reopen for in-person learning again in February.

The more recent spike began in early April before Songkran and was directly tied to nightclubs. (See https://www.thaienquirer.com/26322/covi ... fe-cluster) It has since spread across a wide range of demographics and locations. As Songkran is the most significant Thai holiday, many people leave Bangkok to return to their home provinces, which in turn spread clusters to other locations. (See https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... irus-surge as one example) Due to the escalating numbers, more mandatory campus closures have been enforced. In Bangkok the governor ordered all schools to shift to online learning through Sunday, May 9, and it's likely that this will be extended to at least mid-May.

In short, schools could have predicted specific outbreaks like this (nor is it their job to), and the extended closures in January and at present were both ordered at short notice. As a few others have already pointed out, a few other factors should be taken into consideration:

1: Looking at the globe picture, Thailand is still generally safer than most other countries and did fairly well in managing cases up to this point. If the current outbreak can be managed through the ongoing restrictions, this will likely continue to be the case.

2: The Thai government is still sticking to its plan of further reducing entry requirements and reopening the country almost entirely by October. Whether this will be feasible is up in the air and will likely be partly dependent on how quickly vaccinations occur over the summer.

3: Schools here have largely been able to implement in-person learning for most of the school year, but there could be further mandated closures after May if the situation does not improve. If this is a sticking point for you, it's going to be a challenge to find an ideal position anywhere, as further unexpected outbreaks could occur (and are occurring) in countries all over the world.
by JDK
Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Jobs posted on ISS-Schrole, not on Search..
Replies: 4
Views: 9398

Re: Jobs posted on ISS-Schrole, not on Search..

Go through ISS-Schrole. As I said in the other post, having Search involved in the process in any way ends up being an extra cost for the school. If they're using both, the chances are pretty high that they would prefer the former unless it's explicitly stated otherwise.

Along with other schools that use both, we are starting to rely on Search as a secondary option when no suitable candidates come in through ISS-Schrole, or for positions that require casting a wider net (leadership in particular).
by JDK
Sun Oct 20, 2019 9:00 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Schrole Application, but Going to Search Bangkok
Replies: 6
Views: 10690

Re: Schrole Application, but Going to Search Bangkok

Helen Back wrote:
> I guess I'm just wondering who gets paid in these circumstances, Schrole or
> Search?
>
> I was thinking the school might find the situation complicated and prefer
> to hire a Schrole candidate at an ISS fair or a Search candidate at a
> Search fair.
>
> I guess not. Thanks for the input.

Assuming the teacher is someone the school would be interested in hiring regardless of platform, hiring that person through Schrole is preferable, as it's a fixed cost for them. Search charges per candidate, and their rules around this have become increasingly draconian. (It's at the point that they levy the recruitment charge regardless of how the person was hired if the school simply viewed their search profile.)

That being said, the challenge is that the Search fair is still generally favored by a lot of schools.
by JDK
Mon Feb 25, 2019 7:12 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Pollution
Replies: 111
Views: 706660

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:

>
> @JDK
>
> First they werent bogus claims. Second, even assuming they were in error,
> 2015 is 4 years ago, my sources and research has a high degree of
> confidence and reliability its not infallible. Ive been wrong before I can
> count them on my fingers, what isnt being wrong is substituting the opinion
> of some leadership and thaiophiles because they say so.
>


So you once again simply back yourself into a corner, double down on your lies and call people names (naturally by connecting them to the ultimate evil in your mind, school leadership). You don't have evidence; you simply make things up. This is actual evidence: http://bit.do/actualevidence. Unfortunately, it probably won't last long here on the public side.

Again, you SPECIFICALLY CLAIMED "The compensation range for [Bangkok] ISs (in baht) is 60K80K/100K (3rd/snd/1st tiers respectively)" and that "*IST pays just under 100K". There are just four examples showing how absurdly wrong you always have been...unless of course you want to continue doubling down and claiming that *IST somehow jumped from under 100K to 140K--at the very bottom of the scale no less--in a single year, and that the others are simply inventing their numbers on paper. (Incidentally, no they're not, since I have acquaintances who work at all of these schools.)
by JDK
Wed Feb 13, 2019 8:23 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok Pollution
Replies: 111
Views: 706660

Re: Reply

PsyGuy wrote:
> @Heliotrope
>
> Yes I did, I post only from experience, research, and highly reliable and
> trusted resources. I have a very high degree of confidence in the research,
> if you have conflicting research or data, I would be interested in
> examining it and discussing the strengths and limitations.


BS. Like some others, I rarely post here on the public side. When I have, it has often been to correct your completely bogus claims regarding schools in Bangkok, as I'm sure others frequently have to do. Just two examples:

On April 13, 2015 you claimed that "The compensation range for [Bangkok] ISs (in baht) is 60K80K/100K (3rd/snd/1st tiers respectively)" and that "*IST pays just under 100K". You were laughably wrong...and I am more than happy to share links to the pay scales of several schools for that period, including *IST, to demonstrate that. Plenty of others chimed in at the time to also point out how wrong you were, and you never admitted being mistaken.

You claimed on January 10, 2016 that "The tax was previously payed by the IS on behalf of the IT" in reference to a school THAT I WORK AT! I pointed out that the school has NEVER done that, and it was confirmed by someone else who had worked there far earlier in its history. You once again never mentioned being mistaken in the rest of the thread.


Either you have the worst sources in the world, or you're full of it. I'm leaning toward the latter.
by JDK
Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:52 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: 2019 Search Associates Bangkok
Replies: 79
Views: 121785

Re: 2019 Search Associates Bangkok

falloutmike wrote:
> -Ended the day getting a call back and offered my dream job!!! Was a reach
> and can't believe it is now a reality!!!

That was a great review! I remember from one of your previous posts that you had been aiming for Singapore or Thailand. Which one is the dream school in?
by JDK
Tue Mar 27, 2018 8:06 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When International Schools "Hold" your passport.
Replies: 11
Views: 17464

Re: When International Schools "Hold" your passport.

"I also disagree with @JDk while it may be a convenience to you, to have the IS report your residence for you, its not something you cant do yourself and thus no need to give them your passport."

Where did I say you can't do it yourself? I said quite clearly that in addition to having someone do it for you (assuming you have authorized them to do so), the opposite is typically the case: "You are required to do this in person..."

The point I was making was in reference to the original question, which asked why schools hold passports. I fully agree that in many places it may be related to them trying to exert a degree of control. Again, however, in Thailand it can be related to the reporting requirement. It's done this way at nearly all of the best schools, and teachers are able to take their passports at any time as I already specified.

It did not happen at my previous school, and in order to complete the reporting, I had to take a taxi for an hour to the government office, wait another hour and get a taxi back for yet another hour. The school didn't pay for any of it. I'm much happier now that it's handled for me, as are my colleagues.
by JDK
Tue Mar 20, 2018 11:38 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: When International Schools "Hold" your passport.
Replies: 11
Views: 17464

Re: When International Schools "Hold" your passport.

As an alternative perspective on this, specific to Thailand, the BETTER schools will often hold on to your passport due to a specific legal requirement. Every 90 days you need to report your current address to the government. (Never mind the fact that it typically doesn't change that much.) You are required to do this in person or have someone you authorize do it for you, and you're also supposed to show your completed departure card. Complicating the issue, if you leave the country and re-enter (assuming you also got the proper re-entry permit beforehand), the 90 day period will reset and a new departure card will be issued, meaning people often forget when and how they need to report, and end up having to pay a fine as a result.

Most schools tell teachers that they are responsible for their own reporting, but the better ones handle it for you so you don't have to go on your own or even think about. However, doing this with over well over 100 foreign staff (which is normal for these schools) means it's easier for them to hold on to the passports. You can get it back at any time, just as I did a few days ago when I needed to use it for something.
by JDK
Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:51 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: websites for admin to rate teachers?
Replies: 21
Views: 24074

Re: websites for admin to rate teachers?

PsyGuy wrote:
> Strongly disagree with the previous contributors, if leadership was diplomatic or
> benevolent this site wouldnt exist, there would be no need for a review and evaluation
> side. Its just leadership and its cheerleaders claims of self interest that they
> are never the problem, they always listen to ITs and none of them would ever seek
> to avenge themselves against an IT who spoke out against them, its bunk and it fits
> the description of the majority of leadership rather than the minority.
>
> Regardless, there is no black list or coordinated chain email, etc.. Its at most
> a post it on some leaderships file cabinet culled from a few generically plain
> notices on the message boards of AISH.

As usual, there are plenty of things that could be said in response, but I don't see the point. Those who have spent any amount of time on this forum know that your posts say far more about you than the schools and leadership you claim to know so much about all over the world.

For others reading this, I have encountered both toxic teachers and toxic leaders. The common element isn't the position; it's simply people. In the case I mentioned previously, the teacher didn't ask for a reference, so we simply let his departure drop, and no one responded to his review of the school. I've encountered other (less drastic) cases as well: a teacher who brought a student out to watch him drink (as a "psychology experiment" as he termed it), one who took an extra vacation and lied about missing a flight, etc. Obviously in cases in which the issue concerned student welfare, honesty was required when asked. But in others (such as the teacher who lied about his flight), I gave a good reference for his teaching ability when contacted and simply observed that he needed to mature.

On the other side, I've been fortunate enough to work under three great heads (a position that I don't think I'll ultimately pursue myself), but I've encountered others who definitely were not suited for leadership. I would again reiterate that greater accountability is needed for people who choose to move into those roles, so it makes sense to me that a site like ISR exists for them when one for teachers does not.
by JDK
Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:35 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: websites for admin to rate teachers?
Replies: 21
Views: 24074

Re: websites for admin to rate teachers?

As someone who has been on the teaching side and now the admin side for close to ten years, I absolutely would not want to see a site for rating teachers. The bottom line is that going into leadership means you are responsible for much more, and should be held accountable for it. Contrastingly, teachers have one primary task: helping students learn. There may be any number of reasons why someone may not succeed in that, whether it's a lack of support, poorly communicated expectations or simply being a poor fit for the school's culture (which raises the question of how they were hired to begin with).

Are there a few cases in which a teacher may simply be toxic? Sure. One person who wrote a review of my previous school on ISR neglected to mention that he was taking medication for bipolar (both during the interview and when posting), and that he openly told other staff members he picked fights with that "conflict is the spice of life." But I'm inclined to think those individuals are not the norm, and that most simply don't mesh well with a particular school. It's no reason to put a black mark next to their name that would potentially ruin their career.

In respect to what is shared, I've very rarely ever seen a teacher named in any context. It almost always comes out if and when there is a phone call to get a reference, and even then it's usually diplomatic.
by JDK
Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Bangkok vs. Shanghai with a family
Replies: 10
Views: 16452

Re: Bangkok vs. Shanghai with a family

If you're outside the city center in Bangkok, the "adult services" aren't a problem at all, and there are definitely plenty of child-friendly activities in and outside the city. What I have noticed this past month is much worse smog than in previous years. Since I've lived here the air quality has been relatively good, so I'm hoping this isn't the start of a trend.
by JDK
Mon Feb 05, 2018 3:09 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Nord Anglia
Replies: 6
Views: 13912

Re: Nord Anglia

123cadl123 wrote:
> Any update on Nord Anglia's compensation and benefits packages? Some
> schools give more information on their website than others. Are the
> packages still considered average for the field? (Last update to this
> thread was 2015. I'm hoping for some new information for 2017, 2018). Thank
> you!

I imagine it can vary quite a bit depending on the country. In Bangkok the scale starts just under 100,000 baht (with a maximum point of entry around 125,000) and goes up to around 175,000...though there are a whopping 30 steps in the scale. Housing and responsibility allowances are on top of that. Vietnam is a bit higher. Elsewhere...I'm not sure.

They don't have the best packages, but they're definitely not the worst! As PsyGuy said, Harrow is better (at least here in Thailand): 107,000 to 175,000 with far fewer steps between and higher responsibility allowances.
by JDK
Tue Dec 12, 2017 2:18 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Professional Development Opportunities in Bangkok
Replies: 12
Views: 19834

Re: Professional Development Opportunities in Bangkok

Plenty of options are usually offered through The Professional Learning Hub @NIST (http://professionallearninghub.com). I just finished the last workshop in the IB Leadership Series, which was quite good, and I've heard good things from some of the teachers about the events run by the Thinking Collaborative.