Search found 8 matches

by iTeach124
Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:41 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Red flags or paranoia?
Replies: 4
Views: 13274

Re: Red flags or paranoia?

shadylane wrote:
> Sounds like an idiot, but at this stage . . .

Ok, thanks. I will see if they do get back to me. I did read his reviews, they are old and not from this school, but they validate my experience with him.
by iTeach124
Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:05 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Red flags or paranoia?
Replies: 4
Views: 13274

Red flags or paranoia?

Hello everyone,

I had a interview with a high Tier 2/Tier 1 European school and I walked away feeling really weary of it.

The Director was more interested in hearing about my k-12 education than about the rest of my experience, he made sure to tell me that 5 years of experience make me an "inexperienced candidate" (admittedly, I don't have IB experience yet, but I fail to see how 5 years in 2 school would be considered undesirable vs, say, 5 years in 4 schools... wouldn't it show continuity and the ability to plan across years?). He also made sure to tell me that he has 20 or so candidates he was interviewing for a position for September 2018.

And finally, when I asked what the day to day routine was at the school he asked me if I had gone on the school's website (and yes, of course I did, but how can you tell? He had just told me that they have no notebook and no homework and are looking to eliminate classrooms altogether from the school). When I asked how many contact hours I would have in each grade, he told me he didn't know (yet he's looking for me to start in mid-August). When I asked what his ideal teacher/employee would be like, he said he wasn't looking for a teacher but for someone who's extraordinary.

I was also told that, should they like me, I would need to talk to the Principal who is "on vacation somewhere in the world".

Now, to me, this has red flags all over it, but the school is very well known and I have only worked/interviewed in DS. Is it common of IB Directors/Coordinators to not be privy to the kind of information I was requesting?
by iTeach124
Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:49 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Letter of Professional standing for QTS
Replies: 2
Views: 4115

Re: Letter of Professional standing for QTS

Wow, as usual, thank you PsyGuy for the thorough reply! (and Happy 4th of July, btw)
I will go ahead and mail it!
by iTeach124
Tue Jul 03, 2018 3:00 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Letter of Professional standing for QTS
Replies: 2
Views: 4115

Letter of Professional standing for QTS

Has anyone had to ask for a letter of professional standing to "convert" a US licence to the UK QTS equivalent? Who did you contact?
I emailed the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (I have a DC licence) but I haven't gotten any response.
by iTeach124
Wed May 23, 2018 2:44 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Career advice
Replies: 13
Views: 15912

Re: Career advice

Thank you for another thorough reply! It all makes sense and really helps in deciding what to do and how to present myself!
by iTeach124
Tue May 08, 2018 3:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Career advice
Replies: 13
Views: 15912

Re: Career advice

Thank you again PsyGuy.

I have been lurking on the member forum and I think I will work on both an Ichiro (which should help me hone in what is more important) and a portfolio to show recruiters of the work and I have done containing mock syllabus of AP level classes.

I have actually been teaching and I have not done any ESL specific thing, I will work on phasing this correctly.

I was already planning on adding Physics and General Science PRAXIS to the Biology and Math licence, so that sounds great.

One last question: would I have issues looking for positions teaching a subject I do not have a degree in? I had previously understood it wouldn't matter but I recently noticed comments/requirements in that sense.

Thank you for your time spent answering all of my questions! I definitely have a clear plan now
by iTeach124
Thu May 03, 2018 7:00 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Career advice
Replies: 13
Views: 15912

Re: Career advice

PsyGuy, thank you for your thorough reply.

Here are some of the answers to your questions:
- my experience is in science (classroom teacher) for all 5 years, math for the last 3. I have been teaching as unlicensed teacher teaching under my supervisor's licence. All 5 years teaching ESL students with a high level of fluency in state recognised/ Cambridge Intl Exam recognised DSs.
- my high school experience was in the first 4 years (out of 5, grades 9-12). School leaving level would be year 5 (grade 13) of high school

1) I did not have to pay for Search since I signed up under the UK office. I did not pay for premium for Schrole because I applied through the link of single schools, like you said. I was wondering if it might be worth to upgrade, but it seems like this might be enough.

2)
>>If the answer to the above questions are that you were teaching science, maths or some other academic subject or SPED/SEN/LS/LD/ that wasnt focused on Language acquisition and your DS/IS was appropriately accredited [...] then it will very likely be accepted as professional experienceAn IS that says "no, doesnt count" has something going on that you dont want to be a part of.

Great news and an even better red flag to watch out . Thanks.

3) Great! Yes English is my first language so no issues there! I was actually thinking of doing the Physics Praxis, so that sounds like a plan!

4) Good to know the IB program is not the "only" Tier 1 school program. I will definitely look for SLL positions, which is actually my favourite age to teach.

5) My Goggle skills are honed, I shall use them and prep for a good interview.

I have been lurking in the forum for awhile and I am compiling a list of supposed elite/Tier 1 schools, this should help me once recruiting season starts up. Thank you!
by iTeach124
Wed May 02, 2018 4:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Career advice
Replies: 13
Views: 15912

Career advice

Hello all,

I am in need of some advice as to how to proceed in my career as in IT.

I have 5 years of experience (I have my own classroom and develop my own programs, assessments, etc), 4 in middle school and 1 in high school, all in local albeit bilingual schools in Europe. I finished my certification course (TEACH-NOW) and I am waiting to receive my DC teaching licence next month (I just applied because it took me almost 6 months to get my fingerprinting done). I teach science (biology) and math, and my licence will be 7-12 Biology and 7-12 Math.

I would like to move to IB schools and eventually become top tier competitive. I currently have tenure at my school so I can be a little flexible as to finding a good first assignment, but money is very tight (I net less than 18k a year right now, no pension scheme) so I am really looking to get something better. I understand I will be working my way up for a few years, so I am looking for a few pointers as to how to choose my next school assignment:

- I signed up with Search and Shrole, should I look to sign up with ISS as well?
- Do my pre-certification years count as no experience or as "not ideal" experience?
- Does it make sense for me to go to a hiring fair (Bangkok, London, etc) in January 2019?
- What are some of the key features I should be looking for in my first IB school considering I will be "training" with them?
- Would it make sense for me to take a cat 1 workshop in Math/Biology to better my chances for recruitment?

Thank you!