There is a new EF (Education First) international boarding school being built in the town I already teach in, in Pasadena, CA. They open next Fall. On the Careers section of the EF webpage, they do not list the Pasadena school yet. But I am very interested! Does anyone know what is the best way to reach out to them to inquire about positions for next year? Also, I'm curious about teaching at an international boarding school in your home state. Are salaries generally more than what is paid locally? less? about the same? Maybe I'm just dreaming, but how awesome would it be to teach in my hometown, get an awesome salary, have new facilities and -- great for me -- a new performing arts complex, and live on campus [for free]??

I really appreciate all this advice! Especially @sid: "I’m wondering if you should reframe the question. Is it really about whether you can save $50,000 annually, or about whether you could save far more than you are currently, while having an amazing experience for you and your boys? The answer to that second question is a resounding yes." Looking at things from different angles is so smart. Actually, you have all helped me reframe the question, and that's the best kind of advice out there. Thank you!! Really grateful.

Hi - I've been reading a lot on this forum - thank you all for your excellent advice and insider info. I have a question to follow-up on a number of other threads. I teach in California, and I have two colleagues who have been encouraging me to go into international teaching -- they both taught internationally for 10-15 years (one single, and the other with a spouse and 3 kids), and both returned to the U.S. about 6-9 years ago. They taught in Bangkok, Japan, and S Korea at Tier 1 schools, both saved about 50K each year, and both have invested wisely. They think that my kids and I would love the adventure of the international teaching/education experience, and they want to see me with a better financial situation than I am in now as a teacher in the U.S. I'm 51yo, I've been teaching private high school Theater and English for 13 years (before that I was involved professionally in theater as a director and an adjunct professor), I make $72K now (but living expenses are v. high in California), I have California teaching credentials and a PhD from Stanford, and my kids are 10 and 12yo. No trailing spouse. They say, Ohhh you'll be so desirable with your years of experience and your PhD, everyone will love you, it doesn't matter that you don't have IS teaching experience b/c you have so much other teaching and artistic experience, you'll be able to save 50K/year easy, your kids will love the education there, you'll be so happy for the next 10-15 years, you'll be able to retire comfortably, it will be amazing, etc. But from what I'm reading on the forum, things may have changed in IS since they returned to the States in terms of, well, everything -- housing allowance, tax-free, IS paying so well, flights home, competitiveness for jobs, even ageism, etc. It seems to me that my years of experience and my PhD and my kids will actually count against me b/c it will be too expensive for the school. It also seems that jumping into a high pay Tier 1 or Tier 2 school may not be as easy as it was when they did, and it also seems that I'd have to move around a bit, and that would be harder with/for my kids. I also can't make it to one of the job fairs internationally b/c of the expense and b/c of Covid. Of course there is no way to know the answers to my questions until I start the job search process! But I'm curious to know what you think -- are you in agreement with my colleagues? If not, what explains the differences in your opinions? (ie, have things changed since they returned?) Other thoughts? Thanks millions!