Search found 136 matches

by WeDoDude
Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:41 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What to do? What to do?
Replies: 12
Views: 13294

Nothing wrong with honesty and I'm sure both of your schools will appreciate you more for it.

Totally disagree that you are not their first choice. You have no real way of knowing that. Even if a school wants you I am sure that they have protocol that they have to follow before they offer you a job.

How very exciting for you.
by WeDoDude
Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:05 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: DODDS Hiring Question
Replies: 289
Views: 519845

I wish that I had better news for you, but your chances this year, and for the next few years, are very low, even with your military preference. The breakdown is this:

- Over 200 excessed teachers in Europe all need jobs. There currently are not enough jobs to go around in Europe, so a large number of them will be transferred to the Pacific.

- Elementary Ed is a very low priority right now. Yes we do from time to time hire out of CONUS, but generally there is a pretty decent talent pool to choose from right from the base in terms of spouses. We had 3 elementary positions open up during this school year due to retirements and all 3 we hired locally and filled by spouses of active duty.

- The entire organization is in a bit of a transitional period. The current budget crisis and changing geo-political climate have many theorizing that DoDEA's mission in the EU may be coming to an end, and as soon as 2020. New bases are being added to the closures list all of the time, case in point, Lajes Air Force Base. That has a lot of the employment base on pins and needles and as those bases close and positions in the EU dry up DoDEA will need to look to the Pacific to place those teachers, or RIF them.

Your best bet is to get some stateside experience, which DoDEA likes you to have anyway. Yes, by all means apply now and select worldwide availability. But also get your stateside license and some experience in a stateside school district. Keep your fingers crossed and you may get lucky. But I'll be honest, the future of DoDEA doesn't sound so bright at the moment.

Good luck to you and congratulations on your retirement and thank you so much for your service!
by WeDoDude
Sat Jan 12, 2013 5:00 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Just Starting Out
Replies: 25
Views: 35816

This is how I know PsyGuy to be a fraud. He said in a post on 10 Jan that he didn't use Search, or an outside agency to get his current positon, he applied directly.

Ok, DoDEA doesn't use Search, or outside agencies. You have to apply through their website.

So to say that you didn't use Search, or any outside agency, is redundant because DoDEA isn't an IS, it's a US government school system. So you're a fraud and it becomes more and more clearer with with everyone one of your posts.
by WeDoDude
Thu Jan 10, 2013 10:17 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Jumping Schools
Replies: 17
Views: 21417

I would side with Sid on this one, who is a respected member of this online community. If you have nothing but your word and you break that word then you have nothing.

I'll tell you what most of the respectable schools will think if you respond to their request for an interview with a note that you have already signed a contract but would like them to keep you in mind in two years, or whenever the contract is up. They'll think that you are an honest person, perhaps someone that they might like to have on staff one day. And when you do finish out your contract and have earned a positive recommendation from said school, they'll even look more favorably upon you and the request for an interview may even turn into a contract.
by WeDoDude
Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:54 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: A family of 4
Replies: 9
Views: 11445

Seashell, would that 63,000 euros go far for a family of 4 in Dusseldorf, or Frankfurt, or Munich?
by WeDoDude
Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:57 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: A family of 4
Replies: 9
Views: 11445

A family of 4

PsyGuy is pretty vocal about this topic and I must say that I am very curious myself. I am wondering if a family of 4 could survive on 1 salary of 63,000 euros in Western Germany?

Do any of you have any experience doing this? I'd like to lve in WE one day, and I am very curious to gain more info on this topic.

Happy New Year to all f you as well.
by WeDoDude
Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What would you do?
Replies: 11
Views: 11432

PsyGuy, did you read what BlueJay wrote? The school contacted him through Search. So of course they know how many dependents BlueJay has, it says it in your Search profile. I doubt BlueJay lied, or was trying to cover it up.

BlueJay, you are clearly someone the school wants. I'm sure your school read up on you before they contacted you. If they didn't don't worry about it. Even though you aren't professionally happy where you are at you still have a gig and maybe they'll think of you if the position ever becomes available.
by WeDoDude
Sun Dec 30, 2012 10:41 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What would you do?
Replies: 11
Views: 11432

It certainly sounds like they are giving you a shot to prove yourself. I'm sure others may have a different point-of-view, but just knowing how the business side of all of this works the fact that they contacted you about a 1 year cover position seems to say to me that they want to give you a tryout before they give you the bigger contract.

I'd be shocked if they let you go after a year unless you were some obnoxious jerk that has no work ethic and just pisses everyone off. The very fact that they contacted you and are willing to expense the cost of you coming over there with children that will likely attend their school should say a lot to you about how much you're worth.

Good luck to you, seriously. Enjoy the opportunity and work hard.
by WeDoDude
Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:02 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: DODDS Hiring Question
Replies: 289
Views: 519845

Even high needs areas will be hard to get hired on next year. You have to take into account the excesses teachers in Europe, all 200 of them. A lot of them will have multiple certs and will probably take a position that they are qualified for to stay in Europe, or even move to the Pacific if it means they keep their jobs.

There will be a RIF next year if the current math holds up. There are too many excessed teachers and not enough positions.

Transfers this year will be a long process as DoDEA has an obligation first to those of us currently employed. Even after the initial transfer round in March/April there will be teachers that resign and retire and those positions will go to current DoDEA employees first to avoid a RIF as much as possible.

It's a very uncertain time for DoDEA. Not sure I'd be looking to get in now. There is a lot of talk about how much long the DoD will keep current deployment levels, or can keep them for that matter. Yes, DoDEA will exist, but it's size may drastically shrink as more and more bases close up.

Also, there is a lot of talk now of making Korea an unaccompanied 2 year deployment for active duty. Even in Japan we're expecting a reduction as the DoD looks to build up on Guam and in Australia.
by WeDoDude
Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:53 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What would you do?
Replies: 11
Views: 11432

Are you applying for this position, or did they contact you? If they contacted you I highly doubt they are looking at you only for the year. It will cost them a lot of money to fly you and your family back and forth, offer schooling to your children and give you money to get settled in all for only 1 year of service. I can't see a top tier school, regardless of size, making that kind of financial commitment on you for only a year. You may not have the same position in your 2nd year, but I'd bet if you work hard, and do a great job that they will move heaven and earth to keep you on board. It boils down to economics and ROI, or return on investment. If you're awesome they'll want to get a bigger return on the cost of bringing you on board and they get that by keeping you on board.

But to answer your question, if I were offered a 1 year contract at my dream school I would also take it if it met my needs and the package was attractive and not going to put any sort of dent into my savings.

Good luck to you. Very exciting.
by WeDoDude
Sun Dec 30, 2012 2:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What would you do?
Replies: 11
Views: 11432

So PsyGuy, are you saying then that you weren't the schools first choice and are just a filler teacher because none of the schools you've worked at would ever consider you full time?

I think the answer to this question is that it depends. I'm wondering if you are a single teacher, or of you have a family? I highly doubt that a top tier school would invest the money to bring you out at their cost if you have a family if they didn't think that you could turn into a long term provider at their school. That just doesn't make any bit of business sense.

I'd like Walter and others to chime in here with their opinions.
by WeDoDude
Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:06 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: DODEA tuition for kids?
Replies: 2
Views: 4143

No. Children attend free. No fees for teacher dependents.
by WeDoDude
Wed Nov 21, 2012 12:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Demoralized. What to do next?
Replies: 12
Views: 14084

Keep your chin up and tell your husband to comply with the assistance plan. Document the heck out of everything. I mean really document it. Create Excel spreadsheets for all of his classes. Note when an assignment was issued, when it was due and when he returned the assignment graded. Keep this on your own personal external drive.

If you signed up for a fair, be professional and let your admin know that you are searching for new opportunities. Be humble and be respectful. QSI has a reputation, so as long as you have documentation and keep records of everything a lot of the more serious schools will look favorable upon you.

Teaching is an art, and by showing that you are willing to roll with the punches and meet the needs of the school in a professional matter you will most certainly find schools willing to take you on.

Good luck. We've all been there at one point, or another. But you've got each other. While at work, always smile and be professional. You don't want to show that you're unhappy.
by WeDoDude
Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:44 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is SEARCH ASSOCIATES woth it?
Replies: 10
Views: 13401

The fairs aren't the only good thing about Search. You also get daily emails about the positions/schools that you are interested in. It saves you a ton of time from having to Google search your way through IS'. Another nice thing is that a lot of the schools that signed up with Search will read your references that are stored on there. I applied to an IS that wanted 3 references and since they were a Search school I just referred them to my Search page. They were perfectly fine with that.

So in my opinion, it is worth it. I look forward to that daily email. Especially when you see your dream position go from possible to definite.
by WeDoDude
Sun Oct 21, 2012 11:43 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Aramco Schools Compound
Replies: 93
Views: 173822

I don't really believe that there is the perfect place. There will be some kind of sacrafice that will need to be made. But I am curious as to what you said in your last sentence. What about Aramco would have you complaining. Seems like a good gig if you can get it.