Search found 152 matches

by Nomads
Thu Nov 19, 2015 3:41 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Is it late in the recruiting season?
Replies: 3
Views: 5829

Re: Is it late in the recruiting season?

For single elementary teachers, the recruiting season is just beginning and many top schools will not have even started looking at those positions.
by Nomads
Wed Nov 18, 2015 7:07 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Clinical therapist switch to behavioral school counselor ?
Replies: 9
Views: 9776

Re: Clinical therapist switch to behavioral school counselor

CanChi4,

PsyGuy and I constantly have different opinions on this issue based on our experience.

I agree it will be difficult with a non-teaching spouse and two school age dependents. However, in my experience as an administrator in different parts of world, counselors are one of the most difficult positions to fill, particularly in elementary and middle school. There is a great need for counselors with a mental health background due to the issues our students face and the lack of community resources in most international cities. A couple of times in my career, I have hired counselors with a similar background to yours.

I would encourage you to go for it and even consider broadening your search. Given the lack of quality applicants, some school might be willing to take on three dependents.

Depending upon the city you wind up in, your husband may have a hard time finding enough clients for full-time work. Perhaps in some of the bigger Asian cities, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Shanghai, he could join an established practice attached to hospitals or clinics that cater to expatriates.

While you may see a drop in your income and/or ability to save, you will be giving your children a great experience.

Good luck.
by Nomads
Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:31 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Do you have to attend job fair?
Replies: 14
Views: 15264

Re: Do you have to attend job fair?

I would advise you to join Search or Iss as this will get your resume and references into the main databases that most IS use. Many schools will only hire candidates from these firms or similar ones because they require confidential references. It is important to note that these firms are not headhunting firms that actively work to get you a position. They simply get you to the database where schools can find you and you can search for vacancies.

It costs a few hundred dollars. You do not have to go to a fair. At this point slightly less than half of all jobs are filled at fairs. As an experienced counselor, you should be in demand. If you can go to one for a reasonable cost you may want to try it, particularly as it is your first time out, as you get to interview with a wide range of schools and network with veteran overseas teachers and administrators.

Good luck on your search.
by Nomads
Fri Nov 06, 2015 11:56 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Admin. Glut
Replies: 5
Views: 8693

Re: Admin. Glut

For what it is worth, my school has been conducting a search for a principal. In reviewing the databases, the quantity is high, but the quality is not. Given the expansion we have seen in recent years in the total number of schools, there is a corresponding increase in the overall number of admin or admin like positions, which would increase the pool.

Having said that, there were a high number of admin. candidates who have mediocre or weak references. I would encourage you to keep applying. Note, however, that many vice-principal positions are filled from within.
by Nomads
Wed Nov 04, 2015 2:49 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Window of Opportunity
Replies: 19
Views: 29591

Re: Window of Opportunity

Pay guy,

I would be interested in seeing your research. Please post the links or sources.

Nomads
by Nomads
Tue Nov 03, 2015 7:53 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Window of Opportunity
Replies: 19
Views: 29591

Re: Window of Opportunity

PsyGuy and Senator,

As an administrator who attends five to seven fairs a year, including Bangkok, I am personally insulted by your statements about why administrators want the fairs to continue.

As an administrator, I leave my family for weeks at a time because I want to meet the teachers I am hiring face to face as I believe I can better evaluate candidates in person rather than by Skype. My family and I make the sacrifice because it is the most important thing I do for my school.

I encourage any new forum readers to carefully evaluate the merit of any comments from these two.
by Nomads
Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:07 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: School Counselor Question
Replies: 8
Views: 14930

Re: School Counselor Question

PsyGuy and I have disagreed on this topic before, so we might as well do it again.

I have been in four American style international schools with counseling positions. In all four, the counsellors spend a significant amount, if not a majority, of time dealing with student's social and emotional needs. In elementary they also generally also teach weekly lessons for each class.

In the middle school, they do spend some time on scheduling at the beginning of the year, but most of the time on mental health as well as academic counselling.

In high school, grades nine and ten probably more academic than social/emotional but still a fair bit. They also spend a good bit of time on schedules and arranging SAT's. Grades 11 and 12 the focus is college admission. Schools will rarely, if ever, hire new counsellors into this position.

Your ability to administer educational testing will be seen as a plus and you should get as much experience with this as you can before applying. Depending upon your preference, you would have better luck seeking a position as an elementary or middle school counselor.

In my ten plus years experience of recruiting, counselors are the hardest position to fill as there is simply not enough good ones.

I would concur with the others that if you truly want an international position, you should broaden your scope. There are many excellent schools in safe fascinating cities in Asia, Middle East, South America and even Africa.
by Nomads
Wed Oct 28, 2015 7:48 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: negotiating salary after 2 yrs service China
Replies: 3
Views: 11415

Re: negotiating salary after 2 yrs service China

Pamelalo,

As world traveller inferred, if your school has a set salary scale they may be little opportunity to negotiate. Most international schools do have one and there may be some form of longevity or resigning bonus to extend past the initial contract. Those types of bonuses generally range from $2,000 to $5,000. In a few cases it might be a percentage of base, say 5%.

If there is no salary scale, I would again agree with world traveller and talk with teachers you know have been there for a number of years. One caution, some contracts, even in education, prohibit the disclosure of compensation to other employees. You might want to double-check yours to make sure such a clause does not exist.

If you can negotiate your contract, I would start with the numbers I suggested above. Perhaps research what other international schools in your city and similar cities in China offer as incentives for signing another contract.

I do not know of any school that individually will lock in an exchange rate. I presume you are paid in Rmb? I would suggest you simply ask for 2, 3, 4% addition in salary to compensate for the depreciated Rmb.
by Nomads
Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:20 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What should our plan of attack be?
Replies: 3
Views: 5816

Re: What should our plan of attack be?

1. In my opinion, upper level math (AP or IB) is more desirable than only MYP math. Ideally, it would be good to have experience and interest in both. Flexibility will be key particularly in smaller schools.

2. Your husband is not dead in the water. Be honest and careful about how you answer the question on applications or in interviews. Most places ask if you have been convicted of a felony. Note, that more and more schools are moving towards federal or national fingerprint background checks. It is always better to be open and transparent about it than try to hide it. As an administrator, I would not hold a 20 year DUI against him provided there were no other offences since then. However, if someone told me there was nothing and I found out later there was a felony than I would either not make the hire or even rescind the offer after the contract was signed for lying.

3. Some places would have a concern with you teaching the upper ends of math (IB HL) without a major in mathematics but most will not. I would encourage you to pursue a masters if that is your passion or to be a better teacher, not to be more attractive to schools. Experience trumps university preparation.
by Nomads
Tue Oct 13, 2015 9:34 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67817

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

Nomad68 and Shadowjack,

While schools do offer two year contracts, most expect (hope) the teachers to stay three or four years. In my experience, the teachers who are settled and not getting ready to leave provide a higher quality performance in the classroom, are more likely to coach, serve on a committee, and th elike.

There is also the issue of return of investment on the costs of recruiting and bringing the teacher into country. It takes many teachers a few months to get settled into the country, understand the way the school works, and perhaps even the curriculum In the last year, by February or March, the teachers are thinking about their new post and getting ready to move. It doesn't mean they are not performing well, it is harder for many to perform at the same level as when they are settled.

To Shadow's question, when looking at candidates, if I have a number of quality applicants, I will most definitely prioritize the teachers who have a record of staying at posts for four or five years over those who leave every two.

I have hired teachers knowing they will only stay two years, generally due to age and visa issues, but those were in hard to fill positions like IB sciences.
by Nomads
Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:45 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Couple of intern teachers
Replies: 5
Views: 9660

Re: Couple of intern teachers

Fred10,

If you can afford it, I would encourage you to go to the fair and see what happens. You can market yourselves two interns who can fill one full-time position and the school gets two coaches. Obviously sharing housing is not a problem for you. To my knowledge, few schools hire interns for PE, but your situation is unique and a school could fill a regular vacancy for about the same amount of money but get an extra set of hands.
by Nomads
Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Applying through Search
Replies: 6
Views: 12002

Re: Applying through Search

I would actually do both. Many schools get loads of applications and you want to do whatever you can to get someone to look at your paperwork.
by Nomads
Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:33 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: What do you think of this candidate?
Replies: 35
Views: 67817

Re: What do you think of this candidate?

As an administrator, the 2-2-2 would be reason to give me pause, particularly because you teach a subject with many candidates most who have taught IB/AP. My advice, like Sids, is to stay where you are and try to get experience teaching advanced classes. If you come out after two more years with AP experience, you would be a much more attractive candidate.
by Nomads
Thu Oct 01, 2015 7:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Approaching IB schools without IB experience
Replies: 11
Views: 20903

Re: Approaching IB schools without IB experience

chilagringa's advice is good. Find a larger high school that offer IB Diploma. Get hired for grade 9 and 10 classes. Show them you are a great teacher and interested in IB. They will then pay for your training and move you into IB when the space opens up.

As an administrator, this is one of my strategies to get IB teachers. I would rather put a great teacher I know well into the IB program, then hire an experienced IB teacher who is good but not great.

Of course, the ultimate would be to hire a great, experienced IB teacher, but those folks can almost pick the school they want.