Avoid the US. Boston marathon, Oklahoma City, Sep 11. Batman movies.
And the UK. July 7 bombings.
France. Apparently at the top of Al Qaeda's list. And the annual summer youth riots are pretty nasty.
Sweden. Immigrant riots and burning cars all summer.
Germany. Racist attacks in the streets.

Or ask yourself: Does a mall attack actually increase my chances of dying in a violent incident in that country? Or perhaps decrease it as security and awareness rise in the aftermath?

I have the deepest sympathy for those involved in these tragedies. And I refuse to succumb to the thought, however comforting, that I can just plan my life carefully and avoid ever being caught in one myself. The lunatics who plan these sorts of violence are looking for soft and unexpected targets. Would you have advised someone to avoid the World Trade Centers prior to Sep 11? Not go to a Batman movie? The whole idea is that you can't see it coming.

If you're worried about risks, look to the quantifiable ones. Rates of death in car accidents. Violent crime rates. And look to what you can control - can I get a safe car, wear a seatbelt and drive carefully, and therefore lower my risk to acceptable levels, while people around me die after driving into a central reservation with no seatbelt on? I'm no more likely to do that if I leave my home country, even if it is a common activity where I go. Someone may hit my car, but if it's a safe car, and I have my seatbelt and airbags, there's only a small chance they can hit me badly enough to ruin or end my life.

It does happen, but it's rare.
There are 2 scenarios. In the 1st, you lose your previous personal benefits but actually come out way ahead because your spouse as a local gets far better benefits. This applies in very few countries, basically ones in the Middle East with extensive government support of the local citizenry. I presume you wouldn't be writing if this applied to you.
In the 2nd, you lose your personal benefits on the argument that the expat package is intended to compensate and/or lure foreign teachers away from their established lives back home. It's essentially an incentive to make up for giving up your family next door, to cover the cost of jumping off the property ladder back home, etc. In this scenario, as soon as you marry a local, you are signaling that you are now a permanent sort of resident, committed to the country, establishing a forever connection/home. Therefore the incentives no longer apply. It's the same rationale used by some schools that take away recruited benefits if you stay past a certain number of years or become a citizen.
Neither scenario is very common.
Fair? Not for me to say. If it's communicated clearly and applied consistently, then it is simply what you signed on for, and presumably you decided that it was fair before you signed. Otherwise why sign? Or maybe, when you signed, you didn't really pay much attention because you didn't see it happening to you. I can see that option easily. Who thinks, when they're considering a contract 'Yeah, but what if I meet my soulmate?'
If it's a deep and hidden secret, pulled out of the central office's file cabinet only after the wedding reception, ouch. Not a nice way to operate a school.
So you have to decide, stay and live on the local economy like everyone else does (lucky expat teachers aside), or move on with happy spouse to new hunting grounds.

In my experience, good schools recruit early because they can, and it makes life easier. If a school has the chops to attract good candidates, and it can snap them up early, they've saved themselves the trouble of dealing with it later. We all want to avoid the last-minute search when at best we expect to find a 'good enough' near fit.
And I don't think schools do it to shave a couple thousand off the contract. Most schools have pretty well established their pay scales. Never say never, but I'm not familiar with the practice of cutting corners this way.

Sounds like an excellent plan. Certification first, so you can get a job, and then Masters.

It should be enough to get an interview.

Hard to say why she couldn't get an interview.
Heavy? How heavy? So heavy you'd worry about health, sudden heart attack or stroke and whether she'd be able to walk from car to classroom? Or just an aesthetics issue?
Very possible there was something in her file that you wouldn't know about, possibly even she didn't really realize, like bad references. True, DP chem positions are usually hard to fill, but still, some experienced DP chem teachers aren't actually any good. Or she could have had a health history that was so severe it kept her out of the classroom for long periods and suggested continuing issues.
We've hired some fairly heavy people along the way. Quality matters more. But if there is a real health issue, schools won't be too eager to jump.

Which all sounds wonderful. I may consider joining you in my next post. Can I wear my jammies and slippers?
But what do you recommend wearing to a job fair?

The tropics are hot, but even in an unairconditioned school in Central America, most teachers trot out a suit for parents evening.
Interviews are different than a run of the mill school day. You should be presenting yourself at your best, not at your mediocre normal level.

The advice I've given is not about what we feel 'ought' to be the case. It's about the reality I've experienced, and what to do to best set yourself up for a successful fair. Personally, I'd rather wear jammies and slippers all day every day, but that's no recipe for success. So I do what needs to be done, wear the clothes that are required so my jammies don't distract anyone from the quality of my work.

As an applicant, I usually stayed in the hotel. Once I didn't, just stayed nearby to save money, and I regretted it. Too hard moving back and forth, early mornings, late nights, nowhere to properly relax when I had a free hour, nowhere convenient and private to spread out the 400 documents I needed to read simultaneously.

In my experience there isn't much you can say at this point. If your family has some experienced travelers, you might be able to point out that there's a huge gap between CNN and reality on the ground.

But I'd put my money on a different strategy. Go, and bring some family out to visit a couple months after you get settled. Let them see for themselves.

I'm not going to weigh in on the SEN side of the discussion. Looks like there's lots of good advice about that.

Remember to investigate the legal issues around your wife potentially practicing acupuncture. Licensure and insurance issues will be paramount, and without proper credentials, you could find yourself facing serious fines, court cases and/or deportation.

Definitely jacket.

Not everyone is lithe, young and equipped with supermodel cheekbones.

But everyone can dress neatly and professionally. A well-fitting suit, in a classic style and fabric, properly pressed and without the smell of moth balls, goes a long way.

And everyone can be nicely groomed. Tidy haircut, properly combed, freshly washed. Good shave or closely-trimmed beard for the men (I can't recommend anything but the shortest of beards). Evidence of regular bathing. Potentially light aftershave or perfume, nothing too heavy.

Professional shoes with a fresh shine.

Avoid all fashion extremes in color and style. Ladies, be modest of neckline and hemline.

And if you can look comfortable in all that, as if it's close to your daily appearance, so much the better.

The aim is to make your appearance so professional that it falls into the background, and your personality, skills and experience shine forward. If the recruiter is distracted by your appearance, you've likely lost the battle.

Some schools require certified teachers. Some do not.
Some countries will only issue work permits to certified teachers. Others don't seem to mind.

Certification makes life much easier, as you can work in any school, any country. Without certification, you can only work in certain countries, and within that, you can only work in schools that don't mind.

You could always sign up with a long-term sub agency if you're after something shorter than a two-year initial contract with expectations to renew. You'll be placed wherever for 3 months, 6 months, whatever, than be free to go on to a new assignment. I've known a few people who loved this route. And if you find a school/location that really suits you, there's a chance you could find a permanent position there, since schools are more likely to hire people they already know.